The reality is teenagers listen to anything and everything, including new artist Katy Perry. Blender magazine labeled Katy "the next big thing" and Teen People as "one to watch." This Sunday, Katy will be nominated as Best New Artist at the annual MTV Video Music Awards. And her latest single, "I Kissed A Girl" has been this summer's hottest single. What does this mean? It means your teenager has heard of Katy Perry...and listened. And it's important that you've heard of Katy Perry too...
What is "I Kissed A Girl" about? Exactly what it says. Lyrics include "I kissed a girl and I liked it/The taste of her cherry chapstick/I kissed a girl just to try it" and "so magical, soft skin, red lips, so kissable, hard to resist so touchable, too good to deny it, ain’t no big deal, it’s innocent" and describes the feeling as "so wrong" yet "so right" and writes this "don’t mean I’m in love tonight."
And the reality is Perry's song is an honest indication of teen culture, highlighted by sexual experimentation. Homosexuality has gone from disregarded to accepted to praised in many ways in teen culture. And teenagers, whether experiencing homosexual feelings or not, are willing to "experiment" sexually. And the culture tells teens today it's healthy to give anything and everything a try, encourages them to follow their feelings and normalizes things that are not "innocent."
Christian author and cultural expert, Walt Mueller writes, "Because it serves to direct young viewers and listeners, 'I Kissed a Girl' is more than a song kids will listen to. It actually serves as a map to life, guiding impressionable kids into accepting and practicing the values, attitudes, and behaviors that are depicted and promoted in the song. This includes a postmodern ethical relativism, and homosexuality...Feelings [for teens today] are the guide for life."
So what? So Katy Perry has provided us with an opportunity to engage in discussions with teens that we might otherwise not. Talk to your teenager about what they're listening to and about what it means for them. And while we may often listen without thinking...don't assume that your teen hasn't listened or isn't affected by the lyrics of "I Kissed A Girl." F.Y.I...Katy Perry was raised in a Christian home with two Christian pastors for parents and previously released a Christian album in 2001 under her real name Katheryn Hudson.
Talk to your teenagers about what their guide for life and for decisions is...is it their feelings?
1 comment:
Thanks for the encouragement to listen to the lyrics. It is so important for our kids to know what they are standing for when they are embracing songs or artists that are popular. It seems in many ways Christianity is at war with the culture...God and culture (satan) battling for our kids. I hope this discussion will help us make our kids aware of what the culture is promoting and will encourage them to make a decision about whether or not they want to support that message with their own personal choices.
Thanks Brad!!
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