In today’s society, there are three things those under the age of 25 love: music, sex, and the internet. Music has been a centerpiece of society’s evolution for a very long time, but the evolution of it has changed dramatically in the past century. We have gone from folklore music played by a professional who came in on horseback to play for the queen to so-called music stars saying three words involving sex on an average track and making millions of dollars.
Music today idolizes women and sex in a way that is honestly getting out of hand and old with no end in sight. Sex and music have been around for much longer than the 90’s, but virtually every Billboard Top 100 song that plays on the radio today has one if not multiple references to women and sex. From rap to rock, women and sex are used as a way to get the hook on multi-million dollar songs.
In Bruno Mars’ platinum award-winning song “That’s What I Like” his lyrics begin with “I got a condo in Manhattan. Baby girl, what’s hatnin’? You and your a** invited. So gon’ and get to clappin’. Go pop it for a player,”. This is just one example of what music has turned into. Mars is well respected and considered a modern-day Michael Jackson, and these are the lyrics of one of his most famous songs. Yes, he has less vulgar songs, but songs like “Just the Way You Are” and “Grenade” focus on a woman’s appearance while subtly lining it with being a “good guy.”
Other award-winning artists like Justin Bieber, DJ Khaled, 21 Savage, and many more rely on sex and attractive women to make music. These artists would not be winning awards, millions of dollars, and fans if people did not respond to the vulgar remarks made about women. Music is a part of society and it evolves with us. As millennials and the younger generations give these artists attention it becomes more clear as to where the direction music is going.
Men are not all to blame for this new age music though, singers like Nicki Minaj, Shakira, Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande either rely on their sexuality that is portrayed in music and/or do the same thing towards men. Songs like “Hips Don’t Lie” or “Side to Side” give a glimpse into the other side of the market that is being so sexualized. These women also rely on both sex and themselves to make music; there is no end in sight on that front either and it seems to only be getting worse.
In Taylor Swift’s new song “The Man”, she sings “I’m so sick of running as fast as I can, wondering if I’d get there quicker if I was a man.” gives a look into the other side of women’s music. The victimhood of a multimillion-dollar platinum artist who has had no issue except for who she is dating not only gives listeners an idea of what men deal with in music but what women are turning feminism into. “The Man” may have a good message if Taylor Swift did not act like she has a hard life, but she is finger-pointing and almost making a mockery of feminism.
Both male and female artists are both to blame for the conformity of sexist music. But, on the other hand, people still listen, pay money, and enjoy the music no matter the sexism towards both men and women. So when will it end? In simple terms, it won’t. Artists like Billie Eilish are making strides around this vulgar music age, but as long as society listens, nothing will change in the music industry.
