Drugs and Music

Christina Gov, Steven Galarnyk, Timothy Bates, Amanda Siu, Jae

Lee

Since the dawn of society, humans have jammed to music and used drugs for spiritual and celebratory reasons. This is one of the oldest cultural phenomena still going on strong today. We will each present five music genres of their cultural influences and their relationship to drugs.

"Music is the soul of language" - Max Heindel

Genres

• Reggae• Electronic• Rock & Roll• Jazz• Country

 

 

Reggae

• Associated with marijuana • Many reggae artists were followers of the Rastafari movement

o Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Burning Spearo Cannabis referenced in lyrics

"Legalize it" - Peter Tosh

A Brief History

• 1655-1838 - Jamaica captured as a British colonyo slave economy

• 1838 - Jamaica was emancipated

Rastafarianism

• A religion and ideology that developed in Jamaica• Rejection of imperialism, westernization - "Babylon" • Promoted regular use of marijuana

o Called ganja, the herb, the weed, the holy herb• Did not encourage rum, liquor, or cigarettes

Rastafarianism: Marijuana

• Ganja used as a religious ritual• Expression of freedom against Babylon• Used recreationally and religiously

o Smoking ganja considered a spiritual acto Followed by Bible studyo Brings one closer to Jah

• Smoking of ganja to "loosen up"o brainwashed by capitalism and colonialismo the only way to clear the mind would be through use of ganja

enables you to see your "true self"• Belief that the Bible encouraged use of the herb

o "He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and the herb for the service of man." Psalm 104:14

More Biblical Citations

"...thou shalt eat the herb of the field." Genesis 3:18

"...eat every herb of the land" Exodus 10:12

"And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb-bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat." Genesis 1:29

"And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw it was good." Genesis 3:18

Nesta Robert "Bob" Marley

Reggae artist andRastafarian

Spread the RastafarianMovement worldwide

ElectronicElectronic

What is Electronic Music?• According to the EMA, electronic music is any music

produced or performed primarily using electronic instruments in a unique, non-generic fashion, such that the focus of the music is on the electronic aspects.

• Some popular artists in this genre includes;o Steve Aokio Infected Mushroomo Armin Vaan Burreno The Prodigyo Skrillex

History of Electronic Music"If Pac-Man had affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in dark rooms, munching pills and listening to repetitive electronic music." - Marcus Brigstocke

• Electronic music could be dated back to as 1900s. However, to us the more culturally relevant portion of electronic music history starts out in 1980s when the rave culture started to take off.o Gained popularity in the U.K with influential figures such as

Paul Oakenfold.o Not surprisingly, E started to get popular around this time

First news report of E seizure in 1987.

 

Iconic Drugs• MDMA

o Pharmacodynamics Indirect agonist for 5-HT and for DA

and Ne in lesser amount It's effects are unique because it makes

you feel sympathetic towards others. (empathogenesis) Perhaps this is the reason it is

popular with teenagers. (That or the increase in sensuality known as enactogenesis)

o Pharmacokinetic  Usually swallowed in pill form

 peaks in 1 hour and last from 3-12 hours depending on purity

MDMA crystals

Iconic Drugs continued• Stimulants

o  Cocaine, Amphetamine These are insufflated or cut into the

ecstasy pills

• Psychedelicso  LSD

Taking MDMA and LSD at the same time is known as "Candy flipping."

 

Interview

These were the people I had to interview, this was difficult for several reasons.1. The music was blaring non-stop, it was very hard to carry on a

conversation. Apparently rave culture promotes unity, not conversation.

2. People wouldn't stop offering me massages and light shows. While flattered, some of these people had to be avoided.

Interview continuedMany claimed that the effect of MDMA made them feel more connected and close to one another. (empathogenesis)• MDMA was used for

marriage counseling.• This also coincides with

PLUR, the rave philosophy of Peace, Love, Unity and Respect

 

Example from my hands-on interviews:1. "Sick bass beats and ecstasy just

goes together." - Hyper Nova*2. "I can feel the music with all of

my body and makes me want to dance    all night long." - Crush Bunny* (enactogenesis)

•     This person probably took pill that was cut with uppers such as amphetamine.

