Musical Messages

What’s that song you’re listening to?’ ‘Who sings it?’ These are common questions we ask the people around us or search the internet to discover. But how often do we ask, ‘What is this song about?’

Every day people are exposed to music at home, in the car on the way to/from work or children’s activities, at stores, in the community. We don’t even pay much attention to most of it, and yet we can find ourselves humming or singing along with friends, family, or children, not really knowing what messages we may be endorsing by joining in on those catchy tunes and repeated refrains.

In recent years, there has been much media attention given to this question about the messages contained in both lyrics and corresponding videos. A few years ago people were talking about Robin Thicke’s ‘Blurred Lines’, featuring T.I. and Pharrell Williams, which repeats the phrase, ‘You know you want it.' Lyrics like this perpetuate the idea that someone else has the right to tell you, when you want it, rather than you deciding for yourself and freely consenting. Survivors of sexual assault often describe how the perpetrator used phrases just like ‘you know you want it’ before, during and after the assault. The video, which included scantily clad models, plus a racy awards show performance of the song with Miley Cyrus only served to incite additional anger and criticism from individuals, media, artists and advocacy groups alike, who recognized the song’s message as clearly degrading to women, reducing them to animalistic, sexual objects.

About a year after ‘Blurred Lines’ hit the airwaves Maroon 5 released a song called ‘Animals.' These lyrics very clearly state, ‘I’m preying on you tonight… Just like animals’. The corresponding video portrays a blood-covered, meat cleaver-wielding butcher, who stalks a woman. The stalker’s criminal behavior appears to pay off as he is portrayed as ending up in a sexual encounter with the woman. What message might boys and men take from this scenario?

What messages do survivors hear? Consider songs by more current artists like Meghan Trainor and even Jimmy Fallon of the Tonight Show, who released similarly titled songs-‘Walkashame’ and ‘Walk of Shame’, respectively. Each version describes the morning following a late night of partying, drinking and perhaps sex. While both songs are upbeat with comical lyrics, they refer to the very same events experienced by individuals, who have been the victim of sexual assault. Think for a moment about the judgment, guilt, and blame that is placed upon the person, completing this ‘rite of passage’ as described by Fallon. How might a survivor hear these messages about shame, alcohol and who is responsible for what they just experienced? 

Thankfully, many artists have been able to write about the experiences of survivors, offering sources of understanding, expression and hope. A basic internet search identifies songs by a variety of artists such as Aerosmith-‘Janie’s Got a Gun’, Pearl Jam-‘Alive’, Amy Grant-‘Ask Me’, Tupac Shakur-‘Brenda’s Got a Baby’, Kenny Chesney-‘California’, The Scorpions-‘Daddy’s Girl’, The Cranberries-‘Fee Fi Fo’, The Who-‘Fiddle About’, Ani Difranco-‘Gratitude’, Tori Amos-‘Me and a Gun’, Pat Benatar-‘Suffer the Little Children’, and many, many more. NoMore.org currently lists ‘Ten Inspiring Songs about Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault that will move You.’

Included among the NoMore.org list is a song written by Lady Gaga and Diane Warren specifically for ‘The Hunting Ground,' a documentary about sexual assault on college campuses. The song, ‘Til it Happens to You,’ the accompanying video, and a powerful live performance at the 2016 Oscars convey the pain and isolation victims may experience in the aftermath of an assault but also offer a message of hope as survivors gain strength and find support in others, who believe them. Songs like these show survivors they are not alone and that someone will believe them. What other messages do you think songs and videos like these send to survivors? To friends and families? To campuses? The general public?

As individuals or as part of a larger group, we can all strive to be more mindful of the messages interwoven into the music of our daily lives. Furthermore, we can stand with survivors by joining and supporting several national campaigns, which address issues of sexual assault and violence. As part of Vice President Biden’s introduction to Lady Gaga’s Oscar performance, he implored us all to go to It’s On Us and to take a pledge to change the culture surrounding sexual assault. Any group, organization, geographical location, etc. can promote a sexual assault response in which people ‘Start by Believing.’ Of course, everyone can say ‘No More’ to all interpersonal violence. Whether through one of these national campaigns or in the media we access every day, please, consider the messages you are sending.

Written by Tara R., Medical/Legal Advocate