Hey Mama Lopez,

Jennifer Lopez is one female artist that has been in the music industry for more than a decade, and still looking "good. Lopez is known for her strong voice, and her sassy reggae music. Lopez does show skin in her music videos, but it's not to the point where her ass cheeks are falling out, or her breasts are about to show. She shows just enough skin so the guys keeps coming back for more.

In other words, she keeps her physical appearance classy just like Beyonce. Lopez knows how to sing, she's singing for a long time now, and she still continues to work on her voice and continue releasing more singles. Most of her songs are based on latin music where it's easy to dance to, the rhythm is easy to follow. In her music videos, she does show that she has class, not too much sass. You don't see Lopez turning around, shoving her ass into the camera every five seconds, Lopez shows her fans that it's not hard to follow the beat and dance to the music.

 

On The Floor ft. Pitbull (1:15)

In her recently released single "On the Floor" around the 1:15 mark, you see that you really don't have to have a certain type of technique to dance, but she moves her body the way people would precieve as promiscuous because she adds some latin spice to her moves. Lopez chooses to dance the way she does because she knows it's not giving out the wrong message to her young fans, but it's just enough to get her audience going.

Lopez just gave birth to twins and she looks better than ever. Lopez continues to improve her music career and stay a legend such as Madonna and Celine Deon. Lopez has shown a lot of talent the past couple of years and she clearly shows there's a difference between sassy and classy. Showing off your body shouldn't be the reason you sell records.

What happened?

Britney Spears was very girl's role model, she was basically "Barbie." Her songs were easy to dance to, and her lyrics were easy to remember. Everything about Britney Spears was amazing when she first started singing. Spears was the ideal female girls wanted to be like, from a beautiful smile, to her attractive face, perfect body and an amazing voice.

As Spears's fan base grew, the more she was known by the public. She started to grow up, releasing more singles which also included a music video for each song, which were somewhat revealing. She would be seen wearing a lot less clothing, revealing more aspects of her body than normally, which girls seems to find completely normal. 

Oops I Did It Again (2:15)

Just watching the introduction of "Oops... I did it again" (2000) shows how her physical attributes start to become a factor into her music career. Spears starts to wear more revealing clothing, tighter clothing that would shape her body in a way people would be more attracted to. Looks started becoming a big factor into this stars life, and that's not how it started off.

Years go on and more singles are being released, but these songs are about seduction, lust, and promiscuous activities. Spears has become an amazing role model to a complete sex object to the public eye, and that's something not worth having children listen to nor watch. 

In recent releases of Spears songs, her voice has been auto-tuned to the point where it's not really her voice anymore, so the only thing that is keeping her career on the track is her figure (which she doesn't have anymore). It's sad to see such a great artist in the beginning fall under the peer pressure of bad record producers. Now, in today's music industry, Spears's voice is autotuned in almost every one of her songs, her body isn't as attractive as it was ten years ago, and her fame has gone to her head.

Oops, you keep doing it again... Sorry Brit.

"I make music for the ears, not the eyes"

Adele is known for her strong vocal talent, even if her lyrics are depressing and heartfelt. When her songs were pre-exposed to the radio, her looks were the last thing that probably went through peoples' minds. Her songs were easy to understand and easy to relate to. Her songs are the record sellers, the Grammy winners, the heart healers. A vast majority of her songs are about love, her own experiences with falling in love and how she learned to cope with the heart breaks. When her record producers told her she needed to lose weight she stated "I make music for the ears, not the eyes" which really expressed how strong and confident she is in her own music. She knows she doesn't need to change her physical appearance to sell records, her voice does that for her.

Adele doesn't need to show off her cleavage, her legs, or her ass to sell music videos, records or CD's. Adele is very classy in the outfits that she chooses to appear in. She doesn't believe she should lose weight for the public eye, but she did lose a good amount of weight for herself. Adele is an amazing example of what true/real talent is suppose to sound like in the music industry. Music has nothing to do with looks, it's suppose to be focused on the sound rather than how much skin can one person show within a short four minute music video.

This song is a personal favorite, and the fact that Adele doesn't even have a music video for this song, yet she still has millions of hits. It's amazing how such raw talent can win more Grammy awards than the sexiest female artist in the music industry. 

Just because you're not size 0, tall and skinny doesn't mean you can't sell records. Adele is an inspiration not just vocally, but the idea that she doesn't give a shit what other people think about her. She sings what her heart tells her, and she does it damn good covered up. Adele is simple, elegant and classy which makes her a role model to many women around the world.

