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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Should some songs never be sung again?

363 replies

Atethehalloweenchocs · 31/01/2023 21:57

I was at a social event where there was various songs which we were singing along to. One of which was Delilah. Obviously the content is abhorrent, but its a banger of a tune, and something that loads of people know. The day after, found an old playlist with a bunch of Michael Jackson stuff on. AIBU to think it is ok to sing along to a song with a good tune even if the content or artist is problematic?

OP posts:
DontTouchMePlease · 31/01/2023 22:17

Gary Glitter -Leader of the gang.
sometimes it pops into my head and I find myself singing
”Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on..”
Then I remember he’s a filthy paedophile and his foot stomping tune from the 70’s, played at our primary school discos, isn’t one I should be singing.

Howeverdoyouneedme · 31/01/2023 22:22

I don’t like listening to Michael Jackson anymore, but I hear his stuff on the radio often.

Anyotherdude · 31/01/2023 22:23

I think that songs only shouldn’t be sung if the content was inappropriate - think “Young girl, get out of my mind” - not because of the fact that the original singer has since been found out to have been reprehensible. That’s because there are normally other people on the recording who might not have realised that the “Star/bandmate” was reprehensible, so you would be depriving them of their royalties. By all means deprive the offender from theirs, though!

Cuppasoupmonster · 31/01/2023 22:24

You can’t help an ear worm but I wouldn’t play it if it was lostprophets for example…

WestOfWestminster · 31/01/2023 22:25

Are we ruling out anything by Rolf Harris? No real loss there.

Notimeforaname · 31/01/2023 22:27

Yanbu. Of course it's ok to listen and sing along to whatever you want! It's not against the law to like music, doesn't matter who it's by.

TreePorcupine · 31/01/2023 22:29

It's certainly a challenge with particular songs which have 'historic merit' and which are now clearly old fashioned and contain lyrics are no longer socially acceptable. Many rock songs from 1970's and 1980's fall into this category (for example Whitesnake's Slide it In, Slow an' Easy, Love Hunter) are of dubious merit and frankly pretty pathetic in this day and age. They are plenty of other examples around as well.

I think songs like these and Delilah can be still be 'enjoyed' however as long as you understand that the lyrics are of their time and the irony of those circumstances.

Whether some of the more dubious lyrics in rap songs should still be entertained though is debatable IMO.

Some artists have have been exorcised by the media for very obvious reasons - Gary Glitter and Rolf Harris spring to mind. Kate Bush even replaced Rolf's contributions with those of her son on one of the re-releases of her albums (Aerial?).

You can say the same thing about any historic media - Carry On films, the Benny Hill tv show. We have clearly moved on for the better as social mores have changed but you can't deny history.

WetBandits · 31/01/2023 22:29

I was driving the other week and started humming a song because I’d seen a road sign or shop name that put it in my head, can’t remember what I’d seen but there I was humming away until I realised I was humming a fucking Lostprophets song 😬 instantly shut myself up!

PermanentTemporary · 31/01/2023 22:30

I think it's fine. We have to be able to separate the art from the artist imo, while not forgetting who they were either.

I don't enjoy listening to MJ's 'Pretty Young Thing' any more shite song anyway but he didn't write it; what it shows is how endemic the sexualisation of youth was and is in the music industry, rather than being a song about child abuse.

But I'll always enjoy throwing some shapes to Shake Your Body Down To the Ground. And I'll watch Polanski films and Woody Allen films if I choose. I have to say, I tend to find that I don't, any more, that I'd rather watch something else. But I don't want them banned.

MargotMoon · 31/01/2023 22:34

Whenever I see the band name 'Showaddywaddy' written down I say it in my head in Jimmy Savile's voice and find it funny. I can't help it but I know it's wrong

Ponoka7 · 31/01/2023 22:36

I agree with seperating the art. Bowie and the Stones had sex with 13 year olds while drink/drugs were flowing. But Polanski is vilified still. There's interesting articles on how racism played it's part in who was publicly condemned. Elvis had a thing for fourteen year olds.

