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III. Pop Culture Quotes: Scott Stapp, JaRule, Kelly Osbourne, David Bowie, Dave Matthews, IV. Lyrical Expressions: Dave Matthews Band and The Goo Goo Dolls

VI. Culture Links:

VII. “VCR/DVR Alert”

VIII. Walt Mueller’s “CQ” (Commentary/Quote)

IX. E-update & CPYU information

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports that nearly 3 million (13.7%) 12-17 year old youth thought about or attempted suicide in 2000. Females were twice as likely to contemplate suicide compared with their male counterparts (16% versus 8%, respectively).

In a study of 11,358 10-15 year old adolescents, researchers found a connection between weight concern and negative behaviors such as drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and binging/purging. Girls with weight concerns were 2.2 times more likely to smoke, 1.7 times more likely to get drunk, 2.6 times more likely to binge eat, and 3.8 times more likely to purge.

The World Almanac for Kids conducted a survey of 1,654 6-14 year old youth between August 2001 and February 2002 to find out who kids say are the most important people in the world. Some of the results:

1	President Bush	69.2%
2	Mom	25.6%
3	Dad	20.1%
5	Teacher	11.8%
6	God	9.4%
24	Jesus	2.2%

Despite slumping music industry sales (down 9% overall) the contemporary Christian and gospel music genres experienced an 18.2% rise in sales in the first half of 2002 as compared to 2001—from $19.8 million to $23.4 million. Mainstream market retailers accounted for 55% of total sales compared with 44% for Christian retailers.

According to Jupiter Media Metrix, as reported by USA Today on July 29, 2002, 2B, the top music sites are AOL Music with 16.6 million unique visitors, MTVi (6.0 million), Yahoo Music (5.0), MP3.com (4.0), MSN Music (3.0), Rolling Stone (2.0), and eMusic (0.4).

ESPN magazine commissioned a survey of 1,500 teenagers and adults in April and May 2002. Some of the results found in the August 5, 2002 edition:

According to Pollstar the Top 50 tours grossed $538 million between January 1 through June 30, which is up $30 million from 2001, but down $40 from 2000. The Top 50 tours average ticket price rose $4 to nearly $51, while ticket sales dropped to 10.6 million from 12.9 million in 2000. The Green Day / Blink-182 concert pairing ranks 7^th in earnings, but sold the most tickets (623,000) at an average price of $31.56.

As reported by PRNewswire, the 360 Youth/Harris Interactive College Explorer Outlook Study, conducted online in April 2002 of more than 6,000 18-30 year old college-aged adults, reveal that the 15.6 million college students spend nearly $200 billion annually. Other key findings:

· 91% of students went to the movies in the past year, spending an annual average of $887

Madison Direct Marketing, as reported by PRNewswire, conducted a survey of 290 households and found that parents who wanted to keep their children busy without parental supervision resorted to books (67%), television (63%), coloring (33%), playing outside (15%), and babysitting neighbors (5%). 45% of parents said their children watch 1-2 hours of TV per day, 35% watch 3+ hours per day, of which 9% watch 5+ hours per day. Favorite leisure activities of adult respondents: watch TV (84%), watch movies (44%), surf the Internet (71%), and exercise (29%).

The July 23, 2002 Gallup Tuesday Briefing reports the top 3 needs of teens in telephone interviews with 501 13-17 year old teens conducted in December 2000 through February 2001. The top need was the “need to be trusted” followed closely by the “need to be understood and loved” and the “need to feel safe and secure where I live and go to school”.

