Music
1. "Flaws" by Bastille
You have always worn your flaws upon your sleeve
And I have always buried them deep beneath the ground
Dig them up; let's finish what we've started
Dig them up, so nothing's left unturned
And I have always buried them deep beneath the ground
Dig them up; let's finish what we've started
Dig them up, so nothing's left unturned
The song "Flaws" by Bastille deals with the themes of superficiality and search for identity that a teenager often faces in life. The singer describes his inability to really be who he is in concern of being ridiculed, explained as he states "...I have always buried them deep beneath the ground". Unlike the person he is singing to, directed at the listeners, he is insecure about who he is and unable to realize his potential in life due to his fear. This is often a struggle teenagers fight against, for between the expectations of society and fear of disappointing others, teenagers often find it difficult to be themselves and live the life they were meant to live.
2. "I Need Your Love" by Ellie Goulding
I need your love
I need your time
When everything's wrong
You make it right
I feel so high
I come alive
I need to be free with you tonight
I need your love
I need your time
When everything's wrong
You make it right
I feel so high
I come alive
I need to be free with you tonight
I need your love
The song "I Need Your Love" by Ellie Goulding involves the theme of wanting to find love. The singer in the song describes her inability to be "alive" and happy with her life without her love by her side. In short, this viewpoint of life is pathetic. Teenagers need to realize that romantic love and having a boyfriend or girlfriend is not the most important thing in the world. Being in a relationship should not control a person's life, but rather give them the joy and encouragement to be someone they want to be and to find happiness. Romantic love should be a comforting aspect of a person's life and should not have the authority to control a person's feelings, emotions, actions, and life overall. Sorry Ellie Goulding, but you do not really "need" any love.
3. "I Just Wanna Run" by The Downtown Fiction
I just wanna run, hide it away
Run because they're chasing me down
I just wanna run, throw it away
Run before they're finding me out
I just wanna run (oh, oh, oh)
I just wanna run (oh, oh, oh)
Run because they're chasing me down
I just wanna run, throw it away
Run before they're finding me out
I just wanna run (oh, oh, oh)
I just wanna run (oh, oh, oh)
The song "I Just Wanna Run" by The Downtown Fiction deals with the themes of lacking direction and corruption. The line "I just wanna run, hide it away" captures the desire teenagers have to run from their problems. Rather than dealing with what they fear, teenagers often find the need to avoid or ignore what they do not want to face. The problems that the singer is facing seems to stem from something he is either ashamed of or fearful of, revealing the aspect of corruption in the song. "I Just Wanna Run" connects to teenagers today, for when facing corruption, teenagers can relate to the want to run.
4. "Young Volcanoes" by Fall Out Boy
We are wild, we are like young volcanoes
We are wild, Americana, exotica
Do you wanna feel a little beautiful baby?
Yeah!
We are wild, Americana, exotica
Do you wanna feel a little beautiful baby?
Yeah!
The song “Young
Volcanoes” by Fall Out Boy represents the trait searching for identity. The
line “We are wild, we are like young volcanoes” depicts how teenagers are
desiring to come out of their own shell and just willing to explode their
feelings and thoughts that they have been hiding for so long. Teenagers are
pressured into concealing their personalities and ideas to what conforms to
society, but searching for identity shows the extent of courage teenagers is
developing. The line “We are wild, Americana, exotica” shows that modern
teenagers don’t regard societies standards but rather their own. It’s great
that teenagers have the strength to speak their mind, just make sure to not
blow off too much lava.
5. "We Are Young" by Fun.
Tonight
We are young
So let’s set the world on fire
We can burn brighter than the sun
We are young
So let’s set the world on fire
We can burn brighter than the sun
The song "We Are Young" by Fun. examines what it means to be young as a whole, between the desire for independence, the lack of direction, the realization of truth, the corruption, the curiosity, and the desire to find love. "We Are Young" praises all the traits associated with being a teenager, and rejoices the power to express oneself. There is a suggestion of alcohol use in this song, especially seen in the line "But between the drinks and subtle things" and the fact that the situation described in the song takes place in the bar. Despite the fact that this song is rejoicing teenagers, it puts an unhealthy emphasis on the idea of finding freedom through alcohol. Overall, the use of realization of error and acceptance of the world as it is reveals much about society's image of the modern teenager and traits associated with them. In life, teenagers just need to realize that they are in fact young and that they still have time to explore the world and find their identity.
