Embedded video: Jackson 5, "Give Love On Christmas Day", Pop/R&B, 1970
Definitely, finding songs about pleasure was easier. I didn't have to go far back in music history to find songs about pleasure surrounding love, drugs, alcohol, and money. This prevalence is due to how mainstream music and society in general are focused on individual pursuits rather than community outreach. While searching for love songs, I observed a majority of songs either focused on the pursuit of love or the end of love rather than on actually being in love, in Hinduism it is not just the pursuit of love that should give you pleasure but also the maintenance of it. Love as displayed in American music is often one-sided, fickle, and/or shallow. The drugs and alcohol songs are growing increasingly commonplace, with the dominance of Rap/R&B. Both types of songs emphasize over indulgence rather than proportionality, which goes against the Hindu belief that pleasure seeking should be intelligent.
Because of the significance given to individuality in America, community service songs are limited. In my search, I found many songs that lamented on the poor state of our world but only a few inspired others to take action. Also, I correlated that community service songs were mainly developed in response to a certain conflicts or even for a charity event such as “Children Need A Helping Hand” by Backstreet Boys, which never reached the popularity as their other songs such as “I Want It That Way” or “As Long As You Love Me”. I wonder if it was because it focused on a good cause rather than personal love issues why it did not reach the same level of popularity. Another trend I noticed in songs that do call for action, the action does not have to be physical. It can be something as basic as praying i.e. “Pray” by Justin Bieber. While praying for others seems to go along with fulfilling the aim of community service, it is not enough. I believe that in order to reach that goal, actual volunteer service is required. Lastly, community service songs also seemed to become more popular during the Christmas time of giving. Thus, making community service seem seasonal rather than a year-round duty.
On a side note, I really liked your Michael Jackson song think it fit really well for community service.I totally conquer with your statment about the mantinace of love and how you dont really find many songs that mention it. Hindiusm is almost about the path through life the ends and outs of the decions you make ie: Karma, and it should be represeanted.Good job!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your stance about Community Service songs. Its a ton easier to find pleasure songs. I never thought that around Christmas time community service songs were more prevalent. Great point!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I really liked your pick of the Pleasure songs, especially Nelly-Ride Wit Me, since it talks about both love and intoxication/drugs. I also agreed with your statement that although it might initially seem like songs like this one coincide with the Hinduism aim of pleasure, in fact they go against it, simply because they do not emphasize seeking pleasure intelligently. I felt as though there were no parameters described in the songs whatsoever. Perhaps if there had been, it would have been more consistent with the aim of Hinduism. I also thought it was interesting that you brought up the point that simply praying for community service isn't good enough, and that lots of artists comment on the sad situation of the world today but do not urge people to take action. This, and the fact that community service songs only come around every once in a while, may contribute to the lack of emphasis on community service in our modern society. Overall, insightful post.
ReplyDeleteI think you're the first to point out that American singers usually only put out community service-related songs when a disaster has occurred or if it's for a charity event. I'm surprised no one else wrote about this. I agree with you about your claim that physical action is necessary to bring about change.
ReplyDeleteI think you made a really good point with those Backstreet Boys songs. I've never heard that song about the children before, but I think I could sing some of their other songs backwards, I've heard them so many times. So, maybe it's not that artists don't try to release songs raising awareness, but that it's our fault for not listening. I've seen "sex sells" so many times on these blogs, and it's the sad truth. We're the consumer though, so why do we buy it?
ReplyDeleteI like the point you made about how in Hinduism its about the pursuit of love and then actually maintaining that love that gives them pleasure. Most of the pleasure songs that I found were merely about immediate pleasure and maintaining long.
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