• Rap, hip hop and R&B were most likely to mention alcohol
  • Four brands of spirits made up more than half of references to labels

By
Liz Hull


PUBLISHED:

23:49 GMT, 29 August 2013


|

UPDATED:

01:49 GMT, 30 August 2013

Pop songs which refer to alcohol brands could be encouraging young people to binge drink and have sex, experts have warned.

Almost a quarter of chart music lyrics over a three-year period mentioned booze, analysts said.

Four brands of spirits – Patron tequila, Hennessy cognac, Grey Goose vodka, and Jack Daniel’s whiskey – made up more than half of specific references to labels.

Rihanna swigging straight from a bottle of wine
Kanye West performs during the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards

Songs by Rihanna (left) and Kanye West (right) feature specific references to brands of alcohol

The songs almost always showed alcohol as a good thing. More than one in ten, or 16 per cent, linked getting drunk with sex.

Rihanna’s song Cheers states: ‘I drink to that/ Oh let the Jameson sink in’.

In Bittersweet, Kanye West raps: ‘This relationship it even got me back to drinkin’/ Now this Hennessy it’s going to be the death of me’.

Rap, hip hop and R&B were most likely to mention booze, at 38 per cent, then country music at 22 per cent and pop at 15 per cent.

In How We Do, British pop star Rita Ora sings: ‘You look so sweet while you’re dreaming/ Holding your bottle of Tanqueray’, while in his song Jack Daniels, country idol Eric Church says: ‘I’ve thrown a punch or two . . . But Jack Daniel’s kicked my ass again last night.’

US experts analysed the 720 top songs of 2009, 2010 and 2011 as ranked by Billboard Magazine. In all, 167 mentioned alcohol and 46 songs mentioned brands.

Four brands of spirits, including Patron tequila, made up more than half of specific references to labels
Four brands of spirits, including Grey Goose vodka, made up more than half of specific references to labels

Four brands of spirits, including Patron tequila (right) and Grey Goose vodka (left), made up more than half of specific references to labels

Professor Michael Siegel, of  Boston University, said: ‘Many songs glamorise underage drinking and excessive alcohol consumption and their association with sex and partying.’

He said: ‘A small number of alcohol brands and beverages appear to make frequent appearances in popular music.

‘If these exposures are found to influence youth drinking behavior, then further public health efforts must be focused on youth exposure to alcohol portrayals in popular music.’

The songs almost always showed alcohol as a good thing. More than one in ten, or 16 per cent, linked getting drunk with sex

The songs almost always showed alcohol as a good thing. More than one in ten, or 16 per cent, linked getting drunk with sex

The comments below have not been moderated.

Rubbish, other frequent words often heard is sweet and dream but that doesn’t make us rush out to buy some sugar in our sleep.

John
,

Bridgend,
30/8/2013 08:02

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Because obviously we all listen to R Kelly ‘I believe I can fly’ then jump off a bridge because we too believe we can then fly!

sayingithowitis
,

UK,
30/8/2013 07:53

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Rap,rnb and indie rock must die,bring back funk the music of freedom,hope and love.

Funklord
,

Forest gate,
30/8/2013 07:45

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What else are they going to come with if people want to drink or take drugs they will its nothing to do with what they see or hear

freedom-of-speech
,

Stockport uk,
30/8/2013 07:26

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No way?! At least they don’t encourage «popping mollys». Thanks captain obvious, modern rap is terrible music

sugarmoose
,

Orange County,
30/8/2013 07:20

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I feel like binge drinking when listening to most of the processed pap that’s in the charts these days. I blame Simon Cowell. Hic.

dan75
,

Leeds, England,
30/8/2013 07:05

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And Rock talks of drugs and hard drugs too. So what’s your point. Sir Mick Jagger and his Rolling Stones were prolific drug takers in true Rock fashion.

Tony
,

London,
30/8/2013 07:03

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Movies show people jumping off tall buildings and landing on their feet. Don’t knock the artist. Blame the in controlling parents breeding without a clue!

Mr Singh
,

South-West,
30/8/2013 06:27

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Maybe be a parent and monitor what your kids watch/listen to? The musicians (and I’m using that term very loosely) have a right to sing about what they want. If you don’t want your kids influenced by it, either talk to them about it, or don’t let them listen to it. Take those One Direction kids for example, they’re music is perfectly acceptable, but if you look at their twitters they’re littered with cursing. I wouldn’t care personally, but someone with a twelve year old shouldn’t blame One Direction if they curse because of seeing them do it. They should blame themselves for not watching their kids. And if enough parents don’t let their kids listen to or buy the music/merch the artist won’t have a fan base and therefore won’t be able to make music anymore. Don’t complain about Nicki Minaj being a bad influence and then buy your kid her album or let him/her watch the VMAs!

Taylor Russo
,

New York, United States,
30/8/2013 06:19

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I do agree that today’s music is very influencing re sex drugs and alcohol nearly every song is the same it’s difficult these data to put the radio on and be able to listen without monitoring all the time what your children listen to and as I’m a community mental health worker it’s also difficult to judge what maybe offensive to others when travelling in your car so basically easier nit to switch radio on!!!

pebbles
,

Blackpool uk,
30/8/2013 06:05

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