The Musical Trap

Earlier this year - 2012 - a six year old boy from California, was suspended from school for three days, after repeating the ‘suggestive’ lyrics from a song used in a commercial advertising M&M candies. ... We all know that commercial and its familiar song by now.

Who's responsibility is it now to monitor these selling moments when they appear on programs  deemed suitable for family viewing?... There was a time when television and all the programs being shown on it were considered suitable for family audiences. ...Warnings were never issued and commercials were informative, few and far between, without being embarrassing or otherwise. ... It was a time when the audience was respected and programming, somewhat, wholesome. ... 

Alas, commercials are now king and what is being ‘offered for sale’ and the delivery mechanism being chosen are somewhat questionable. ... Songs being used in commercials are now, slowly, ensnarling our children as they innocently sing these 'lyrical', happy tunes in school. ... Are we actually blaming children for a situation created by adults, some of whom, have no boundaries about the methods they choose to sell their products or services?

There was a time when we were concerned about the societal effects of tobacco, alcohol and other products in T.V. commercials. ... Now, it seems, we have other worries. ... Let us assess blame where it belongs: to the artists who write and perform these songs, the producers/ directors who orchestrate their production and the companies who choose the musical tunes that end up on prime time airways, finding their way into the minds of little children, civilization's tiny sponges. The final culprit in this sale chain is the consumer - us! We buy the songs that generally end up in the listening ears of our impressionable children. It's a catchy tune but the lyrics are not. Tell me, why?

An innocuous product like candy, synonymous with children, is being advertised in a commercial, grabbing the attention of the viewing public, and hopefully, for the company, garnering a larger share of the confection market. ... We made the song popular through sales/ down loads. ... Its popularity has given it top billing in a funny little commercial that incorporates both cartoon like figures and a catchy tune and has, understandably, caught the attention of children, society’s little mimics.

Children learn from what they see and hear!!... To all song writers who think their tunes deserve ‘interesting’ or ‘shocking’ lyrics, remember who is listening to your song. ...  The adults aren’t your only audience. ...  Where is a family to go, what is family to do - if the family show  our children are watching, suddenly and without warning, displays a commercial that is inappropriate - in words, in a song or product endorsement?... Is there no standard of care here? ... Have we lost our marbles? ... I have learned that there are, sometimes, two versions of the same song? ... Why?... What’s the point? . Is the aim to offend? ...

I have stopped listening to songs whose lyrics shock. There are too many artists who sing /write incredible songs for the public for there to be a shortage of material from which to choose and be inspired, without worrying about the lyrics and their meaning. ...  Music should not come with a warning. ...  Parents have enough to deal with without wondering what the lyrics are - until it’s too late. Let this be a cautionary tale to all who dare think that children are not listening to the magic of words in a song . ...  Please, artist's, before you create, remember society's tiny, civilized, little sponges are listening, too.