who's down wit O.P.P?

subliminal messages in pop songs. let's discuss. perhaps subliminal is not the right word – maybe subtext is more appropriate. it's an age old idea – artists layering their songs with messages, hiding sexually charged societal observations between catchy rhymes and fancy word manipulation.

oh don't act like you didn't go to a club a time or two and find yourself chanting along to Naught By Nature's O.P.P, "ya down wit OPP, yeah you know me!" sad thing is, i'm sure you didn't realize at the time that you were admitting to adultery or to being without morals in the bedroom. (someone else's penis?) "yeah you know me!" many people accepted O.P.P as an acronym for Other Peoples Property and naively skimmed over the fact that the acronym is about a very different P; refering to both female and male genitalia. i recently had a conversation with my girlfriend about this very song, in which she asked, "what does O.P.P stand for?" if you listen to the song they tell you, but because the very first verse explains it as PROPERTY we don't really pay much attention to the second two verses. ya still down with O.P.P?

hidden messages aren't always sexual; pop artists are getting much more clever hiding christian themes beneath beats and riffs as well. look at the popular band Evanescense. they say they aren't a christian band, but both ben moody and david hodges (writers/producers/and one time band members) have both admitted to putting "meaning" behind their songs. those meanings have not been verified publically as christian meanings, but again both men are self proclaimed "christians." *

it's no wonder that more and more big companies are getting shtooped. (are pop artists really getting smarter or are big company just getting dumber) the following example is used simply because i love her so and i'm genuinely a fan... but just because i'm a fan doesn't mean she's exempt from being a part of my comedic agenda.

i'm talking about none other than the very successful "girl next door" – kelly clarkson. she has recently teamed up with FORD Motors to be their newest campaign spokesperson. why? according to a self-admission from clarkson during a recent interview with FOX network, "they are an all american company and for some reason i'm seen as the all american girl. so it's a good match." i wonder what FORD would think if they knew Ms. Clarkson's recent song was viewed more as a recollection of "the first time," rather than a person making a bold move in life (maybe not THE first, but A first nonetheless.) **

Kelly Clarkson's song GO, has been commissioned by FORD Motors to play in the background (and in some cases the foreground) of their recent Bold Moves campaign (american idol pushes at least 1 FORD spot every commercial break). in addition to the commercials, a recent clarkson fan told me, you can hear the song played over the intercom systems in FORD showrooms.

Go has you believeing that you're listening to a modern day self empowerment message but if you listen carefully you might catch yourself blushing a bit. ultimately, FORD Motors is pimpin' a song about BOLD MOVES when really it's about two people boldly moving toward the bedroom. i would love to say, "it's a shame that FORD hasn't caught on," or "what kind of message are we sending our young kids," but instead i say, "hell yeah girl! say what you wanna say, and if FORD hasn't caught on – good for you!"

"Breathe in, breathe out, restless, waiting for anything, tension is thick in the air, are you gonna lead or follow me? full speed, turn up the overdrive, makes me feel glad that i'm alive, it's time we finally make our move, so c'mon, c'mon, c'mon now. let's go, let's just right in, scream into the wind, feel the fire within, i can't ignore this burnin' in my soul, c'mon baby let's go." (Lyrics are copywrite of Kelly Clarkson and others. I make no claims to this song, or it's lyrics.)

making music has always been about freedom of speech. the fact that a girl like kelly clarkson – the first winner of an audience and "america voted" television program - can write a song about the discussion between two people before they "do it" makes me want to proudly shout from the rooftops, "pop culture has won, bitches! and i'm down wit it."

EDIT: a kelly clarkson fan that happened upon this blog was so nice to point out the fact that it was actually naughty by nature that sang O.P.P not n.w.a. what was i thinkin' - here i am tryin' to be funny and i just look like an a$$. thanks man/woman whoever you are...

* i do not know ben moody or david hodges, this information was gathered from past interviews and articles.

** i do not know kelly clarkson or her intention when writing this song, all i am implying is that the song runs along a very thin line between what she says it means, and what it is saying.