I have a relationship with Jedi Mind Tricks that makes me a little uncomfortable. They sound good. I really like their sound but when you listen to their lyrics it is really awful. Lots of anti-gay, hateful and other stuff that is really not what I am about. I have settled into just listening to the music because it sounds good and ignoring the lyrics but it gets hard. I don’t worry that the music is going to sway me to that viewpoint… I am not that weak willed. Really I just wonder how others deal with music they enjoy the sound of but feel uncomfortable about the meaning behind.
I love blues and blues rock, but the lyrics are often full of misogyny, unfortunately. Same with rap. Some I can’t listen to anymore because of that, but some I give the benefit of the doubt, if that makes sense. They feel like they are using a misogynistic language, but aren’t actually saying anything misogynistic.
Oh and then there are these really sad and self depreciating songs I used to love, when I was more emo, like Creep. I still love the sound, but I can’t connect with the lyrics anymore. I’m basically only listening to them, when I’m down and even then I’m basically ignoring the content and focus on the vibes.
Same with old school rock and metal. Cocaine and lolitas. Then once hair metal was over, the macho men came in and you’ve got Metallica going “don’t tread on me” like racist rattlesnakes under a boot and Pantera with their secret white power bullshit.
Honestly the only old school rocker I’m ever really in the mood to listen to these days is Alice Cooper. Don’t think I’ve ever come across a track of his glorifying underage groupies or anything.
And it’s only really from nu metal onwards that I’m not listening with my guards completely up. The funny thing is, a lot of metalheads shit on nu metal and act like it’s a dark period in history. But at least Jon Davis was vulnerable and real and didn’t spend his time doing the helicopter and singing about how awesome it is to be popular with little girls.
Almost fully agree with your comment. Nu metal though, including Korn, has lots of questionable lyrics. Jon Davis wrote some pretty gross stuff and Courtney Love called them (and Marilyn Manson) out early on for their activities with young female fans.
Ouch, that’s disappointing. I know about Manson these days but in the early days of Korn, I was still watching Saturday morning cartoons and didn’t even know they existed yet. So I missed them getting called out. I guess the moral of this story is, kill your idols.
Fully agree
Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Lots of rock songs, even from supposedly family friendly bands like The Beatles, I can’t listen to anymore, because it’s too creepy.
“She was just seventeen, you know what I mean…” Um, never mind.