6. "Ways To Go" by Grouplove
(I got a little bit longer) I got a ways to go
(I got a little bit longer) I got a ways to go
(Oh I got a little bit longer) I got a ways to go-oh-oh
Whoa oh oh (I got a ways to go)
(I got a little bit longer) I got a ways to go
(Oh I got a little bit longer) I got a ways to go-oh-oh
Whoa oh oh (I got a ways to go)
The song "Ways To Go" by Grouplove observes the themes of lack of direction, search for identity, and desire to find love. The line "I got a little bit longer" expresses the lack of direction and search for identity, for the entire song explains the curiosity of the singers and their desire to find themselves and love in the world. The lesson of finding oneself is an important lesson for teenagers to understand, for although they might believe they are stuck in the life they are living, they do have some ways to go and will have a chance to find their direction and place in the world.
7. "Teenage Dream" by Katy Perry
You make me feel
Like I'm livin' a
Teenage dream
The way you turn me on
I can't sleep
Let's run away and
Don't ever look back,
Don't ever look back
Like I'm livin' a
Teenage dream
The way you turn me on
I can't sleep
Let's run away and
Don't ever look back,
Don't ever look back
The song "Teenage Dream" by Katy Perry strongly deals with the theme of desiring to find love. In a nice way, "Teenage Dream" is about doing the do with people, for apparently that is a very "teenage" thing to do. This song does not accurately depict teenagers today and plants a negative seed in the minds of teenagers, for living out the "teenage dream" involves finding oneself and discovering identity, not going all the way with people. Many teenagers have listened and will listen to this song, revealing how the media misguides teenagers into having a corrupt view of romantic expectations.
8. "Die Young" by Ke$ha
I hear your heart beat to the beat of the drums
Oh, what a shame that you came here with someone
So while you're here in my arms,
Let's make the most of the night like we're gonna die young
Oh, what a shame that you came here with someone
So while you're here in my arms,
Let's make the most of the night like we're gonna die young
"Die Young" by Kesha embodies the teenage qualities of desiring independence, searching for identity, rebellious, and lacking direction. Kesha's "live in the moment" manifesto represents the reckless and rash decision making side of teenagers. The song says "let's make the most of the night", implying that all partygoers should do anything they can to have a good night. This can be both negative and positive, because it is good to tell teens to make something of each day, however bad choices are implied, for example, "living hard" and "looking for some trouble". Kesha's song represents her desire for independence with the line "young hearts... wild child". The lack of direction in teens is imparted through the song's encouragement to just party and not care about what the next day will bring. This song can be taken positively by teens for it does encourage making the most of time that a teen has been given. Kesha is notorious for her dance party anthems and raunchy behavior, so she isn't the best role model however. Living in the moment and for the present is part of being a teen, and is important in the personal journeys of individuals. However, making bad decisions is definitely not the way a teen should go about finding themselves.
9. "We Can't Stop" by Miley Cyrus
And we can't stop
And we won't stop
Can't you see it's we who own the night?
Can't you see it's we who 'bout that life?
And we won't stop
Can't you see it's we who own the night?
Can't you see it's we who 'bout that life?
In Miley Cyrus's, "We Can't Stop", the teenage traits of looking for identity, desire for independence, curiosity, rebellion, and superficiality are manifested. This song is basically the stereotypical teenage party anthem. Despite the song being an excellent form of self-expression and bridge burner (hiya Disney), it negatively influences the common teen. Drug use is highlighted in the lyric, "trying to get a line in the bathroom", and alchohol use is illustrated in the line, "red cups". Miley's casual references to drugs and alcohol make it seem okay for the modern teen to participate in risky activities. A highly controversial question was if a specific lyric was meant to be "dancing with Miley" versus "dancing with Molly". [Molly is a street name for MDMA] In response to those questions, Miley said:
"It depends who's doing what. If you're aged ten [the lyric is] Miley, if you know what I'm talking about then you know. I just wanted it to be played on the radio and they've already had to edit it so much. I don't think people have a hard time understanding that I've grown up. You can Google me and you know what I'm up to --you know what the lyric is saying."
