What the Heck is Up with Sexual Lyrics in Modern Pop Music?

Okay, I admit it. I listen to pop music.

My current playlist consists of a collage of genres and artists. I listen to pop, country, instrumentals, movie themes, operatic pop, Indie, classical, the occasional rap song, etc.

I’m sure each genre has its own set of problems, but at the moment, my ax to grind happens to be with modern pop.

This is just my conservative estimate, but it seems that 99.999% of songs that play on hit radio stations have some type of sexual reference. Why is this?

For the record, I’m not complaining about “love” songs per se (although I do wish that hit artists were slightly more creative in their lyrical content), I merely object to the perpetual innuendos of sex, sex, and more sex. It is a shameful reflection of modern society. Is my generation so engrossed in this debauchery so as to forget everything that makes love beautiful?

This depravity is concerning in more ways than one. First off, pop songs tend to be a lackluster conglomeration of two or three phrases repeated over and over.

It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen. – Muhammad Ali

Oh shoot. If that’s the case, I’m not so sure I want to see when “things begin to happen” in my generation.

In the hit song “Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran that lasts just over 4 minutes:

“I’m in love with your body” is repeated 15 times
“Come on, be my baby, come on” is repeated 14 times
“Oh—I—oh—I—oh—I—oh—I” is repeated 6 times

I don’t understand. Is the English language too restrictive to come up with something better than “Oh—I—oh?”

How about explicit content?

Here’s an excerpt from the number 1 hit song in America, “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, featuring Justin Bieber:

“I wanna see you dance
I wanna be your rhythm
I want you to show me
Your favourite places
Let me surpass your danger zones
Till I make you scream
And forget your name
Slowly
We will do It on the beach in Puerto Rico
Till the waves scream dear lord
So that my seal stays with you”

Yeah, didn’t sound so bad when it was in Spanish, huh?

It’s tragic to think that this blatant sexual content has almost 2 billion views on Youtube. Really? Is there seriously nothing better to listen to?

But alas, I can’t judge. I have spent hours cooking, working, exercising, cleaning, and driving to the beat of modern pop music. I even listen to (and enjoy) the songs referenced above.

However it does beg the question: what type of content do I want influencing me? Yes it’s a catchy tune, but surely these explicit lyrics are contributing to the moral degeneration of society.

It’s a personal question. Maybe you care; maybe you don’t. But while you think about it, why not work to redeem this sordid world in which we live. Consider adding something enlightening, inspiring, or educational to your playlist. If you’re on a road trip, try listening to an audiobook, podcast, or Ted Talk. There are so many ways to improve the mind (if you’re looking for more ideas, check out this post on self-improvement and holistic health). Breakup your routine and try something different—improve yourself and the world.

Learn something new and remember—today will be AMAZING!