Annie Lennox calls for pop video ratings

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Annie Lennox calls for pop video ratings

 

Pop star Annie Lennox has described the sexualised imagery of modern pop videos as "dark" and "pornographic".

 

"I'm all for freedom of expression," she told BBC Radio 5 live, "but this is clearly one step beyond, and it's clearly into the realm of porn."

 

"How do you stop your kids being exposed to it? It's so powerful. You don't want to see your seven-year-old girls twerking all over the place."

 

The singer has called for pop videos to be rated in the same way as films.

 

She previously wrote on her Facebook page that if a pop star created "a soft porn video or highly sexualised live performance, then it needs to qualify as such and be X-rated for adults only".

 

She told 5 live pressure from parents could help to establish "very clear boundaries" on acceptable standards in videos.

 

Her comments fuelled a debate started by Miley Cyrus's performance at the MTV awards last month, in which she danced provocatively with singer Robin Thicke and made suggestive gestures with a foam finger.

 

That performance, and a similarly risque video for her single Wrecking Ball, prompted Sinead O'Connor to write an open letter to the pop star, warning her not to be exploited by the music business.

 

Artists such as Britney Spears, Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga and Rihanna have also been criticised for explicit performances and costumes in the past.

 

Lennox did not single out any one performer for criticism - referring instead to a "recent spate of overtly sexualised performances and videos" in her Facebook statement.

 

"I have nothing against these artists," she told 5 live's Anna Foster. "I was never bashing them.

 

"There's nothing wrong with sexuality and sensuality and I think these artists are beautiful. And, in many ways, what they do is fantastic, but it needs to be age-appropriate.

 

"These guys have young fan bases and they are being barraged with it.

 

"I don't think there's one parent of young boys and girls in this country that would honestly, comfortably say they were fine with seeing their kids being exposed to that kind of thing."

 

"I think this debate is about getting the voice of reason back there to say 'look, we want to protect our kids.'"

 

Source: BBC News

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

She's not wrong.

[theyarecomingforyou]

Completely agree.

[ANON86364]

People's standards in entertainment have just plummeted. To me, it speaks volumes to people's priorities.

[metallithrax]

Artists such as Britney Spears, Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga and Rihanna have also been criticised for explicit performances and costumes in the past.

 

Lennox did not single out any one performer for criticism - referring instead to a "recent spate of overtly sexualised performances and videos" in her Facebook statement.

 

"I have nothing against these artists," she told 5 live's Anna Foster. "I was never bashing them.

 

"There's nothing wrong with sexuality and sensuality and I think these artists are beautiful. And, in many ways, what they do is fantastic, but it needs to be age-appropriate.

 

"These guys have young fan bases and they are being barraged with it.

 

"I don't think there's one parent of young boys and girls in this country that would honestly, comfortably say they were fine with seeing their kids being exposed to that kind of thing."

 

"I think this debate is about getting the voice of reason back there to say 'look, we want to protect our kids.'"

 

Source: BBC News

 

 Britney Spears - not too bad, but a bit skanky, Nicki Minaj - NO!, Lady Gaga - NO! and Rihanna -not bad looking, but a bit skanky

She's not wrong.

About ratings, she is spot on.  For the rest, please see above. :)

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

Britney Spears - not too bad, but a bit skanky, Nicki Minaj - NO!, Lady Gaga - NO! and Rihanna -not bad looking, but a bit skanky

 

Firstly, beauty is subjective.  Secondly, I believe everyone has beautiful traits and it's not always about physical appearance.

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

My biggest concern is this.  Parents should be more active in their kids upbringing.  My dad was my role model, not some TV character or singer.  But more often than not, it seems kids are being raised on a diet of media.  Hannah Montana, and Miley Cyrus - Disney made the two very much interchangeable (that's the premise of the show).  You get t-shirts, pencil cases, TV-shows, albums.  How does the kid differentiate between the two?  Look, Hannah Montana is rubbing that man's winky, and now she's naked on industrial machinery.  The same person that had previously been on TV in a very accessible way.

 

Disney are still running the damned show FFS!

[metallithrax]

Firstly, beauty is subjective.  Secondly, I believe everyone has beautiful traits and it's not always about physical appearance.

 

Firstly - agreed.

 

Secondly - Not sure about that, and yes it isn't always about physical appearance.  If it was, I wouldn't know about most of the music I listen to. :laugh:

[ANON86364]

My biggest concern is this.  Parents should be more active in their kids upbringing.  My dad was my role model, not some TV character or singer.  But more often than not, it seems kids are being raised on a diet of media.  Hannah Montana, and Miley Cyrus - Disney made the two very much interchangeable (that's the premise of the show).  You get t-shirts, pencil cases, TV-shows, albums.  How does the kid differentiate between the two?  Look, Hannah Montana is rubbing that man's winky, and now she's naked on industrial machinery.  The same person that had previously been on TV in a very accessible way.

 

Disney are still running the damned show FFS!

I don't agree with it either and most likely I get exactly where you're coming from. The difficult part is getting the people who don't to understand the tangible affects of this on us, our kids, society, where it will bring us next...

[Growled Member]

I agree with her as well. Some videos these days go too far.