This is one of those days where I won’t review a song or album, but the response is what drives my post. We’re all aware that Lady Gaga’s new single dropped yesterday. If not, a Google search will take you right to it easily. I’m not here to give a long, thought out review of the song, but I want to talk about some of the criticisms. While, after giving the single a listen, I believe ”Born This Way” falls short of the hype surrounding it, and it isn’t something I’ll buy or listen to because I feel like it, the response that it arrives late as an “it gets better” anthem bothers me. A lot, actually.
In the first place, songs meant to encourage people are nothing new. In fact, let’s talk about “Innocent” by Our Lady Peace, and don’t forget the aim of Billy Joel’s “You’re Only Human (Second Wind)” was the prevention of teenage suicide. If we look back past 1985, I’m sure we’ll find even more songs that fit this bill. My point is that it isn’t anything new, and honestly? I truly believe songs like this are something we need.
I frequently read about how certain songs have saved a person from giving up, and I’ve had personal situations where I’ve felt better just because someone wrote a song that I could relate to at the time. Music is meant to move and inspire, and if the intention of these songs are fulfilled, wonderful. That’s what it was supposed to do. Yes, many songs like this seem to have been released recently. Just look at Katy Perry or P!nk. The thing is, they just happen to be popular right now. It’s pretty clear why these songs have reached such popular heights in the past couple of years. A large number of people likely listen to them because they do encourage them.
And if you’re asking why do we need another one? Think about it for a moment. Not everyone likes Katy Perry. While “Firework” is a highly encouraging song, some people hate her so much they would refuse to listen to the lyrics she’s singing and claim she knows nothing about it. But what if they are Eminem fans? It’s highly likely that they would listen to “Not Afraid,” which is an amazing song in its own right. I’m only using these two mainstream artists as examples (I’m not trying to say someone who likes Eminem has to hate Katy Perry either). The same could be said of someone who hates both but is a fan of indie rock or any other genre of music. When different artists do songs like that, the optimism reaches more people than if only one artist did a song like this. We live in a world that can be difficult and sad sometimes, and if music somehow is an encouragement, then let it be.
I’m not naïve enough to believe that every single artist isn’t looking at dollar signs, but I’m also not cynical enough to believe that they don’t care about their audiences. Many of them likely write these songs because they’ve felt low at some point in time or know someone who has and wanted to encourage others. Face it. Musicians are human. They do have feelings of heartache and despair at times, and they understand how it feels. There isn’t any sort of desensitization process they go through when they become famous. But now I’m veering off topic. Cynicism within the media and general public is a discussion for another day.
I suppose songs like this need to fall into the over-used but completely relevant category of “Don’t like? Don’t listen.”
Hearing It As It Is 