Listening to music with questionable lyrics... in foreign languages. Morally permissable?

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A few days ago I was enjoying a rendition of “La Donna è Mobile” from Luciano Pavarotti and found it to be quite catchy. This inspired me, of all things, to go look up the English translation of the song… and eh… while it’s not as bad as most songs nowadays, it’s definitely questionable in some verses, and rather degrading of women.
Woman is flighty
Like a feather in the wind,
She changes her voice — and her mind.
Always sweet,
Pretty face,
In tears or in laughter, — she is always lying.
Always miserable
Is he who trusts her,
He who confides in her — his unwary heart!
Yet one never feels
Fully happy
Who on that bosom — does not drink love!
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Granted, all I hear when I listen to the song is this:
La donna è mobile
Qual piuma al vento,
Muta d’accento — e di pensiero.
Sempre un amabile,
Leggiadro viso,
In pianto o in riso, — è menzognero.
È sempre misero
Chi a lei s’affida,
Chi le confida — mal cauto il cuore!
Pur mai non sentesi
Felice appieno
Chi su quel seno — non liba amore!
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I’m just about completely clueless when it comes to Italian, bar a phrase or two, so I’m not really “hearing” the objectionable lyrics. But I guess now that I’ve read the lyrics several times over, I know what the song is saying.

I guess my question is, would it be morally permissible to listen to morally objectionable songs, such as this one, that are sung in a language that you can’t understand?
 
JChapel said:
A few days ago I was enjoying a rendition of “La Donna è Mobile” from Luciano Pavarotti and found it to be quite catchy. This inspired me, of all things, to go look up the English translation of the song… and eh… while it’s not as bad as most songs nowadays, it’s definitely questionable in some verses, and rather degrading of women.

Granted, all I hear when I listen to the song is this:

I’m just about completely clueless when it comes to Italian, bar a phrase or two, so I’m not really “hearing” the objectionable lyrics. But I guess now that I’ve read the lyrics several times over, I know what the song is saying.

I guess my question is, would it be morally permissible to listen to morally objectionable songs, such as this one, that are sung in a language that you can’t understand?
Click to expand...
eh!eh!eh!
You did not know what La dona e mobile meant?
Beautiful song and beautiful lyrics !!!
A few days ago, many women were saying here that they were not reliable depending on the hormones.
In the old times, they did not know about hormones.
They knew women were so unreliable but…so lovely…
In Italian, the verses sound beautiful…In English, it is rude…
What is wrong with that?
 
JChapel said:
A few days ago I was enjoying a rendition of “La Donna è Mobile” from Luciano Pavarotti and found it to be quite catchy. This inspired me, of all things, to go look up the English translation of the song… and eh… while it’s not as bad as most songs nowadays, it’s definitely questionable in some verses, and rather degrading of women.
Click to expand...
We if La Donna è Mobile had an English title it might be: “My wife left me and all I got was the dog”.

The lyrics of La Donna è Mobile might not be favorable with regard to women, but in all honesty, they are a bit tame when you consider some of the music that’s out there today.

If you were listening to modern rap music in Italian (and considering how degrading THAT type of music is with respect to women) that might be a different story.
 
Then no one better compose a song utilizing Sirach 25:13-26 as the lyrics. 😛

The question to ask yourself is “Does listening to this lead me to sin?”

If you listen to the song and it makes you think that women are evil and/or not worthy of respect, then you should not listen to it.

If you listen to this song every day and it slowly inculcates you with the belief that women are inferior, then you should not listen to it.

But if you listen to it and you simply hear the musings of a man who is grappling to articulate his observed experience, then you’re probably just fine.
 
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