Keeps on singing girl!

Uncalled For

It has become accustom to think that females are the only ones who can provide their  bodies for selling products.  Are they? That may be true, but is it wrong if a man does it? Is it wrong if a male tries to use sexual dance moves to provide a thrilling performance? I suppose it depends on the male right? Lambert came to Fame following his appearance on the eighth season of American Idol.  Although he was runner-up, Lambert launched a music career after signing with 19 Recordings in a joint venture with RCA Records. The release of his debut studio album For Your Entertainment (2009) proved notable after debuting at number three on the Billboard 200, selling 198,000 copies in the United States in its first week,and reaching the top ten in several countries worldwide. His achievement on the album led to international success for its singles "For Your Entertainment", "Whataya Want from Me" and "If I Had You"; the release of an extended play Acoustic Live! (2010) and a live album Glam Nation Live (2011); and allowed him to embark on his first headlining worldwide concert tour, Glam Nation, making him the only American Idol contestant to do so in the year following his Idol season. He is currently working on his second studio album Trespassing (March, 2012), which was preceded by lead single "Better Than I Know Myself" (December, 2011).

 

Lambert came out to the public as a homosexual after becoming the runner up in the American idol contest.  During his performace in The American Music Awards he proved confident in his sexuality with his racy display of men on men dancers.  This shocked the audience and many home viewers.  Although proving to be very confident is never a bad thing, he proved that wrong.  There were many ways to go about being proud of your sexuality but this specific performance wasn’t.  Although I understand that “sex sells”, I believe that the traditional form of sex is what sells.  Even though his performance was under a lot of scrutiny, the hype from the night died down and he was able to recover his career for the most part. Nobody will ever forget that performance, but we wish we could.

Classy and Sassy....

Whitney Houston is a little before my time but she is the queen of pop music. Houston is known for her amazing voice. During her prime in the late 80's and early 90's she got her nickname "the voice". She gained her stardom and her very popular fan base simply because of the vocal talent she had. Houston never had to dress in a certain way or use derogatory, offensive, or vulgar language in her music in order to sell records.


Notice that during her performance there aren't any background dancers doing sexual dancers. Actually, she doesn't even have any dancers. Not only that, make sure to pay attention to her outfit. It is bright, and covers her body, it draws attention only to her voice and nothing else. Even her lyrics are classy. She talks about love and sex, but keeps them appropriate for practically all audiences.


Even when Houston decided to go with a more upbeat tempo song, she always kept it classy and sassy. Like in the "I'm Every Woman" video (above). Her dancers appear to be having fun with her music. Not too sexual, or sexual at all, depending on who you ask. She even involves kids within her music. She also gives positive and inspiring lyrics, which we rarely see in the 21st century.

When Houston fell off due to her drug addiction, she never gave up on the music she loved. When she made her comeback in 2009, she kept it classy with her looks and music. She never changed and still sold records. Sex does sell, but there are certain voices, such as Whitney's who can make money without looks and sexual music. More artists should fall in love with the music and not the money, like Whitney.

Lavigne

A Canadian singer-songwriter, Avril Lavigne. She was born in Belleville, Ontario, but spent most of her youth in the small town of Napanee. By the age of 15, she had appeared on stage with Shania Twain; by 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records worth more than $2 million. In 2002, when she was 17 years old, Lavigne broke onto the music scene with her debut album Let Go.

Lavigne broke into the music industry at the age where women define themselves. She was alongside singers such as, Alicia Keys, Kelly Clarkson, and the ever so classy Beyonce Knowles.  Lavigne defined her own style in order to sell records. She gave off the bad, rebel kid vibe. She defined herself as an individual, apart from her competitors.  Some may say, during her breakthrough in the 2002, that is wasn’t the age of “sex sells”.  This may be true, but although Kelly Clarkson and other starts didn’t drop the close to raise sales, other in this time did.  It would have been really easy for Lavigne to walk down the road of no return.   Lavigne’s feisty female empowering point of view was enough to sell records. It was enough to make fans want to be her and follow her.

What sets Avril Lavigne apart from today’s artists , such as Miley Cyrus and Cristina Aguliera? Well its obvious, Avril Lavigne portrays the role model of a strong independent women.  Although her career has slowed down from her first debut album, she continues to prove herself as a role model. With all the sexual ways of selling records and all the inappropriate performances,  her past proves her to be stronger.  If many of the female artists were more like Avril Lavigne, then possibly today’s youthful women would grow to be stronger and more independent.

