Not so perfect after all.
Posted by | Filed under Music
Something I'm going to begin is reviewing the top 5 songs on the Billboard charts each week. Some songs that are popular right now are great. They've got great lyrics and are fine for you to purchase. Others are inappropriate, and as believers in Christ, we should probably avoid them. I'll remind you that my opinions about these songs are my own, stemming from my personal faith. If you disagree with me, then don't follow what I have to say. It's as simple as that.
The top 5 songs this week are...
1.) THUMBS DOWN: "Born This Way" by Lady Gaga
"Born This Way" is a gay rights song. When I first read the lyrics, I was surprised and impressed with the content. I've never been a fan of Lady Gaga before and when I saw the title of "Born This Way," I immediately thought, "Oh, great. Another pro-gay song that puts Christians down." But at first, I seemed to be wrong. 'There's nothing wrong with loving who you are,' she said, 'because you're perfect, babe. So hold your head up, girl, and you'll go far. Listen to me when I say.' I'm beautiful in my way, 'cause God makes no mistakes..." Is God actually being mentioned in a Lady Gaga song?
By the second verse, however, my opinion of the song quickly changed. "A different lover is not a sin... No matter gay, straight, or bi, lesbian, transgendered life. I'm on the right track, baby... Ooh, there ain't no other way. I was born this way." While I believe many homosexual people are sweet and incredibly kind individuals, I do not agree with the meaning of "Born This Way." I believe homosexuality is wrong and I do not support a song that declares it's a good thing... or that God created people to be gay. That contradicts God's Word.
While "Born This Way" is catchy and is hiding under lyrics that seem okay from the surface, Lady Gaga is misguided in her reasoning about God and homosexuality. I do not encourage you to buy this song.
2.) THUMBS UP: "Firework" by Katy Perry
To be honest, I'm not a fan of Katy Perry, especially after I saw her sensual "California Girls" music video. However, "Firework" impressed me. As far as I can see, there are no sexual double meanings behind the lyrics. (Please correct me if I'm wrong here.) The song is merely about being yourself and overcoming what other people think about you. "You don't have to feel like a waste of space. You're original, cannot be replaced. If you only knew what the future holds. After a hurricane comes a rainbow." I couldn't find any controversial or inappropriate lyrics in "Firework." While I don't agree with much of Katy Perry's music, lifestyle, and music videos, this song in itself is surprisingly decent and even encouraging. I don't see anything wrong with you adding it to your playlist.
3.) ISH: "Grenade" by Bruno Mars
This is a break up sort of song where Bruno Mars sings as one who feels rejected by the girl he loves. His lyrics are quite passion-filled. See for yourself "I'd catch a grenade for ya. Throw my hand on a blade for ya. I'd jump in front of a train for ya. You know I'd do anything for ya. I would go through all this pain for ya, take a bullet straight through my brain. Yes, I would die for you, baby, but you won't do the same."
I can see both good and dangerous meanings behind this song. As a spouse, I think it's admirable that Bruno Mars is willing to die for the one he loves. However, if a young boyfriend or girlfriend hears the words "take a bullet straight through my brain... Yes, I would die for you, baby," I'm worried that Bruno Mars's words might encourage suicidal reactions after a harsh breakup. However, despite my caution, I think Bruno Mars's intentions were good and the song is not inappropriate, so my review comes up as this: Decide for yourself whether or not you like the content of this song. I can't find anything directly inappropriate within its lyrics.
4.) THUMBS DOWN: "Black and Yellow" by Wiz Khalifa
Despite the fact that this song is number four on the charts, I've never heard it before in my life until today. And I gotta say, I don't think I've been missing out. "Black and Yellow" is focused on material possessions, lust, drugs, and anger. I found swear words everywhere. Let me show you a "mild" verse. "B******* love me 'cause I'm f******* with their best friends. Not a lesbian, but she a freak though. This ain't for one night, I'm shining all week, ho'." "Black and Yellow" also uses the n-word and talks about women in derogatory ways, using terms like "ho" and the b-word. The f-word is used more than once, and drugs are mentioned freely. No, I can't find anything good in this song. I give it a thumbs down.