Now, no hate for Miley, she was just expressing herself in her own unique way, but it is arguable that she went at it in the wrong manner. Miley is the epitome of the word feminist in her mind and many of her fans' minds, but to others her new path is offensive.
*drops the mic*
Miley has spoken....
"It depends who's doing what. If you're aged ten [the lyric is] Miley, if you know what I'm talking about then you know. I just wanted it to be played on the radio and they've already had to edit it so much. I don't think people have a hard time understanding that I've grown up. You can Google me and you know what I'm up to --you know what the lyric is saying."
Now, no hate for Miley, she was just expressing herself in her own unique way, but it is arguable that she went at it in the wrong manner. Miley is the epitome of the word feminist in her mind and many of her fans' minds, but to others her new path is offensive.
*drops the mic*
Miley has spoken....
10. "Live While We're Young" by One Direction
Let's go crazy, crazy, crazy 'till we see the sun
I know we only met but let's pretend it's love
And never, never, never stop for anyone
Tonight let's get some and live while we're young
I know we only met but let's pretend it's love
And never, never, never stop for anyone
Tonight let's get some and live while we're young
The song “Live
While Were Young” by One Direction clarifies the subjects of curiosity, being rebellious,
and searching for identity. The chorus, “Let's go crazy, crazy, crazy 'till we
see the sun I know we only met but let's pretend it's love. And never, never,
never stop for anyone Tonight let's get some and live while we're young”
combines all three traits as it describes the ideas of living free, breaking
rules, and finding the truth in all individuals. One Direction’s message is
that life is so short and there are many experiences to enjoy while they last;
yet there are also derogatory sayings that should not be influencing young
fans. In the lines “Tonight let’s get some and live while were young” exploits
encouragement of having sexual relations just for the fun of it rather than having
thought behind the actions that are pursued. Like Taylor, One Direction may
make popular music that is meant for teenagers, but they really should double
check the messages in their songs before heading to the studio.
11. "Brick by Boring Brick" by Paramore
Well go get your shovel
And we'll dig a deep hole
To bury the castle, bury the castle
Go get your shovel
And we'll dig a deep hole
To bury the castle, bury the castle
And we'll dig a deep hole
To bury the castle, bury the castle
Go get your shovel
And we'll dig a deep hole
To bury the castle, bury the castle
In the song, "Brick by Boring Brick" by Paramore shows the qualities of corruption, lack of direction, realization of truth, and wanting to find love throughout the lyrics. The chorus "Well go get your shovel and we'll dig a deep hole" shows the transition of waking up from a fantasy and searching a way through reality. It also shows how corruption was present with the fear of never leaving a world of vice. In the lines, "If it's not real you can't old it in with your hand you can't feel with your heart" shows the use of lacking direction and a misconception of finding a path. Even though the answer isn't always seen, doesn't mean it gives a delusion of how life's problems can't be answered if the answer is not tangible. Teenagers can receive this song as a wake up call to searching what life truly gives but also gives a mistake as to how discovering the answer to problems is impossible, when it really isn't. This song is great to rock out to, just don't dance in the dark or the ending will end up in a bigger hole than one can get out of.
