Cracking down on Lyric sites

[leedeck21]

Looks as though the corporations are now cracking down on websites that give song lyrics:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6591887.stm

I'm a musician myself and I can tell you right now that if anything you want as many people to know the lyrics as possible, why the hell you would want to pin your fan base down to one website and limit the availabilty of those lyrics on the web is beyond me.

 

**Grumble Grumble**

[nightolm]

Just another attempt by the music industry to tighten their stranglehold on artists music thats all.

[TheMightyBoosh]

I believe someone called for the removal of three words that should be seen as 'very strong language' in rap music. And to be honest i agree with him, I don't like rap music as a rule, some songs have had an effect on me and they didn't need to swear to do it, but i don't see why every line has to have the 'n' word on it, or why every women must be called a 'bitch' or 'ho'. I know we have freedom of speech, but surley thats racism and sexism, i'm sure that stuff is frowned upon.

I understand it must be hard to come up with new stuff, seeing as nearly every song these days is a cover of an older song that WAS really good, untill some new band murdered it. The good stuff's been done, but it doesn't mean you have to read racist, abrasive, coarse 'hardcore poetry' (thats really all it is.) to a beat.

Just an opinion... What do you guys think about it?

[mjoyo129]

I do not see what the real problem is at all.
If someone is looking up lyrics it probably means that they like the song already and just want to get the lyrics down...they are not going to lose any bussness so why are they going around making such a big deal about this?

As for the whole rap music thing...I agree in the fact that there is a lot of strong language in them, that is one of the reasons that I do not personaly listen to rap.  But I do not think that it is an issue with this whole lyric thing...I mean if you are not into that don't read it.  Just like is you start listening to a song that you do not like because of the language, you turn if off.

[nikita]

I believe someone called for the removal of three words that should be seen as 'very strong language' in rap music. And to be honest i agree with him, I don't like rap music as a rule, some songs have had an effect on me and they didn't need to swear to do it, but i don't see why every line has to have the 'n' word on it, or why every women must be called a 'bitch' or 'ho'. I know we have freedom of speech, but surley thats racism and sexism, i'm sure that stuff is frowned upon.

I understand it must be hard to come up with new stuff, seeing as nearly every song these days is a cover of an older song that WAS really good, untill some new band murdered it. The good stuff's been done, but it doesn't mean you have to read racist, abrasive, coarse 'hardcore poetry' (thats really all it is.) to a beat.

Just an opinion... What do you guys think about it?

Of course, you realize that your opinion on rap as a genre is stereotypical at best?

Not to go off on a crusade or anything, but gangsta rap isn't ALL of rap.  A lot of rappers rap about intelligent topics like politics, or theology.  Just because gangsta got popular in the 90s doesn't mean that's all what the genre is.  It'd be like equating Death Metal to the only form of Rock, or hell, the only form of Metal, which is completely ignorant.

Also, in terms of usage of the "n word," (and fuck censoring myself, I'm a brotha and a brotha should be able to say what he wants.  If a mod has a problem, I'll block it out, but for now, I'm saying what I wanna say), it's part of the evolution of our culture.  Black culture has always been about taking the bad out of the situation, and somehow finding the good part of it.  Silver lining, you know?  Before, nigga was a racial slur, and now it's a term used between brothers.  Most folks you talk to (at least most intelligent folks anyways) aren't insulted by the word itself: evidenced by the fact that generally, the term "nigga" applies to more than just blacks, it applies to friends, be they white, asian, or hispanic.  I use it freely within a certain crowd, but at the same time I excercise restraint because I am well aware of the power the word possesses.  I don't like giving a word too much power, and "nigga" doesn't infuriate me because that's just what it is: a word. When someone uses it maliciously, I laugh because that's been a racial slur for 200 years, and they couldn't come up with something better than THAT?  So if you wanna censor "nigga," then you gotta censor free speech, which I'm pretty sure is against my first amendment rights as a citizen of the U.S.A.

As for the whole rap music thing...I agree in the fact that there is a lot of strong language in them, that is one of the reasons that I do not personaly listen to rap.  But I do not think that it is an issue with this whole lyric thing...I mean if you are not into that don't read it.  Just like is you start listening to a song that you do not like because of the language, you turn if off.

Truest statement ever.  If you don't like what you hear, don't listen to it.  I don't like most of what I hear on the radio, do I bitch about it? No, I don't listen to it.

Sorry about the rantage above.

