It has been quite a bit of time since my last music blog (which was on Rihanna). So I've decided to do another. This one is going to be on the "electro-hop" band 3OH!3. First, some background (Just to show I did my homework). 3OH!3 is a musical group made up of two guys from Boulder, Colorado. The area code of Boulder provided the name of the band (303). Sean Foreman and Nathaniel Motte started the group in 2004. The group's two most well known songs are "Don't Trust Me" and "Starstrukk". I will give these guys their due. They have managed to create really catchy songs by combining hip hop beats with emo style music. The group's goal seems to be to create crunk-infused songs that get people dancing. Their live shows are said to be colored by energetic show performances and crowd interaction. Now,I am perfectly ok with that (I love Family Force 5 and they generally do the same thing) but my problem with 3OH!3 begins with the content of these infectious songs.
First off, One of 3OH!3's first songs was one titled "Holler 'Til You Pass Out". A line of this early song says "Ladies, shake-shake your a$$ now,
I’ma hit you from the back and make you holler ‘til you pass out."
Now isn't that a charming and intelligent line of lyrics?
You might not have heard of that one though. I am betting you have heard of their most recent singles that seemed to have invaded the airwaves. I'll take 'em one by one.
"Starstrukk is the latest single that 3OH!3 has released and even features Katy Perry in their music video. The song functionally objectifies women by what they wear and the body parts they possess. Example:Nice legs, Daisy Dukes,
Makes a man go (whistles),
That's the way they all come through like (whistles),
Low-cut, see-through shirts that make ya (whistles)"
The singers go on to showcase their feelings about Love and sex "I think I should know /how to make love to something innocent without leaving my fingerprints out, Now,/ L-O,V-E just another word I never learned to pronounce."
"Don't Trust Me" is a rather upfront song (although most 3OH!3 songs are). Its about a guy taking advantage of a girl who seems to get around (A ho)all while warning the listener "Don't trust a ho". If that wasn't insenstive enough this line tops it off
“Shush girl, shut your lips / Do the Helen Keller and talk with your hips.”
If you aren't familiar with Helen Keller, she was a girl who was born blind and deaf but went on to become an author, lecturer, and activist. So this line is doubly offensive because 1) it is telling a girl "Just be quiet and do what I want you to." Whether that be dancing or something else, I leave that up to you guys. 2) this is blatantly disrespecting a disabled woman.
You don't have to be a Christian to recognize that 3OH!3 has a bad attitude towards women. Following the script of most hip-hop artists, they make a habit of objectifying girls as mere playthings who shouldn't speak. And just like most popular artists, 3OH!3 seems to get a license to invade the radio and Itunes playlists simply because their songs are deemed catchy. I would say that if you are a guy who cares about your lady friends or a girl who respects herself, steer clear of 3OH!3. (If you're looking for some awesome dance-your-pants-off songs, try Family Force 5).
Friendship Series: Part Two - Defining A True Friend
In order to discuss the true nature of a friend, we must define Friendship. Unless we do that, it will be very difficult for us to categorize people in our lives that we interact with.
Definition of a friend: a friend is a trustworthy peer with whom we mutually choose to lovingly live with by seeking unique access and service for God’s glory and our mutual good.
Now we will break that down a bit:
(1) Trustworthy - This is a person you can confidently confide it. If you talk to them or pray with them, you know it won’t end up on their Facebook. You know that what you talk about with them won’t become a matter of gossip. They are going to be trustworthy. Worthy of your trust.
(2) A peer - This person is at the same Lifestage as you. For example, Your relationship with them is not described as :Counselor/Counselee, Employer/Employee, Teacher/Student, Pastor/Congregant, Parent/Child. These are not necessarily peer relationships. You are under authority and it does change the relationship. Likewise, if you’re 70 and you’ve been walking with Jesus for a very long time and you love (friendship) someone who is 20 and got saves 10 minutes ago you are not spiritual peers. You can care for each other and love each other but you are not peers.
