Carpe Diem/Mixed Signals

Hope the title isn't too clever, but the topic for discussion is YOLO (ugh) and the song "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams. 

YOLO, stemming from a song by Drake means You Only Live Once. It is a degraded version of Carpe Diem. For those of you who have seen Dead Poets Society you must also cringe at YOLO as well.

Unfortunately, YOLO brought about teens doing frankly stupid things and the acronym to blame it all was YOLO.  For example, a friend of mine relayed a story about her younger sister's friend. A boy was standing in the cafeteria and tossed a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at the wall, in hopes of a food fight, he screamed YOLO as he performed this. This is all documented on his detention slip. What a waste of a good sandwich.

Lately there has been a lot of hype around the song "Blurred Lines" which Robin Thicke reportedly told Huffington Post that, "It was nice to disrespect women for once." It was unfortunate to hear these words come from a man who I would swoon over listening and watching the music video to "Lost Without You." The excuse for this behavior is that both he and Pharrell Williams are happily married with children, so they see no harm in it.

The song is so darn catchy. The overall message however, is a bit tragic. Not that we haven't had other main stream media music that has been appalling. A chart topper right now is called "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk.

 

My case for these is only that it will pass and while it is around it will be catchy, but I think it comes down to values and knowing that this song isn't going to change the world or represent all of the men in it.

Here is how I've broken it down: Defiant teen doing rebellious act = Screams YOLO. Guy trying to dance with girl and/or take her home, gets rejected = Cries out damned Blurred Lines!

I doubt the rate of assault and other such atrocities will increase or be promoted through this song. Look back to the songs of the 80s, or to Jersey Boys "What a Lady What a Night." I'm going to be honest I had no idea that song was about a prostitute.

The censored music video for "Blurred Lines" tries to make is more comical that the artists cannot have it the way they originally desired (see next paragraph). Still is demeaning over all. The men look like goons and the girls look like fools.

The uncensored music video (click on link to view video) does cause a bit of discomfort because the men are fully dressed while standing next to the naked women dancing. It is sort of a power struggle and a bit awkward. They don't need to lose a stitch of clothing as the women are dancing next to them. See for yourself. That I have to say is probably the only part that causes concern. If they had lost at least their shirts it would seem that both sexes are on the same level but the obvious lack of clothing and differentiation is alarming and degrading.

Just to sum it up, YOLO is for idiots, please prevent them from using this term and express how moronic they sound and the song "Blurred Lines" is but a passing song and will not effect young adults to think anymore "unholy" as they already do, nor do I think will it make them act in that fashion.