eZine 08.24.2010

Katy’s brand new “explicit” album releases today, her title song is the #1 downloaded song on iTunes, her racy video tops the charts as well… Katy is in the minds of our kids! Enjoy this week’s Youth Culture Window article when Jonathan and David dive into her world and give you a glimpse at her content:

It’s Good to Be Katy Perry
But Is She Good for Our Kids?
An article from Jonathan McKee and David R. Smith
She’s the daughter of not one, but two, pastors. She says she’s a believer, and often prays…sometimes in tongues! She’s even released a gospel album.

Then why is it that she’s one of the worst role models for young people these days?

A Good Run
When she takes the stage nowadays, it’s as Katy Perry, even though she was born Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson in 1984. Regardless of what you call her, this young lady has had quite a run over the last two years.

On May 6, 2008, her smash hit “I Kissed a Girl” was released and quickly hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 (where it stayed for seven weeks). Her follow-up song “Hot N Cold” peaked at #3 on the charts very soon after.

More recently she’s offered the world her version of summertime pop in “California Gurls.” (No I didn’t misspell her title; that’s her way of invoking the Beach Boys without paying royalties.) It sits at #3 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.

August 2010 is proving a watershed month for Perry as well. On August 9, she hosted FOX’s annual Teen Choice Awards. Her latest photo op is the August 19 cover of Rolling Stone, where the lead feature article tells of “The Hard Road & Hot Times of a Fallen Angel.” Perry’s latest hit “Teenage Dream” is riding the #9 position on Billboard’s Hot 100 (and, depending on the day you look, usually #2 on iTunes’ song and video charts). Her highly anticipated new album (also titled Teenage Dream) drops this Tuesday, August 24.

Now you see why “it’s good to be Katy Perry.”

But does that make Katy Perry good for our kids?

Misguided Musician
Let’s just go ahead and say it: Katy Perry is one of the most dangerous elements within youth culture right now.

Her first hit “I Kissed a Girl” is a long way from the gospel music she originally produced. (But hey, if you’re gonna sell out, sell out big, right?)

Her next #1 tune, “California Gurls,” isn’t much better. When she performed this little ditty at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards, she teased the crowd with the same explicit hand gestures she uses in her music video (you can check out all the hubbub near the 2:06 mark).

“Teenage Dream,” her latest single, uses the same formula: Sex masquerading as music. Its lyrics should give parents and youth workers pause before downloading the tune for their teens. The following are just a few of the racy words:

Typical of many top songs today, “No cuss words, so it must be clean.” You can check out the rest of the lyrics or view the brand new – and incredibly sensual – music video to understand the point of this song.

Perry’s message has been unmistakable all along, but “Teenage Dream” says it most clearly: the quintessential teenage dream is filled with lots of sex and no regrets.

Those of us who’ve escaped our teenage years know that’s not realistic. For that reason, I call Perry a misguided musician.

But that’s not the only dangerous message she’s sending.

Misguided Theologian
I mention earlier that Perry adorns the current cover of Rolling Stone magazine. One glance at the glossy photo will make you wonder if Katy’s naked or not. A closer look will confirm that she is indeed clothed?though bra-and-panties-only hardly passes for fully dressed.

In the article entitled “Sex, God & Katy Perry,” she speaks about her fame, her romantic escapades with British comedian Russell Brand (who we’ve written about before), and her Christian upbringing?which she claims still influences her today. “It was not a ?kumbayah’ atmosphere,” says Perry. “I knew about hell from the moment I understood a sentence,” (page 44). To this day, she considers herself a Christian, and like her father, even sports a tattoo on her wrist that reads “Jesus.”

As the article continues, Perry gives readers a deeper look at her faith-based upbringing. “Speaking in tongues is as normal to me as ?Pass the salt.’ A lot of religions use meditation or chanting as a subliminal prayer language, and speaking in tongues isn’t that different?it’s a secret, direct prayer language to God,” (page 45).

But she also confesses great conflict over her beliefs. “God is very much still a part of my life. But the way the details are told in the Bible?that’s very fuzzy for me…

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