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Music artists can be powerful sources of representation about what it means to have a high status. Previous literature has shown that artists display their high status by singing about economic factors, such as driving expensive cars. Yet, we do not know whether artists also showcase a high status in their lyrics by identifying with a particular social group and showing power via sexual objectification and subjectification. Considering the gender and ethnicity of the artists, this study analyzed 4117 popular lyrics on Spotify between 2016 and 2019 in six Western countries (US, UK, Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, Canada). A manual analysis of the lyrics showed that almost half (46%) of the songs depicted status in terms of economic capital (e.g., wearing jewels), 26% through social capital (e.g., knowing famous people), 16% through cultural capital (e.g., drinking champagne), and 6% through sexual objectification and subjectification (e.g., showing naked bodies on expensive cars). Most of these status representations were present in rap lyrics and among Black and Brown male artists. These findings offer new evidence and theoretical insights on the diffusion of neoliberal ideals of materialism, utilitarianism, hegemonic masculinity, and objectification in music lyrics and their potential reinforcement of racial-ethnic and gender hierarchies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do hip-hop songs produced from 2017 to 2023 depict and rationalize online fraud? This study examines the depiction of online fraudsters in thirty-three Nigerian hip-hop songs on nine popular streaming platforms such as Spotify, Deezer, iTunes, SoundCloud, Apple Music, and YouTube. Using a directed approach to qualitative content analysis, we coded lyrics based on the moral disengagement mechanism and core themes derived from existing literature. Our findings shed light on how songs (a) justify the fraudulent actions of online fraudsters, (b) blame and dehumanize victims of online romance fraud, (c) glamorize online fraud, and (d) provide insights into prevailing attitudes, indigenous linguistics, and worldviews regarding cybercrime victimization. Specifically, our analysis shows the presence of moral disengagement mechanisms, including ''dehumanization,'' “minimizing own agency,” and ''displacement of responsibility.'' Moreover, we identify core contextual themes pertinent to online fraud in the Nigerian context: (a) ''cyber spiritualism'' and (b) ''the North-South divide.'' This research underscores the global influence of musicians whose songs are easily accessible on diverse music platforms in trivializing the plight of online fraud victims. We argue that these artists' persuasive messages not only downplay but also satirize the victims' predicaments, thus contributing to the cultural worldviews and dimensions of online fraud. We conclude by underscoring these songs' capacity to actualize, reshape, and actively engage with the narratives of glamorization, justification, spiritualism, colonial legacies, gender dynamics, and societal implications. We recommend that future research endeavors explore non-conventional data sources adept at capturing the intricate fabric of cultural attitudes and dynamics.

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Music is constantly around us and, if in English, it fosters social distance in EFL students, consequently increasing the level of affinity with the language, however, can social distance help with other personal aspects? Music lyrics provide different perspectives that can become enriching on an academic level, as music brings cultural aspects of the country of origin and directly affects emotions, therefore song lyrics may become a very powerful instrument when combining social distance and the level of English of students in order to improve academic and future professional performance, among others. The aim of this study was to measure the impact of social distance on the improvement of academic performance, emotional states and future prospects in EFL students. In order to measure those variables, a questionnaire, based on the Likert scale, conducted amongst 82 students from different educational centres. Resulting data analysed with the use of the structural equation modeling (SEM-PLS) revealed the relevance of social distance through music in order to improve learning processes, to feel emotions and to consolidate hopes for future prospects.

This study explored 19 themes embedded in the lyrics of 1,040 U.S. top-40 songs from 1960 through 2010, using R strucchange software to identify trends and breaks in trends. Findings reveal both continuity and change. As in 1960, the predominant topic of pop music remains romantic and sexual relationships. However, whereas the proportion of lyrics referring to relationships in romantic terms remained stable, the proportion including reference to sex-related aspects of relationships increased sharply. References to lifestyle issues such as dancing, alcohol and drugs, and status/wealth increased substantially, particularly in the 2000s. Other themes were far less frequent: Social/political issues, religion/God, race/ethnicity, personal identity, family, friends showed a modest occurrence in top-40 music throughout the studied period and showed no dramatic changes. Violence and death occurred in a small number of songs, and both increased, particularly since the 1990s. References to hate/hostility, suicide, and occult matters were very rare. Results are examined in the context of cultural changes in the social position of adolescents, and more specifically in light of the increased popularity of rap/hip-hop music, which may explain the increases in references to sex, partying, dancing, drug use, and wealth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Informacao & Sociedade: Estudos is the property of Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Centro de Humanidades and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Previous research based on the General Learning Model (GLM) found that exposure to prosocial music increased helping behaviour. The present research aimed to test the effects of prosocial music from current music charts and popular television series. An initial experiment determined the themes of four prosocial and four neutral songs; the second experiment then found that prosocial music significantly increased helping behavior, relative to neutral music. The findings indicated no statistical difference on affect or arousal between the samples exposed to either prosocial or neutral music. These results are consistent with previous research and indicate the importance of prosocial music in creating cooperative social scenarios. Suggestions for future research including the necessity for field and longitudinal studies were discussed.

This article analyses the narrative conventions of R. Kelly’s serial “hip-hopera” Trapped in the Closet, exploring the manner in which the artist’s chosen narrative strategies have shaped the generic reading of the series. Specifically, I discuss how Trapped in the Closet re-appropriates the conventions of the soap opera and the music video, to create a wholly original product that both evokes these schematas and simultaneously challenges their traditional narrative norms. Looking at R. Kelly’s chosen promotional strategy, I argue that the convergence of genres and narrative influences, as evident in the series’ content and style, parallels the convergence of media channels—radio, television, internet—that characterised its release and distribution, highlighting the increasing importance of a transmedial approach in the conceptualisation and dissemination of cultural texts.

