1. Raghav, "Can't Get Enough," R&B/Pop, 2004
2. Colbie Caillat, "I Never Told You," Pop-rock, 2010
3. Sean Paul, "Temperature," Dancehall, 2006
4. Travie McCoy, "Billionaire," Hip Hop, 2010
5. Jay Sean, "Down" Pop/R&B, 2008
Community Service
1. Britney Spears, "I Will Be There," Pop, 1999
2. Nas, " I Can" Hip Hop, 2003
3. Bob Marley and The Wailers, "One Love/People Get Ready," Roots Reggae, 1977
4. 3 Doors Down, "Citizen/Soldier," Alternative Rock, 2007
5. Bill Withers, "Lean On Me," Soul, 1972
While I was looking through my library of songs, it was fairly easy to find songs relating to pleasure, which I’m sure was the case for others. I feel that this is because most people are more concerned about the things that brings them pleasure and happiness and benefits them, such as love, drugs, sex, etc. We like to surround ourselves with things that make us happy, so I feel that that might be a reason as to why there is an abundance of songs concerning any type of pleasure. On the other hand, it was much more difficult to find songs concerning community service, which again I’m sure was the case for others. I think this is because usually people are more concerned with themselves and what makes them happy rather than putting themselves out there for others. It’s difficult for people to be self-less in reality, and I think this definitely reflected in the fact that I couldn’t find or even think of songs pertaining to community service. There were some that I thought of right off the bat, such as “Where is the Love” by Black Eyed Peas, but I’m sure many other people came across that song as well, which is why I didn’t use it.
One thing that I found while doing this assignment is that there are so many songs that discuss pleasurable things, but they’re mostly about love and a person of the opposite sex. I suppose that love is what people consider the most pleasurable and in the end, it’s what most people seek instead of other things.
The way Hinduism looks at pleasure seems very different than how American music views it. Hinduism sees pleasure as good and necessary, but it doesn’t exploit it and doesn’t go overboard. Hinduism also doesn’t obsess with pleasure whereas in American pop music, people obsess over money, sex, and love. I also feel that Hinduism views pleasure more respectfully than American pop music. For example, there are many songs out there that feature/talk about multiple sex/love partners/cheating, which doesn’t make the pleasurable idea of love genuine. Also, sex in American music is usually portrayed as casual whereas in Hinduism, it’s viewed as more spiritual, becoming one with your partner and catering to their needs rather than satisfying only yours. In American music, sex is taken lightly; you meet a person one night and are hooking up with them a couple hours later.
In my opinion, the way Hinduism looks at community service is not much different than how it is portrayed in American music. In both Hinduism and American music, people come together in times of need. The only difference I feel may exist is that community service is more apparent in American music when a certain tragedy or event has occurred that requires everyone to come together, whereas in Hinduism, it’s more of a constant, ongoing need/want to help others. Also, I feel that Hinduism is more concerned about helping/giving to others to make the self more self-less and unconcerned with its ego whereas in American culture, helping is a result of simply just wanting to be there for another person, making them feel better, and wanting to bring about a change.