NEW MUSIC RESOURCE from CPYU’s Walt Mueller: A colorful 12 page resource titled, “How to use your HEAD to guard your HEART: a 3-D Guide to making responsible music choices”. Prices, including shipping and handling, are $3 each for 1-5 copies and $2 each for 6+ copies. To order, contact CPYU at 717-361-8429 (voice), 717-361-8964 (fax), or e-mail cpyuinfo@cpyu.org

Newsletter: “youthculture@today” is the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding’s quarterly 24-page newsletter that’s full of up-to-date information and in-depth analysis on today’s youth culture. Order now and we’ll send you a copy of our Summer 2002 newsletter featuring Pink and much more. Available for a donation of $15 a year, you can sign up by either calling CPYU on the phone (717-361-8429), or by using the downloadable order form found on our website at http://www.cpyu.org/ycorder.htm and faxing it to CPYU at 717-361-8964.

Website: Check out the CPYU website (www.cpyu.org). The site is loaded with all kinds of current information and analysis on today’s youth culture. You’ll find a searchable database of back issues of “youthculture @ today” an extensive bibliography, culture facts, a youth culture bulletin board, links to dozens of valuable youth culture oriented websites, a listing of CPYU resources, and much more. The site is constantly changing so be sure to visit often. A searchable “e-Update” archive is available at http://www.cpyu.org/bboard.htm

On-Line Discussion Group: Sign up for our youth culture e-mail discussion group at www.cpyu.org/bboard.htm With one e-mail, you will be able to share questions, comments, and answers with youthworkers, parents and educators from around the world.

“We cannot say this enough. We are not a ‘Christian band.’ We have no agenda to lead others to believe in our specific beliefs . . . Christians around the world distort the true meaning of what Christ said in the Bible – ‘Let’s just love everybody.’”

“(Parents) need to be involved in their kid's life in every way—what music they listen to, what parties they go to, who they're hanging out with. And then try to relate to them on their level—communicate with them. That way, if 15 kids are picking on him at school, but he knows he has a sanctuary at home, he won't want to pick up a gun and kill them all.”

- Creed’s lead singer Scott Stapp interviewed in the August 2-4, 2002 edition of USA Weekend

“Don't hang out in your old neighborhood with your new cars and flash it to guys who don't have that. The only thing you're doing is making 'em hate.”

“There’s a huge problem with kids being able to talk to their parents nowadays. I’d tell (my dad) anything . . . if he does ask me questions I don’t want to answer, I say I don’t want to talk about it. But usually there’s nothing I can’t talk to him about, except sex—I can’t talk to my dad about that!”

“I'm very shy. That's probably one of the reasons I got so heavily into drugs.”

“I was really picked on when I was quite little about being lefthanded . . . I remember very distinctly kids laughing at me because I would draw and write with my left hand, something like, ‘Ooh, you’re the devil.’”

- David Bowie quoted from Rolling Stone’s daily e-mail, July 16, 2002 and the August 8, 2002 issue of Rolling Stone, p. 30.

“I was what they call a joyful drunk. I’m much more charming with a buzz on than without it. But drinking started to get in the way of things that mattered. It encouraged an indifference in me.”

“I was brought up Catholic. Then I had a joint and looked at the world differently.”

“. . . I’m probably at my healthiest when I’m my thinnest, but I get so much flak for it, it’s just not worth it! I don’t want to be the girl who looks like that. We don’t openly make fun of someone when they weigh a lot, but we feel free to do it if they’re too skinny—either way it’s getting made fun of.”

- Volunteer fire chief Mark Zambanini’s response after 9 coal miners were rescued in Somerset, PA, Philadelphia Inquirer, July 29, 2002, A7.

Bartender, please fill my glass for me with the wine you gave Jesus that set him free
After three days in the ground, I'm on bended knees, I pray, Bartender, please
When I was young, I never think about it, Now I just can't get it out of my mind
I'm on bended knees, Father, please
If all this gold should steal my soul away
Oh, sweet mother of mine please redirect me if this gold
Bartender, you see, The wine that's drinking me
Came from the vine that strung Judas from the Devil's tree, It's roots deep, deep in the ground

(“It’s not the happiest idea in the world, thinking about dying and what your life means. And the Jesus thing is an impossible comparison: Can God come out of the sky, take the form of this bartender in front of me and save my life?” Dave Matthews speaking about the “Bartender” song from the August 8, 2002 issue of Rolling Stone, p. 50.)

