If you’re a teenager, you’re probably well aware of Katy Perry. If you’re a parent, you might not be very familiar with the name. Well, if you turn on your radio to any popular station, you’re going to hear Katy’s new single. This song is a moral bomb for youth culture. The song doesn’t have any profanity and vaguely mentions drinking. But there is something even scarier in the lyrics.
Perry’s single is entitled, “I Kissed A Girl.” You’ve probably got an idea what I’m talking about now. Perry’s song describes her first lesbian-esque experience. The song chronicles how it felt right and wrong, but she really enjoyed it.
Unfortunately, the song has a catchy beat and is lighting up the music charts. Some are drawn to it because of the sound and some are drawn because of the shock value. Either way, this song is being glamourized and marketed to teenagers and teens are taking note and listening in.
Here’s something that very saddening: 23-year-old Katy Perry grew up in a conservative Christian household with Christian parents. In fact, she actually had a Christian album in 2001 under the name Katy Hudson. Christianity Today actually reviewed that album and said:
“I hear a remarkable young talent emerging, a gifted songwriter in her own right who will almost certainly go far in this business. That name again is Katy Hudson. Trust me, you’ll be hearing it more and more in the next year.”
Well, they definitely got part of that right! Just not in the way they were hoping.
Perry’s rebellion against her conservative upbringing is not shocking. We all know people who fit this mold. It’s not very uncommon with teenagers and young adults. The shocking thing is how accepted this is in so little time. Even 5 years ago, this song would not have been pushed to the top of the charts and very little publicity would have been given to it.
Many peple criticize the Christian music industry for having poor talent. Well, the mainstream labels took an artist who couldn’t even make it in the Christian industry and turned her into a secular “idol.” Something seems wrong, doesn’t it?
It’s very important that parents take note of this movement. It will only continue to grow. Make sure you find out what artists your children are listening to. I’m willing to bet there are many Christian teenagers listening to this song right now, and they have no comprehension of what they are listening to or that it might be moral filth. They’re entranced by its popularity in culture.
Keep your eyes open and look at the culture around us with a discerning eye. What you see might scare you, but it also might save someone else.
Sources:
www.ClearTeens.com
www.CPYU.org (All parents need to check out this website!)
Tags: I Kissed a Girl, Katy Hudson, Katy Perry
June 20th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Had no idea about this song, but you hit on something big. Shock value is a big deal in the secular world. What could we do as Christians to use some of that jolt to our advantage?
June 20th, 2008 at 11:19 am
nice post. thanks for the heads up.
June 24th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
I agree with you that the song does not promote positive values, but to suggest that 5 years ago the song wouldn’t have gone to the top of the charts ignores history. Lou Reed did “Take A Walk On The Wild Side” in 1972 and had a huge hit (about visiting a transvestite) and the Kinks had a huge hit with Lola (1970) which is also about a man having an encounter with a transvestite just to name two songs.
This is definitely not something that has happened overnight – it’s just a continuation of the counterculture movement begun in the late 1950s.
June 25th, 2008 at 7:29 am
Great comment! I was not trying to imply that this song would not have had a following 5 years ago. I was trying to indicate that I do not believe it would have been marketed to young teenagers like it is today. Society still has some holdbacks when it comes to certain situations.
Lou Reed and the Kinks are great examples. However, our culture isn’t quite ready to accept transvestites as an everyday way of life (at least not yet).
I was recently thinking about some of the controversy that swirled Rosie O’Donnell 5 years ago. During the last 2 months of her television show, she announced that she was a homosexual. Although O’Donnell was a heavily involved in Nickelodeon, particularly as host of the Kids Choice Awards, as soon as she made that announcement, the Nickelodeon network withdrew from using her as a spokeswoman/role model for their programming. That was five years ago, but I don’t think a network would do the same thing today.
Ironically, the kids who were diving headfirst into Nickelodeon and the Kids Choice Awards five years ago are now being targeted with Katy Perry’s song.
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:47 pm
good post! I just actually heard this song and it made me sick to my stomach. It has a good beat and if I wasn’t paying attention, I would have missed the words altogether.
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:54 pm
I know what you mean. I really have to be careful about my discernment of lyrics. I heard a song recently that had a really catchy, unique sound and a memorable chorus. It was stuck in my head for days. Once I looked up the lyrics, I discovered the song was about one night stands. Not exactly what I need to be dwelling on.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Its weird that i read this blog today because on my way to class this morning i was scanning the radio stations and came upon one who was asking listeners to call in and give their opinion on this song. I had never heard it so i didnt know what they were talking about but I had a good idea of what it was about it. so listeners were calling in and out of all of the ones i heard, only one said anything negative about the song, everyone else said they saw nothing wrong with it and liked it. how sad is that? it goes along with the passage from Romans 1 that we were discussing last night at church, things like this song doesnt bother people anymore, Christians included.
i just read your last blog by the way so i’ll just comment it with this one lol very good! i liked it! =)
July 9th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
I’m curious what the real story is about how her parents are dealing with this. The PR line is that her parents are supportive of her career. Has anyone heard anything about her parents reaction to her career path?
I had not heard this song until yesterday when I heard a story about it on NPR. I have 3 precious daughters 13, 10 and 8. Yikes! We’re gonna have to talk!
August 8th, 2008 at 10:17 am
[...] they started playing it and was immediately shocked. I also noticed that one of my friends posted a warning about this song on his blog in June, for which I was grateful. Unquestionably, the boundary lines keep getting [...]
September 17th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
I heard this song for the first time on the way to our senior camp (at a conservative, ie:strict, Christian school) and I like the beat. It’s sooo catchy, but the words are pretty gross. I turn the station when it comes on because…well, the thought of 2 chicks kissing is nasty.