JT Lynch
Blog Post
How is marijuana is related in today’s music culture, when
listening to music and in songs?
Marijuana has been a drug that has gone through the media
for the past 30-40 years and has been scrutinized in the media. Weed has been “connected” to everything from
addiction to melting one’s mind, especially in the 60s and 70s.
However marijuana has made many medical breakthroughs for
certain people and has also been legalized in four states recreationally. From a medical standpoint it has been linked
to helping cancer patients and is also legal for medical use in 23 states. This is so important because the legalization
of marijuana has led to an increase in referencing the drug in many songs in
today’s music culture. There is a huge
increase in references to marijuana because of the leniency in today’s
culture. It almost seems like every
other rap song is about smoking weed. On
the other side of the spectrum there is reggae music, which literally every
song is about smoking weed. Both types
of music are very different, yet both have weed references in most songs. One main reason why weed songs are so popular
is because a lot of people like to smoke weed and then listen to songs about
weed. The effects of marijuana can make songs
song differently than they would normally sound sober. Certain songs that have references to
marijuana continue to be made because there is a market to the “stoner”
population. Bands like Rebultion, Stick
figure, Bob Marley, and Aer are just a few to mention that most songs are fully
about weed. Weed references in songs are
also more common than any other drug.
Marijuana also affects the type of song one listens to. For example, when someone is high off of
marijuana, his or her tendency is to listen to something relaxing. In addition, the individual who is high also
wants to connect to the drug that they are doing and what better way to do that
than listening to music. How weed in
songs affects how one listens to certain songs.
For example, if someone is stoned, they are not going to want to listen
to an intense crazy techno song.
Instead, they are more likely to want to listen to a chill slowed down
relaxing song. The reason for this is
because the individual is so relaxed that they want to keep that relaxed
state. The best way to keep that state
of relaxation is through music. One
thing that caught my attention while doing this blog was thinking of younger
kids listening to marijuana related music.
In my opinion, listening to marijuana related music under the age of 18,
can make a kid want to try using marijuana and that is concerning. Even worse are the references to weed in
mainstream pop music that are played through the radio and Internet radios. A lot of songs that reference marijuana are
talking about it in a positive light, rather than in a negative light. This gives the impression that weed is a good
thing and for kids under the age of 18 that is sending the wrong message. However, weed being portrayed in a positive
light is not all bad. Pot songs
translating a positive “feel good” message is a lot better than weed songs
delivering a negative message.
For example, the popular song “Because I got High” by
Afroman, is all about how he ended up ruining his life because he was high. Granted this song is also hilarious, but it
also describes weed in a lazy negative light.
On the other hand there are songs like “Floats My Boat” by Aer, which
describes getting high as chilling with your friends and just doing what makes
you happy. Each song plays a part in the
weed culture in music through what the message is trying to say. In today’s society of how weed is perceived,
especially in my generation, is really not a big deal. I think that the music industry has had a
hand in that because of how many songs there are about weed and how casual weed
is in our culture now. All in all, I
think that weed is related in today’s music culture, through lyrics of songs
and the individual listen to the songs prospective of weed.
JT, I really liked your paper. I agree with you that weed has both positive and negative effects. I believe that in our world today it is the adult generation that is doubting the positive effects of marijuana, but the younger generation believes in the positives. Maybe this could lead to legalization of marijuana in the future once the younger generation replaces the older.
ReplyDeleteJT, I think you have a great topic here. You brought up some nice points on your opinion while continuing to respect the opposing side. I believe legalization is just around the corner, and the points you have discussed are some of the main reasons why.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete