1. NWA "Express Yourself" Hip-Hop, 1988
2. Citizen Cope "Nite Becomes Day" Alternative, 2004
3. Bob Marley "Fussin' and Fightin" Reggae, 1973
4. Creedence Clearwater Revival "Fortunate Son" Rock, 1969
5. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club "Shuffle Your Feet" Rock, 2005
Pleasure:
1. Franz Ferdinand "Do You Want To" Pop Rock, 2004
2. Beastie Boys "Fight For Your Right" Hip-Hop, 1987
3. Cake "Short Skirt/Long Jacket" Alternative Rock, 2003
4. Jay-Z " Excuse Me Miss" Hip-Hop, 2003
5. Muse "Feeling Good" Rock, 2001
For the past few days I was listening to my music with a conscious effort to find songs that fit into these two aims of Hinduism. I was not surprised by the results from my ipod. I was easily able to make a list of songs for the Hindu aim of pleasure. It seemed like every song had at least one or two elements of seeking pleasure within the lyrics. The community service side, however, was much harder. This difference seems to make sense in popular music. For the most, part people want feel good songs and lyrics. Expressing a need for social, economic, racial, and political change makes for a great idea, but few artists tend to write about them. Sex, happiness, love, and parties sell to the general public at a much more consumable rate than that of change or community awareness. These selling points for American music seem to be right in line with my understanding of the four aims of Hinduism. The majority of people want to seek pleasure; so it would make sense that the majority of music produced and sold is about the same subject. Additionally, musicans, aside from the occasional Bono type, are not humanitarians. They love excess, pleasure, and fun, to that effect it would be understandable that they would write music that expresses this feeling. Music is an escape from the everyday life. People want to have feel good music when they escape, jump in their car, and sing badly as they drive down the highway.
When I was reading your post, another Hinduism aim jumped out at me. You said that songs about pleasure seem to sell better to the general public than songs about change or serving others. For the record companies and artists, they seem to be trying to achieve their aim for wealth and fame along the Path of Desire.
ReplyDeleteYup, pleasure songs do make us all feel good and bubbly inside. Also, it's easier to write about pleasure since you can basically sing about whatever you love. When I was browsing though community service-like songs, I realized the popular ones were mostly about giving humanitarian aid to other countries after a certain epidemic or natural disaster. Seems like less community service songs are known unless there are more artist collaborations.
ReplyDeleteYour songs in your Community Service category are on point. I tried to find my 10 songs the same way you did - I listened to my iPod and consciously thought about which category each song would fit into and those that fit into the Pleasure category outnumbered those that fit into the Community Service category.
ReplyDeleteKayla: I never thought of your point before but you are so right. It's funny because celebrities will do ANYTHING to make money. That being said, they would probably sing about a fish if that would sell a million copies. Our culture doesn't want to hear about topics such as poverty etc. which comes along with discussing community service so they continue to write numerous songs about pleasure since it is the more prevelant thing that all adults participate in (not just sex, but alcohol etc).
ReplyDeleteScott,
ReplyDeleteGood work, make sure all of your links are valid & working.