"Rock N' Roll Aint Noise Pollution!"

Parents always think that what their children listen to is "noise". Well, do you believe that in all honesty, or is it, you don't understand?

If your child likes a certain band, group, or performer, they will listen whenever they can and however, regardless to their parents rules. So here is an idea to better understand what they like and possibly, better your relationships.

Borrow their cd and load it into your cd player and grab some good headphones. Leave the volume lower so that you can hear yourself speak. The challenging part is to go online and search for the lyrics to each song (a great site for mostly metal, but has other great rock albums, is darklyrics.com). As the song is playing, read along the lyrics.

The point in this exercise is to understand what they hear. While you're reading along, you're not just going to hear what the artist is actually saying, you will feel it. Music is a very powerful tool in life. It's a very easy way to express feelings, thoughts, and take out stress without acts of violence.

Also, ask them what they like most about a certain song, or an entire cd. Than listen to the points they exclaim. That way, there is points at which you can fully grasp. What better way to connect to your children than to listen to their favorite artist or album.

Give them a chance to back their reasoning before you tell them what they can't listen to.

I personally have been lucky enough to have very understanding parents. They both have always let me listen to whatever it was in my cd player at a reasonable volume, but yet still loud enough to please my rebellious attitude. I would have to say, we can all learn something new through someone else's words and thoughts. There is always that one song or even lines that really touch you and make you think, "Man, this person really knows what he/she is talking about."

This mostly goes out to parents who have children who listen to metal. When I say metal, I'm talking more about all parts of the genre. If you actually take the time to read the lyrics and not just try to listen to what they're saying, you see that there is a message. It's not all about sex, drugs, and all those other stereotyped metal ideas. Open your minds a little and really get the picture.

Not only should parents take a look around, so should others who classify and try to put down others.

For anyone who has ever listened to a song whether it was rap, country, metal, or r&b, and felt a connection with the actual message, are you considered to be "emo"?

Well, we should all take a direct hit from everyone who has verbally or physically bashed someone for the music they listen to. No matter what genre we listen to, there was a reason why it was written that way and why you feel a certain way when you hear it. All music is written with emotion which in turn makes every person who listens to music classified by closed minded people to be "emo".

Everyone feels different things about the certain music they listen to and that's what makes it so important. When you feel the words make your heat pound faster and harder, and your stomach turns or fills with butterflies, that is emotion. No one should ever be given troubles for what they listen to when they understand something that is so powerful.

Give everyone a chance, like the one you were given.