Ariana Grande’s new single 7 Rings has shot up to #1 on the Billboard charts and broke the record for most streams in a 24-hour period on Spotify. More importantly, the youth of our society are hearing a song that highlights and celebrates the four pillars of an advanced capitalist ideology as identified by Berard, Penner, & Bartlett (2010, pp. 63-65). These pillars are:
1) YOUTH AS CONSUMERS
2) YOUTH AS SELF-ABSORBED
3) YOUTH AS REBELLIOUS
4) YOUTH AS ONLY PEER-ORIENTED
Youth are often unaware of how songs like 7 Rings shape them by teaching a specific ideology. And it’s even harder to see who is behind the scenes and benefits from youth buying into the images and ideas presented to them through popular culture.
We all deserve to know what we are being taught and why so that we can make informed choices about whether we believe it or not. Learning music discernment helps us understand the finer details of a song by asking questions about the mood created, themes explored, the artist’s intent, and how it is impacting us and others. Click here to download a PDF of the Five Questions You Should Ask When You Hear a Song.
After learning these five questions during an Engaging Music Presentation, a high school student responded by saying:
“He awakened me to the fact that in our community we don’t really listen to what is playing on the radio. We hear it, but we don’t listen. On our playlists it’s the same thing: we add things because we like how they sound but not for there underlying messages. Micah gave us something to think about and called us out of a sort of “sleep” which our generation has fallen into in regards to letting music play without recognizing the song and its meaning.”
Youth are harmed when they are devalued and taught that their only purpose as teenagers is to consume and hang out with friends. They miss out on contributing meaningfully to their community and learning how valued they are by other generations.
Do you know of youth who are unaware of how popular culture is shaping their views of what it means to be human? Help them learn music discernment so that they are equipped to make informed decisions. Email Micah to receive complimentary helpful written resources and to learn what it might look like to have Micah teach music discernment skills during a presentation in your area.
[Verse 1]
Yeah, breakfast at Tiffany’s and bottles of bubbles
Girls with tattoos who like getting in trouble
Lashes and diamonds, ATM machines
Buy myself all of my favorite things (Yeah)
Been through some bad shit, I should be a sad bitch
Who woulda thought it’d turn me to a savage?
Rather be tied up with calls and not strings
Write my own checks like I write what I sing, yeah (Yeah)
[Pre-Chorus]
My wrist, stop watchin’, my neck is flossy
Make big deposits, my gloss is poppin’
You like my hair? Gee, thanks, just bought it
I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it (Yeah)
[Chorus]
I want it, I got it, I want it, I got it
I want it, I got it, I want it, I got it
You like my hair? Gee, thanks, just bought it
I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it (Yep)
[Verse 2]
Wearing a ring, but ain’t gon’ be no “Mrs.”
Bought matching diamonds for six of my bitches
I’d rather spoil all my friends with my riches
Think retail therapy my new addiction
Whoever said money can’t solve your problems
Must not have had enough money to solve ’em
They say, “Which one?” I say, “Nah, I want all of ’em”
Happiness is the same price as red-bottoms [Pre-Chorus]
My smile is beamin’ (Yeah), my skin is gleamin’ (Is gleamin’)
The way it shine, I know you’ve seen it (You’ve seen it)
I bought a crib just for (Just for) the closet (Closet)
Both his and hers, I want it, I got it, yeah
[Chorus]
I want it, I got it, I want it, I got it
I want it, I got it, I want it, I got it (Baby)
You like my hair? Gee, thanks, just bought it (Oh yeah)
I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it (Yep)
[Verse 3]
Yeah, my receipts be lookin’ like phone numbers
If it ain’t money, then wrong number
Black card is my business card
The way it be settin’ the tone for me
I don’t mean to brag, but I be like, “Put it in the bag,” yeah
When you see them racks, they stacked up like my ass, yeah
Shoot, go from the store to the booth
Make it all back in one loop, gimme the loot
Never mind, I got the juice
Nothing but net when we shoot
Look at my neck, look at my jet
Ain’t got enough money to pay me respect
Ain’t no budget when I’m on the set
If I like it, then that’s what I get, yeah