Metro Station: Shake It

Metro Station

A few years ago I was at a mate’s wedding. He stood up at the reception to give the groom’s speech. He said that there were two types of people in the world: those who listened to the lyrics of a song and those that just listened to the tune. I think that’s very true. And I think that if you’re one of those people who just listen to the tune, you may be surprised what you’re letting into your head.

Shake It is a song by a band called Metro Station. Apparantly the young folk listen to it. I’m no longer one of those young folk, so I take their word for it. Have a look at the film clip here (embedding is disabled). It’s a pretty catchy tune isn’t it. It’s the kind of tune that shows up in ipod ads. But did you look at the lyrics?

(Let’s Drop!)
(Yeah)
(Come On)
(Shake it shake it)

I’ll take you home if you don’t leave me at the front door (leave me at the front door)
Your body’s cold, but girl we’re getting so warm
And I was thinking of ways that I could get inside (get inside)
Tonight you’re falling in love (let me go now)
This feelings tearing me up (here we go now)

Now if she does it like this will you do it like that
Now if she touches like this, will you touch her right back
Now if she moves like this, will you move it like that (come on)

Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, uh shake it
Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, uh shake it
Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, uh shake it
Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, uh shake it
Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, uh shake it

Your lips tremble but your eyes are in a straight stare (straight stare)
We’re on the bed but your clothes are laying right there
And I was thinking of places that I could hide (I could hide)
Tonight you’re falling in love (let me go now)
This feelings tearing me up (here we go now)

Now if she does it like this will you do it like that
Now if she touches like this, will you touch her right back
Now if she moves like this, will you move it like that (come on)

Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, uh shake it
Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, uh shake it
Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, uh shake it
Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, uh shake it
Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, uh shake it

I saw you dancing and I couldn’t get you off my mind
(I could tell that you could tell that I was takin’ my time)
I was thinking of ways that you would stay and be mine
(Your body’s shaking, turn me on, so I can turn off the lights)

Now if she does it like this will you do it like that
Now if she touches like this, will you touch her right back
Now if she moves like this, will you move it like that (come on)

Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, uh shake it
etc etc etc

Now correct me if you think I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure this song is about sex. Yeah, I know, big surprise. Come on! They’re lying on the bed, but her clothes are laying right there? And I don’t even want to know what they’re touching and shaking. Now don’t get me wrong. I have no problem with songs being about sex. I can choose not to listen to them. But I’m one of those guys who listens to lyrics. I hear the words. And I know when to stop listening.

If you’re one of those people who just listen to the tune, do you know what you’re letting in to your head? Do you know what’s rolling around in your brain? Do you know what you’re subconcious is singing along to? Do you know what you’re listening to? Many times I’ve caught people I know singing along to certain songs. When I tell them what the song is about, they’re shocked and appalled. But they never noticed. If we’re going to be careful about what feeds our minds, we need to be people who pay attention to the lyrics.

The thing that really gets to me is that songs like this are every where. And not just for adults to hear. I was watching Saturday Disney the other morning. Now I won’t try and pretend I was doing something else while it was on in the background, because you probably wouldn’t believe me. They were doing a segment on graphiti art. And what song were they playing in the background? Shake It. A song about sex being played in the background of a kids program. While kids are half way through their weekly installment of Hannah Montanna’s latest dilema of balancing superstardom with pretending to be a normal teen, these youngens are having sexually suggestive content pumped into their subconscious. Am I the only one who thinks that there is something wrong with that?

Open your ears. Pay attention to what you’re listening to. Don’t just sit back and let any old rubish into your brain.