I think the 1st Amendment is one of the very best things about the United States, I honestly do. As a reporter, then a lawyer, and a plain old citizen. I donate money to groups like the Reporters Cmte. for Freedom of the Press.

I would fight in court to protect Foster The People's right to keep writing songs about killing classmates and their father.

-BUT-

the PPs who are saying Oh grow up, it's Only Music!!! It's harmless!!! are being disingenuous WRT to kids. In fact, you probably ARE kids yourselves, now that I think about it. Either way, you're naive, young, or just flat out stupid to imagine that media messages have no impact on young brains, in the aggregate.

Anonymous wrote:well there it is, that's the thing, in discussing the song with my tweener...I then had to discuss Columbine...something that had never been discussed before...

Did that disturb you? discussing Columbine?

I don't shelter my kids from difficult issues. If they ask, I answer. It's the only way to prepare them to handle real life situations.

sad that it's come to this - But if something as simple as a song opens up lines of communication, it's a teaching moment!

And to think when I was in high school, the debate was over Billy Joel's "Only The Good Die Young"

Anonymous wrote:You all sound so blase about this. But when this actually happens at your kids' school, and children are killed, and everyone is saying "how could this happen" - well, our cultural standards, our laxity about what we consider acceptable, are all part of it. It is all part of the equation, and we are all responsible for this. It is NOT just a song - don't be so stupid.

In college, sure, I can along to "bitches in my living room, getting it on" and was sort of uncomfortable, but "you better outrun my gun" - sorry. That is completely insane.

Yes, it is just a song. When I was a teenager it was heavy metal that was going to cause kids to worship the devil. Seems devil worship and the Church of Satan didn't really catch on too much with kids in the 'burbs listening to heavy metal and that is was just music after all.

It's the happy whistling that gets me

The song always made me have this strange feeling - like nice song, I'mnot sure Iunderstand the lyrics, but I have a feeling I don't want to know what they mean. Something about the "bubble-gum happiness" of the tune and the lyrcis just made me uncomfortable. Now I guess I realize its intentional.

NP here. This is part of what makes good music, people. It is controversial. We can pretend Columbine didn't happen - but really, a song about it doesn't mean it "happened more" or "happened less".

"Mondays", PPs reference is very similar but didn't have everyone in an uproar because media was very different then (obviously). We had real time coverage of teens running to safety in CO.

The Smiths, different PPs reference paralells in that there is cheery music set to "Girlfriend in a Coma". Almost makes you wonder if the "right" lyrics are right.

Either way, like it or not, it is a catchy piece of music. If you don't like it, change the station. Hell, we probably won't even have mainstream radio or network t.v. for that matter, in a few years. Then you will have bigger matters to address. Right? Right?

Oh my...I literally thought, "I must not know this song....let me google it." I gasped when I realized I loved it! I had NO idea those were the lyrics (I am comically bad at lyrics and my husband makes fun of me all the time) and only heard it correctly now because I read them upthread.

That is why the song gained critical recognition when it originally came out... a year ago. (It is just now getting on Top 40 play lists.) Recognition because of the catchy "light and innocent" sound with the irony of the teen angst homicidal lyrics behind it.

well there it is, that's the thing, in discussing the song with my tweener...I then had to discuss Columbine...something that had never been discussed before...

I'm not sure the song is glorifying Columbine. I think it's meant to make you think about it.

The lyrics do not bother me at all - I love the song.

When I was in college and waiting tables, I frequently thought of the lyrics to the Smiths' song "Bigmouth Strikes Again." I never hurt anyone.

PP here - I *sang* along.

You all sound so blase about this. But when this actually happens at your kids' school, and children are killed, and everyone is saying "how could this happen" - well, our cultural standards, our laxity about what we consider acceptable, are all part of it. It is all part of the equation, and we are all responsible for this. It is NOT just a song - don't be so stupid.

In college, sure, I can along to "bitches in my living room, getting it on" and was sort of uncomfortable, but "you better outrun my gun" - sorry. That is completely insane.

Well, there was I Don't Like Mondays in the late 70s. For some reason neither that song nor Pumped Up Kicks disturbs me as much as Eminem's I Love the Way You Lie.