Pregnancy and Sexiness!

Alicia Keys and Beyonce are two of the hottest rhythm and blues and pop singers of the 21st century. However recently, both of these stars have had new lives to worry about other than their own. They both brought another life into this world.


In 2010, Keys gave birth to her son Egypt. During her pregnancy there was a lot of conversation whether Alicia Keys should be performing certain acts at her concerts and performances. People were also very critical of the way she would dress during her pregnancy as well. Even though Keys was never known for her sexual acts, during one performance she felt the need to get on top of her piano and perform her act. With her being an expecting mom and 6 months pregnant, her act looked to be very promiscuous and too sexy. However, it got the attention of many people.




Here are some reactions from viewers about her 2010 BET performance of top of her piano for a Prince tribute:

Alicia Keyes look a hot mess grinding on that piano! Prince's expression was what the hell is she doing? Chris Brown you go boy!!!!

alicia keys made pregnancy look HOT, HOTT HAWT!!! job well done:)

Alicia K. showed that she could b sexy and beautiful while preggers & still b the great performer that she is all @ the same time. Great job Alicia....I enjoyed it & can truly appreciate the love & passion u put into your work....i can tell that u simply adore what u do.

Are sexy and hot the things you would want to portray when pregnant and have the whole country looking at you? I saw it as an act of attention, to draw away from the personal issues going on in her life, such as her pregnancy out of wedlock and having her child by a married man.

Beyonce, on the other hand shot a whole music video while pregnant. Should she really being doing all of this?

In the video above, her clothes are almost skin tight. They aren't really meant for a pregnant woman, however since it's Beyonce, this video is a hit and people are really critical of what she is doing. Most don't even realize that she announced her pregnancy before this video was shot.


Beyonce's video "Dance For You" takes promiscuity and sexiness to a whole different level. She has on lingerie-like attire and performing acts as if she were a private dancer or in a bedroom. Take notice of the 7 months old baby bump shen she was dancing on the chair. That is not classy or meant for a pregnant woman, but it is one of the most viewed videos on youtube with over 12 million views.

The Sex Tape

Many people know Paris Hilton as the grandaughter of Conrad Hilton, who is the founder of the international Hilton Hotel chain. Then there are other who know her as Paris Hilton, the girl who stared in the show The Simple Life, with best friend Nicole Richie. Some may just even know her as a simple Hollywood celebrity. However the most common way people know of Paris Hilton is because of her sex tape that was leaked in 2003.



Paris has always been a person of good looks, but since her sex tape, things increasingly got better for her. You would think that after her embarrassing sex tape that she would tone things down, but no; she hasn't. Take a look at her car wash commercial in 2005:


Most men would enjoy the commercial above. But for women it is degrading. There are many men look at us like a piece of meat. It gives a women a sense of self worth, that they all have to be sexy and raunchy. This commercial is the definition of provocative. Imagine how many people actually went to buy this burger because of the way Paris Hilton potrayed it's "greatness".



Hilton, laid low for while until late 2006, when she released her debut album called Paris. The above video shows how Paris burst on to the scenes with her hit "Stars are Blind". But if you notice in the video, she is half naked and kissing on some guy. This act also followed her sex tape embarrassment. How ironic is it that her when her sex tape came out, that she gained more and more fame? Guys like what they like, I suppose. And women will support what their significant other likes, in order to please them.

Changes?

Many of the new breakout music stars are showing more flesh, so more records can be sold. Its mainly the new breakout stars that we are seeing less clothing. Miley Cyrus dropped her good girl act for a more risque look, pretty much making her a new star. Nicki Minaj prides herself on haveing a larger bottom, wich can be precieved as sexy from the male population. She is not afraid to excentuate it in different outfits.  Im not quite sure that anybody knows what it is going on with Lady GaGa, including herself. Although she is included as part of the women wearing close to nothing clothing. Where did this new facination with "sex sells" come from? Who was the first to expose themselves in tis way adn recieved so much attention.  Besides Brittney Spears, Cristina Aguilera was one of the biggest starts in her day.  With her voice so smooth and captivating, she sold records all over the country as well as internationally. Young boys would have her poster in there bedrooms. As her music career went on these posters became more popular, but less clothed.

