Time Isn't Wasted When You're Getting Wasted?

Asher Roth’s “I Love College” is a song about the American college experience and the singer’s passion for it. Despite being titled “I Love College” Roth does not sing about the holistic college experience. What Roth actually sings about is the binge drinking culture at American universities. Here we find the first potential danger of his song. If young listeners absorb Roth’s overall message, they may be misled into thinking that the entire college experience is encapsulated in drinking and partying. In this way, Roth’s song can be compared to alcohol advertisements that distort reality by presenting audiences solely with the “glamorous” side of drinking (Ridberg, Katz, & Kilbourne, 2004).

Time isn't wasted when you're getting wasted

Woke up today and all I could say is

That party last night was awfully crazy I wish we taped it

I danced my ass off and had this one girl completely naked

Drink my beer and smoke my weed

But my good friends is all I need

Pass out at three wake up at ten

Go out to eat then do it again

Here we see that “I Love College” does not touch on any of the consequences of binge drinking, but rather implies that hangovers can be slept off and the partying can continue. The same message is further enhanced by the accompanying music video that shows a wild fraternity party. Again, if viewers/ listeners are not familiar with the college experience they may be led to believe that Roth’s portrayal of one is accurate.

            Dangerous messages from Asher Roth’s “I Love College” are not limited to the topic of alcohol consumption but also venture into the realm of sexual health.

I can't tell you what I learned from school

But I could tell you a story or two

Um yea of course I learned some rules

Like don't pass out with your shoes on

And don't leave the house till the booze gone

And don't have sex if she’s too gone

When it comes to condoms put two on

The most concerning lyrics from this verse is the above, “when it comes to condoms put two on.” This practice is, of course, counterproductive to sexual health as the use of two condoms increases the chances that they will break and be rendered ineffective. However, it possible that many listeners are not aware of this. If media can spread positive sexual health education, I believe it can certainly do the opposite (Collins et al., 1121). Here we can only hope that listeners to Asher Roth’s “I Love College” also have another source of sex education.