PORTRAYAL OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL IN MUSIC

PORTRAYAL OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL IN MUSIC

Introduction.

Over the past decade’s musicians and drugs have become entangled with one another. The primary reason for the consumption of these drugs is to enhance creativity. On the other end, listeners also use drugs to increase the pleasure emanating from music. The implication is that drugs and music supplement one another in a vast manner. Besides, the relationship between the two can be observed in the song lyrics. Apart from the words reflecting drugs in them, the musicians who compose them are, in most cases, under the influence of the drugs as revealed by their song at times (Palamar, Le & Cleland, 2018). For instance, the acid rock and house music comprising of the 4/4 repetitive beats could not have been famous in the absence of ecstasy during the late 80s and early 90s. In this essay, we shall explore how music portrays the lifestyle of those who use alcohol and drugs. We shall also mention why these musicians use drugs and how consumption affects their relationship with other people.

Music samples depicting drugs in the lyrics or composition

The first song which describes drugs or alcohol we shall sample out is the reefer man by Cab Calloway. In the verses, the song mentions a cat that is full of cannabis. Additionally, it suggests a reefer man who seems to be losing his mind. The lyrics depict the methods which can be used to reach the reefer man. For instance, the song mentions that one can identify the reefer man when he suggests that he swam to china and sells you to South Carolina. Besides, the song portrays the reefer man as a character with funny behavior, which can be admired as she says, “have you met funny reefer man” (“cab Calloway the reefer man Search,” n.d.). On the composer’s side, the lyrics seem to emanate from an individual under the influence of drugs. The words generally enlighten the users of cannabis in various ways, which can be used to identify the reefer man.

Another song that depicts drugs in lyrics or composition is the song Habits (Stay High) by Tove Lo. The lyrics generally depict a heartbroken lover who opts to stay intoxicated to evade stress. The lyrics mention that the singer ought to remain high for her to be able to put the lover off her mind. She, therefore, says, “can’t go home alone, need someone to numb the pain” (“Tove lo habits lyrics Search,” n.d.).

The last example we shall use where drugs are portrayed either in composition or in the lyrics is the song night sweats by Nathaniel Rateliff. The lyrics depict the use of vulgar language, which shows that the composer might have been under the influence of some drugs. Additionally, the lyrics mention that the singer requires a drink to substitute other needs that he may require. For instance, in the song, there is mention of how if the singer cannot get clean, he needs to drink his life away. The song depicts an individual who substitutes his needs with alcohol as he says,” or somebody gives me a goddamn drink” (Songfacts, n.d.).

The lifestyle of musicians who use alcohol and drugs and why they use them

One of the reasons why musicians use drugs is due to the pressure to be creative. As a musician, when one is under the influence of alcohol or any drugs, he/she tends to be creative at a very high level. However, as the person continues using the drugs to compose songs, he/she tends to become dependent on the substances; thus, he cannot write without the drugs. Additionally, the composure usually decreases as the person becomes addicted to substance abuse, and finally, the career as a musician is affected. The victim also becomes unsocial with the people around him/her. The implication is that the consequences of taking the drugs to become creative finally ceases and affects the individual as well.

Another reason musician abuse drugs are to overcome the pressure emanating from the performance. While one is on stage as a musician, especially in a large crowd, one experiences sate fright. To supplement themselves, musicians consume drugs to gain confidence. However, as time proceeds, the drugs affect their personal lives, where one begins to lose composure of his own identity ranging from public persona with fame and celebrity issues to private self. The implication is that the lives of these musicians may seem glamorous on the outside. However, on the inside, there is real suffering in the end. The connection can be proven by the actions which most musicians take, such as attending a rehabilitation center.

Furthermore, songs which depict drugs in their lyrics usually serve to advertise these drug. When an individual on the audience hears music painting alcohol, especially from his/her favorite artist, they tend to be tempted to use the drug as well. The listener does this to be associated with people attributed to drugs or alcohol. Additionally, in concerts where such music has presented the possibility of the drugs being sung in the lyrics being sold is very high. In the end, the public is also greatly affected due to the pressure emanating from music and social groups.

As observed above, drugs usually ruin the lives of most musicians. Therefore, the question of whether drugs and alcohol make the life of a musician better is no. Besides, the final action taken by these addict musicians is rehabilitation, which consumes their time because, during the rehabilitation period, the music career is usually halted. Additionally, some drugs can influence one to commit suicide, thus ending the life of either the great musician or listener due to the effect of drugs on music. The implication is that the drugs have quite a negative influence on the music industry even though at the time the reason behind drug abuse could be attributed to emotional turbulence emanating from life pressures or family history and early childhood trauma.

Conclusion.

In the essay, we have explored various music samples that depict either drug use in composure or lyrics. We have seen that most musicians who compose the songs about drugs are usually in most cases under the influence of drugs themselves. Furthermore, we have observed that the musicians write the music and present it under the influence of drugs to create an excellent public rapport while on the inside, their lives are ruined, thus resulting from seeking help in rehabilitation centers. Also, we have observed that the lyrics which contain drugs in them dramatically influence the public as an advertisement. Therefore, drugs usually bring more harm than good in the music industry, and artists should be advised against using drugs.

References

cab Calloway the reefer man Search. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.google.com/search?q=cab+calloway+the+reefer+man&oq=c&aqs=chrome.1.69i60j69i59l3j69i60l2j5l2.2606j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Palamar, J. J., Le, A., & Cleland, C. M. (2018). Nonmedical opioid use among electronic dance music party attendees in New York City. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 186, 226-232. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.03.001

Songfacts. (n.d.). Lyrics for S.O.B. by Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats – Songfacts. Retrieved from https://www.songfacts.com/lyrics/nathaniel-rateliff-the-night-sweats/sob

Tove lo habits lyrics Search. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.google.com/search?q=tove+lo+habits+lyrics&oq=to&aqs=chrome.1.69i59l2j69i57j69i59j69i61j69i60l2.1869j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8