Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1914-03-13
EVIL TENDENCY OF POPULAR SONGS.

EVIL TENDENCY OF POPULAR SONGS.
N observer once said that he didn't care who made
n the nations laws so long he could write its
And moments thought will show that songs are in
deed be reckoned among the serious influences of fe
says the March nun ar of the Womans World
The French Revolution affords illustration of this
power. The Royasts cheered by the strains of
Richard but they defeated by the more stirring
notes Of the Marseilaise
When hearts were heavy in our revolution, what
was it that put life in the Of re? The shr
piping of Yankee Doodle doubtless responsible for
than one important American victory.
In the Civil War; too, it would be almost impossible
exaggerate the influence Of Dixie John Browns Body
Maryland and other rousing songs
Nor is the power Of melody confined to warke
themes. Lead Kindly Light and Nearer My God to Thee
have probably had greater effect mankind than
two laws that placed upon the statute books
Love, too, has attentive to music 1t is moved
profoundly by such sweet Annie Laurie and When
You Were Sweet Sixteen. History also testfes that
throughout the ages love has walked hand in hand
with the ballad singer and the minstrel.
Without doubt then it may be accepted that songs
have deep influence upon mankind This influence should
always be for good. But we sometimes indeed in these
days often, find it working for evil
The latter reflection is aroused by the shocking de-
cline which has recently taken place In American song
writing
Think of the tender humanity in that old favorite My
Old Kentucky Home And then think of such filth
Oh You Beautiful Doll and those similar oubursts which
stand at the head of our popular today
Truly, the old order changeth.
Let us consider for moment, what wonderful thing
is the spread of popular song.
Suppose the president of the nation today and,
dealing with subject Of vital influence to welfare,
speaks few sentences Of wisdom How many would be
able to repeat his words month hence?
Would thousand have them stored away in
memory?
But suppose that catchy popular song is launched
with soine such refrain
"Polly Wolly used to work
But she's too wise now!"
In few short months it will be known by millions.
1t is interesting to the popular song its lair
and to see its effects
We will start first the theatre and we will select
theatre in New York. because New York is the spawning
ground of the countrys popular songs.
The within the theatre reflects fashion and
worldly wisdom. 1t might be said that the audience is
above the average both in manners and intellect
Here is man of middle age escorting female
relative from the country She looks around with APP
probation noting the styles unconsciousy modelling
self according to the patterns around her.
The play is interpolated by songs Some of these
are received in silence; with slight applause.
But when the leading comedian forward in the
second act and sings,
IF YOU TALK IN YOUR SLEEP DON'T MENTION
MY NAME
then indeed the applause is deafenng and the audience
demands until the comedian is exhausted Imagine
the effect of 1t upon the visitor to the city Imagine it's
effect upon the and women of the audience.
But after ALL its effects are simple enough. They
require but very tty Imagination The audience is
simply being taught to regard marriage joke. It is
simply being taught that the breaking of matrimonial
vows is universal and sprghty habit always be greet
ed with approval and applause.
The theaters for the thousands. But the movies
for the millions
And there is audience ripe rare-rpe to
receive impressions as the moving picture audience
1t includes the poor the uneducated the unfortunate
the almost idle and above all the young
BY their faces they show how they respond to i'm
iS tba;r
real
Because of this mpressionable nature of a moving
picture audience have placed measure Of censorship
upon the pictures
But in among the pictures the songs, including
some that smell to heaven.
And there isn't the slightest degree of censorship upon
those
Isn't possible that we have started the censor on
the least important trail? For picture though bad soon
ngrows dim to the memory But song is thing can
be memorized We hear it, learn it, and receive it's
effect with added force at every repetition.
If the effect of the song is good, we are chershng
blessing But If the effect of the song bad then
deed, whether we know 1t not, we are cherishing
Look through any moving picture audience and you
will always see the little daughters of the poor
All day they have drudged in factory shop or home
The bloom of youth is still upon them but poverty is be-
ginning to pinch
In their adornments cheap jewelry and brave show
OF style, one can alike their ambition and their ideal
moving picture comes to its end The singer takes
his place upon the stage The title page of song is
thrown upon the and the laughter of approval
gets some such heading as this:
WHEN GET YOU ALONE TONIGHT
The little daughter Of the poor huns the chorus,