"Much of our music today has changed from songs with melodies and words that carried a message to very loud background instruments, playing behind singers in revealing costumes yelling obscene words into microphones.
That's why I was so surprised Thursday night when I heard a singer on David Letterman's “Late Show” accompanied by soft guitars and singing a real song that I could actually understand.
After all, there are times in today's world of popular music when it's best not to understand what is being . . . um, sung. The “f” word is common in today's music, and if it isn't the “f” word, it's words that mean the same thing. In addition to the sexual themes, some songs even celebrate killing or murder, suicide and drugs.
Remember when young Madonna's voice first floated over the airwaves and charmed the world? But then, Madonna seemed to change from being a good singer into a person who, shall we say, is more about sexual strangeness. It was Madonna who stepped out on stage wearing a longline bra for public entertainment."
Get the Story:Dorreen Yellow Bird: In music, a change is gonna come (I hope) (The Grand Forks Herald 2/9)
pwpwd More Dorreen Yellow Bird:
Yellow Bird: 'Sioux' drives Indian students away (2/7)
Yellow Bird: Another cold January in North Dakota (1/30)
Yellow Bird: Tribal casinos should be alcohol free (1/28)
Yellow Bird: Race and gender in presidential race (1/23)
Yellow Bird: Barack Obama is my choice for 2008 (1/16)
Yellow Bird: Artman right on off-reservation gaming (1/9)
Yellow Bird: Barack Obama's big win in Iowa (1/7)
Yellow Bird: Wild animals in our environment (12/31)
Yellow Bird: Russell Means makes a point (12/24)
Yellow Bird: Christmas can be depressing too (12/19)
Yellow Bird: It's McCain v. Clinton in 2008 (12/18)
Yellow Bird: UND graduates Indian nurses (12/12)
Yellow Bird: Candy shop in Grand Forks creative (12/11)
Yellow Bird: Teachers and cultural sensitivity (12/5)
Yellow Bird: Instant wealth in a poor community (11/29)
Yellow Bird: Don't feel guilty about Thanksgiving (11/22)
Yellow Bird: Indian people take care of their own (11/19)
Yellow Bird: From 'Nutcracker' to a 'Beat Down' (11/14)
Yellow Bird: Ghosts haunt Standing Rock veteran (11/7)
Yellow Bird: Reservation center helps those in need (11/5)
Yellow Bird: Put an end to 'Fighting Sioux' nick (10/31)
Yellow Bird: Generosity of Shakopee Tribe (10/24)
Yellow Bird: Foreign journalists shared cultural gifts (10/22)
Yellow Bird: Domestic violence happens every day (10/15)
Yellow Bird: Indian adoptees find their way home (10/10)
Yellow Bird: The BIA and its broken promises (10/8)
Yellow Bird: Halloween marks coming of winter (10/3)
Yellow Bird: Diabetes too common among Indians (10/1)
