And She Pretends That She's Immortal...

[Note:  I'd just like to thank everyone for their patience last week.  If you didn't know, I attended a very dear friend's wedding and was way too tired to post XD.  Your understanding is appreciated.]

Anyways.  Back on track.  I am sitting here eating ice cream and pondering life, as I do every Saturday now (not the ice cream part ;) ).  The thought I've been pondering this last week or so is this:  media influence.  Specifically, musical influence.

To put it simply, the music we listen to affects our mood.  It can't be denied - we all have a song, or more than one, that we listen to as a pick-me-up.  We all have songs we hate or that sadden us.  But more and more so, I've been noticing things I hadn't before - and things I previously chose to ignore. (Yes, that was supposed to rhyme.  I'm in kind of a random mood.)

But lately, as in the last two days, I personally have noticed an effect on my mood and attitude from two of the most popular songs out this summer: "Airplanes" (B.o.B ft. Hayley Williams), and "Love the Way You Lie" (Eminem ft. Rihanna).

Both are incredibly catchy.  They're converting me to rap.  And other things.  Let me explain.

About five days ago, I was listening to Superchick and BarlowGirl.  Relatively lighter (although not in material) they are upbeat and consistantly encouraging the listener to push past the boundaries of culture, to step out and show one's personality, to embrace and defeat the challenges we all face in life.  It's good stuff, stuff I enjoy.  Then, a couple days ago, I heard Airplanes on the radio.  Love the song.  Went home and found it on Youtube, and basically played it on repeat for half a day. 

This song doesn't necessarily have any negative messages.  It's about an artist reminiscing the days before he was famous, and before life was as complicated as it is now.  I can understand that.  I love my life and I'm pretty happy with where I am, but once in awhile everyone wishes they could go backward in time, to childhood, teens, whenever - to a time when nothing really mattered and we weren't required to be responsible adults, paying bills and meeting deadlines. 

But for me, to bounce from happy, empowering songs to this... it made me feel very nostalgic.  The second half of that day was spent listening to Thousand Foot Krutch, a band with a heavier sound than all the previous artists.  They're a Christian group, but their songs are more about recognizing the pain than emerging through it.

Head to today.  I looked up "Love the Way You Lie"... just felt like listening to it.  I had recently listened to it with my mother and sister, and we were all singing along with Rihanna as everyone does... and after my mom's like, "That's a decent song."  I was like, "It's actually not a very good song at all... did you hear what he was saying?"

The song, as most teens and young adults can tell you, is about an affair.  The man is caught cheating on his lady, and she threatens to leave.  In a moment of rage, he physically assaults her.

[I laid hands on her
I'll never stoop so low again
I guess I don't know my own strength]

He swears that he loves her, that he'll never harm her.  Apologies fly forth like rain, and things are better for awhile - although he admits to himself that he knows the apologies are all lies anyway:

[I apologize even though I know it's lies.]

The song culminates in a dire threat:

[I know I'm a liar, if she ever tries to f***in' leave again,
I'ma tie her to the bed and set this house on fire.]

And hence the chorus with which we are all familiar:

[Just gonna stand there and watch me burn.
That's all right, because I like the way it hurts.
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry.
That's all right, because I love the way you lie.]

I'm torn.  On the one hand, I love this song.  It's phenominal, and I can understand where Eminem is coming from.  He has a very damaged past, and I'm glad he found a way to voice the emotions.

But a song that promotes physical violence?  Deceit?  What am I listening to?  And it's making me crave more of it.  But the more I listen to this song, the angrier I feel.  I just realized this today.  And it's not okay.  And I don't know if you noticed the downward trend into heavier sounds and more depressing lyrics.

I can't wrap this up nicely.  It's complicated.  But here's the solution I've found.

I'm not giving up such violent music entirely.  Eminem is bad, but he's not the worst by far.  Personally, My Chemical Romance is the most dangerous music I've ever come across...

[Give them blood, blood, gallons of the stuff.
Give them all that they can drink and it will never be enough.]

- MCR, "Blood"

As a side note, music isn't the only thing.  Movies, books, even the newspaper... video games... I own 007:Nightfire, which is basically a game where you run around and shoot people.  It's fun, and can be a great stress reliever.. but I don't play it too often.  Because in real life, you can't lash out when you have problems or are stressed, and run around and shoot people. 

I've heard it takes 9 positive comments or ideas to equal and correct ONE negative one.  So if you're gonna listen to music that has a bit of a more depressing or violent nature, go for it - but for every song that tells you the world will never change and you're stuck in a dismal rut, listen to a few that really promote well being.  I've been listening to Switchfoot for hours, and I'm starting to believe the world is a livable place once again, that we're not all cracked and there is something to strive for.

I'm not gonna tell you what you can listen to, watch, play, read, or participate in - but I will ask you to pay attention and think about how what you're taking in affects you and the people around you.