On January 15, 1967 The Rolling Stones returned to perform on The Ed Sullivan Show. Based on their four prior appearances, the Stones had figured out that an appearance on Sullivan’s show boosted record sales. Thus, when Ed Sullivan insisted that the band change its lyrics from “Let’s spend the night together” to “Let’s spend some time together,” they complied. Not happily, of course, but they complied.

Sometimes I attend an aerobics style class to keep my heart and body in good shape. The instructors use current pop songs for some of the workout music. Most of the time, I am too busy trying to get the steps right to think too much about the lyrics. However, I have started tuning in more. And I am appalled.

Back in 1967, Ed Sullivan drew a line that he would not cross on his show. Today media outlets do have certain restrictions, but they are very few, and you have to get pretty extreme to cross the line. Short of a profanity-laced rant or a “wardrobe malfunction,” just about anything is written, talked, shown, or sung about this days.

How much is too much in our lyrics? Has our music become too sexualized? And what effect do sexually explicit lyrics have on our view of sex itself?

Lest you think I’m adopting the Church Lady approach to ranting and raving about modern culture, when I first started drafting this post, I took a look at the Top 10 on Billboard.com and on iTunes. Thankfully, the majority of hits were more about puppy love and dancing, but among them was Usher’s “Scream.” Obviously, I recommend against buying this song; however, so you know what I’m talking about, there are some of its lyrics:

I see you over there so hypnotic
Thinkin’ ’bout what I’d do to that body,
I’ll getchu like ooh baby baby, ooh baby baby
A-ooh baby baby, ooh baby baby
Got no drink in my hand, but I’m wasted
Gettin’ drunk off the thought of you naked
I’ll getchu like ooh baby baby, ooh baby baby
A-ooh baby baby, ooh baby baby
And I’ve tried to fight it, to fight it
But you’re so magnetic, magnetic
Got one life, just live it, just live it
Now relax and get on your back
If you wanna scream yeah,
Let me know and I’ll take you there
Get you going like a-ooh baby baby, ooh baby baby
A-ooh baby baby, ooh baby baby
If you want it done right
Hope you’re ready to go all night,
Get you going like a-ooh baby baby, ooh baby baby
A-ooh baby baby, ooh baby baby

I looked again as I was polishing the post, and I can’t even print what Lil Wayne says. (His mama needs to wash his mouth out with the lye soap made by the Beverly Hillbillies Granny. At least twice.)

Note that this may be music your kids hear. That’s disturbing. (Which is why you need to talk to them about sex and get your values across to combat these messages.)

However, is there any reason I should listen to this either? What talk about sexuality is appropriate in our music choices?

I have to admit that some songs that hint at sexual intimacy do not offend me. In fact, I’m happy to load my MP3 player with songs that might inspire a little nookie between the hubster and me. Background music while making love can enhance the experience.

But I wanted to explore this subject this week. Today’s post is a warning/question about our sexualized music. Philippians 4:8 says that we should think about “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable . . . excellent or praiseworthy . . .” Psalm 101:3 states, “I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar.” One would assume that listening to the vile and vulgar is also not pleasing to the Lord. And the admonishment to “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life” (Proverbs 4:23) is immediately followed by this verse: “Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech.”

It matters what messages we put into our brain.

Our music can influence how we think about sex.

Some Christians simply choose to avoid secular music altogether and tune into Christian music stations or listen to classical or instrumental music. Frankly, my own music tastes run the gamut from Johann Sebastian Bach to Steven Curtis Chapman to Martina McBride to Train to classic Rush . . . and anything you can think of in between.

I suspect I’m like most of you — listening to a variety of music and filtering through the lyrics as needed. Sometimes, I find myself lost in the beat and tune before I think to myself, “Would I be listening to this if Jesus was here?”

I worry, though, that while such songs were rare in previous times, now they swarm our radio stations. Online radio (such as Pandora, Spotify, and others) also means that we often hear the explicit version of a song rather than the sanitized one that would be played on public airwaves. Where you used to have to hunt for those songs, now you must actively dodge them like a paintball warrior trying to avoid being marked.

So how much is too much? When has a line been crossed?

Personally, I try to stay away from songs that describe sex in a cheap or coarse way. Can I quantify that? No. But I usually know it when I hear it.

I don’t believe that all music describing sexuality is bad. As I said, I keep some tunes on my MP3 player that get me in the mood or provide good background music for hubby and me. So I want to come back on Thursday and provide a lovemaking playlist for couples. If you want to make your own suggestions to my list, please head over to my Facebook page HERE and answer that question.

For the comments below, however, do you think about how our current music represents sexuality? Has our society collectively crossed a line? Do you have standards for what you listen to?

Sources: EdSullivan.com; Billboard.

The post Our Sexualized Music appeared first on Hot, Holy & Humorous.