Capitol Journal - Rating Rock and Roll
Capitol Journal - Rating Rock and Roll
Adult Caucasian men and women in a committee hearing; politicians sitting around dais, while photographers and cameramen take photographs and film material off screen. Host Hodding Carter introduces show. Capitol Journal title card. Men and women in crowded hallway; "Senate Commerce Committee - Record Labeling". Men and women picketing against rock and roll music explicit content on sidewalk. Men and women attending Senate Hearing Room. U.S. Senator John Danforth (R-MO) addressing the room on the purpose of the hearing; Carter voiceover summarizes subject centering around the topic of pornography and violence in the world of rock and roll and their effect on youth. Sen. Ernest Hollings (D-SC) denouncing "porn rock" show he attended, stating it has no redeeming social value. Sen. Paula Hawkins (R-FL) noting that since the days of Elvis Presley, subtle innuendo of sex and drugs has become overt. Susan Baker, from the Parents Music Resource Center, testifying against rock and roll lyrics.
Capitol Journal - Rating Rock and Roll
U.S. Senator Al Gore (D-TN): "When you responded to the chairman a minute ago, you said there was no way you can tell, in fact some of the material has an album cover design which will indicate it, some does not. Is that correct?" Tipper Gore, Parents Music Research Center: "That's right. Some of the album covers are very explicit. In fact they look like they should be in Playboy or Penthouse, some of them. And they're in the record bins available to young children. But others, you can't tell. I bought the Purple Rain album for our 11 year old. And I didn't know that Darling Nicki was on it. And I felt that it was inappropriate for her and her 8 and 6 year old sisters to hear a song describing a girl masturbating in a hotel lobby with a magazine. I had no warning. In fact all I knew was the Prince was the new creative teen idol on the scene, and had just received a Grammy award."
Capitol Journal - Rating Rock and Roll
U.S. Senator James Exon (D-NE) confirming with Tipper Gore that no federal laws or regulations are being asked for. He then asks the Chairman what is the reason for these hearings to be in held in front of the Commerce Committee. Adult Caucasian men standing in the back of the hearing room; men seating in FG. Sen. John Danforth (R-MO): "I think the point is that there are problems that exist in the country that are not necessarily solved by legislation or by regulation. Fortunately, the be-all and end-all in the United States is not legislation that's enacted by Congress. I think the point of the hearings is to provide a forum for airing what a lot of people perceive as a real problem." Host Hodding Carter segues to history of rock obscenity issues.