THE EDITOR, Sir:
TEENAGERS ARE at a stage in their lives when they are easily influenced by what they hear and see. Jamaican teens are bombarded with dancehall lyrics and fashion everywhere. Dancehall has deep roots in the Jamaican culture; no one can escape it.
REVEALING CLOTHES
Just a cursory glance at dancehall fashion, reveals much more of the female body than should be displayed in public. Unfortunately, a lot of these revealing clothes appeal to teenagers. One friend tells another what's hot and they all try their best to get these 'hot' skimpy clothes, because teens worldwide want to be in style.
Dancehall lyrics are very catchy and our teens love to be current when it comes to the jargon of the dancehall. That's why we hear them saying things like 'log on'... 'more fire'... 'willy bounce' and 'oh so badly'! Sometimes adults don't even know what they mean. Where do these teens get 'the talk' from? The dancehall, of course.
Many people say (and I concur) that lyrics which glorify guns and sex shouldn't be in our dancehalls. Many of Jamaica's gunmen are teenagers and we still have a big problem, especially in inner-city schools, with teenage pregnancy. Both issues are said to be, to some extent, dancehall related.
With the influence dancehall obviously has on teenagers, it's refreshing to hear some of our artistes bringing some balance with songs like Better Must Come ... Serious Times and True Reflections with relevant messages like 'Prison a nuh bed a rose!'
Teenagers would do well to take the positive messages from these positive dancehall songs.
I am, etc.,
MICHAEL G. ROBERTS
(Teacher)
Highgate P.O.
St. Mary