There has been little research on the impact of media on sexting behaviors in adolescence, and none regarding the influence of musical lyrics. The goal of the current study was to explore these associations in a longitudinal investigation. Participants were 278 fourteen-year-old adolescents (all cisgender, 49.46% female) who were assessed at three different time points. Participants completed several questionnaires (including music preferences) and were given BlackBerry devices through which frequency of textual sext message utterances were obtained. Sexual content in music preferences was then quantitatively analyzed using the Linguistic Inquiry Word Count (LIWC) software. Data was analyzed for Time 1 and Time 3 and results indicated that boys were more likely to participate in sexting in the future when exposed to sexual music lyrics, though there was no association for girls. These and other results are discussed as well as implications for parents and the need for further research on sexting and the behavioral influence of musical lyrics. • There is little research on the impact of media on adolescent sexting behaviors and none regarding musical lyrics. • Boys were more likely to participate in sexting in the future when exposed to sexual music lyrics. • There was no association between adolescent girls' sexting behaviors and exposure to sexual music lyrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The late blind Zimbabwean musician, Paul Matavire, mesmerised his audience with a music genre whose lyrics addressed and continue to address contemporary social issues. His music occupies a prominent place in Zimbabwe’s music history and continues to portray the normative values of an Afro-traditional music genre. Three of his late-1980s hits,Dhiyabhorosi Nyoka(Diabolical snake), Taurayi zvenyu(Just speak please!) andTanga Wandida(Love me first), collectively glorify patriarchy while portraying women as subservient to the masculine gender. InDhiyabhorosi Nyoka,Matavire controversially uses biblical inter-textual allusions, humour, and sarcasm to demonstrate that Eve’s original sin was the genesis of the challenges besetting contemporary society (and especially men). He deploys a gendered perspective and demeaning language in other songs considered in this article. This article is grounded in a narrative agency perspective in discussing how Matavire’s music portrays and glorifies patriarchy through vocal characterisations. The selected songs’ lyrics are also examined to determine their implications for educational management, such as gender tolerance and respect. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Artists have become decidedly more accustomed to partnering with product marketers. Typically, though, the relationships have involved tour sponsorships, endorsements, or the use of the artist's music in commercials. There are plenty of examples of using popular music in advertising. However, how often has there been advertising in popular music? Artists are in a sense "brands." Many of them appear to promote or acquaint audiences with their lifestyles through the music they create. Popular songs can serve not only as a mechanism for the subtle marketing of commercial consumer products, but also as a platform for marketing artists. Three types of branding devices are typically employed by songwriters: the mention of specific product brands, geographical places including cities and states, and well-known people (e.g., celebrities, cultural icons, and politicians). The aim of this study is to identify just how often these three types of lyrical references have occurred in popular songs through the years. How frequently have popular songs employed lyrics that may be serving the purpose of branding or advertising consumer products or the artists themselves, and are there observable trends regarding the practice over time? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research based on the General Learning Model (GLM) found that exposure to prosocial music increased helping behaviour. The present research aimed to test the effects of prosocial music from current music charts and popular television series. An initial experiment determined the themes of four prosocial and four neutral songs; the second experiment then found that prosocial music significantly increased helping behavior, relative to neutral music. The findings indicated no statistical difference on affect or arousal between the samples exposed to either prosocial or neutral music. These results are consistent with previous research and indicate the importance of prosocial music in creating cooperative social scenarios. Suggestions for future research including the necessity for field and longitudinal studies were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the power and significance of music lyrics in the Zimbabwean feature film Tanyaradzwa. Critical works written on popular culture in Zimbabwe tend to lack depth because the works analyse, selectively, some lyrics in the song genre. What has not been done is to interrogate the ideological functions of music lyrics in film. A critical analysis of music lyrics in a film such as Tanyaradzwa can reveal patterns of meanings embedded in the aesthetic and textual vibrancy engendered by film narrative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a list of abstracts of pediatric research, including "Patient Visits to a National Practice-Based Research Network: Comparing Pediatric Research in Office Settings With the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey," by E. J. Slora et al, "Childhood Bullying Involvement and Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence," by N. S. Bauer, "Barriers to Following the Supine Sleep Recommendation Among Mothers at Four Centers for the Women, Infants and Children Program," by E. R. Colson et al and "Use of a New Combined Vaccine in Pediatric Practices," by G. L. Freed et al.

This paper explores the role of changing images of drinking and alcoholic beverage use in rap music from its beginnings in the United States in the late 1970s to the late 1990s. A sample of 341 rap music song lyrics released from 1979 to 1997 were selected using Billboard and Gavin rating charts. Song lyrics were coded for music genres, alcohol beverage types and brand names, drinking behaviors, drinking contexts, intoxication, attitudes towards alcohol and consequences of drinking. From 1979 to 1997, songs with references to alcohol increased fivefold (from 8 to 44%); those exhibiting positive attitudes rose from 43% to 73%; and brand name mentions increased from 46% to 71%. There were also significant increases in songs mentioning champagne and liquor (mainly expensive brand names) when comparing songs released after 1994 with those from previous years. In addition, there were significant increases in references to alcohol to signify glamour and wealth, and using alcohol with drugs and for recreational purposes. The findings also showed that alcohol use in rap music was much more likely to result in positive than negative consequences. Many of these findings are consistent with the idea that rap music has been profoundly affected by commercial forces and the marketing of alcoholic beverages. In addition, it is possible that the increase in references to alcoholic beverages in rap music, particularly spirits, is a reflection of a broader advertising culture which increasingly associates African Americans with alcohol use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]