Abstract The purpose of this discussion is to trace specific African-American musicians and discuss how they influenced the racial identity of the black population of America. The discussion focuses on the following artists: Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley, Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Tupac Shakur, Lauryn Hill, Beyonce, and Outkast. The paper looks at not only their lyrics, but their impact as significant catalysts for change and for influencing the African-American identity over the last 35 years or so.
From the Paper "No discussion about the influence of African American music would be complete without examining the influence of Stevie Wonder. The remarkable thing about Stevie Wonder is that he is totally blind but he can see much more than most people that are sighted. He has mastered several different instruments and has written some of the most memorable songs of the 20th century. His influence was particularly important in the aftermath of the civil rights movement.
Musicians like Stevie Wonder and others gave the African American community hope and also challenged the powers that be with songs like "You Haven"t Done Nothing?."
Abstract This paper explains that the songs. "Genie in a Bottle," sung by Christina Aguilera, "Boom, Boom", sung by Britney Spears. and "Naughty Girl", sung by Beyonce Knowles. are among the ?Top 40? pop songs that have heavy sexual references, which many people may not even notice. The author points out that all three pieces have blood-pumping music and a sort of seductive melody, which seem to inspire highly sexually suggestive movement. The paper concludes that, while there's nothing particularly wrong with sex or with art that displays sex, it seems strange that "Top 40" songs that are played everywhere, especially by teenagers, would be quietly pumping in lyrics about mutual masturbation, prostitution, and orgies.
From the Paper "Aguilera's character seems to maintain a temporary morality, saying "that don"t mean I"m gonna give it away" to which she has already added "baby, baby, baby" as an indication that she is already losing control of her body. This loss of control is soon made explicit as she says "My body's saying let's go" (assumably to "give it away"). That this is sexual is so obvious that, when Disney wanted to show the video to children, they required Aguilera to change the lyrics to ?My friends are saying let's go.? as if to pretend that she was going to leave, rather than going to have sexual intercourse."
