Article: "Should A Kindergartner Really Be Listening To Nicki Minaj?"

[PrettySquareGal]

Last week a video of little Sophia Grace Brownlee rapping to Nicki Minaj’s Super Bass went viral. While the blogosphere praised her amazing vocals on the chorus, no one seemed to question why a child was listening to a Nicki Minaj tune in the first place.

Nicki is known for her raunchy, suggestive lyrics and this song is no different. Super Bass talks about being attracted to a guy who sells drugs, contains profanity and other offensive words. Don’t believe me? Here are some of the lyrics:

Read more: http://technorati.com/women/article/should-a-kindergartner-really-be-listening/#ixzz1aW4XmfL6


I agree with this commentary. What are your thoughts?

 

[sheeplady]

I just read the lyrics. I would not be pleased if my child was singing that, for several reasons. Personally, I wouldn't want them listening to that song until they could articulate why some of the language and themes are offensive to some people.

Did her parents post the video?

 

[LizzieMaine]

The mother needs to have her mouth washed out with soap.

 

[Tomasso]

That's Pre-Code stuff.....

 

[LoveMyHats2]

Nicki who? Never heard of her, but then again, I do not pay too much attention to a lot of the stuff out today, as I rather think of music as being something other than garbage stuff and rap, hip hop, or any of that other razzle do squat, does not cut it to me.

 

[lolly_loisides]

There are two things that disturb me about that, firstly while I'm sure the child didn't actually understand the meaning of what she was singing, she shouldn't be exposed to those kinds of adult concepts, secondly the parent (or carer) of the child is taking advantage of the childs innocence by posting the video. It reminds me of when children are used by their parents in political rallies to hold signs that they can't possibly understand (and that happens on both sides of the political spectrum).

I'm certain a four year old wouldn't know what a socialist is & I'm guessing they wouldn't pick up on the Dylan Thomas reference either.

 

[C-dot]

Reminds me of a woman I saw on one of those Dr. shows who allowed her 8 and 10 year old daughters to dance around a stripper pole (as you do.)

The author is right, parents really should consider what effect suggestive material will have on their young children. This should be common sense. What goes through these people's heads: The kids don't know what the lyrics mean yet, so it must be okay? Children tend to accept certain things as fact when they are exposed to them early on - They ought not to be exposed to songs like this until they are old enough to understand the meaning fully, and form their own conclusions.

 

[LoveMyHats2]

There are two things that disturb me about that, firstly while I'm sure the child didn't actually understand the meaning of what she was singing, she still shouldn't be exposed to it, secondly the parent (or carer) of the child is taking advantage of the childs innocence by posting the video. It reminds me of when children are used by their parents in political rallies to hold signs that they can't possibly understand (and that happens on both sides of the political spectrum).

I'm certain a four year old wouldn't know what a socialist is & I'm guessing they wouldn't pick up on the Dylan Thomas reference either.

It is horrible to put kids "out there" like that with the signs at some gathering event. I think it makes a child gain unwarranted bias, and maybe even become too comfortable with traits that may not be acceptable later in life to others, but would be "normal" for the child. Sort of like allowing a two year old to carry a Nazi flag, or to wear a KKK outfit. Not acceptable, period. Brain dead parent scores a "zero" in child parenting skills.

 

[Pompidou]

Here, we've got a kid with musical talent. The worst thing to do would be to take away the source of the enthusiasm. Music tastes change over time. If the kid likes Nicki Minaj for whatever reason, and the music fosters a talent, just run with it.

 

[Rudie]

I disagree, Pompidou. It should be easy enough to foster a musical talent without exposing a little kid to such language. C-dot is very right that children tend to accept things as fact when exposed to them early on. The reason being that they haven't developed a critical faculty yet (which is the part of the mind that protects the subconscious mind from unwanted suggestions). This basically means that children are in a permanent state of hypnosis. She may not understand the lyrics yet, but they are ingrained in the subconscious and later, when the critical faculty has formed these beliefs are protected by it! Speaking things out loud while in a state of hypnosis makes for a powerful identity statement. You don't want little kids to develop their identity on the basis of those values, do you? Parents need to become aware that they are hypnotizing their children all the time, wheather they want to or not. They don't have a choice in this.

Food for thought...

 

[Pompidou]

I disagree, Pompidou. It should be easy enough to foster a musical talent without exposing a little kid to such language. C-dot is very right that children tend to accept things as fact when exposed to them early on. The reason being that they haven't developed a critical faculty yet (which is the part of the mind that protects the subconscious mind from unwanted suggestions). This basically means that children are in a permanent state of hypnosis. She may not understand the lyrics yet, but they are ingrained in the subconscious and later, when the critical faculty has formed these beliefs are protected by it! Speaking things out loud while in a state of hypnosis makes for a powerful identity statement. You don't want little kids to develop their identity on the basis of those values, do you? Parents need to become aware that they are hypnotizing their children all the time, wheather they want to or not. They don't have a choice in this.

Food for thought...

