KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
Hosts: Billy Johnson Jr. and Ebony Macon Johnson
Topic: Is There Too Much Violence in Pop Music?
Parents in the Mix Contains Mature Content
Parents In The Mix – September 2, 2015
Parents in the Mix Contains Mature Content
Because of a history of violence in video games, hardcore rap music and heavy metal, parents have learned to be cautious when monitoring their kid’s content in these areas. But should they also be concerned about messages of violence in pop music?
In this episode of Parents in the Mix, a weekly podcast that reviews music from a parent’s perspective, the hosts Billy Johnson Jr. and wife, Ebony Macon Johnson, examine music videos from Shawn Mendes, Eminem, and Rihanna, flagging how varying levels of assault are incorporated into the storylines.
The music video for Shawn Mendes’ “Stiches” brings the song’s lyric to life. As the 16-year-old Canadian artist sings lines like, “Your words cut deeper than a knife,” his character is depicted getting pummeled by an invisible force. Is watching the teen heartthrob getting battered and bruised too much for his tween fans? Billy and Ebony say there’s just one scene that makes them cringe.
“This video doesn’t get too bad,” says to Billy, a veteran music journalist. “But there’s a part when Shawn’s head smashes through a car window that is shocking.”
Eminem’s visual for “Phenomenal” from the soundtrack of the Jake Gyllenhaal boxing film “Southpaw” features the rapper with super hero like powers, fighting his way through a metropolitan city. The fighting in on par with what is seen in an action film or video game and Billy and Ebony are divided about the level of age appropriateness. If giving the short film a movie rating, Billy would classify it as PG-13, but Ebony would place it in the R category.
But both Billy and Ebony agree that Rihanna’s “B—- Better Have My Money” is for adult audiences. Aside from the profanity in the song title and chorus, the music video includes a kidnapping, torture, nudity, and a murder. While it is not quite on par with a slasher film, it shows Rihanna wielding a knife as she approaches her victim and evidence of the bloody aftermath. Fortunately it opens with a warning message.
“We know parents don’t have time to preview every music video before their children watch it, so we just want to give them a heads up,” says Billy. “Just like you can’t judge a book by its cover, you can’t judge a music video by its song either.”
Created by music journalist Billy Johnson Jr., the podcast is co-executive produced and co-hosted by Johnson and his wife, Ebony Macon Johnson, who also works in the entertainment business.
“Parents in the Mix,” a fun new podcast hosted by husband and wife team Billy Johnson Jr. and Ebony Macon Johnson, keeps parents informed, giving them the valuable insight they need into their children’s playlists.
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