Music Against Morality
A bigger issue than an internet debate
In recent years, musicians have increasingly been in controversy. Offences ranging from embarrassing moments to active criminal investigations. A pattern fans have come to expect. The industry is always known to have something on. Though with current events leaning towards the latter, an ongoing online debate comes back into question. Can we separate the art from the artist? People who have come into such power because their form of expression. Which have had an influence over culture. Evidently, it seems no. Music is being treated as an extension of a musician’s actions that can be separated. Given how the internet is, it makes sense. A difference in opinions can ruin a career, but promoting harmful ideas doesn’t. It’s an excuse of behaviour. A cop-out to not have to give up the music. Hold onto the allusive lyrics, not the plain truth behind it. Complacent to bigger issues because of what’s pleasing to the ear. Well take off the headphones and see it as people, of introspection, for a bit.
“I can’t believe I said it but it’s true, I hate you”
David Burke, professionally known as D4vd, is a singer-songwriter from New York. Best known for ‘Romantic Homicide’, popularised from a videogame soundtrack. Which having launched his career and showed a lot of promise. That is until his arrest for the murder of fourteen-year-old, Celeste Hernandez. Who he has known to be in relationship with for almost two years. Which has been known outrightly by those who surrounded him. Hernandez being named in an unreleased songs like ‘Celeste’. Where he confesses his love and concern over their relationship. Not because how inappropriate it is, but rather if their relationship only hinges on the physicality. The messaging that comes through could have been detrimental. In ‘Romantic Homicide’, he metaphorically talks about how he kills and doesn’t feel guilty about it. While not an admission of guilt, or maybe not remotely connected, D4vd used his music to capture emotion. Though a productive tool, having grossly been misused by a predator to nullify his actions. He is currently awaiting trial to justify them and lost majority support rightfully.
In comparison to Diddy, a pseudonym for Sean Combs, who’s serving a four sentence for transportation of prostitution. He is a longtime rapper with a career of over twenty years. Which has been followed with tremendous allegations of misconduct. Further enabling his “bad boy” persona, created in the 2001 from his album, ‘The Saga Continues’. This becoming a part of his reputation and people just went along with it. A terrible precedent set for listeners, regardless of his lyrics being innovative. Diddy’s success having financially aided his depravity. The court case in 2024 highlighting this. Though his fame, which comes with abundant resources, allows him to get away with the smallest punishment. When he’s released, the industry will most likely treat him like a musician. Not the criminal he is. It will be tied to his identity, be used to make a profit and further his longevity. A story with a good beat gets people listening. History becomes irrelevant. All that will be left is his discography, not victim justice.
“There’s so many mistakes we make in love”
Chris Brown is R&B singer and dancer, who’s had chart-topping hits for the past two decades. ‘Angel Numbers’ and ‘Sensational being of the recent few. His upcoming tour selling out in under an hour for venues up to a hundred thousand people. Despite the rather serious controversies that have popped in his career. A highly publicised case of domestic violence involving former popstar girlfriend, Rihanna, the punching of other women in altercations and an accusation of rape. He’s been able to have a healthy music trajectory regardless. His fans notably have shown no concern for the man they listen too. His accountability in 2009 doesn’t absolve him for later indiscretions. Rather his platform has enabled to get away with it. An aspiration for a lifestyle, many of his fans probably idolise too. An active showcase in how behaviour is excusable when the performances are generative.
As seen, the issue is across genres. Some more extreme than others, nether less the debate lengthens in country music. Zach Byran is an established artesian in his field. Him having headlined Stagecoach just this past year and a Grammy with Kacy Musgraves the last before that. Though he has experienced backlash for his actions outside of music. Facing implications from a former partner of emotional abuse and an offering of money to not publicise it. Fame displays itself as one of his shortcomings. Even interacting with fans, he’s arrogant around them, when he’s off guard. Which understandably isn’t a requirement of his job, but vulgarity is either. He’s deactivated his social media accounts to avoid scrutiny. Instead of accepting what he’s done and awareness to the full weight of his influence. It’s disheartening for the genre. Which is stereotyped, especially given the political climate, because it is a great one. Exceptional storytelling being born from it but having parents of enmity. Bryan’s musical efforts are modernizing the sector, though his misconduct fits in with the criticism.
“I’m not gonna spend ten weeks have everyone think I’m on the mend”
Amy Winehouse was a jazz artist, breaking into the mainstream in 2011. Her album, ‘Back to Black’, was her most acclaimed body of work. Which won three Grammys for Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year and Female Pop Vocal Performance with her song, ‘Rehab’. The project, like her others before, translated Winehouse’s feelings towards love, heartbreak, addition and self-destruction. During her career, these themes would all be displayed in the tabloids. Her public facing life reflected what the music was. A matter of cry for help. As typically new releases showed improvement, but Winehouse delved further into the chaos. While not her responsibility to get better for the world, she was an influence. It was a dangerous one. Especially to those who relied on her music as a means of processing their own battles. Unfortunately, she succumbed to her own in 2011, passing from alcohol poisoning. Which didn’t discredit her work but made it ironic. Weary to how staying in a headspace deterred health, both physically and mentally. Much greatly to the people who looked up to artists for courage in their most vulnerable moments.
Lastly, a woman who has reclaimed the music space as her own vintage studio, Lana Del Rey. Launching into her career with the song, ‘Videogames’ in 2012. Widely being received by a younger audience. Who having indulged in Del Rey’s transatlantic accent and retro aesthetic. Her singing about ideas that send teenagers of that time into religious admissions of guilt. An indicator of progress and normalisation of feeling towards love. Though the singer has romanticised unhealthy relationships. Which would play to the detriment of her then majority adolescent fans, who reflected their darker aspirations on the app, Tumbler. Her first album, ‘Born To Die’ expresses the inevitability of one day dying and hoping to experience love before then. Which is good. What isn’t is her song, ‘Dark Paradise’ which has her wishing to die earlier as to join lover who is already gone. The theme of grief is always greatly encouraged, but it can plant suicidal ideation into an impressionable mind, who thinks heartbreak is the end all be all. Her project and title track, ‘Ultraviolence’ explores how something pure can become park. Although relating domestic violence to an act of admiration is concerning. Thankfully, Del Rey has noticed this and refuses to the sing the song anymore. As her fanbase has grown with her, topics are still openly discussed but with better sensibility attached to the meaning. She’s gone one to craft a critically acclaimed discography with maturity, recognising the control she has over people with her melodies.
“Cause I’m your jazz singer and you’re my cult leader”
The answer isn’t to condemn music. The art form is an honest place for confession and connection. Sometimes that can be messy. Processing a person’s feelings often is. It’s that emotion which shouldn’t translate to harmful action. This beautiful outlet shouldn’t be ruined because of an artist’s misconduct. That isn’t a reason to justify ignoring it too. There is no absolution, a separating of the two. Rather a growth in both ways. Innovation and degeneration. The latter has created a bigger issue than an internet debate. Ethics in the industry. What’s happening to artists, that it’s become music against morality, or is it the power given from the art that is causing this?