The Great Decline

Entertainment is one of the things that gives us joy as human beings. It can be fun, educational, and thoroughly engaging. Music is one of the most popular forms of entertainment, especially with the teen and young adult generation. Unfortunately, most of music you hear today glorifies doing things one's way, not listening to authority and getting down with parties, drinking and the like. Many will write it off as not harmful since it's "just entertainment." Is it however "just entertainment?"

Cartoons are probably the most popular form of entertainment for the younger generation. A young one's mind is more susceptible to being fried than an adult's, and then there's the problem. Kids, even with the advent of the internet, are still watching lots of television. A lot of parents pay little mind to what their kids are watching, thinking that since it's a cartoon, there's no problem with them watching it. This is a grave mistake, and sadly the major companies feed into this, broadcasting programs with little to no well thought-out writing.

Why do they do this? Because kids today will generally watch just about anything that is bright and crude. The companies realize this, so they don't bother delivering quality writing and storytelling. Why go the extra mile when you could give kids a pretty mindless show that they'll always watch, giving the company high ratings and more $? It appears that's pretty much the thought process. And then when there are good shows, the company cancels them or puts them in spots when most kids won't be able to watch them.

"But wait a second writer" you say, "who says cartoons have to have meaning or a kid to learn something?" "Can't they just be entertaining?" Sure, there's nothing wrong with a little mindless non-crude entertainment, but the channels are over-saturated with it. If kids aren't shown alternatives or taught why these cartoons are dumb, then nothing can be accomplished. Interestingly, while there are strict guidelines when it comes to what can and can't be shown on a TV-Y and TV-Y7 program, boundaries in movies are quckly fading. Saying the "f" word in a PG-13 film was unheard of 20 years ago; it would automatically earn you an R rating. But nowadays it's totally normal to have that and other swearing in a PG-13 film. If one is constantly witness to mindless adventures, crude humor, and language, I'm inclined to believe that they too will begin to act mindless themselves and display terrible behavior in their daily activities.

Right now in theaters there's a movie called "Fifty Shades of Grey." One can defend it all they like, but what cannot be defended is the fact that the primary reason it's selling tickets is because of sexual appeal, especially to the young adult generation. This is a major problem, because this generation already struggles greatly with purity. I personally don't know what's more scary: the fact there are people who have said "Let's make this movie" or that thousands of people have watched it opening weekend. Some might stop reading right now and say, "There's nothing wrong with watching these things." But there is. The more stuff we allow ourselves to absorb, the more our minds become corrupted. We then allow ourselves to think its okay to watch a film with excessive things. Films like Fifty Shades and "Piranha 3D" play upon those beliefs. The people involved in making these movies knows there's an audience, and that fact alone is pretty sad.

We need to start thinking about what we are watching and what our kids are watching. What kind of person supports a film with blatant nudity as the selling point? What kind of parent allows their kid to constantly watch mindless crude humor? We need to bring morality back into Hollywood and good writing into the TV screen. I won't stand with a culture that glorifies anti-purity, anti-Godliness, and anti-morality. And you shouldn't either. Take a stand. Stand up for what's right.

A True, True Friend and What I'm Made of: Two of my Favorite Songs

A True, True Friend, by Daniel Ingram. Appearance: My Little Pony Friendship: is Magic episode 'Magical Mystery Cure'

A bit of an odd choice to the average person, since it's from a cartoon and probably wouldn't be considered a 'real song' to hardcore music listeners. But the truth of the matter is the show is filled with music that is a light in this very dark world. While there have been many songs in it on friendship, none are quite like A True, True Friend. This song relates to what's happening in the episode, but can still be heard on its own. It's about what being a real friend is like.

A True, True Friend helps a friend in need
A friend will be there to help them see

It has a really nice message telling the viewers/listeners what a real friend should be like. The fact that it's genuine and insanely catchy (and of course since I like the show) is why it's one of my all time favorites. Reading an interview on Daniel Ingram has shown me he puts a lot of heart into each song, making them genuine with a great message to behold. A True, True Friend is a prime example, I look forward to seeing future songs he'll bring to the table.