Truth is a whisper and only a choice, Nobody hears above this noise
It’s always a risk when you try and believe, I know there's so much more than me
Yeah I got caught in the ruse of the world, It's just a promise no one ever keeps
And now it's changing while we sleep, and no one can see
You know all I am, Feel this moment in you, You know all I am
Can you teach me to believe in something
Sometimes you choke on the smell just to breathe
I need to question what I need, Rhythm of silence that beats through your mind
Still you forget what you deny, Yeah . . .
Who’s the one you answer to, Do you listen when he speaks, Or is everything for you
And do you find it hard to sleep, Or is it easy on your own
Will you ever find some peace, Before you're gone

“Truth is a whisper” by The Goo Goo Dolls from the “Gutterflower” album.

This Jose Cuervo tequila ad appeared on page 71 of the June 3, 2002 edition of Sports Illustrated. The ad pictures a gleeful guy lifting up and hugging a bikini clad girl with the tag line, “Pursue your daydreams.” In the bottom left corner it reads, “visit cuervo.com Drink responsibly”. Youth leaders could use this ad for a discussion of fantasy and lust, which when combined with alcohol—reduces inhibitions and impairs judgment—can lead to unhealthy and unholy pursuits.

A similar Cuervo ad (not shown here), which appeared on the back cover of the July 26, 2002 issue of Entertainment Weekly and page 61 of the June/July 2002 issue of Jane, shows a guy intensely kissing a girls’ cheek with the tag line, “Ready. Set. Let go.”

A cartoon style Miller Lite ad (not shown here), which appeared on page 97 of the July 8, 2002 issue of ESPN magazine, reads, “Turns Jim from accounting . . . into ‘JIMBO’ at a place called Miller time”.

This site offers lots of information on the Internet, as well as links and a free weekly newsletter.

Web-site devoted to Christian teens, featuring articles, advice, links, chat rooms, etc.

“A&E’s” Investigative Reports: Teen Gambling, is scheduled to air August 13, 7-8PM. Check local listings.

Seventeen magazine’s “Teen Choice Awards 2002” appears on FOX Monday, August 19, 8PM. Check local listings.

“Adolescence is a period of life spent at the crossroads. It’s a time marked by overwhelming change, numerous questions and a search for answers. But the crossroads where they stand are anything but quiet and desolate. Not sure which direction to take, our children and teens are presented with an abundance of confusing options. The noise can be deafening. Perhaps the signposts they choose to follow are the ones that are most attractive, loud and convincing in response to their unspoken teenage cry of, ‘Show me the way!’”.

- Walt Mueller from the Summer 2002 edition of CPYU’s quarterly newsletter “Youth Culture @ Today”, p. 1

The CPYU “Today’s Youth Culture E-Update” is a bi-weekly e-mail resource on relevant topics of interest for youthworkers, parents, and educators. The Center for Parent/Youth Understanding is a non-profit organization providing information and analysis on today’s rapidly changing youth culture. To contact us, write to Eupdate@cpyu.org or PO Box 414 Elizabethtown, PA 17022, or call 717-361-8429, or fax 717-361-8964.

“Browser Discretion Advisory”: CPYU does not necessarily endorse, support, or condone the organizations/sites for which we've provided you with links, nor does CPYU necessarily agree with the conclusions and/or recommendations of studies cited. Some are listed for informational and research purposes only as they are prevalent in youth culture today.

Edition #18: August 5, 2002

III. Pop Culture Quotes: Scott Stapp, JaRule, Kelly Osbourne, David Bowie, Dave Matthews, IV. Lyrical Expressions: Dave Matthews Band and The Goo Goo Dolls

VI. Culture Links:

VII. “VCR/DVR Alert”

VIII. Walt Mueller’s “CQ” (Commentary/Quote)

IX. E-update & CPYU information