Then and Now

I must be getting old. It seems like the world has changed so much since I was a boy, especially in the realm of music. Whenever I turn on the radio (which is rarely) I always find myself muttering about how terrible the songs are both musically and message wise. Music is largely subjective so perhaps I just have different taste than the majority of people listening to the radio. But what about the message? Has mainstream music really changed that much from when I was boy or am I just being a crotchety old man? This was the thought in my head on the way to work today so I thought I would take a moment to look at the Billboard top 5 songs as of today and today's date thirty years ago. Lets start with today's date back in 1981:

1)9 to 5 by Dolly Parton
-A song about the difficulties of work.
2)Keep on Loving You by REO Speedwagon
-A song about love and commitment while facing difficulties.
3)Woman by John Lennon
-A song about love
4)The Best of Times by Styx
-A song about two people in love in a difficult world.
5)I Love a Rainy Night by Eddie Rabbitt
-A silly song about loving rainy nights.

And now today's top songs:

1)Born this Way by Lady Gaga
-A song about accepting who you are.
2)Fuck You(Forget You) by Cee Lo Green
-A song about a guy whose girl broke up with him and is with another guy so he
just says fuck you alot. "I guess the change in my pocket wasn’t enough, I’m like
f*ck you and f*ck her too."
3)S & M by Rihanna
-A song about well, sado-masochism. "Sticks and stones may break my bones but
whips and chains excite me".
4)Fuckin Perfect by Pink
-A song about self esteem. "Oh pretty, pretty please, don’t you ever feel like
you’re less than f***in’ perfect.(how poetic)
5)On the Floor by Jennifer Lopez Featuring Pitbull
-A song about dancing and drinking at the club with sexual double meanings. "Now
pump it up and back it up like a Tonka truck...All I need is some vodka and some
chunka coke and watch a chick get donkey konged"

This might not prove one way or another whether I'm a crotchety old man but I think the comparison speaks for itself. If this is the kind of stuff we are filling our kids heads with it is no wonder they are more dysfunctional than ever.