When Sex Sells in Music and Originality Flounders

Do you want to be a famous singer? Be on the cover of magazines? Have fans adore the air you breathe and make millions? Here is the plan for success: Get Naked. Sell sex. If you’re not selling out then you’re not selling music. It’s a known fact sex sells. It doesn’t matter if you’re not the best singer because they’ll auto-tune your voice and everyone will be focused on the half nudity and meaningless lyrics centering around sex, partying, sex and of course more sex. “

In the music industry today, style rules over substance. Don’t get me wrong ,I have no problem with a musician or band singing about sex or using sex to further their career. Your rent has to be paid right? But the problem is the mediocre and forgettable music that is released today is the problem. No effort is being put into what really matters which is the music. From the beginning sex has been used to either shock, make a point or both. It went from Elvis Presley shaking his hips that caused an uproar in the fifties to David Bowie.

When Bowie first arrived, he was just a singer/songwriter singing quiet songs that didn’t popularize him. So he became the bisexual and outrageous persona Ziggy Stardust that put him on the road to success. Of course, he made a name for himself prior to the invention of his character; he caused a stir by appearing on the cover of “The Man Who Sold the World” in long hair and a dress. He wanted to shock people because his attitude was if that pisses you off, wait till you see what’s next. His wild stage performance included provocative costumes and singing songs about taboo subjects, once stimulating oral sex on a guitarist’s guitar. His fellow peer Iggy Pop took off his clothes, slashed himself and put his hands down his as he performed. Jim Morrison got arrested on stage for his behavior and he exposed himself on stage. Prince sung nothing but sex and appeared naked on album covers.

These men were fearless and sought out to shock to rebel against traditional male roles. They had the style and the substance. But in today’s music standards men sell sex by appearing with half-naked women and singing safely about sex. For example, Robin Thicke’s hit song “Blurred Lines,” which included naked women in the video and the song was accused by of being “rapey” by feminists. If that is shocking imagine if David Bowie was Ziggy Stardust today or Iggy Pop on stage. But the hypocrisy of it is that they wouldn’t appeal to the mainstream of today because of the ignorance that occurs. If men are willing to sell sex they’re going to play it safe. However, it’s different for women. Female singers are depended on their looks and body instead of their voice. Janis Joplin in the late sixties was not what you would call beautiful. Yet, just how she sang with confidence on stage made her look so sexy without trying.

But women weren’t sold as sex objects till one came and took control of her image. Madonna. In 1984 she shocked the world rolling around in a wedding dress and exposing her underwear at the first MTV VMA’s singing “Like A Virgin.” She continued pushing buttons being the first artist ever to have a video banned by MTV. The video “Justify My Love” showed her kissing a woman, men making out with men and nudity. On tour she stimulated masturbation on stage and went on to publish a book called Sex which showcased the singer in various photos exploring her sexual fantasies. However, this caused a backlash in 1992 during a very conservative time. It had a negative effect on her career at that time but nevertheless she continued to push the envelope even now in her fifties exposing her breasts on stage.

At least she owned who and what she was selling and still made worthy pop music. She arguably paved the way for today’s female singers or what the music media says “Pop Bimbos.” The likes of Katy Perry to Rihanna singing mediocre songs just using their sex appeal to market to their audience. Musicians in the indie scene are freer to make their music and at least they back up their music even if they seek to shock. I understand the suits at the labels control these “artists” but David Bowie to Prince to even Madonna at that time showed they’re in control. They were actual artists. Licking a sledgehammer and riding naked on a wrecking ball isn’t art. It’s a cheap trick to sell your music.

Sure, you have to grab the public’s attention but look at Adele who just stands there and sings and sells 10 million copies in an era of piracy. So no I don’t think you need sex to sell but some do to make up for lack of talent , because lots of talented singers and bands like the ones I’ve mentioned made good music whether they chose to be naked or not. Sex is a part of life and people love to have sex. But the difference is are you using sex in an artistic manner or are you basically just saying “fuck my brains out and buy my song on iTunes”. I think if you’re going to express yourself sexually at least make good music. Don’t let it be style over substance. The public knows sex is used as a marketing tool. Nothing is wrong with that but if you’re going to use and abuse the sex ploy then actually be a genuine artist or put on some clothes and shut up. Unfortunately, the music industry will continue to sell sex and people will compromise their integrity to be rich and famous. Yet people will still eat it up. This generation is being sold what’s been done before. Only it was done better back then.