5.) THUMBS DOWN: "F******* Perfect" by P!nk
Okay, I can already tell you that I won't be recommending this song, just by its title. What's sad is that this song has potential to have a good meaning. But have you noticed the similarities between this song and "Born This Way"? Saying "you're perfect" seems to be a new trend amongst popular songs right now. P!nk seems to have good intentions with "F****** Perfect"'s lyrics. The chorus goes like this: "Pretty pretty please, don't you ever feel like you're less than f****** perfect. Pretty pretty please, if you ever feel like you're nothing, you're f****** perfect to me."
Aside from the obvious fact that nobody can be "perfect," the song seems to be meant to encourage a friend or boyfriend of some sort and raise their self esteem. However, if someone sang this song to me to help lift up my self worth, I think it would bring me down even more. No, there are too many uses of the f-word for me to ever consider recommending this song.
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What do you think about this new series? Do you agree with what I have to say? Disagree? You're free to share your opinion in the comments below.
The top 5 songs this week are...
1.) THUMBS DOWN: "Born This Way" by Lady Gaga
"Born This Way" is a gay rights song. When I first read the lyrics, I was surprised and impressed with the content. I've never been a fan of Lady Gaga before and when I saw the title of "Born This Way," I immediately thought, "Oh, great. Another pro-gay song that puts Christians down." But at first, I seemed to be wrong. 'There's nothing wrong with loving who you are,' she said, 'because you're perfect, babe. So hold your head up, girl, and you'll go far. Listen to me when I say.' I'm beautiful in my way, 'cause God makes no mistakes..." Is God actually being mentioned in a Lady Gaga song?
By the second verse, however, my opinion of the song quickly changed. "A different lover is not a sin... No matter gay, straight, or bi, lesbian, transgendered life. I'm on the right track, baby... Ooh, there ain't no other way. I was born this way." While I believe many homosexual people are sweet and incredibly kind individuals, I do not agree with the meaning of "Born This Way." I believe homosexuality is wrong and I do not support a song that declares it's a good thing... or that God created people to be gay. That contradicts God's Word.
While "Born This Way" is catchy and is hiding under lyrics that seem okay from the surface, Lady Gaga is misguided in her reasoning about God and homosexuality. I do not encourage you to buy this song.
2.) THUMBS UP: "Firework" by Katy Perry
To be honest, I'm not a fan of Katy Perry, especially after I saw her sensual "California Girls" music video. However, "Firework" impressed me. As far as I can see, there are no sexual double meanings behind the lyrics. (Please correct me if I'm wrong here.) The song is merely about being yourself and overcoming what other people think about you. "You don't have to feel like a waste of space. You're original, cannot be replaced. If you only knew what the future holds. After a hurricane comes a rainbow." I couldn't find any controversial or inappropriate lyrics in "Firework." While I don't agree with much of Katy Perry's music, lifestyle, and music videos, this song in itself is surprisingly decent and even encouraging. I don't see anything wrong with you adding it to your playlist.
3.) ISH: "Grenade" by Bruno Mars
This is a break up sort of song where Bruno Mars sings as one who feels rejected by the girl he loves. His lyrics are quite passion-filled. See for yourself "I'd catch a grenade for ya. Throw my hand on a blade for ya. I'd jump in front of a train for ya. You know I'd do anything for ya. I would go through all this pain for ya, take a bullet straight through my brain. Yes, I would die for you, baby, but you won't do the same."
I can see both good and dangerous meanings behind this song. As a spouse, I think it's admirable that Bruno Mars is willing to die for the one he loves. However, if a young boyfriend or girlfriend hears the words "take a bullet straight through my brain... Yes, I would die for you, baby," I'm worried that Bruno Mars's words might encourage suicidal reactions after a harsh breakup. However, despite my caution, I think Bruno Mars's intentions were good and the song is not inappropriate, so my review comes up as this: Decide for yourself whether or not you like the content of this song. I can't find anything directly inappropriate within its lyrics.
