Authoritarianism and Censorship in Popular Music
 

Why is it music is censored? Why is it as listeners we are continuously instructed on what material is considered right or wrong? Why can’t we make our own mind up?

Ever since the beginning of technological developments, we have been subjected to censorship. In the past contemporary and popular music has had many songs completely banning from airplay and distribution based whole upon lyrics and artwork that today, we would laugh at. One song that comes to mind is George Formby's "When I'm Cleaning Windows" which was banning for the phrase, "The blushing bride she looks divine".

As time has developed, our social values and attitudes towards different subjects have in turn evolved so positively that one would think censorship was now a thing of the past; you'd be wrong. With every song and video vigorously following a set of rules and procedures to ensure their allowance of airtime and distribution, censorship is still alive and more than ever effecting the music we listen to. One most common form of censorship today is related to profanities hear within the lyrical content of a song. In a modern world where communication is so accessible, profanities are more than ever intrinsically involved within the use and representation of our culture and society. It seem crazy to me that a form of expression such as a 'harmless' swear word are being bleeped, blanked, back masked and bent to save our ears from the horror that be a profanity. I mean somebody please define the level of profanity that differentiates a word from a swear word. An example of this is heard in Lily Allens song '**** You' where the phrase is muted or in the case of T.I's and Justin Timberlake's where the phrase 'Niggas die everyday' was replaced with 'people die everyday'.

Another ridiculous yet common form of censorship is perhaps the ultimate form natural human expression, sex. The intimate act of two people revealing their deepest, inner most selves is a true definition of art and beauty, it should be talked about and celebrated and definitely not censorship. However tracks like Ed Sheerans 'Don't' in which the entire first line of the chorus is removed because of the use of the word sex are still getting censored. What does this tell us? Well, we must understand that conforming to society attitudes and what we imagine as the norm is in fact embracing authoritarianism and control, creating fear, barriers and isolation to the real thoughts of freedom. The fear of change that authority creates was shown in the 1970's when John Lennon and Yoko Ono produced the cover to "Two Virgins". How could something so beautiful and scientifically correct provoke such an outrage?

It is true to say that authority has improved its approach with issues such as homosexuality, political affairs, our religious beliefs and our racial inequality as time has gone by; but step carefully whatever is deemed to controversial by the public or authority will be censored. I'm afraid it's far more truthful to say freedom of speech is definitely false. Perhaps someday we will look at what we censor today with the same amount of amusement as what has been censored in the past. Perhaps someday people will understand, what is considered normal is everything that cause solitude and isolation and is informed from the elite downwards. No one should be able to tell us what’s right or wrong with our opinion.

Uh....stop listening to only popular music

Popular music endures the most stringent censorship and creative control because popular music depends upon the most wealthy networks for distribution. Wealthy networks and record labels aren't in the game for artistic integrity, they're in the game to make bank and prosper. You can't make bank and prosper in a highly competitive environment without being extremely careful with your decisions. Wealthy networks and labels incur censorship to keep their liability in check. Every single thing big media does is to appeal to the largest consumer audience so that they're able to distribute their products over the most valuable networks. These companies have to keep a very keen eye on the content they choose to promote. One lawsuit from a pissed off mom, one slanderous headline on The Huffington Post, or one offended artist speaking poorly of a label in a TV interview is all it takes to deliver a relatively nasty financial blow to these companies.

Cash rules everything around me.
C.R.E.A.M. get the money.
Dolla dolla bill y'all.

Perfectly put and analysed. :clap:

Complaining about conformism in mainstream pop is like complaining about all this talk about jesus in christian rock or being offended by sexualized lyrics in porngrind.

'That's right, all two hundred and thirty channels Locked out!' - Ned Flanders

Freedom of speech means you can speak your mind without the government throwing you jail. It has nothing to do with contracts between private businesses and musicians.

I really see no point at all, in complaining about this. It's bullsh*t, yes. But that horse is so dead...