Do you think swear words help or hinder the song ?

[GregK]

Well folks- here is your chance to please let ME know if you think swear words could help or hinder on MY song! My new song "Dammit" is up and ready to listen to- granted IT IS A HARD ROCK SONG- SO THE GUITAR IS HEAVY- THE BEAT IS FUNKY- THE SUBJECT MATTER IS FRUSTRATION/ANGST AND A REBELLIOUS CRY.. and NO the words "Darn" or "doggone it" just would not have conveyed the message appropriately!! So please- listen and let me know if the "Damn" word will help/hinder or make no difference!! LISTEN HERE http://www.musicforte.com/member/gregkroeter -and there's a new post where you can let me know what you think- or post in here if it deals with my vulgar abuse of the queen's english.

[JeraldHenry]

[OverlorD]

[artpaul]

It's been a little while since added something to this post but I've been thinking about it and here is something that I thought about:

We may feel it is perfectly alright to swear in a song if that is who we are but I feel there is more to it then just who we are.

The word I want to use is influence.

How do we want to influence others.

When you think about it a song is us talking many times over and over the same words and a person hearing a song over and over is bound to be influenced by the style of language we use.

Maybe it shouldn't be evil to swear but it is definetly not the most inteligent way to show your education and learning.

If you are smart wouldn't you want to use more inteligent words then the f word ?

Lastly I share with you chapter 3 in James from the New Testimant Bible:

3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt[a] water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Two Kinds of Wisdom

13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

[Backslider]

When we were younger(1960's)we thought it was cool to stick a few bad words in songs and it worked but to be honest I really don't think it sounds to cool in most type of songs by this I mean 99% of them.Keep it clean to a point and you'll get further ahead for yourself and the folks that are listening and buying your material.

[mlr_pa]

I think in depends on the context of the piece, and of your audience. The "gangsta rap" nonsence, which I personally find deplorable, the audience speaks that way, and so to reach them, you speak that way. "Gee, that girl is fine." or "Motherf****g B***h is hot." What would that audience prefer hearing?

Myself, whilst I might swear like a drunken sailor in everyday speech, wouldn't use foul laungage in a song, UNLESS the charactor of the songs needs to say it out of frustration. Damn, hell, and even perhaps b***h, but anything stronger would be dada cursing. Cursing, just because you can.

[brazil_nut]

Depends. I do not use swear words very often. However, there are times when an artist must use only form of self-expression to get his/her emotions truly communicated. So, Hell! Why not? :lol:

[Reconsiderate]

[jessedelao]

On myspace I have a blog "KNOW I KNOW". I would like to know how many educated artist are using, as you say "swear words", as opposed to dropouts, and making money at it.
The word "swear" is a nice word. Take the time to look it up. The word for this topic should be "curse". Look that up. That is not a nice word. Let's cut the liberal politicaly correct crap and call it what it is.
People think we are special because we have a talent. There is no talent in cursing or sampling. Any moron can do it, and do.
Not because I am a follower of Christ, but because I am a man, do I demand respect. Because I add that together, I "try" to prove that in my daily life.
We complain we live in a terrible world. We have the power to change it and make it better. Some artist demand to bury it with the crap excuse of "keepin' it real". I have no doubt your mamma and grandmamma was a ho, and the mother of your children is a female dog, and your crew are a bunch of "dawgs?", but I don't want to hear about it.
In closing, I'm not spending my money to be insulted. I can get that for free.

[Reconsiderate]

[dreamsound]

Swearing is for weak fools.

[artpaul]

[martouk]

Is it right or wrong? Words are merely words. Context and intent count for more. A person can be just a derogatory without curse words. I use plenty of the 4-letter variety of words in daily conversation. They're used primarily for emphasizing points - not for demeaning people (usually).

If you can only express yourself by degrading people, then it matters not the language - clean or dirty, intent counts for everything. So I would suggest that the measuring stick should be about what is meant by what is said - not just by what is said.

One reason I mostly write instrumental music is that I don't have to let words get in the way of my musical expression. Either the music carries itself or not, but it never degrades.


Dave

http://www.musicforte.com/member/martouk

[artpaul]

I thought this was interesting:


1 Peter 3.8-17 (GNT)
Live in Union with God and Rejoice in Hope
8To conclude: you must all have the same attitude and the same feelings; love one another, and be kind and humble with one another. 9Do not pay back evil with evil or cursing with cursing; instead, pay back with a blessing, because a blessing is what God promised to give you when he called you. 10As the scripture says, "If you want to enjoy life and wish to see good times, you must keep from speaking evil and stop telling lies. 11You must turn away from evil and do good; you must strive for peace with all your heart. 12For the Lord watches over the righteous and listens to their prayers; but he opposes those who do evil." 13Who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? 14But even if you should suffer for doing what is right, how happy you are! Do not be afraid of anyone, and do not worry. 15But have reverence for Christ in your hearts, and honor him as Lord. Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you,16but do it with gentleness and respect. Keep your conscience clear, so that when you are insulted, those who speak evil of your good conduct as followers of Christ will become ashamed of what they say. 17For it is better to suffer for doing good, if this should be God's will, than for doing evil.

[Reconsiderate]