4.) THUMBS DOWN: "Black and Yellow" by Wiz Khalifa
Despite the fact that this song is number four on the charts, I've never heard it before in my life until today. And I gotta say, I don't think I've been missing out. "Black and Yellow" is focused on material possessions, lust, drugs, and anger. I found swear words everywhere. Let me show you a "mild" verse. "B******* love me 'cause I'm f******* with their best friends. Not a lesbian, but she a freak though. This ain't for one night, I'm shining all week, ho'." "Black and Yellow" also uses the n-word and talks about women in derogatory ways, using terms like "ho" and the b-word. The f-word is used more than once, and drugs are mentioned freely. No, I can't find anything good in this song. I give it a thumbs down.
5.) THUMBS DOWN: "F******* Perfect" by P!nk
Okay, I can already tell you that I won't be recommending this song, just by its title. What's sad is that this song has potential to have a good meaning. But have you noticed the similarities between this song and "Born This Way"? Saying "you're perfect" seems to be a new trend amongst popular songs right now. P!nk seems to have good intentions with "F****** Perfect"'s lyrics. The chorus goes like this: "Pretty pretty please, don't you ever feel like you're less than f****** perfect. Pretty pretty please, if you ever feel like you're nothing, you're f****** perfect to me."
Aside from the obvious fact that nobody can be "perfect," the song seems to be meant to encourage a friend or boyfriend of some sort and raise their self esteem. However, if someone sang this song to me to help lift up my self worth, I think it would bring me down even more. No, there are too many uses of the f-word for me to ever consider recommending this song.
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What do you think about this new series? Do you agree with what I have to say? Disagree? You're free to share your opinion in the comments below.
Tags: billboard charts, black and yellow, born this way, bruno mars, christian music reviews, city on a hill, firework, grenade, katy perry, lady gaga, p!nk, pink, song reviews, top 100 songs, wiz khalifa
I'm excited for this series!! :)
I love this series idea!! And I totally agree with what you're saying here :)
Aw, this will be a fun series.
You did a good job by having almost even good vs. bad songs.
Though I think it would be cool, if you posted a good alternative song for every inappropiate song that you listed.
Just and idea:)
On #5, I did NOT know the title for that song was that. I also didn't know those were the words. On the radio, I really like the edited version: "Pretty pretty please, don't you ever ever feel, like your less than, less than perfect." I think the version you listed is bad, but the radio edit is better, but still not perfect (kind of contradicts the song, huh).
So... what are your opinions on the radio edit version of Pink's F'ing Perfect, the clean one? I mean, obviously it still has the whole 'perfect' thing, but would you have it as a thumbs up, a thumbs down, or an ish?
I LOVE this series idea though :D
@Suzanna
That's a good idea. If a song ever reminds me of an alternative, I'll share that, but it's hard to find songs that are incredibly similar.
@Anny
Even the radio edit is called "F**kin Perfect" from what I'm seeing, so the word is still in the title, even if it's not in the song's edited lyrics. Personally, I wouldn't spend money on that song because if its original lyrics. I feel like she's barely skating by here. I'll give it an "ISH" and let you decide for yourself whether or not you're willing to make a compromise for the edited version. :)
@everybody
I'm glad you like this series idea! I'm getting excited about it because I love secular music... it's just so hard to know whether or not something is clean when you hear it on the radio.
"Firework" is a fantastic song... but I wouldn't watch the music video for it. The video shows the story of four different people. A boy and his younger sister are watching his parents fighting, and at the end of the song he gets angry and finally yells at them. A girl is afraid to swim in the pool because she is shy and overweight. At the end of the song, she jumps into the pool in a bikini. A girl has cancer and is bald. She is afraid to go out in public because of her baldness, and at the end of the song she runs outside and dances. The last boy is eying another boy at the party, and eventually gets over his fear and the two boys begin kissing.
Some aspects of the video are okay, but I felt that they changed the spirit of the song a bit for me.
Thanks for sharing that, Abby. If you add Firework's music video into the equation, it would definitely turn the song "ISH" for me.