Catholic Exchange has an article on Pop Music's Sex Education. The article is pretty good. I am not sure it is a huge revelation though. All except this part (to me anyway):
People who want to make excuses for the music industry also argue that sexual lyrics are nothing new in popular music, from “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones to any number of songs that discuss “making love.” But a lot of late 20th century music that played on the radio had a layer or two of euphemism or double entendre. It might have gone over the heads of grade-schoolers riding along in the car. That’s not true any more. In fact, it’s just the opposite today. These lyrics are as blatant as can be and are being marketed directly to young teenagers through the likes of MTV.
Duh! I never knew that song was about sex. I never listened that intently either as I don't really like The Rolling Stones, but I thought it was about a guy having a bad day. Point well made.
I don't think they know what they are talking about. As a long times Stones fan I am pretty sure I heard Mick Jagger saying that song was about advertisements and I think the lyrics pretty much confirm that.
When I'm drivin' in my car
And a man comes on the radio
He's telling me more and more
About some useless information
Supposed to fire my imagination
Of course they wouldn't have had to look very far to find a real example of sexual lyrics in their songs.
"I can't get no
Satisfaction
I can't get no
girly action," etc
I can't get no
girly action," etc
I thought it meant he couldn't get a date.
I wrote a pop culture protest song once called:
"I don't want no satisfaction"
It is paired with:
"Your Generation"
and
"Rock N Roll will die ... someday ... maybe"
I prefer the Devo version of Satisfaction ... I mean Mick is complaining that about advertising!!! I can make a good argument that the Devo version is one of the best covers ever ...
Even as a child, the double negative in Satisfaction bothered me. I didn't know how they could be allowed to use such atrocious grammar. Any innuendo flew right over my head ...
As long as someone touched on grammar in songs, I've always wondered how a line and title like "If you love somebody, set them free" could get past the grammar police. And didn't Sting use to be an English professor? That's what I've heard anyway.
"Somebody" is singular, so the pronoun should also be singular. "Them" is plural. I notice this is a common mistake among some Americans (my basis is only TV, movies and music, though).
By the way, I like the simple rhythm of that Stones song -- it's such a far cry from today's hip-hop, rap and hard rock! And I thought it went "..I can't get no girl reaction.." hehe. I took that to mean he had no impact on girls.
I think I was in eighth grade when "Satisfaction" was released. We knew it was about sex, and revelled in it. But then, we weren't Christians. Everything was about sex. My friends and I were avid readers of James Bond books, because of the sex. We even had a little song about it (to the tune of "Rock of Ages"):
We are sinking deep in sin;
Won't you come and push us in?
With our modern views on sex
We will soon be nervous wrecks.
We are sinking deep in sin;
Won't you come and push us in?