What I'm Made of by Crush 40. Appearance: Sonic Heroes

Another strange choice, since this song is featured in a video game. One of the things I like about Crush 40's work is that while the music is in relation to the events in their respective games, the songs themselves can be listened to on their own and something could be taken out of them. Examples include Live and Learn and Open Your Heart. What I'm Made of is my favorite for a few reasons. It's a power-encourager with an upbeat tone and motivating lyrics.

Try to reach inside of me
Try to take my energy
Let me show you just what I'm made of!

The song is talking about what's happening within the game of course, but if one listens to it, they can easily enjoy and take something out of it. Having the courage to fully show what you're capable of, not letting another bring you down and drain your energy. It's just a great song to listen to when one is happy or down. I've supported Crush 40 for many years, they're always producing quality work that sadly hasn't been heard all too much outside the gaming world.

Music Legend: The Beatles

I usually don't write about music, but someone wanted me to, so here we are. Don't expect this to be a documentary or an editorial about the band, it's more of general outlook at music using them. Of course, music isn't one of my strongest points, so we'll see how this goes. Anyways, if you asked me last year what my favorite song was, I would say World 1-1.

Yes, technically that isn't a 'song' since it doesn't have lyrics, but that's what I would pick if you asked me. I have never liked lyrical music. I never thought of what the lyrics were saying, I just liked orchestrated and instrumental things. Then late last year I got Rock Band: the Beatles. I had heard of the band before that, but I really knew practically nothing about them or their songs. When I first played the game, (I always do the drums by the way) something clicked while I was playing. These songs weren't that bad, in fact, they were pretty good. The very first song that was played, Yellow Submarine, was basically a warm-up to the other songs after. My personal favorites would be Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Hello Goodbye, and of course, Yellow Submarine.

After some days of playing it, I gained an appreciation for (some) lyrical music. I went and started searching up songs I've known in the past. Mainly Crush 40 stuff, like What I'm Made of. I grew up with these songs thanks to the Sonic games, and when I started listening to them again for the first time in years, I gained a great appreciation for them. After playing the Beatles, I started to like music with lyrics. After playing all the Beatles songs, I decided to get Rock Band 3 to see other songs, both classic and modern. When I played Rock Band 3, the songs didn't quite click like the Beatles did. I don't know, most all of them we're lacking something. Sure, a few stood out. 'Cold as Ice' by Foreigner, 'Foolin' by Def Leppard were two of the best, also 'Misery Business' by Paramore was very catchy, but the rest were just lacking something. They made me want to go back to the Beatles. The majority of these songs are more modern than the Beatles, I think that's the case.

When it comes to lyrical music, I mainly like classic rock. (The Beatles, Foreigner, Def Leppard.) Crush 40 of course has my personal favorite music, I like SUM 41 and also don't mind Evanescence. But a lot of modern music when compared to the Beatles, are just pale in comparison. The Beatles lyrics have a feel-good quality to them, you just pop it in and enjoy the simple, yet heartfelt lyrics. Today's music I've noticed has left out the simple, heartfelt feel. Like with movies and TV shows, music has evolved with the times. While the Beatles were simply singing about holding one's hand or sad about someone getting a ticket to ride, today's music tends to be more graphic. The Beatles were simple and effective, today's music will have the singer screaming words at you.

The Beatles had an unbelievably short career. Even though it was sadly short-lived, they had made their mark as with the greatest classic rock music. I'm sure people people would argue that, but I think it's true, considering they are the best selling band of all time according to the Wiki. The point is, the Beatles represent classic rock, or heck, music of yesterday. We look at our current music, in twenty years from now, what will represent the 20 first century? Beyonce, Lady Gaga? (Personally, I would go with Crush 40, but no one would agree with me.) You look at those singers, do they match up to the Beatles? No, not even close. The Beatles will always remain a legend among the music world, will any band/singer truly surpass them? Are this generation's music going to go down in famous way that we want it, will music continue to go down the more graphic route than the way of the Beatles? Maybe, but the point is that for real, good music, the Beatles and other classic rock bands/singers are the way to do it. They, a band from over thirty years ago, got me into lyrical music. Modern music in general doesn't have the touch the Beatles had, and I doubt it ever will.

Well, I hope this came out alright, thanks for reading!