Reply To: do I have the right?

Wow. I know I must have hit a very contoaversial subject and I can tell that I am speaking to a lot of people who have very different hashgachos then me and my school and many who probably listen to non jewish music on a regular basis. I probably agree with WIY and cinderella the most on this issue if I would try to explain my view. I was brought up and I believe that there is music that can uplift and there is music that can bring you down regardless of the lyrics. Many of my friends dont understand this and thats why it kills me to see them dancing to these songs when they probably dont understand what its doing to them and are exposed to it because some person wanted to make a buck. People have the right to know what they are listening to.

I personally dont like the argument that many songs come from non jewish songs whatever. I definitely dont agree with the people who brought in that music into our community but not every non jewish song will bring you down. For example as so many people mentioned “yidden yidden” is a song that I do not believe could bring anyone down although I dont think that people should start going through non jewish music to decide which songs dont bring you down because most people dont have the sensitivity to decided that – including me. Thats why there is a concept of not listening to non jewish music.

I dont think people today are on the level to go out into the world of lowliness and pick out the unholy (an understatement) and make it holy. Believe me by the time you finish bringing that song to “holiness” you would have brought yourself down a nice notch in that area.

Regarding this question, before I found out these were non jewish songs and my friends were obsessing over them I remember telling my friend – “this song does not sound jewish” She shrugged me off but I found out to be right. There IS a difference. Its not the mere knowledge that its a non jewish song but its what these songs can do to someone. Before people found out that the MBD song was non jewish I dont think anyone suspected it before If they did not previously know the song from which it came. When I said it I thought I was talking about a jewish composer who composed a song to bring people down. (not an uncommon occurrence).

Im sorry because I know I have been ranting but this subject happens to be one that bothers me endlessly in this day and age. I probably will have to ask a Rav or I like the advice of telling a teacher. Thank you for your input.