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Madonna wrote a book about it. Did Marilyn Manson alter his? Just about every other musician flaunts theirs. What is it? Sex. For some time now, sex and sexuality have been as much a part of rock 'n' roll as the music itself.
These days just about everyone acknowledges sex's place in music, from sexy dancers in videos, to the skimpy clothes of the performers, to the sexually explicit lyrics found in every music genre from country to metal. Sexuality in music wasn't always so blatant, and does not seem to be slowing down. Back in the 50 s Elvis shocked the moral majority with his suggestive dancing, which amounted to gyrating his hips. Because of his suggestive dancing, only his head was allowed to be shown on television. Now, it's not unusual for rock videos to show nearly naked women, or for explicit descriptions of sex to be found in songs. With his powerful lyrics and natural hip swinging sexuality he became a teen idol and a role model for the generations of cool rebels.
He was repeatedly labeled as being vulgar, incompetent and a bad influence among the young teens that enjoyed his music. Of the recordings Elvis made he brought with them a new sound that became an essential quality of his musical work. Another example of the sexual explicitness of rock music can be found with Jim Morrison. The Doors' dramatic delivery of poetic lyrics set to a classic blues / rock beat won them many fans, but Jim's character won them just as many. Morrison was prone to vulgar displays of self-indulgence onstage. From the beginning, the Doors were barred from playing in many clubs in San Francisco because of Morrison's tendency to mimic sexual self-gratification onstage, many times using the microphone stand as a penile extension (Marsh 1996). "Light My Fire" was full of sexual innuendo.
Morrison never failed to deliver to his audience a truly captivating rock 'n' roll show. The era of blatant sexual imagery and lyrics begun with the creation of MTV. The artist whom exploited this to the fullest was Madonna. Although Madonna has reached stardom, her fans admit that she didn't achieve fame from her voice alone.
The singer actually has a very limited vocal range. Madonna is a strong, sexy performer who capitalized on her ability to strut her stuff, instead of focusing solely on her voice. Madonna has always cashed in on her ability to shock the public. Her controversial song "Like a Virgin" was delivered from a bright red bed while embracing a male dancer. Many artists have copied Madonnas approach to creating music videos, and shocking the public. Its very important that society understands the implications of sexual materials such as rock music.
Unfortunately sexual innuendo, and explicit imagery, created as a form of rebellion in rock has evolved to a malicious representation of women as well as fabricated interpretation of a proper male female relationship. Some how over the last fifty years a fully clothed gyrating Elvis has transformed into a half naked Britney Spears gyrating in an orgy corner in her newest video Im a slave for You. The graphic images presented to children are bordering pornography, and the connotations children get from the messages are uncensored and unexplained, leaving kids alone to find meaning for themselves. Even more disturbing is the nature of Rap videos over the past five years. Almost every video you see has half naked women dancing for men who have all the money and the fancy cars. To kids, who learn primarily though observation, this will undoubtedly have negative consequences.
The sexual nature of rock and roll gives an interesting incite into the nature of the music. Rock music seems to be rebellious in nature, and what is a better why to express that rebellion then though sexuality, something that society deems to be kept under the covers. Rock music exploits the primitive instincts of us all, and in such a way that we keep asking for more. The recurring use of sex in the music can further the understanding of rock music since it shows itself in an emotional state. The music can be very passionate and fulfilling, and at the same time rock music is full of death, frustration and sadness, which parallels sexual relationships. Undoubtedly there is a genuine connection between rock music and sex.
The sexual element of the music allowed the artists to push the envelope of acceptable material and to ignite the rebel of past and present generations. Bibliography: Marsh, Edward. "The Lizard King: Jim Morrison. " Autograph Collector (1996): 1 - 3. October 8 2001. < web
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