There’s no denying the influence of music on today’s teenagers. You can often tell a kids’ favorite artist by the clothing she wears, a hairstyle, or even the way he acts and talks. This is nothing new…popular music has always influenced the youth of the world. Some would argue that music has had more impact than parents, educators, and clergy combined.
I recall becoming a huge Michael Jackson fan in high school. It sounds crazy to me now as an adult, but back then my life’s goal was to sing and dress like Michael. I, and every other boy in my class, dreamed of slipping on that red leather jacket he wore in the Beat It video and moonwalking across the floor to the screams of untold numbers of adoring (girl) fans. I never got the jacket, but I did get the studded glove, and I’m not too bad a dancer. Today’s kids, however, are inspired to emulate far more dangerous behavior than wearing flashy clothes and doing slick dance moves.
“Most parents are concerned about what their young children see and hear. As children grow older, parents pay less attention to the music and videos that capture and hold their children’s interest.
Sharing music between generations in a family can be a pleasurable experience. Music also is often a major part of a teenager’s separate world. It is quite common for teenagers to get pleasure from keeping adults out, which causes adults some distress.”
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
There may be a reason teenagers “get pleasure from keeping adults out.” Many a parent’s blood pressure has skyrocketed over headphoned tweens accidentally spouting modern lyrics a cappella while listening to their iPods in the back of the minivan. In her hit song, E.T., teen idol Katty Perry begs, “Kiss me ki-ki-kiss me…infect me with your love and fill me with your poison…” Fellow megastar Nicki Minaj rhapsodizes in her smash, Super Bass, “And he ill, he real, he might got a deal…He pop bottles and he got the right kind of bill…He cold, he dope, he might sell coke.” I’m just guessing, but avoiding a parental meltdown might sound to a teen like a pretty good reason for keeping Katty and Nicki’s lyrics to one’s self.
“A concern to many interested in the development and growth of teenagers is the negative and destructive themes of some kinds of music (rock, heavy metal, hip-hop, etc.), including best-selling albums promoted by major recording companies. The following themes, which are featured prominently in some lyrics, can be particularly troublesome:
• Drugs and alcohol abuse that is glamorized
• Suicide as an “alternative” or “solution”
• Graphic violence
• Sex which focuses on control, sadism, masochism, incest, children devaluing women, and violence toward women”
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry goes on to say that music is not usually a danger for a teenager whose life is balanced and healthy. But, if your teenager shows changes in behavior such as isolation, depression, alcohol or other drug abuse, etc., you might want to check out the lyrics to the songs they’re listening to.