She gave off an attitude that drew people to her and her music.  Her red carpet appearences also portrayed sexual behavior.



Before she took on this look and behavior, she made music that made young women want to be her.  She acted as their rold model. How you you think this change made those young women feel? they still wanted to be like her. On top of that desire, many of them develope self esteem issues if they do not resemble starts like this.

What happened to Crintina?  Cristina Aguilera dropped this record selling act to settle down and be a mother. Looking back now im sure she understands what she was advertising.  Being a mother im sure she is now against this type of advertisment.  Cristina now dresses with class and sophistication. Every red carpet event she is dressed elegantly, showing off her beauty as she should be. She is at the top of her career, and guess what, she is fully clothed.

Why Draw Attention?

Lady Gaga, also known as the Monster Mama has played a huge role in the music industry the past few years. Ever since her first record label came out, she was known for her beautiful, strong voice. Her songs had meaning and landed on the most popular radio stations. The catchy tunes would get stuck in everyone's head easily. But has anyone really seen the music videos? Does anyone look at what she wears? She is a female, Caucasian women, in her late twenties. She has a fantastic body, but her look seems to change every single music video released. 

Lady Gaga's music is amazing, she can really sing, but what's with the unnecessary costumes? Everyone's trying to be different these days, and trying to have their own style, but the outfits she wears aren't drawing positive feedback from her fans. For example, her VMA costume.

Why would anyone wear raw meet on their bare skin to an award ceremony? Nobody expected this to come from Lady Gaga, but the comments weren't so nice as well. Some of the celebrities were even scared such as Eminem. Finding it quite amusing how other stars reacted to her choice in attire, the one things that doesn't make sense is Lady Gaga has a drop dead amazing body and voice, so why does she have to go out of her way to try and stand out from the crowd. Not standing out in a positive way, but to make herself look like a "freak." Maybe she's trying to send a message to the world that she doesn't care what people think about her? Or maybe she's just a little bit crazy.

Lady Gaga has sent out so many different messages out to so many people through out the world, and she has impact many of her fans' lives. She is a great inspiration and role model in this corrupt society today. Her main message goes out to all her followers that they are important, that they are all beautiful, that they are the reason she's inspired.

Gaga shows off her body regularly, but not to attract people to listen to her music, she shows off her body because she's comfortable and everyone else should be comfortable in their own skin. Lady Gaga doesn't need to wear meat costumes, or crazy hair pieces to get attention. Lady Gaga, you are beautiful, and you can sing. Your songs aren't just words and beats put together, they're stories. Keeps singing girl, because you got it.

What Men Talk About: Jay-Z

Jay-Z is an international artist of the 21st century. Like many other rappers, Jay-Z raps about what he wants his women to look like. Like the song above, he constantly talks about how he wants his women "thick" "sexy" and being able to perform certain sexual acts.




With a wife like Beyonce Knowles, you would think that he would have a little more respect for women. Jay-Z, throughout his career has constantly used the word "bitch" in order to refer to a woman. When women listen to lyrics such as his, some are influenced and believe that they have to look and act in a certain manner in order to be with a man like him. Women feel the need to act out what they hear on the radio.



When Jay-Z's daughter, Blue Ivy Carter was born there were rumors going around that he would stop his use of the word bitch. He denied those claims. Is it the money from the lyrics? What would make someone refer to a woman in a derogatory manner? Many rappers sell record without using offensive language to women. It is harder to not do so, but it's not what the audience wants to hear; women included!



Even Jay-Z's gorgeous, female protege follows in his footsteps. She degrades women, uses offensive language, and sings about sexual acts with women and men. Rihanna who doesn't necessarily have the most beautiful voice, sells more records than the great voice of Melanie Fiona, who is another one of Jay-Z's artists. Melanie Fiona, who has a stunning voice sings about relationships and life, but doesn't dress racy and can't sell nearly as many records as Rihanna, even with the same great looks.

Great Look, No Talent

How are producers and music record companies so oblivious to realize there are talented artists in the world. Except, these producers would rather choose the "beautiful, sexual, promiscuous" looking females that are somewhat already exposed to the media. Such as the famous Kim Kardashian,

who was introduced to the media in 2007 with the release of her sex video scandal. Years went, and Kim Kardashian was still included in new magazine articles, but to flaunt her bodacious body, and her "famous" butt. Kardashian became the spot light of every magazine cover such as Playboy Magazine and Glamour,

 and landed a reality show on TLC, "Keeping Up With the Kardashians," following "Kim and Kourtney Take New York" which are television series filled with dramatic life problems that people find "entertaining." 

