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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why this song is still ok to play on the radio

463 replies

CoedynSbageti · 14/01/2018 12:57

Jealous Guy

Written and performed by a man who admitted he was violent towards women.

Just that really.

OP posts:
mrsharrison · 15/01/2018 19:29

The Jealous Guy song does reveal why he is jealous.
"I was feeling insecure, you might not love me anymore".
That's a universal emotion that women also experience.
How he hurts her isn't clear so there's no proof the song is about dv.
Only when you know Lennon's history of dv do you put two and two together.

mrsharrison · 15/01/2018 19:29

The Jealous Guy song does reveal why he is jealous.
"I was feeling insecure, you might not love me anymore".
That's a universal emotion that women also experience.
How he hurts her isn't clear so there's no proof the song is about dv.
Only when you know Lennon's history of dv do you put two and two together.

Alibobbob · 15/01/2018 19:47

Thanks Cantucciniamaretto and mrsharrison I haven’t changed my view and you both confirm - thank you.

I don’t remember ever hearing the JL original just the Roxy Music version (now an ear worm)...

..... Tootles off .... humming Jealous Guy

KnightofWands · 15/01/2018 19:52

YABU

CaptainKirkssparetupee · 15/01/2018 19:52

Ali This is the original, the one with the apology to Paul at the end m.youtube.com/watch?v=lOzqg1Z8rTU

jade9390 · 15/01/2018 19:57

You rarely hear his version on the Radio as The Roxy Music version is more popular. 'Every breathe you take' is about a stalker . These songs mean different things to others, have been used for weddings so are open to interpretation as they mean different things to others. As long as we do not play things like Gary Glitter who was convicted and would receive royalties. Practically everything from the past would now be banned in these pc times

Toadinthehole · 15/01/2018 19:59

TheGoldenBowl

I've read MOV and seen it performed a number of times. And that's my view of Shylock: a caricature that serves a role (greed, as it happens; the anti-Semitism is a by-product).

TheGoldenBowl · 15/01/2018 20:06

cantuccini

You're very rude, aren't you? I can imagine why you're so against "political correctness."

But to return to the point, what do you mean when you say we've thought ? What, you've thought about every possible lyric and decided they're ALL fine, forever? Because that's what you're arguing if you're disagreeing with me here, because all I'm suggesting is that it's imperative that we think critically and continue to do so. Not specifically about the Lennon song ffs! It's not just about that - it's the principle of possibly finding some pop lyrics unacceptable. But you've done all the thinking, apparently, and everything, EVERYTHING is fine. Thank God for you!

TheGoldenBowl · 15/01/2018 20:12

Jeez. Calm down Elton

Ok, do you realise you compared wanting to erase the objectification of women with accepting fascism Grin

Do you know what, on this particular issue, I do think we should, in a civilised world, be sort of on the same page. But, you know, if you think it's fine that 50% of the population are regularly epresented as objects in popular culture, then just come out and say it! Then at least you're participating in an honest conversation!

witcheshats · 15/01/2018 20:19

What apology to Paul? The mugging at the end is addressed to Phil Spector and it's not 'the original' video as many of the clips are from 10 years after the song was recorded. Of course it isn't addressed to Paul Confused.

TheGoldenBowl · 15/01/2018 20:20

but you seem to be crashing on through ignoring the conversation other people are having

What? Are you angry that, instead of focusing solely on the lyrics of Jealous Guy (which I don't really think is that bad), I'm discussing the whole concept of whether we should judge lyrics and/or object to some of them? Why does that make you so angry? You know I don't have yo reply to each and every poster. I'm most interested in challenging the posters (like you, for example) who seem to fly into a rage if anyone ever suggests feeling uncomfortable about anything. It turns into a frenzy of screaming "snowflake" at everyone. It's weird.

CaptainKirkssparetupee · 15/01/2018 20:22

witcheshats
Oops

diodati · 15/01/2018 20:38

I’m so bored with all this militant PC nonsense.

TheFirstMrsDV · 15/01/2018 20:41

Don't be so silly

TheGoldenBowl · 15/01/2018 20:48

I'm bored of people who think PC is actually an insult.

Personally I don't have a huge problem with Jealous Guy, but I have a big problem with the knee-jerk reaction that has pervaded this thread- that urgency to shut down all discussion and insist that all songs/art are automatically fine otherwise you're a snowflake. Grow up.

Contrary to what Elton keeps shouting, I don't need everyone to agree with me about each and every judgement. But I would love to feel that it's ok to express disquiet and to try to articulate why, even if it's a mild disquiet over a fairly mainstream song - without being belittled. Fat chance on here.

cantucciniamaretto · 15/01/2018 20:52

you're telling other people to calm down? You're frothing so much I'm surprised you can type!

So your only point is that people should think about things? Thanks so much, it had never occurred to any of us to think about things before you came along to help us!

Hmm
ladyriverdee · 15/01/2018 21:02

Worst of all is ‘Every breath you take’. Stalkers’ anthem!

ladyriverdee · 15/01/2018 21:02

Worst of all is ‘Every breath you take’. Stalkers’ anthem!

smilingontheinside · 15/01/2018 21:03

Imo everything is becoming too pc! The one that made me laugh out loud was someone at work saying "baby it's cold outside" (at Christmas)as it could be viewed as adage rape song. Ffs it's a song, lots of them have meanings, lots of them are written to show the feelings of the writer at the time. There are many men violent towards women as there are many women violent towards men (that rarely gets mentioned though??). I can't wait to get old I'm going to go round singing and saying whatever I like and they can blame it on my age. Or is that ageist??? I prefer the Brian Ferry version anyway Wink

Confrontayshunme · 15/01/2018 21:06

Every time radio stations play anything by Chris Brown, I tweet them a photo of Rihanna's face. Never gotten a reply and they still play his music.

Alibobbob · 15/01/2018 21:19

Thanks Captain. I can’t watch it at the mo as putting kids to bed. I have googled as to why an apology to Paul and it appears Lennon to McCartney the song was about his jealousy of him, but then it says elsewhere that it’s seems to be an apology to a lot of people... Cynthia, Stuart Sutcliffe, Brian Epstein, Yoko the list goes on.

It is quite interesting.

I am deliberately not commenting on anything else in this thread....

SuspiciouslyMinded · 15/01/2018 21:19

One of the worst songs is In the Summertime, with the line:

Alibobbob · 15/01/2018 21:19

*told

SuspiciouslyMinded · 15/01/2018 21:20

.... sorry posted too early:

If her daddy's rich take her out for a meal
If her daddy's poor just do what you feel

Urgh!

But it’s freedom of speech and artistic expression I guess.

pisacake · 15/01/2018 21:23

"If her daddy's rich take her out for a meal
If her daddy's poor just do what you feel"

Isn't that just 'poor girls are cheaper dates'? Or have I missed something?