[Jinto]

Also, in terms of usage of the "n word," (and fuck censoring myself, I'm a brotha and a brotha should be able to say what he wants.  If a mod has a problem, I'll block it out, but for now, I'm saying what I wanna say), it's part of the evolution of our culture.  Black culture has always been about taking the bad out of the situation, and somehow finding the good part of it.  Silver lining, you know?  Before, nigga was a racial slur, and now it's a term used between brothers.  Most folks you talk to (at least most intelligent folks anyways) aren't insulted by the word itself: evidenced by the fact that generally, the term "nigga" applies to more than just blacks, it applies to friends, be they white, asian, or hispanic.  I use it freely within a certain crowd, but at the same time I excercise restraint because I am well aware of the power the word possesses.  I don't like giving a word too much power, and "nigga" doesn't infuriate me because that's just what it is: a word. When someone uses it maliciously, I laugh because that's been a racial slur for 200 years, and they couldn't come up with something better than THAT?  So if you wanna censor "nigga," then you gotta censor free speech, which I'm pretty sure is against my first amendment rights as a citizen of the U.S.A.

Here's what I've got to say about that.  If a white guy says the "n" word it's a big deal (look at anytime it's brought up in the media... 9 times out of 10 it was a white guy saying it) but if a black guy says it there's no problem.  Is it just me or is that a racial double standard?

[nikita]

Also, in terms of usage of the "n word," (and fuck censoring myself, I'm a brotha and a brotha should be able to say what he wants.  If a mod has a problem, I'll block it out, but for now, I'm saying what I wanna say), it's part of the evolution of our culture.  Black culture has always been about taking the bad out of the situation, and somehow finding the good part of it.  Silver lining, you know?  Before, nigga was a racial slur, and now it's a term used between brothers.  Most folks you talk to (at least most intelligent folks anyways) aren't insulted by the word itself: evidenced by the fact that generally, the term "nigga" applies to more than just blacks, it applies to friends, be they white, asian, or hispanic.  I use it freely within a certain crowd, but at the same time I excercise restraint because I am well aware of the power the word possesses.  I don't like giving a word too much power, and "nigga" doesn't infuriate me because that's just what it is: a word. When someone uses it maliciously, I laugh because that's been a racial slur for 200 years, and they couldn't come up with something better than THAT?  So if you wanna censor "nigga," then you gotta censor free speech, which I'm pretty sure is against my first amendment rights as a citizen of the U.S.A.

Here's what I've got to say about that.  If a white guy says the "n" word it's a big deal (look at anytime it's brought up in the media... 9 times out of 10 it was a white guy saying it) but if a black guy says it there's no problem.  Is it just me or is that a racial double standard?

Jeez, for all that slavery we went through, I dunno if "racial double standard" is the term you're looking for....maybe it's a cheap form of reparations?   Also, most of the media is white-owned, for lack of a better term...so basically, white people are telling other white people they can't say it. Ironic....

How many times to your recollection has the word honestly been brought up in the media for a white guy saying it?  And don't just respond "A LOT!" I wanna see specific times.  Besides, Michael Richards, I can't remember one time somebody said "nigga" on television or radio and was of Caucasian descent.

Edit: On second thought, don't even bother.  Not that I'm confident you won't find any, but I honestly don't wanna see this thread get locked over my wanting to discuss a word

[Jinto]

Jeez, for all that slavery we went through, I dunno if "racial double standard" is the term you're looking for....maybe it's a cheap form of reparations?

I was thinking of a way to phrase it... that's the best I could come up with.

Edit: It's not that I think it's a matter of "racial double standard" rather that the media jumps at like that.  If someone's going to jump at someone else (regardless of race) for saying it and (at least try to) slap them with a lawsuit then either it should be generally 'banned' (which would limit freedom of speech, something I'm against) or we should all learn to get over it (which is what I'd really like to see happen). 

[leedeck21]

**watches the original topic stumble off into the distance

I actually think its a generation thing, me personally I'm white and I don't say the "n" word because I'm aware its offensive, as churchill said "By swallowing evil words unsaid, no one has ever harmed his stomach.".

That having been said this whole left wing extremist PC view has been drummed up by politicians trying to win votes (atleast here in England). Our generation, the young generation, isn't overly concerned with racism, I almost think we don't have time for it.
I live in the largest private housing estate in Europe.
Me personally I know, as in meet, hang out with, work with people who are
Polish, Finnish, Turkish, Indian, Black, South African, Chinese, Spainish, English and Welsh.
Along with people who are Gay, Straight, Bisexual and Lesbian.

Thats just how England is these days, thats our generation, blame it on whoever you will. I don't know how that affects the country financially, housing wise etc and truthfully I don't think the government do either. But those issues are to do with a rapidly increasing population and its not my job to look into the effects of this population boom.
But simply based on their cultures, it facinates me and I'm your archaetypal 21 year old white male in England.
I tolerate the naieve older generation, but times have changed and it would nice if the media didn't hype up these ricidiculous out cries of racist every few days.

This topic should really be in the music section.

[Hellmark]

Speaking of topic, could we please get back on topic?


Also, moved.