You Can Please Some People Some Of The Time.........

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2840093/Backlash-patronising-Band-Aid-Latest-single-accused-continuing-negative-stereotypes-Africa-including-poverty-disease.html

Why bother Sir Bob, you know how some are so easily offended?

/// But the latest Band Aid single was yesterday branded ‘patronising’ by African academics and a rapper revealed he pulled out of the recording in protest. ///

/// Others criticised organisers Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure for undermining African singers who have released similar charity songs. ///

/// But Liberian academic Robtel Pauley, 32, who studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, said the lyrics are ‘incredibly patronising and problematic’. ///

/// She told Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘It paints the continent as unchanging and frozen in time. If you look at the revised lyrics, there are references to ‘them’ versus ‘us’. ///

/// ‘And the fact of the matter is, if you look at countries that have been most affected by Ebola, the vast majority of the population in Sierra Leone is Muslim, the vast majority of the population in Liberia is Muslim. Yes, we know it is Christmas, but not all of us celebrate Christmas.’ ///

[Old_Geezer]

One does what one thinks is right and isn't swayed by opinions one disagrees with.

Personally I've been 'band-aided out' for some time now. And 'children-in-needed out'. And all those annual 'must do and be enthusiastic about' events.

[sp1814]

???

[Svejk]

I'm no fan of Band-aid, etc, but when I heard that woman on R4 yesterday it struck me as biting the hand that feeds you.(literally, lol)

[Baldric]

For anyone bored enough to be interested in the Lyrics;

http://www.buzzfeed.com/floperry/here-are-the-lyrics-to-the-band-aid-30-single

[Svejk]

Actually, it's quite a tricky one, isn't it. She's entitled to her opinion, I suppose. But I doubt it's shared by her dying 'comrades' in Africa.

[ludwig]

// But the Boomtown Rats star, 63, responded furiously to his other critics. Appearing on Sky News he said their concerns were a ‘complete load of b*******’. //

Quite. I'm not sure exactly which word he used. I can think of two that fit perfectly.

[Old_Geezer]

Thanks for the link. I think the new lyrics are an improvement generally but, "the kiss of love can kill you", sounds a bit off. And I'm unsure, just because it's sing at Christmas time, the reference to that, is right, given that most of whom one tries to help doesn't celebrate that. Not that it really matters, it's just used as an excuse to gather money. I can't imagine most who buy it actually want to listen to it.

[anotheoldgit]

Old_Geezer

/// I think the new lyrics are an improvement generally but, "the kiss of love can kill you", ///

This could have a detrimental effect on the mistletoe trade.

[youngmafbog]

As you say, some will always be offended. I suspect they are trying to get some limelight for themselves.

Not that I am any fan of Geldoff and Ure.

[ludwig]

// Chitra Nagarajan, 31, a human rights activist from Nigeria, said she objected to ‘celebrities swooping in to “save” the people of Africa.’
She added: ‘It perpetuates stereotypes of conflict, poverty and disease as the single story of the continent.’ //

She should keep quiet, as what she's saying simply perpetuates a negative stereotype of human rights activists as condescending intellectual twits.

[joggerjayne]

// human rights activists ... condescending intellectual twits //

So true. So, so true.

[-Talbot-]

/// But Liberian academic Robtel Pauley, 32, who studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, said the lyrics are ‘incredibly patronising and problematic’. ///


Well it's a good job that way back in 1984 Nik Kershaw was only 3rd choice to write the lyrics.

[ludwig]

// Yes, we know it is Christmas, but not all of us celebrate Christmas. //

"Eid the wooo--ooorrld, let them know it's the end of the month of Ramadan"

Sorry, it just doesn't work as well.

[Svejk]

"Beat the wooommen
Let them know it's whip-lash time"

[Old_Geezer]

Well ludwig, I'm unsure the religious bit has to be part of the song at all. One can easily replay it with "giving time" or "fellowship time".

Or there's my personal favourite:

♫ Feed the world.
♪ Let them know it's dinner time.
♫ Feed the world.
....


Or come to that, we could just send them a letter letting them know.