This is a post regarding those pesky explainations that shouldn't have to occur, but because in these oh so 'modern times' of ours, parents are required to know what's going on with their children even more so than they were when we were children ourselves.
My daughter is 13 for those of you who don't read often. I tend to listen to music on the radio so I know (or try to anyway) what she's listening and being subjected to. I trust my daughter enough to let her listen to pretty much whatever she wants as long as she doesn't start singing it in public and gets into trouble.
Well she is leaving for Ohio in a few days to visit the man I call my 'father-figure' because he's been there for me since my own father passed. He loves the Little Lady like his own grandchildren and spoils her shamelessly. Yesterday I heard her singing a song that she was listening to (this post was thought up because it was just played again on the radio station we all listen to) and it occurred to me that she really shouldn't be singing this song and she should be made aware of what she is singing and that it is not to be sung outside our home.
The lyrics I heard her singing:
"I'm so addicted to
All the things you do
When you're going down on me
In between the sheets
All the sounds you make
With every breath you take
Its not like anything
When you're loving me"
Addicted by Saving Abel
After hearing her singing it I walk into her room and just let her know not to sing that when she's around 'father-figure'. She asks why not. She didn't really even realize what she was singing, so I repeated the lyrics to her in a normal voice instead of singing them and then she realized what it was she was singing. These bands and music producers seem to be pretty dang good at their jobs if they can get kids singing the lyrics to songs (the music is great, the words are sung in an easy to replicate way) and they don't even notice that they are sexually explicit.
So it's safe to say that my daughter realizes now what this particular song is about. Unfortunately I don't think it's going to make her pay attention any better in the future to the music she choses to listen to. One can only hope she doesn't start singing outloud and end up in trouble for the lyrics. I could just kill her internet connection and empty her ipod and revoke her listening to any radio stations except the Disney station but I have to trust that she'll make better decisions regarding her music and what she sings around others. She's seen worse due to others out of my control and she is still a pretty decent kid. I also think she has enough common sense to know what I'd approve of and what I'd disapprove of.
Any comments?
