Comments on: I deradioed a girl

By: Ben

Ben — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 05:20:31 +0000

Julie and Stephen: Of course it’s not necessarily more offensive. It just happened to be in the limelight (being the #1 on iTunes and all), which made it a good target for concerned citizens. No sense in speaking out against songs nobody’s listening to.

TR: The song was already popular before my post. I’m not worried. :)

Xister: LOL on wanting to kiss a girl. :P (And three cheers for controversial posts. ;)) Agreed on the small behavior changes. And it really isn’t about whether the song will turn people gay (I don’t think it will) — it’s about promoting a lifestyle that’s antithetical not only to the gospel but also to anyone who believes in fidelity in relationships.

rikker: Thanks, pal. :P

Janet: Thanks for the Elder Nelson reference. Timely. :)

Anneke: I agree completely.

sixline: Good summary. :)

George: LOL :)

Jaclyn: Agreed on both counts.

By: Jaclyn

Jaclyn — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 02:48:41 +0000

Interesting discussion - I hate that the song is number one partially for the content (though as mentioned above Perry’s music is sadly not the most offensive on the top 40) and partially because it’s not even good music. There are so many brilliant artists and Perry wins as the top download/video/song in America. Gross–

By: George

George — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:38:45 +0000

I had never heard of the song until you mentioned it. It got me curious, I listened to it and like it a lot. It’s my new ringtone. Thanks for introducing us to a great song!

By: sixline

sixline — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:39:43 +0000

She produced a song and sung it. She has that right.

Ben and his friends are saying they don’t like it and don’t want it on the radio. They have that right.

That sounds pretty fair to me.

By: Janet

Janet — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:47:05 +0000

rikker, I agree that calling attention to the negative things in life can be counterproductive depending on the purpose it serves. I don’t join groups on facebook or play games. It is a waste of my time. I love facebook for keeping in touch with family and close friends.

However, I appreciate the heads up that I get from others who are into things I have little time for. I have often used Ben’s heads up when I write for my company ezine which is sent to over 40,000 people. I also forward Connor’s emails to friends to spread a word of warning.

Your heads up on learning foreign languages has made a difference in my grand-children’s lives.

I guess what I’m thinking is that we never know what influence our heads up have on others so if your motives are pure, follow your heart.

By: rikker

rikker — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:39:42 +0000

Fair enough, Janet. So I guess the question is whether things like this Facebook group are productive or counterproductive. If they only serve to bring more attention to the song, then I’d say don’t bother.

By: Anneke Majors

Anneke Majors — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:17:56 +0000

Kudos to you. I’m a little pop culture illiterate apparently, because it took me until this week to realize this song existed, but it kept showing up as the most popular download on iTunes, so I looked up the lyrics and the controversy about it.

I think we’re at the point now that ignoring it is not going to help the situation. There comes a point when you need to stand up and be counted and make the statement that you are not going to accept certain cultural trends, however harmless people may claim they are.

By: Janet

Janet — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:10:56 +0000

Well Ben,

I haven’t heard the song or joined a group on facebook; however, I did listen to a talk by Elder Russel M. Nelson this week where he pleaded with all of us to take music seriously because it is NOT harmless or innocent. He stated that listening to lyrics that are against God’s commandments does have serious consequences now and in the future.

Perhaps a cavalier listener won’t go kiss someone of the same gender, perhaps they will just loose the protection of the Holy Ghost when it is needed most. Who knows?

I don’t want to find out.

By: Stephen P

Stephen P — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:19:39 +0000

Xister:
Check out the Modesty thread.
Down on the most popular threads area.

By: rikker

rikker — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:53:32 +0000

I wouldn’t be surprised if the singer started the Facebook group herself.

Being hopelessly out of touch with the Billboard Top 100, I’d never heard either song “I Kissed a Girl” or her earlier song “Ur so gay” (apparently decried by some as homophobic). So I went read the lyrics and watched the recent music video. Seems far less offensive to me than much more explicit songs about “straight” sex.

But this really throws a wrench into my plan to get famous for this song I wrote “I frenched a poodle”, because now I’m worried everyone will think I’m promoting bestiality. Drat.

Thanks to this comment, now your blog is going to appear in the Google searches of a whole new class of people, Ben.