Wiacono1

Why is it music is censored? Why is it as listeners we are continuously instructed on what material is considered right or wrong? Why can’t we make our own mind up?

Ever since the beginning of technological developments, we have been subjected to censorship. In the past contemporary and popular music has had many songs completely banning from airplay and distribution based whole upon lyrics and artwork that today, we would laugh at. One song that comes to mind is George Formby's "When I'm Cleaning Windows" which was banning for the phrase, "The blushing bride she looks divine".

As time has developed, our social values and attitudes towards different subjects have in turn evolved so positively that one would think censorship was now a thing of the past; you'd be wrong. With every song and video vigorously following a set of rules and procedures to ensure their allowance of airtime and distribution, censorship is still alive and more than ever effecting the music we listen to. One most common form of censorship today is related to profanities hear within the lyrical content of a song. In a modern world where communication is so accessible, profanities are more than ever intrinsically involved within the use and representation of our culture and society. It seem crazy to me that a form of expression such as a 'harmless' swear word are being bleeped, blanked, back masked and bent to save our ears from the horror that be a profanity. I mean somebody please define the level of profanity that differentiates a word from a swear word. An example of this is heard in Lily Allens song '**** You' where the phrase is muted or in the case of T.I's and Justin Timberlake's where the phrase 'Niggas die everyday' was replaced with 'people die everyday'.

Another ridiculous yet common form of censorship is perhaps the ultimate form natural human expression, sex. The intimate act of two people revealing their deepest, inner most selves is a true definition of art and beauty, it should be talked about and celebrated and definitely not censorship. However tracks like Ed Sheerans 'Don't' in which the entire first line of the chorus is removed because of the use of the word sex are still getting censored. What does this tell us? Well, we must understand that conforming to society attitudes and what we imagine as the norm is in fact embracing authoritarianism and control, creating fear, barriers and isolation to the real thoughts of freedom. The fear of change that authority creates was shown in the 1970's when John Lennon and Yoko Ono produced the cover to "Two Virgins". How could something so beautiful and scientifically correct provoke such an outrage?

It is true to say that authority has improved its approach with issues such as homosexuality, political affairs, our religious beliefs and our racial inequality as time has gone by; but step carefully whatever is deemed to controversial by the public or authority will be censored. I'm afraid it's far more truthful to say freedom of speech is definitely false. Perhaps someday we will look at what we censor today with the same amount of amusement as what has been censored in the past. Perhaps someday people will understand, what is considered normal is everything that cause solitude and isolation and is informed from the elite downwards. No one should be able to tell us what’s right or wrong with our opinion.