When does art become obscenity? That’s the question writer/director Sean Patrick Shaul asks and his response is to make the excellent documentary, Cover Your Ears.It shows musicians fighting back against censorship, the moral implications, and legal proceedings that often follow when a case goes to court. The villain isn’t the music industry. Instead, it’s those groups formed by parents and extremists who believe they speak for the masses.
In what these talents call artistic expression, other people see something else. Few people know that, in comparison to current trends, Mozart and Beethoven even had their share of controversy. They inserted questionable lyrics into the operas they wrote. And what about those dirty sea shanties? Sometimes they reach the mainstream, and it’s enough to make many women blush. When this work traces the origins of censorship and what makes a good, catchy, song, even I had to scream and shout!
In a more modern context, Elvis Presley, changed the musical landscape. He took the rhythms developed by African-Americans and made it his own. Not only did he add his own thing on the stage, but also recognised the power of R&B. It’s since developed into other forms, like Blues and Hip Hop, but as for what’s next, it’s hard to tell. Even Little Richard, another performer excellently profiled in this piece, had critics. These days, we have other talents, like 2 Live Crew and Gwar. who really challenge what’s considered musical entertainment in the words they grunt out.
What makes this documentary special is in how deep it goes into modern genres, namely hip hop, punk rock and heavy metal. The songs we hear are sometimes about exorcising the demons, and these musicians interviewed are great at defending what becoming a performer means to them. Most of them agree to having warning labels on their albums and hope their fans can make the right choices.
Ultimately, what’s being watched on YouTube, streamed on the cloud or heard on the radio is all about letting the buyer beware than anything else. There’s no need to gate keep.
4 Stars out of 5
Cover Your Ears Documentary Trailer
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