Ever heard of the Parents Music Resource Center? Probably not, since it's more than 30 years old and no longer discussed much. But it still may have an effect on your life.
In 1985, the PMRC was created by four Washington-savvy women, including Tipper Gore, wife of Tennessee's Al. They were uncomfortable that there were albums with references to subjects they didn't want their young children hearing. Understandable to an extent. As parents, there are so many fears pummeling you from all sides, you try to lessen the number of missiles heading your way.
The PMRC ladies had Washington connections and knew they had to be calm and present their message as: "All we want to do is give parents a way of protecting their children."
They raised a nationwide stink that led to congressional hearings, which resulted in the Recording Industry Association of America agreeing to place a "Parental Guidance: Explicit Lyrics" sticker on records that were deemed to have potentially offensive lyrics, which included sex, drugs, violence and the occult.
The PMRC's "Filthy Fifteen" included such songs as Cyndi Lauper's "She Bop" for sex, Def Leppard's "High 'n' Dry (Saturday Night)" for drugs/alcohol, Mercyful Fate's "Into the Coven" for the occult and Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It" for violence, although the truth is it was picked as much for its theme of not respecting your parents as anything.
The warning labels are still around 30 years later, albeit in much-muted terms. On iTunes, for instance, it's a red box with an "E" in it, indicating "Explicit." But it's ridiculously inconsistent to the point of hypocrisy.
Prince's song "Little Red Corvette" from the album "Purple Rain" has an E because it talks about sex and refers to condoms, former lovers and getting the "keys" to "tame your little red love machine." At the same time, "Darling Nikki" has no warning, although it's on the same album and is one of the very songs that started the whole PMRC movement.
If you want to buy a song that has a warning icon, all you must do is turn off your Restriction preferences. Buy away.
I raised three boys and they listened to all sorts of music, including some of mine, which includes Prince and Cyndi Lauper and other "Filthy Fifteen" such as Black Sabbath and Judas Priest. And you know what? Not one of them is damaged mentally. Not one of them worships Satan or is violent or is hooked on drugs.
Well, whad'ya know?
Contact Shawn Ryan at mshawnryan@gmail.com.