Pop Culture Music & Hinduism Part II

Success

Fergie featuring Ludacris, "Glamorous," Pop, 2006

Notorious BIG, "Juicy," Rap, 1994

Jay-Z, "Thank You," Hip Hop, 2009

A Tribe Called Quest, "Jazz (We've Got),"  Hip Hop, 1991

Kanye West, "Through The Wire," Hip Hop, 2003

Liberation

Goapele, "Closer," Soul, 2006

Katy Perry, "Firework," Pop, 2010

Mariah Carey & Whitney Houston, "When You Believe," R&B,  1998

Heather Headley, "Me Time," R&B, 2006

Erykah Badu, "Window Seat," Soul, 2010

Finding songs that dealt with Success and Liberation wasn’t too much of a difficult task.  I love a challenge! So instead, I decided to pay close attention to the context and message that one may not notice in these songs - find a possible trend.  Of course from the beginning I noticed that majority of them were rants and raves about the money, cars or fancy Louboutins that they could finally afford.   As far as success was concerned that is.  Liberation on the other hand was pretty self explanatory.  The impression that I got initially as I listened to the lyrics was, I imagine the message that the artist was trying to deliver.

As I listened to today’s American Pop Culture songs about Success, specifically Hip Hop songs, I used Notorious BIG’s “Juicy,” as my precursor.  Normally when I listen to today’s Hip Hop songs all I hear is the name of some expensive car or the name of the president on the bills in their wallets.  However when I listen to Notorious BIG’s “Juicy,” I automatically think SUCCESS!!  No he’s not simply bragging about his riches but at the same time he is.  Yes BIG talks about his cars and money but he does all of this in an attempt to show his listeners where he came from, which is poverty.  Consider his third verse, “Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, when I was dead broke man I couldn’t picture this..” In his own right, he’s made it in life – success!

All of the songs about Liberation talked about letting go of any inhibitions and being!  I enjoyed these songs because they were like listening to a fairy tale.  Their rants and raves were about the great joy that one could experience from being in tune with one’s self.  All of them don’t necessarily advocate that one should be alone possibly being with someone else as well could be the liberation you’re in search of.  It all depends on the individual.  Consider the chorus of Erykah Badu’s “Window Seat.”   If you listen to the song in it’s entirety you’ll realize that she in fact wants to be longed for as is, that is where her liberation lies.

In the four legitimate ends of life, Hindu’s categorize Pleasure and Success as the Path of Desire.  Completely understandable and can also be seen in American Music.  Like Pleasure, Success is self seeking and something that people go after in order to feel good.  Maybe not physically but more so mentally, it gives them a sense of accomplishment.  As far as American Music’s view of Liberation and Hinduism is concerned, I see no blatant differences.  

Pop Culture Music & Hinduism Part I

Pleasure

Robin Thicke, "Sex Therapy," R&B, 2009

 TLC, "Red Light Special," R&B, 1994

Mad Cobra, "Flex," Reggae, 1992 

Janet Jackson, "Would You Mind," R&B, 2001

R.Kelly, "Your Body's Calling," R&B, 1994

Community Service

Bob Marley, "Redemption Song," Reggae, 1980

 Black Eyed Peas, "Where Is The Love," Pop, 2003

Slick Rick, "Hey Young World," Hip Hop, 1988

Nas, "I Can," Hip Hop, 2002

Jaheim, "Fabulous," R&B, 2003

Between Pleasure and Community Service, I found it quite easy to think of songs that relate to Pleasure! Community Service on the other hand was a bit of a challenge for me.  From the American Pop Culture point of view, when it comes to songs about enjoyment or sensual gratification, I found it hard to choose five because there are a billion gazillion of them on my iTunes playlist. Sad to say, I had to do some research outside of my iTunes playlist seeking more songs on Community Service. 

I personally am a sucker for love so coming up with songs related to Pleasure was a breeze in contrast to Community Service.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying music dealing with the acts of common good aren't important and or relevant to me, I just tend to gravitate towards music that deals with matters of the heart! Simply because I can barely pinpoint or make out why I feel the way I do when it comes to romance and the lyrics in love songs normally do.  I love that artist can express these emotions through songs.  I find myself relating to them and that reminds me that I’m normal! There are other people out there who feel the same exact way or have went through the same experience. It’s comforting.   

Oppositely, Community Service is something that is understood.  There’s no uncertainty about the common good or about doing what’s right. Plainly put, songs about Community Service aren't saying anything that we haven't heard before or are confused about.  They're are pretty straight forward.  As far as American Music relating to the Hindu understanding of Pleasure, I would have to say that the Hindu’s perception of Pleasure is on a deeper level.  For the most part American Music portrays Pleasure as either a relationship between a man and woman or candidly a sexual act.  

  

Hindu literature describes Pleasure as not only a sexual act or the relationship between a man and woman but also details the intellectual and mental fulfillment of the experience.  Meditation!  Although American Music tends to focus on our voluntary acts as Community Service, I would like to believe that like Hinduism the ultimate goal is to bring people together so I will go ahead and say that both viewpoints are pretty similar.