hijacking thwarted

[mitchfit]

from the mitchfit unabashed dictionary of american slang:

PC -acronym- Politically Correct. a new field of study in archaeology that specializes
in viewing the past only in how it does or doesn't comply with recent societal trends.

here in the US, The Very Superior Court in and of the Great State of Insanity decides
on the matter of PC vs Music. Court Docket number OU812.

the court has ruled Music guilty in the counts of:

"Running Bear" by Johnny Preston-- clearly cultural appropriation.

"Speedy Gonzales" by Pat Boone- overt racism.

"Old King" by Niel Young- serial animal abuse.

"Yankee Doodle" by Tray Ditional- aggravated xenophobia.

"For Me and My Gal" by E. Ray Goetz, George W Meyer and Edgar Leslie- gender assignment.

"The Troublemaker" by Willie Nelson- glorification of anti-Semitic violence.

in an age of condemning old songs with their possible modern translations, will future wannabe song writers be dissuaded?

A COMPLETELY UNRELATED STORY---

my Mother once told me that when itself was a kid, she could always keep me from getting into trouble by singing "Bimbo" by Jim Reeves.

[such a derogatory song title, today]

detractors may claim the only time mistakes didn't happen was when the little boy was sleeping.

then my Mother continued, the little mitchy would immediately stop courting disaster in order to start dancing to the catchy tune of that silly song. seems like it was written specifically for the pleasure of children.

calamity avoided.

at some point as a pre-teen, the self-consciousness monster overwhelmed the little boy. people who were dancing the crazy gyrations of The Twist on TV all looked very silly. even comical.

today, dancing isn't even in my vocabulary anymore.






mitchfit

[Michael Messer]

Mitchfit, You make a good point, but I do believe it would be wrong not to accept that things do change and when they do it is often for good reason. I absolutely loved Running Bear when I was a child, but listening to it today makes me want to hide under the table, it is nothing short of embarrassing. Listening to Bimbo, as bouncy and lovely as the overall sound is with its Nashville A team doing their stuff, makes me pleased that times have changed and that a lyric like that is no longer acceptable.

A great discussion as long as we keep it musical.

Shine On
Michael

[bonzo]

I'm not going down that road! Songs can only be judged in their time surely. Our elders and betters in the fifties controlled all music on the radio and songs like the ones being discussed were played as 'novelty' songs on Saturday morning children's shows. It was the only concession the BBC made so that us oiks could hear a bit of American music. Of course tastes change, just look back at old photos where we're wearing things we wouldn't be seen dead in, but like the music under discussion were fun and part of our lives!
I could go on, but to those of a certain age who'll know what I mean I'll just finish with 'thank god for radio 📻 Luxembourg!

Best wishes to you all, John

[Pickers Ditch]

My only comment on this thread...

We always heard this played on BFN childrens show in the early '60s.
We knew all the words and sang them with gusto strolling down the street and no one batted an eyelid.



For song lyric clarification see: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ag_Pleez_Deddy


...and Taylors Wiki: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Taylor_(singer)

Try playing this at a pub gig in Camden today and see what happens.

[ricks]

well, I guess that takes care of about 50% of prewar blues/pop - & a big chunk of my repertoire..

[richclough]

One day perhaps I'll record a video of my 'Phallic Symbol' song, complete with gestures. Have only ever done it live once, drunk, to a wonderful mixture of applause and horror...

[Michael Messer]

This is a subject that is impossible to keep to musical content and therefore we should probably let it rest. However, no matter what context it is used in and from which period in history, the "N" word is and was always extremely offensive.

The only reason I am not deleting it from the forum, which I am struggling with, is because I am not a believer in censorship and it was posted to demonstrate a point.

Shine On
Michael

[mitchfit]

it is more than likely that all of my snide remarks made about those old songs border on slander. i can't read the writer's minds.

if i could, i would have retired from my job at a poker table in las vegas at the ripe old age of 21 1/2 years.

if i have no personal insight as to their intent when composing, what special ability does a would-be lyric content controller have?

even if all the absurd inferences i made were true, i have no right or duty to run their lives to begin with.

if, like a mere mortal i make mistakes running my life, i wouldn't be fit to run theirs either.

that's basically the whole point here.

all we can do is continue to point out the foolishness to others until we are all heard in four part harmony.


agree that MM should put a lid on this before it gets completely sideways.

thanks for your indulgence.
mitchfit




If you look at your reflection in the bottom of a well,
What you see is only on the surface.
When you try to see the meaning, hidden underneath,
The measure of the depth can be deceiving.
The bottom has a rocky reputation

You can feel it in the distance the deeper down you stare.
From up above it's hard to see, but you know it when you're there.
On the bottom words are shallow.
On the surface talk is cheap.
You can only judge the distance by the company you keep
In the eyes of the Confessor.

In the eyes of the Confessor,
There's no place you can hide.
You can't hide from the eyes (of the Confessor)
Don't you even try.
In the eyes of the Confessor
You can't tell a lie,
You cannot tell a lie (to the Confessor)
Strip you down to size,
Naked as the day that you were born,
Naked as the day that you were born.

Take all the trauma, drama, comments,
The guilt and doubt and shame
The "what ifs" and "if onlys"
The shackles and the chains
The violence and aggression,
The pettiness and scorn,
The jealousy and hatred,
The tempest and discord,
AND GIVE IT UP!