Shots, shots, shots, shots, shots!!

Country and rap songs are known for their songs with the popular subject of alcohol.  They encourage listeners to get “wasted” like Gucci Mane or find “friends in low places” like Garth Brooks.  Drinking and getting drunk is an easy subject to sing about for many of the artists in these genres.  Their lyrics and tunes are clever which make them even more appealing.  Country and rap are both very popular among the younger crowd, especially college students.  Their songs are frequently played at parties and college bars all over the U.S.  Are these songs about alcohol and drinking effecting how much college students drink and encouraging binge drinking?

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I believe that music influences those who listen in both positive and negative ways.  Some songs are about hope and peace that lift people up.  Other songs are entertaining and fun to dance to.  Any song that has lyrics about drinking alcohol and/or getting drunk have now been termed “drinking songs” by our society.  This is the music is played while a group of people drink and some songs even encourage them to get drunk faster, such as “Shots” by LMFAO.  This song repeats the word shots 62 times, according to lyrics found online.  Many people who take shots during this song try to take as many as they can during the chorus and this can result in multiple shots in only a few times.  This can be very dangerous, especially if the person continues to consume alcohol. 

There are many other songs like “Shots” that are used in drinking games and are for the purpose of getting as drunk as you can.  Although this music catchy and fun to listen to, it can lead to serious consequences when drinkers are not being responsible.  It is important to remember that drinking songs are not entirely bad, as long as the drinking does not get out of hand while listening to them.