(3) Mutually chosen – You choose them, they choose you. It gets pretty awkward if someone chooses you and you did not choose them or vice versa.
(4) Lovingly – The relationship is held together by love. This means you seek the well-being and the welfare of the other person.
(5) To live with – You go through life together. It is not just a friendship because of convenience. For example: Coworkers, Classmates, and Neighbors are not necessarily friends. This is because you are not intentionally living with them. Work put you together. School put you together. Residence put you together. That gives the impression you’re close but when they move on, you realize they weren’t that integral to your life.
(6) Unique access – People can get a hold of you but friends have unique access. Your friend can call you 24 hours a day. Your boss probably cannot. Your friend can drop by your house unannounced. Everyone probably cannot. Your enemies, coworkers, or whoever are not allowed to just drop by. They do not possess unique access. Your friends have your cell phone number or your personal email address.
(7) Service – You serve lots of people but you go above and beyond the call of duty for your friend. You want to see who your real friends are? Try the “Hey I’m Moving” test. Announce to your social circle that you are moving. Whoever shows up is a real friend. Everyone else is a pretend friend. Whoever is on the other end of the couch is your very best friend.
(8) God’s glory – The point of a real friendship is that God would be glorified. Your drinking buddy? Not a real friend. Your boyfriend or girlfriend that you do “stuff” with? They are not your real friend. People you sin with? Those are not your real friends.
(9) Mutual good – Your goal is to be good to them and their goal is to be good to you.
If you sum all of this up you will get a basic working definition of a friend.
Definition of a friend: a friend is a trustworthy peer with whom we mutually choose to lovingly live with by seeking unique access and service for God’s glory and our mutual good.
Now we will break that down a bit:
(1) Trustworthy - This is a person you can confidently confide it. If you talk to them or pray with them, you know it won’t end up on their Facebook. You know that what you talk about with them won’t become a matter of gossip. They are going to be trustworthy. Worthy of your trust.
(2) A peer - This person is at the same Lifestage as you. For example, Your relationship with them is not described as :Counselor/Counselee, Employer/Employee, Teacher/Student, Pastor/Congregant, Parent/Child. These are not necessarily peer relationships. You are under authority and it does change the relationship. Likewise, if you’re 70 and you’ve been walking with Jesus for a very long time and you love (friendship) someone who is 20 and got saves 10 minutes ago you are not spiritual peers. You can care for each other and love each other but you are not peers.
(3) Mutually chosen – You choose them, they choose you. It gets pretty awkward if someone chooses you and you did not choose them or vice versa.
(4) Lovingly – The relationship is held together by love. This means you seek the well-being and the welfare of the other person.
(5) To live with – You go through life together. It is not just a friendship because of convenience. For example: Coworkers, Classmates, and Neighbors are not necessarily friends. This is because you are not intentionally living with them. Work put you together. School put you together. Residence put you together. That gives the impression you’re close but when they move on, you realize they weren’t that integral to your life.
(6) Unique access – People can get a hold of you but friends have unique access. Your friend can call you 24 hours a day. Your boss probably cannot. Your friend can drop by your house unannounced. Everyone probably cannot. Your enemies, coworkers, or whoever are not allowed to just drop by. They do not possess unique access. Your friends have your cell phone number or your personal email address.
(7) Service – You serve lots of people but you go above and beyond the call of duty for your friend. You want to see who your real friends are? Try the “Hey I’m Moving” test. Announce to your social circle that you are moving. Whoever shows up is a real friend. Everyone else is a pretend friend. Whoever is on the other end of the couch is your very best friend.
(8) God’s glory – The point of a real friendship is that God would be glorified. Your drinking buddy? Not a real friend. Your boyfriend or girlfriend that you do “stuff” with? They are not your real friend. People you sin with? Those are not your real friends.
(9) Mutual good – Your goal is to be good to them and their goal is to be good to you.
If you sum all of this up you will get a basic working definition of a friend.
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