A Music Nerd’s Advice to Ed Sheeran, Musicians, Pop Stars, and Rappers

Jon Hausler
Jul 20, 2017 · 5 min read
Drew de F Fawkes. Ed Sheeran, V Festival 2014, Chelmsford. Not modified. https://www.flickr.com/photos/phonegigpics/14788796657/in/photolist-owQs1H-oPhLoS-qYRXSX-qGyhLZ-oP3FpF-oP3H3F-qGrfrb-owQpRx-oPjw86-oMhSBj-oPhKyW-pej1Ss-9NLzTv-dKh86J-qWHCao-owPLfo-bzaV5P-owPGPz-v8W8hs-owQsm2-owPPR1-owQsQZ-owQdn1-mqfTK5-mqdMqX-mqeaxH-mqdVrr-mqeLPn-oP3Htv-mqdAn4-mqeCHT-mqfFvf-mqe4we-mqdEHZ-mqdN3i-mqfx4L-mqe7Mn-V6Nq1K-qh7m9J-qjbh6x-dKktxv-UnsD6A-mqeDxD-mqdSPT-mqdDV6-mqe7j8-mqefKV-mqe3Lg-mqee5c-mqfMqm

I’m a music nerd. I listen to music constantly, from all different kinds of genres. That’s made me follow lots of bands and have lots of favorites. Through all my listening and following, I’ve developed some thoughts that I’d like to share.

To be clear, I’m no music industry expert. I listen to Beats 1 a lot, comb Apple Music for new songs and bands, follow tons of bands and musicians on Twitter and Instagram, and read a lot of Pitchfork and Rolling Stone. I don’t know all the insider knowledge, but I have some general thoughts on pop music and what’s popular today that I’d like to say, whether it matters or not.

1. A Musician’s Purpose

Ed Sheeran recently said in an interview with Zane Lowe on Beats 1, that he wants to be the #1 male pop star in the world. That’s his goal. To be on Adele’s level. He actually said that.

And while it’s all well and good to want to be successful, if that’s the norm, then I think we need to flip the script.

It’s not bad to want success. To be popular. To make an impact on so many people and have thousands of fans.

But, doing it to be the #1 male pop star isn’t the right mindset to have. That won’t bring you satisfaction. Plus, how can you tell if you’re #1? That seems like a never ending pursuit that will only lead to jealousy and frustration.

Instead, I think it’s more important to think of the music. If I were face to face with Ed Sheeran, here’s what I would say to him:

“Forget the fame, forget the fans, forget the money. What kind of music do YOU want to make? What will make YOU happy? Not the record label, not the fans, not the media. YOU. What kind of music you create truly makes you happy and proud and content and satisfied?

“Make music that you love and are proud of, not just churning out pre-written pop songs that are catchy and you know will be a hit. Make music and be an artist because you want to do it, not because you want to be the best. Only then, will you really be the best.”

And that goes for all musicians, not just Ed Sheeran. Make the music you want to make, not what other people want you to make. And don’t do it for fame. Do it because it’s what you love to do and were born to do.

*steps off soapbox, accidentally drops mic, picks it back up and gently puts it back on the stand*

2. Explicit songs, or to swear or not to swear?

Why do musicians cuss in songs? Why use swear words? What does it prove? That you know how to say them? Is it cool? Is that why?

Rap and hip-hop music is notorious for swearing and explicit language. Most hip-hop albums have explicit language in every single song.

However, there are some exceptions. Take Vince Staples for example. Recently, he came out with an album called Big Fish Theory. On it, there are several songs without any swear words. When asked about it, he simply said: “I didn’t need to swear, so there are no swear words.” If you’ve seen or heard any interviews of Vince, you know he’s not being rude, that’s just how he talks. But it is an extremely interesting answer. In a genre where every rapper swears in just about every song, he chose not to. He chose to write those lyrics without adding in any explicit language.

Which leads to more questions: do we put swear words in songs because we want to, or because they’re necessary? I think Vince Staples would say it’s because we want to.

Another good example is Lecrae. He doesn’t swear in ANY of his songs. None. Coincidentally, he’s a Christian. Or is it more than coincidence?

A look at Christian music would show you that only until recently has swear words made an appearance. Kings Kaleidoscope and The Classic Crime are two bands that have recently dropped F bombs in songs. Their defense: it was necessary. But was it? Kings Kaleidoscope also released a “clean” version of the song. So doesn’t that prove it wasn’t necessary? It could’ve been avoided? I get trying to prove a point, but in both their cases, I think swearing could’ve been avoided.

Pause: I want to set the record straight and state that I’m not against swearing completely. Sometimes when I get super angry, I swear (or when I’m driving, because road rage). However, almost all of the time, swearing is unnecessary, and we do it out of habit or to get a reaction or to seem cool. But it’s not.

Resume: When it comes to music, I realize there is a time and a place for cuss words. But does it have to be all the time, multiple times in a single song? I don’t want my son listening to that and filling his head with that stuff. So, why does everyone else think it’s okay? Am I the only one that thinks this is a problem? If so, ignore me and keep on swearing.

But if you agree with me, then let’s stand for it. Listen to the clean version. If you’re a musician or rapper, I challenge you to write a song without any swear words. If you have a son or a daughter and they were listening to your music, what kind of lyrics would you write? Would you drop the F bombs and write about sex and drugs and alcohol and money and women and men and strip clubs? Or would it be different? Would it be “clean?” My lyrics would be.

3. WRITE YOUR OWN SONGS!!!!!!

Sorry, I should’ve added more exclamation points to that title, to emphasize how much I care about this and how much it bothers me.

Why do pop stars not write their own songs? WHY?!?!?!

Are they lazy? Too busy? Too important? Is songwriting only for the unsuccessful and musicians that haven’t made it? Are they too famous to write songs now?

I don’t get it. I really don’t. Please someone, tell me why, because it doesn’t make any sense.

We live in a culture that applauds and promotes authenticity, yet our biggest pop stars and idols didn’t even write what they’re promoting. Why are they trying to be so inauthentic when it comes to their music?

Many artists are literally GIVEN songs that were written for them to sing. It’s like “okay, here’s a #1 hit. All you have to do is sing it and you’re done.”

All the hard work is done for them. Someone poured their soul into that song, and a pop star just has to sing it and the record label has to buy it. That’s it.

How pathetic! How cowardly! Write your own songs. Be authentic. Be creative. Be real. Don’t feed off your fame and success. Don’t forget how you got here: through hard work and talent.

Keep working hard by working hard at writing new songs. Keep writing lyrics. Keep creating melodies and chords.

Your fans will thank you, and I will thank you.

Music rant over…for now.

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Jon Hausler

Written by

Copywriter, creative, aspiring author, music nerd.

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