Usher: I DO mind!

I really like pop music and top 40. Unlike many people I listen to the lyrics of songs and that can be distressing when I know kids are repeating the words. Most kids don't pay attention to the words. They like the music and the beat and how catchy it is. As I was listening to the top hits today I heard a song by Usher called 'I Don't Mind'. Here are the lyrics:

Shawty, I don’t mind If you dance on a pole
That don’t make you a ho
Shawty, I don’t mind when you work until three
If you’re leaving with me
Go make that money, money, money
Your money, money, money
Cause I know how it is, go and handle your biz
And get that money, money, money
Your money, money, money
You can take off your clothes
Long as you coming home, girl, I don’t mind

Verse 1:
The ballers in here tonight, they gon’ buy a hundred bottles
As soon as you shake it I know they gon’ make it colossal in here
Cause shawty you thinkin’ them tricks that you do with your body
Got all of these niggas they crowding around you like they seen Beyonce in here
You want your own and you need your own, baby, who am I to judge?
Cause how could I ever trip about it when I met you in the club?
I make enough for the both of us, but you dance anyway
You know I was raised in the A

Verse 2:
When you get off of work I’ll be ready to go in the ‘Rari
And when we get home we’ll have us our own private party in here
So I don’t worry at all about the things they do or say
I love you anyway
You can twerk it while in a split, you racking up them tips
Your body rock and your booty poppin’, I’m proud to call you my b@&*h
They be lookin’, but they can’t touch you, shawty, I’m the only one to get it
So just go ahead and keep doing what you do, do it

Verse 3
I’m just tryna cut her up, tryna bust a nut
Tryna take somebody b@#$h, turn her to a s@$t
Tryna fill my cup, tryna live it up
Throw some hundreds on that a**, walk her out the club
(Yeah, ho) Lap dance for the first date
Bet I threw a few bands, that’s third base
It’s okay if you work late, we can still party like it’s your birthday
We can still party hard in your birthday suit
Knock that p**y out the park like my name Babe Ruth
Shawty she just want a tip, I just want to see her strip
If you f*** me like you love me shawty you might get rich
Have her own cake, her own place, blow her own gas, no role’
When we in the bed she like to roleplay, tell her friend to join in both ways

I used to like Usher but he should be ashamed of the message, tone, and lyrics of this song. The song is basically about a guy dating a prostitute who also moonlights as a stripper. Usher used to be such a great singer with great songs. I am very saddened that he has chosen to go down this path. But honestly I can't say Usher is the Lone Ranger. I recently heard Blake Shelton's song 'Boy's Round Here' and it too was full of cussing and ideals that I would not prescribe for anyone under 21.

I guess I am sounding a little dated and old but is it too much to ask for popular music that I don't have to ask for the kidz bop version for myself. It is a sad state of affairs when singers and songwriters feel that they can't create music with a positive message. I want to allow my child to listen to music without worrying about the language.  I hope artists realize they can be great without degrading themselves or others. Until I see a drastic change in the music industry I will have to be diligent to listen to what Claudia is listening to.

Thanks Usher for this very nasty, inappropriate, demeaning and degrading song. I hope your mother liked it as well!

jamie