Florida A and M University - Rattler Yearbook (Tallahassee, FL)

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VENUM MAGAZINE CCNTENTS Relationships In The 80's Page 118 Bio: Al Lawson Page 115 Venom Beat Music Revue Page 116 Quiz Time! Page 134 Test Your Knowledge On Different Aspects Of The World Dizzy The Man With The Upright Horn Venom Gallery Prize Portraits From Gur Photographers. Tres' Chic Ebony Fashion Fair Page 125 Religion's Alive At FAMV Page 113

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FAMV ENTCDMOLUGY CLUB I Explormg The World From Natore s Perspectlve H I I LC 0 7 I 77 Flonda A8rM Umverslty Religious AGTNITIBS Program Carmg Supportive Concerned Sharing IN THE TOTAL COMMUNITY n . 0 n I I I I I a as sa wma FLORIDA UNIVERSITY I U I

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POP LAR MUS C IT SOUNDS GOOD B T THE LYRICS CA BE DEGRADING By Daisy Cherry Music Today has taken an interesting twist. Where as composition and arrangement accomplishments are dynamic, the lyrical content leaves its value to be questioned. Just turn on any popular Black radio station and you're likely to hear adult women boastfully singing about being nasty girls or that it doesn't matter that the man they want belongs to their best friend. Music, says Frank Laskley, a 22 year old senior at FAMU, is an art form that can touch the soul, manipulate emotions and have a profound and subconscious effect on the listener's mind. According to Laskey, Black music tends to degrade Blacks. Few musicians like Stevie Wonder, produce well-written, well- played and non-degrading music. What's disturbing says Prymus Brown, 23, of Jacksonville Florida, is the fact that a lot of highly creative musicians are artistically producing negative and questionable vibes. This trend in music is not an example of musicians trying to survive or giving the people what they want, but more of an example of the lack of thought, says Laskey. The music really reflects a trend in Black thought, says Phyllis Autry, a 21 year old senior at FAMU. This is very disturbing. To think that tunes like BARRY WHlTE'S Change and Cameo's Be Yourself, don't get as much airplay as PRlNCE'S international Lover and Dance, Music, Sex and Romance, is revolting says Brown. Joe Bullard WANM announcer and program director, says that people are buying what they want. Bullard, a graduate of FAMU, and native of Jacksonville, has been with WANM for nine years and has been program director for six of those years. Kids listen to Head Ca provocative song taken from PRlNCE'S 'Controversey' lpj, when it first came out, its up to the parent to explain the song to them. Parents should tell kids the significance of all of the songs, says Bullard. l'm not a parent, says Brown, 'ibut when I hear the lyrics of some song, I imagine teenagers and kids becoming intrigued by its newness and freekiness. They're popping their fingers, singing the lyrics by rote and taking them all very lightly, maybe, having their outlook or behavior affected by it significantly. lt still remains, says Bullard, that as did the saints, people will still go marching into the record shops. VENOM '83