12. "Fifteen" by Taylor Swift
'Cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you
You're gonna believe them
And when you're fifteen
Feeling like there's nothing to figure out
Well count to ten, take it in
This is life before you know who you're gonna be
Fifteen
You're gonna believe them
And when you're fifteen
Feeling like there's nothing to figure out
Well count to ten, take it in
This is life before you know who you're gonna be
Fifteen
"Fifteen" by Taylor Swift tells the story of a fifteen year old naive teenage girl entering high school and getting her heart broken... we've never heard that before right? Taylor's song drives in the teenage stereotype of being unsure and having "you head spin round" because of romance. The story told through the song involves the search for identity, curiosity, desiring independence, lacking direction, and wanting to find love. The desire for love is the most prominent in the song, represented through the lines, "hoping one of those senior boys", "thinking he's the one", and "first kiss makes your head spin round". In the lyric, "I didn't know who I was supposed to be at fifteen" the search for identity is illustrated. Taylor's song is very relatable and has been heard by and influenced millions of people. As a teen, huge decisions are made, and this song expresses the thought process of a young teen. This song has a positive influence for teens because it teaches about heartbreak and how important it is to stay true to yourself. This song may be cliche, but it does carry a good message.
13. "You Belong with Me" by Taylor Swift
If you could see
That I'm the one
Who understands you.
Been here all along.
So, why can't you see--
You belong with me,
You belong with me?
That I'm the one
Who understands you.
Been here all along.
So, why can't you see--
You belong with me,
You belong with me?
In the song, "You Belong with Me" by Taylor Swift, correctly distributes the attribute of wanting to find love, but shows how a perfect relationship can be viewed as very cliche. In the lines, "She wear high heels, I wear sneakers she's cheer captain, and I'm on the bleachers" shows how desperately lost one can be in finding love. Taylor Swift tends to write sappy songs that unfortunately gives a message of a perfect world with perfect relationships; but this message is simply not the truth. Swift's lyrics give misgiving about how relationships are infinite and problems are only short term, but this message to young teens has consequences. It not only gives higher expectations to the fans, but it misleads the viewers that love is the epitome of perfection when really there are so many other things to look forward to other than love. Taylor may have a lot of fans, but she really should review what messages she "teaches" to these fans.
14. "Car Radio" by Twenty One Pilots
I have these thoughts
So often I ought
To replace that slot
With what I once bought
'Cause somebody stole
My car radio
And now I just sit in silence
So often I ought
To replace that slot
With what I once bought
'Cause somebody stole
My car radio
And now I just sit in silence
"Car Radio" by 21 Pilots demonstrates the teenage qualities of facing corruption. lacking direction, and searching for identity. The song has a very unique rhythm and is almost like a spoken word poem, representing the offbeat side of teens. Teens are different and finding themselves, embodied in the lyric, "I ponder of something great / My lungs fill and then deflate". The song also speaks about abandonment and the teen feeling of being alone, "Now I just sit in silence". Facing corruption is expressed in the line, "Sometimes quiet is violent". This form of corruption however is one that comes from inside. Many teens have difficulty accepting themselves and inner anguish is common. This song accurately describes the turmoil teens feel every day and how they deal with pain.
15. "Young, Wild, and Free" By Wiz Khalifa
So what we get drunk?
So what we smoke weed?
We’re just having fun
We don’t care who sees
So what we go out?
That’s how it's supposed to be
Living young and wild and free
So what we smoke weed?
We’re just having fun
We don’t care who sees
So what we go out?
That’s how it's supposed to be
Living young and wild and free
In the song "Young, Wild, and Free" written by Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa demonstrates the traits of curiosity, rebellious, and desiring independence. In the lines, "So what we get drunk, so what we smoke weed, were just having fun and we don't care who sees" establishes the artists are rebelling against societies moral values and in some cases the law. This song also distributes a similar message to One Directions song "Live While Were Young", that life could change at any minute and the present is more valuable than the future. The lines, "Now I'm chillen, fresh outta class, feeling' like I'm on my own and I could probably own a building, got my own car, no job, no children, had a science project, me and Mac killed it" shows how independence is superior to the law, standards, and opinions. The ultimate idea that the artists are getting across to teenagers is everyone has different styles, ways of thinking, and actions that people believe are appropriate; it is only a matter of how society accepts the multiple ways of how life can be lived differently. This message also contains a negative implication of drugs, alcohol and having fun are the only ways to achieve success in life. However, teenagers that are heavy on drugs and alcohol tend to end up throwing their lives away through addiction and refusal of seeking help. This particular song has had a major influence on the teenage population, whether it is influencing the teenager in drugs/alcohol or turning the teenager away in the opposite direction.