"Wake Up Call" vs. "Gunpowder and Lead"

[Jixzer]

Ok, before I start I want to make it VERY clear I don't take issue with either of these songs and like them both very much...but something about the two and the reaction, or this particular case, lack of reaction is a little...disturbing...as in double-standard disturbing.

I'm not sure how many will remember a thread started after the song "Gunpowder and Lead" was released complaining about the fact that a cigarette smoking, beer drinking girl was planning on shooting her abusive ex. There was all kinds of hullabaloo about if this song was appropriate considering is lyrics.

I'm just curious why all kinds of **** was stirred over that song and yet nobody bats an eye at "Wake Up Call". In WUC, he kills a man for sleeping with his girlfriend. The lyrics state plainly "So I had to shoot him dead." Where's the fuss? Where's the "this isn't lyrically ethical" for a game rated Teen?

I guess I'm just taken aback at the double standard. I'd bet a fairly large amount that if a band like VAGIANT or Evanescence released Gunpowder and Lead, the response would have been close to "YOU GO GIRL!", but because it was a country song, it was worthy of debate.

[topperharley]

People like to ***** about stuff. And people have double standards.

[Jixzer]

People like to ***** about stuff. And people have double standards.

I'm very aware of that. :)

I'm curious to how others view this or if they even noticed.

[afterstasis]

i believe men and women should shoot and be shot at on equal terms.

[Jixzer]

i believe men and women should shoot and be shot at on equal terms.

Damnit Afterstasis, I'm being serious here. Don't make me laugh. :)

[topperharley]

Well, I don't consider myself a prude when it comes to song lyrics, so I'm not going to be offended if they are violent. But a lot of songs use violent lyrics solely for shock value, and there's little or no creative or artistic merit to using them. Others use them as an integral part of the story the lyrics are telling, and they're not as in-your-face with them.

I'm not familiar with Wake Up Call, but I don't view Gunpowder & Lead as this "OMG that's so violent!!!" song. Does that mean I condone what the lyrics are portraying, that a woman who gets knocked around by her boyfriend should blow him away with a shotgun? No. But it's a song, a creative expression.

I think you're right in that because it's a country song, people had a different reaction than if it were a metal or rock song. I suppose people are more used to those types of lyrics in those genres.

In a way, I think the lyrics to Before He Cheats are, objectively, more offensive. He slept with another woman, so it's okay to trash his truck? Get over it. Being physically abused is a bit more egregous than being cheated on. Again, does it justify murder? No. But I can understand it more.

[Jixzer]

I think you're right in that because it's a country song, people had a different reaction than if it were a metal or rock song. I suppose people are more used to those types of lyrics in those genres.

I semi agree with that. I don't think it was because people are used to that king of content in rock songs. I credit it more to the stigma of country and people trying to validate their opinion using it's "violent" content when that same content is in the music they prefer, or to put it plainly...being a hypocrite.



In a way, I think the lyrics to Before He Cheats are, objectively, more offensive. He slept with another woman, so it's okay to trash his truck? Get over it. Being physically abused is a bit more egregous than being cheated on. Again, does it justify murder? No. But I can understand it more.

It's funny you mention "Before He Cheats". The first time I heard that song my reaction was, "What the hell did the truck do to you?" I didn't feel bad for the guy, I felt bad for the poor truck.

[topperharley]

I'm amused by the line where she carves her name in the seats. You know, because you always want to leave an signed confession when you commit a crime. :D

[afterstasis]

country music needs more murder stories, by the way...
i'm not crazy about the songs listed so far, but johnny cash proved that it works really damn well if done right.

[topperharley]

johnny cash proved that it works really damn well if done right

I (http://www.last.fm/music/Johnny+Cash/_/Folsom+Prison+Blues) agree (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzvqEZKQgyc) (two links there)