To still enjoy songs that I know are politically incorrect?

[Thisismynewname123]

Sitting here watching MTV's Christmas hits. My favourite song is still Band Aid's Feed the World, despite knowing it's clearly ignorant and racist (or at best, no longer appropriate). Then next co es on Michael Jackson's Earth Song. I usually make an effort not to listen to MJ anyway, but I still love singing to his songs. Can you separate the musician from their life, or their message, or just enjoy listening to a song that is no longer politically appropriate?

Depends on what they did. A mild irritation for the artist is one thing. An artist committing a crime I find unacceptable then no, I won’t listen to them.

If we actively avoided every song/ movie associated with someone accused of a crime, we'd have nothing left to listen to.

I'm an atheist and yet I have a deep love of Xmas carols - the sounds etc. I listen but I don't sing them myself.
Ditto band aid. I remember It really starting to awaken people but now it seems obviously like Samaritans Purse shoe boxes.
I'm torn. Someone coming up with new lyrics would be good.

I won't listen to MJ. Presumably you wouldn't watch Jim'll Fix It now, it's no different.

I stop listening tbh

On a similar tangent, there’s a R Kelly house song that reminds me of my uni days. Lots of fond memories but I refuse to give his tracks views on Spotify so will always skip!

We were just talking about the band aid song. I am surprised it hasn’t been banned from radio cos some of the lyrics are pretty bad. I love the song but only the original, the remake was crap

I agree it depends. I also think feed the world is unfairly maligned as racist etc when it was done with such good intentions to help those in desperate need of help.

"it's clearly ignorant and racist"

You seriously think Bob Geldof and Midge Ure are racist?

I enjoy the Macc Lads. I like to think a lot of it is ironic, but who knows. Very un PC.

My favourite Christmas song is FairyTale of New York, I don't like some of the words in it but I still love it.

I was never a fan of Feed the World but I reckon it was worth it if it helped to feed the hungry, I assume it did.

@VeniVidiWeeWee no, I know they're not racist. But reading the lyrics now, it comes across as racist. Which is why I said no longer appropriate. I was surprised when MJ was played on MTV. I would never intentionally put him on these days, but I was cooking and it was my background noise and I couldn't help singing along. It made me feel guilty for enjoying the songs.

Can you take them (let's say Band Aid, rather than MJ) as a product if their time and still enjoy, a bit like a clearly sexist 50s movie that was also a product of it's time?

It's not a Christmas song, but I love The Knack's "My Sharona"
The rhythm is brilliant, but the words are pretty awful.

I’m not enjoying this recent slide into Puritanism whereby everything that doesn’t fit into society’s current norms must be erased from existence.

I don't understand why Feed The World is racist? I honestly thought it was a song about the suffering of those in famine and drought compared to those planning feasts and enjoying festivities.

Make your own lyrics up, that’s what I do as I can’t make out what they’re saying half the time.

@Thisismynewname123
why is feed the world racist and ignorant?

I can't listen to MJ but no issue with feed the world.

If "the song comes across as racist" then, by definition, the writers must be racist.

I heard a truly awful cover of Baby It’s Cold Outside recently, including a little repeated chorus of ‘you retain the right to say no’ at some point

The original may be problematic, but this was just joyless.

@TriflePudding

I’m not enjoying this recent slide into Puritanism whereby everything that doesn’t fit into society’s current norms must be erased from existence.

Same

How is feed the world in any way racist? Or even offensive really? I feel bad for those involved making it, they raised £8 mil for charity from it yet all anyone’s got to say is that the song is racist against the very people it helped...

@TriflePudding

I’m not enjoying this recent slide into Puritanism whereby everything that doesn’t fit into society’s current norms must be erased from existence.

Yes, this.

It's so bloody boring and clearly a puritanical attempt to virtue signal. I find it revolting, personally.

YANBU but the Wolfe Brigade are out in full force to virtue signal. I wonder how much money those people have raised for the poor? And what they do on a daily basis?