Clean up your act

Music is a way of life. It brings joy and happiness to the soul. But unfortunately some songwriters nowadays think using foul language in their lyrics is necessary.

Since songs and music are one of the most popular forms of entertainment, young people are likely to come across this language and think it's acceptable to use it themselves.

Although musicians may not want to limit their creativity, it should be made clear when songs contain swear words and whether they are suitable for young people. The government should create strict rules to protect innocent listeners from foul language.

Music can brighten up a gloomy day, or help you to calm down when you are angry. When songs contain foul language, I don't see what benefits they bring. Ikra Gulzar, California School

From the Editor

Thank you for your letter, Ikra. Rap and hip hop music are notorious for featuring foul language, but they are not the only genres to do so. Unfortunately, swear words are frequently featured in rock and pop songs, too.

People often swear when they are angry - the words come out on the spur of the moment. But some people swear only because they think it makes them sound cool and grown-up. This is not the case. Swearing just for the sake of it, such as in a song, shows that you have a limited vocabulary.

Songwriters have a long time to work on their songs; they could come up with alternatives to foul language. This would be a better way to display their talent.

Swearing is a fact of life. But that does not mean it should be forced on us. Music is powerful enough without the need for foul language.

Karly, Sub-editor