(*= In rave culture, people are designated a raver name from either their rave parent or a total stranger)

Rock & Roll

Early Rock

• Elvis Presleyo A heavy prescription drug user

Amphetamines, Barbiturates, Hydromorphone...o Denounced illicit drug useo Traces of 14 different drugs at time of death

• The Beatleso Very heavy use of illicit drugs

LSD (a ton), Amphetamines, Cannabis, Cocaine... Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

o Eventually denounced drug use

• These were typical patterns among other artists of the time

Jimi Hendrix and Psychedelic Rock

• Became symbol of the psychedelic movement.• Used LSD, Barbiturates, Amphetamines• Message of peace and love, supported hippie movement• Died famously by choking on vomit while on Barbiturates

• Psychedelic rock associated with many drugso LSD and LSA, psilocybin, Mescaline, DMT, DOM (STP)o also used Cannabis, Cocaine, Ketamine and others

• Use extensive references to drugs

              Focus on: LSD

• d-Lysergic Acid Diethylamide• Derived from ergot, a fungus on rye• Acts primarily on 5HT-2A receptor

o Direct agonist• Also acts on many other 5HT, NE and DA receptors

o Does not cause dependence• Rapid tolerance due to down-regulation of 5HT-2A receptors

o Cross tolerance with Mescaline and Psilocybin • Significant open and closed eye hallucinations and possible

synesthesia, surfaces seem to breathe and morph, after imageso  Set and Setting very important to avoid bad "trip"

• Schedule I drug

Ozzy Osbourne and Heavy Metal

• Former lead guitarist and vocalist for Black Sabbath• Abused drugs including alcohol for 40 years• "I've been loaded on booze, coke, acid, Quaaludes, glue,

cough mixture, heroin, Rohypnol, Klonopin, Vicodin, and too many other heavy-duty substances to list in this footnote. On more than a few occasions I was on all of those at the same time."

• Suffered from tremors due to Parkin Syndromeo Not from Drug or Alcohol Abuse

• Heavy Metal is associated with harder drugso Cocaine, Heroin, PCP, LSD, Alcohol, Cannabis, Crack,

Amphetamines, solvents, Barbiturates

"Resting Arousal, Sensation Seeking, and Music Preference"

• Suggests that some individuals may be predisposed to seek out more intense and complex stimuli than otherso some individuals may enhance stimulation, resulting in over

stimulationo others may reduce intensity of incoming stimuli, resulting in

stimulus deprivation.• Adolescents that listen to heavy metal were more likely to use, but

not abuse illicit drugs• Drug taking and other reckless behavior associated with higher

levels of arousal, and are therefore preferred by stimulus seeking individuals

• These individuals engage in these activities in order to reach their ideal level of stimulation

Jazz and Drugs

“The jazzman has always been tagged with the current vice of the times. In the Twenties the jazz musician was a drunkard. He was a jazz musician, therefore he was a drunkard. In the Thirties and early Forties, he was a jazz musician, therefore he used marijuana. In the later Forties and Fifties, into the Sixties, he's a jazz musician, so he's a dope addict.”

– Billy Taylor

*Marijuana

• History:o 1910: Introduction of marijuana to USo 1923-1930: Racially charged anti-pot campaigno 1937 Marijuana Tax Act

• Muggles, moota, gage, reefer, Mary Warner, tea, mezz, ju-ju, grifa….

• Effects:o Increased metabolism - useful on late nightso Distorted perceptions - enhanced listening experienceo Impaired coordination, learning and memory

Focus: Heroin

• Faster-acting version of morphine• Can be smoked, snorted, injected• Effects

o Euphoria – “a deep sense of satisfaction”o Followed by exhaustion, sense of apathy

Aid for performance anxietyo Nausea, slowed metabolism

*Heroin: Pharmacology

• Pharm. term: Diacetylmorphineo Morphine + 2 acetyl groupso µ opioid agonistso Increases dopamine production by inhibiting

GABA release analgesic, euphoric effects

*"the idea was going around that to use heroin might make you play as great as Bird." - Miles Davis

Country Music and Drugs

The Joke: “ What do you get when you play a country song backwards?”Answer: You get your dog back, your truck back and your wife back.

“I’m just gonna go home, lie down, and listen to country music. The music of pain.” -Xander from Buffy

“Country music has always been the best shrink that 15 bucks can buy.” -Dierks Bentley

“Country Music is three cords and the truth.” -Harland Howard

Drug ReferencesAlcohol- Brad PaisleyWhiskey Girl- Toby KeithTequila Makes her Clothes Fall Off- Joe NicholsWhiskey for my men, Beer For My Horses- Toby KeithTear In My Beer- Hank WilliamsWhiskey river- Willie Nelson, Whiskey bent and hell bound- Hank William’s, JrBeer thirty- Brooks & DunnBilly's Got His Beer Goggles On- Neal McCoyAll Jacked Up- Gretchen WilsonTennessee whiskey- David Allen CoeWhiskey Girl- Toby KeithTequila Sunrise- EaglesDrugs or Jesus- Tim McGrawCocaine Blues- Johnny CashEtc.

What does Country Music reference?

• Researchers who looked at the bestselling songs in several genres from 2005 found that 37% of top country songs featured references to drugs or alcohol, compared to just 14% of rock songs. Rap songs referenced drug usage in 77% of songs. R&B and Hip-hop were at 20%.

• The same study found that the drug most often mentioned in country songs is alcohol.

