Debate: Modern music is contributing to the downfall of society.
Side: yes

Actually Thursdays are my save the dolphins vegan cupcake sale. Polar bears are every other tuesday.Well good luck on both accounts.So lets debate it. I wouldn't have presented my thoughts if I wasn't willing to defend them.As you wish, but bear in mind that I'm a "childish snob", so don't be surprised if you disagree with me.No, but you provided no contradictory arguments as to why these lyrics weren't good. My assumption was that if you had some you would have given them...was I mistaken?See below.If the value of lyrics was completely subjective then there would be no way to judge the value of poetry,There is no definitive way to value poetry. This:"HE is gone on the mountain,  He is lost to the forest, Like a summer-dried fountain,  When our need was the sorest. The font reappearing  From the raindrops shall borrow; But to us comes no cheering,  To Duncan no morrow!  The hand of the reaper  Takes the ears that are hoary, But the voice of the weeper  Wails manhood in glory. The autumn winds rushing  Waft the leaves that are searest, But our flower was in flushing  When blighting was nearest.  Fleet foot on the correi,  Sage counsel in cumber, Red hand in the foray,  How sound is thy slumber! Like the dew on the mountain,  Like the foam on the river, Like the bubble on the fountain,  Thou art gone—and for ever"is generally regarded to be a good poem. Does that mean that you will like it by default? Or that it is better in the opinion of everybody than most other poems?Obviously though we know that lyrics aren't wholly subjective. No one (who wasn't dropped as a child) would argue that Nickelback are better artists than The Beatles.How do you know that?Now there are songs that I don't necessarily like to listen to because I don't particularly enjoy the genre, but I will still admit it when a song is well written.As will I, but here I feel no compulsion to do so.I don't particularly like classical music for example, but there is no denying that Beethoven was a genius.See above.There are obviously cultural differences that can contribute to our appreciation of music, but since we both speak English and both live in western modern democracies then our cultural differences shouldn't be too great.That is a strange conclusion to make. There is an incredible amount of cultural difference between western democracies. (you are from the U.K. right?)Yes.Nor does my opinion of you matter in a debate.Then I see no reason (beyond spite) for you to provide it.Now, Lupe Fiasco has better songs than "Dumb it Down" but I chose it because it's one of my personal favorites, and (more importantly) it deals with what you were arguing: the numerous influences that try and dumb down hip-hop/rap music. I would agree with the statement that most hip-hop/rap you hear on the radio is pretty mindless, and sometimes even comes close to the link you posted. Lupe's song is one in which he addresses this issue through the three variations of the chorus. This part in itself is good, but where Lupe really showcases his talents is in the verses. To save you the trouble of having to look it up here is the first verse:I shall enjoy this. First, I shall attempt to discern the meaning of the lyrics, in the context that you have provided:I'm fearlessHe makes the following statements in the knowledge that it may provoke some outrage; he does not care.Now hear thisA call to attention.I'm earlessA) He will not listen to dissent.orB) He has no desire to listen to what he regards as inferior music.And I'm peer-lessA) He is unmatched in his musical talentorB) He is the only person who will speak out against bad rap.That means I'm eyelessWhich means I'm tearlessWhich means my iris resides where my ears isHe lends more importance to music than he does to other mediums of expression; he is unapologetic for this.Which means I'm blindedThere is a cacophony of said bad music.But I'mma find it I can feel it's nearnessBut I'mma veer so I don't come nearHe works hard to avoid making bad rap.Like a chicken or a deerBeyond my powers of discernment.But I remember I'm not a listener or a seer so my windshield smearHere, you steer, I really shouldn't be behind this, clearly cause my blindness(Ironic) He is not the listener, he is a producer of rival music and thus his view is biased, Why don't the critics attempt to do better if they can.The windshield is minstrel, the whole grill is roadkill, so trill and so sincere. Yeah, I'm both them thereHe is occasionally guilty of producing bad music, but he also creates good music.Took both pills, when a bloke in a trench coat and the locs in the chair had approached him hereAnd he clear as a ghost, so a biter of the throats in the mirrorThe writer of the quotes for the ghosts who supplier of the notes to the livingRiveting is rosy, pockets full of posies, given to the mother of the deceased. Awaken at war, 'til I'm restin' in peaceWithout further contextual clarity, I will be unable to discern the meaning of this.Now, the following is an extract from the U2 song "New York". It contains what I consider to be good lyrics:In New York freedom looks like too many choices In New York I found a friend to drown out the other voices Voices on the cell phone Voices from home Voices of the hard sell Voices down the stairwell In New York, just got a place in New York In New York summers get hot, well into the hundreds You can't walk around the block without a change of clothing Hot as a hairdryer in your face Hot as a handbag and a can of mace In New York, I just got a place in New York New York, New York-------------------------The Irish have been coming here for years Feel like they own the place They got the airport, city hall, asphalt, dance floor, they even got the policeIrish, Italians, Jews and Hispanics Religious nuts, political fanatics in the stew, Living happily not like me and you That's where I lost you... New York -------------------------In New York I lost it all to you and your vices Still I'm staying on to figure out my mid life crisis I hit an iceberg in my life You know I'm still afloat You lose your balance, lose your wife In the queue for the lifeboat You got to put the women and children first But you've got an unquenchable thirst for New York The extract from "Dumb it Down" contains a host of immodesties (Which plague rap), some superficial contradictions, some rhyming (which never goes astray), and some colloquialisms, as well as an ill conceived metaphor or two."New York" is based upon an extended metaphor, contains nice rhythm and rhyme, jokes and political commentary. Furthermore, its lyrics have a wide variety of interpretation. For example:"Hot as a handbag and a can of mace "Could mean a beautiful woman who sprays potential suitors with mace, the appeal of handbags and mace to women today, the fashion of carrying a can of mace etc etc.While you have not provided me with the lyrics in their entirety, I have two separate conclusions:A) The appreciation of lyrics is subjective, rendering the debate moot.orB) One or the other is vastly superior to the other. In which case I nominate New York. Where do you stand?