Kardashian is considered a well known face in Los Angeles, New York, Miami, etc. Producers found her to be eye candy to the male population in urban cities across the United States. Being so, Kim Kardashian was contracted to a record label with her first released single "Jam (Turn It Up)" in early 2011.

Kim Kardashian makes money with her face, "curves", and specifically her butt. But in honesty, according to the ratings from TMZ.com, where real fans comment about their opinions, seems to lean toward the "dislike" category. Just because a famous female has the physical features of a "goddess" and exposes her skin to the media in almost every photograph, doesn't mean she's talented in everything. 

Maybe the producers had the intention of selling millions because she's so well known, and auto tune can correct every little flaw in Kardashian's voice, but this single backfire, and Kardashian hasn't released another single since. Who would have ever considered Kim Kardashian to be a singer? Apparently, the ones that are focused more on physical aspects of the artist instead of the actual talent. 

SEX SELLS! 

Kim, stick to the cameras.

What Happened To Miley Cyrus?

In the current advertising world, I think its safe to say that sex sells.  Particularly with women in the music industry. For the most part, the industry follows the rule, “less is more”, when it comes to clothing.  Is that necessarily bad or good?  Some say that young women, mainly teenagers and children, follow the images that music artists portray.  “I want to dress like her”, “But Hannah Montana has that!” Those are just some things that you might here children and teens saying to their parents. When I was young, I grew up with girls like Hilary Duff.  She had the image of a very wholesome young lady. Sex sells was never the case with her. She may have been a Disney star, however, so was Miley. In today’s industry, Taylor Swift is one of the few female artists who have yet to fall into the idea of sex sells.  Why do I imply that she will? Because a prime example of what seemed to be a good girl, is Miley Cyrus.  She was discovered to play the role of Miley Stuart on the hit TV show  ‘Hannah Montana’.   She played a young artist who portrayed a good girl image and was a role model for young viewers.  As she got older she grew out of the character as well as her good girl image. She adapted to the idea of sex sells just so she could continue her music career. Was that a good career move for Miley?  That concept is debatable. Miley lost a significant amount of fans because parents found her to be to risqué. Her moves and clothing choices lost her role model status. Did she gain any new fans after her big leap into her new look?  She very well might have, but all we hear about is her fall from good girl, too bad.  Is it really the artists choice to wear what they do? To dance the way they do?  It is said that they have a choice, but do they? If they want to sell records, and get paid, I would say they don’t really have a choice.  Miley could just be a victum herself of the "sex sells" phenomenon.  She was young enough to be impressionable of the compitition aroung her. She felt as though in order to become more succsessful, she needed to compete with her competetors. Miley cyrus was just a victum to this new fashion of female artists, but she also had the power to say no.

Nicki Minaj vs. Lauryn Hill: Which would you prefer today?

Nicki Minaj....Nicki Minaj....Nicki Minaj...

Jasmine Mans, the author of this poem gets "R-E-A-L"! Unlike the REEL Barbie that Nicki Minaj is trying to portray. Mans, touches base on how Minaj is overly sexual in her lyrics. Not only overly sexual, Mans expresses how Nicki Minaj influences young women, mainly young black women to be Barbie's. But as Mans says "all dolls will eventually malfunction".

Nowadays all we hear in rap lyrics, especially from women are things like "I'm a bad bitch!" Or "Ass so fat, all these bitches’ pussies is throbbin." It is very rare for a female rapper to come on the scene in this day and age and go the Lauryn Hill route with their lyrics. The Lauryn Hill route being influential, inspiring for young black women, and not degrading themselves.


Look! Look hard! Listen! Listen hard!

Compare the differences of how Nicki Minaj looks to the likes of Lauryn Hill. Tell me what you see. SEX SELLS! Now listen to Nicki Minaj's lyrics and then Lauryn Hill's...

A lot of men and women will choose Nicki Minaj because of the sexual lyrics and because of her looks. I'll take Lauryn Hill any day! She represents what African American women want to be depicted as, but yet there are women like Nicki Minaj who set us back a few years. Nicki Minaj is not the only woman in rap who comes off a sexual, racy, and ignorant but she is one of the HOTTEST female rappers today.