 

So we know the reference stats…

• A study by Loyola University found beer consumption was greatest for country music at live concerts when compared against Rock, Reggae and Hip-hop/Rap. Overall alcohol consumption however was highest for rock concerts.

 

Where is country music?

• Primarily in the USA but also Canada and Australia.

Where in the US is country?

 • The size of each state is proportional to the number of times it is

mentioned in country music.

Tobacco Usage

l

Alcohol Usage (binge)

Source: http://www.statemaster.com/red/graph/hea_alc_con_bin_dri-health-alcohol-consumption-binge-drinkers&b_map=1

So why all talk and no drink?

• Drinking is clearly considered wrong but in most of the songs it’s seen as expected and routine to use it to face the tough facts of life.

• The answer to the paradox: The concept of Redemption.

• Two famous country stars, Johnny Cash and George Jones, both drank and it almost ruined them but they both found the strength to turn their lives around. That’s country music.

 

Drinking is about humor?• A University of Pittsburgh study found that in country music drinking

tends to be portrayed as humorous. Alcohol isn’t quite given a blanket acceptance as much as a humorous portrayal.

“She’ll start with kickin’ out of her shoesLoose an earring in her drinkLeave her jacket in the bathroom stallDrop a contact down the sink”From "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off" by Joe Nichols

“He's on the dance floor yelling FreebirdSinging off pitch but he knows every word Grabs him another girl and he holds on tight Now he's chasing everything in sighthe'll fall apart when he gets homeRight now his worries are gone Life looks good, good, good Billy's got his beer goggles on”From "Billy's Got His Beer Goggles On" by Neal McCoy

“Don’t have to go home but you can’t stay here, That’s what they said when I got my last beer. Oh my God, its 2 oclock, I can’t find my keys and my trucks locked So I grabbed a tire tool and I broke my window, hurt my elbow got me in though Two foot later backed into the light pole, all the town folk got a good show”From "All Jacked Up" by Gretchen Wilson

 

Prescription Drug Abuse

 • Nonmedical Use of Pain Relievers in Past Year among Persons Aged

12 or Older

 

Thank you! Enjoy your spring break and continue this cultural phenomena

at your own discretion.

Questions?

Referenceshttp://thinkexist.com/quotation/music_is_the_soul_of_language/214749.html http://www.newagejournal.com/sexdrugs.shtml  Reggae:http://www.uvm.edu/~debate/dreadlibrary/dorsey.html http://www.jamaicans.com/info/brief.htm  http://www.religionfacts.com/a-z-religion-index/rastafarianism.htm

Barrett, Leonard E Sr. The Rastafarians. Beacon Press: Boston 1997.Rock: http://www.beatlesbible.com/features/drugs/ http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2002/aug/11/features.magazine27  http://www.erowid.org/references/refs_view.php?A=ShowDoc1&ID=6318

http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&File_Id=2498  McNamara, L., & Ballard, M. E. (1999). Resting Arousal, Sensation Seeking, and Music Preference.Genetic, Social & General Psychology Monographs, 125(3), 229. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

  

References continued...Country:  http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/healthday/071108/one-third-of-popular-songs-refer-to-substance-abuse.htm http://clearinghouse.missouriwestern.edu/manuscripts/256.php

http://current.com/1ndce4c http://christianmusic.about.com/od/editorial1/a/lyricsstudy08.htm

http://www.statemaster.com/red/graph/hea_alc_con_bin_dri-health-alcohol-consumption-binge-drinkers&b_map=1 http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/TobaccoUse/Smoking/StateInfo-large.html

Ben Marsh, “A Rose-Colored Map” Harper’s, July 1977, 80. http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/TobaccoUse/Smoking/StateInfo-large.html http://www.thestate.com/2010/02/09/1147170/country-musics-love-affair-with.html  SAMHSA, Office of Applied Studies, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2006 and 2007.

References continued...Jazz http://www.jstor.org/stable/799451

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,826388,00.html

http://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2007-05-25/477944/

http://everything2.com/title/Heroin+and+jazz

http://www.ukcia.org/potculture/30/louis.html

http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/marijuana.html

http://www.cannabisculture.com/v2/articles/3434.html

http://www.neurosoup.com/schedule1/heroinpharmacology.htm

References continued...Electronic:

http://ema.wsu.edu/?q=node/13#definition

http://www.mdma.net/therapy/method.html http://www.fantazia.org.uk/Scene/timeline.htm http://www.thesite.org/drinkanddrugs/drugculture/drugstrade/thehistoryofrave http://image.tradevv.com/2010/04/05/joeysilva/plant/2010045052323.jpg?size=600 http://www.3dchem.com/imagesofmolecules/Amphetamine.jpg

http://www.eyepod.org/sitebuilder/images/lsd3_1_-356x373.jpg http://www.mdma.net/therapy/method.html