The way I see it, kids hear that stuff regardless, so the choice comes down to fostering the talent. Should she be listening to that sort of stuff? No, probably not. My parents never let me watch/listen to that sort of stuff. Didn't matter much - my neighbors did, and my other friends did. The kids at school did. I'm not sure it's possible to raise kids in a bubble where only wholesome values are present. I suppose a combination of homeschooling and general seclusion could do the trick, but then you'd be instilling problems of a wholly different sort. That and I think making things forbidden only increases their importance. Is it just a song nobody pays attention to, or is it such an important song that parents forbid its message being heard?

 

[PrettySquareGal]

I have no idea who the rap artist is, either. My local news station posted the video stating how incredible it was (as in positive). I was appalled, so I did a little google search to see if anyone else agreed with me and found this article.

I'm sick of our society thinking it's acceptable to sexualize little girls!

 

[PrettySquareGal]

The way I see it, kids hear that stuff regardless, so the choice comes down to fostering the talent. Should she be listening to that sort of stuff? No, probably not. My parents never let me watch/listen to that sort of stuff. Didn't matter much - my neighbors did, and my other friends did. The kids at school did. I'm not sure it's possible to raise kids in a bubble where only wholesome values are present. I suppose a combination of homeschooling and general seclusion could do the trick, but then you'd be instilling problems of a wholly different sort. That and I think making things forbidden only increases their importance. Is it just a song nobody pays attention to, or is it such an important song that parents forbid its message being heard?

So they hear it- but that has nothing to do with a parent pimpig their kids on youtube for some "fame."

 

[PrettySquareGal]

Here, we've got a kid with musical talent. The worst thing to do would be to take away the source of the enthusiasm. Music tastes change over time. If the kid likes Nicki Minaj for whatever reason, and the music fosters a talent, just run with it.

Also, lyrics and gyrating aside, I did not hear any "talent." Enthusiasm, yes, and that can be applied to thousands of other hobbies and pursuits more age-appropriate.

 

[Pompidou]

So they hear it- but that has nothing to do with a parent pimpig their kids on youtube for some "fame."

Fortunately, neither did my argument, which was solely about whether the kid should be listening to it, and what the right course of action might be.

 

[PrettySquareGal]

Fortunately, neither did my argument, which was solely about whether the kid should be listening to it, and what the right course of action might be.

I interpreted "just run with it" to mean you thought whatever manifestation the "talent" took, it would be acceptable. I misunderstood.

And while I agree that parents can't control what their kids hear when they leave home, they CAN stop them from singing it at home. I imagine it took quite a while for that little girl to memorize the lyrics, and had the help of her parents.

 

[Pompidou]

I interpreted "just run with it" to mean you thought whatever manifestation the "talent" took, it would be acceptable. I misunderstood.

And while I agree that parents can't control what their kids hear when they leave home, they CAN stop them from singing it at home. I imagine it took quite a while for that little girl to memorize the lyrics, and had the help of her parents.

No worries - the gist of my stance is more - "Life sucks, it's pointless to fight it, so find a silver lining where you can."

 

[PrettySquareGal]

No worries - the gist of my stance is more - "Life sucks, it's pointless to fight it, so find a silver lining where you can."

I see. Well, life does not suck, circumstances sometimes do, and my approach is to accept what I can't change and work to change the things I can. You have to make the silver linings and appreciate those that are already all around you.

So back to this topic, parents can change what goes on at home despite unsavory circumstances outside of it.

 

[scottyrocks]

Parents, indeed adults, have always found ways of 'abusing' children, whether physically or emotionally, so in the overall scheme of things, this is not too bad, excepting the idea that we, as 'old-fashioned types,' don't like it.

Personally, I can't stand that type of music and refuse to have it played in my presence, especially by children. It completely sends the wrong message, in my opinion. But then, the establishment thought Elvis, and the Beatles, and the Stones were the devil incarnate fifty years ago and we see nothing wrong with them.

Popular music has always been about pushing the envelope. When you're young, it's acceptable. As we age, our minds, just like our skin, lose some of that elasticity. I am not defending the kid, or the parents, or who posted that video, just presenting some background and/or insight as to why they did what they did.

The majority of today's youth don't find Elvis' gyrations or the biggest '60s groups' drug habits the front line of cool anymore. The line has moved, and as far as I am concerned, far off into the wrong direction. And it will continue to move. But there it sits.

 

[Miss Golightly]

I'm sick of our society thinking it's acceptable to sexualize little girls!

The problem is that so many parents see nothing wrong with, for example, Primark selling padded bras for 7 year olds (this just sickens me - however they had to withdraw them after many complaints but the fact they are made and put out on a shop floor is pretty disgusting) and buying Playboy pencil cases for school or t-shirts with suggestive messages on them.

I remember my mother turning off the radio when Like a Virgin came on - and that seems so incredibly tame today. Anything my parents thought unsuitable on tv was switched off - whether it was bad language or sex scenes. Too many parents now don't care enough or see anything wrong with exposing their children to adult themes.

The video of this little girl singing along innocently to pretty unsavoury subject matters is very unsettling but sadly a sign of the times.