SalmonEile · 31/01/2023 22:44

It’s tough one ,
in terms of Delilah there’s a song being played on my local radio station daily called Kill Bill and it’s about a woman killing her ex and his new girlfriend which I thought was fairly gross

when it comes to Michael Jackson so many of his songs are sampled or remixed in todays music you’d have to ban so much - i think because he was never found guilty (despite attempts) it’s up to the individual how they approach it. I was never a fan of his so it doesn’t affect me either way

I love Princes music but after reading about how he treated his wife over their baby son I’m not sure how I feel about him as person so again that would be a personal choice , I still enjoy his songs and the irony being I can listen to them on the internet which he would’ve hated :-/

Tinner01 · 31/01/2023 22:47

SalmonEile · 31/01/2023 22:44

It’s tough one ,
in terms of Delilah there’s a song being played on my local radio station daily called Kill Bill and it’s about a woman killing her ex and his new girlfriend which I thought was fairly gross

when it comes to Michael Jackson so many of his songs are sampled or remixed in todays music you’d have to ban so much - i think because he was never found guilty (despite attempts) it’s up to the individual how they approach it. I was never a fan of his so it doesn’t affect me either way

I love Princes music but after reading about how he treated his wife over their baby son I’m not sure how I feel about him as person so again that would be a personal choice , I still enjoy his songs and the irony being I can listen to them on the internet which he would’ve hated :-/

Just to say, Kill Bill is named after the Quentin Tarantino film (a classic I believe/ have never watched!) with the same name and plot.

PermanentTemporary · 31/01/2023 22:50

I will be honest, I do find myself starting to sing 'your letter is only the start of it' whrn I achieve something at work... luckily few people know any more what that song becomes, so I usually stop before I find myself singing Jim Fixed It For You 😬

OneEnchantedEvening · 31/01/2023 22:50

I would ban all gansta rap or whatever name the shite is known by. With its appalling references to women, killing and guns-it should never be heard, plus it's not music it's just shit.

StoneofDestiny · 31/01/2023 22:52

God save the King/Queen shouldn't be sung. A whole lot of nonsense that encourages subservience of citizens and reinforces the ridiculous role of royals

PermanentTemporary · 31/01/2023 22:53

There's the thing @OneEnchantedEvening i love quite a bit of quite hard core hip hop, everything about it including the vocals, but not the lyrics. Tbh I don't see why the rank homophobia is supposed to be ok either.

JustWantedACat · 31/01/2023 22:55

Well yabu with regards to Michael Jackson as was found not guilty to any charges brought against him. To tarnish him guilty regardless is a personal choice. In answer to your question yanbu as artist such as Gary glitter aren't songs you would want to enjoy.

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 31/01/2023 23:02

Ponoka7 · 31/01/2023 22:36

I agree with seperating the art. Bowie and the Stones had sex with 13 year olds while drink/drugs were flowing. But Polanski is vilified still. There's interesting articles on how racism played it's part in who was publicly condemned. Elvis had a thing for fourteen year olds.

I suspect today that many men would happily sexually abuse young teen girls, if they thought they could get away with it...

Like these men did...

Deathbyfluffy · 31/01/2023 23:02

StoneofDestiny · 31/01/2023 22:52

God save the King/Queen shouldn't be sung. A whole lot of nonsense that encourages subservience of citizens and reinforces the ridiculous role of royals

We’re talking about not singing songs etc for reasons that have merit - not one person’s crackpot views.

JeepersCreepersWheredYaGetThosePeepers · 31/01/2023 23:03

Two Little Boys by Rolf Harris

Thisbastardcomputer · 31/01/2023 23:06

Rod Stewart's, tonight's the night, truly disgusting

donquixotedelamancha · 31/01/2023 23:10

Should some songs never be sung again?

Barbie girl by Aqua

SalmonEile · 31/01/2023 23:13

Tinner01 · 31/01/2023 22:47

Just to say, Kill Bill is named after the Quentin Tarantino film (a classic I believe/ have never watched!) with the same name and plot.

Show quote history

I’ve seen kill bill many times (I was a bit of a ghoul in my youth ) it doesn’t really match up plot wise , the backing music is inspired though
I guess the singer could be singing it from Bills point of view as he wanted his ex killed …
off I go to the lyrics sites to do some research hehe

tothelefttotheleft · 31/01/2023 23:14

SalmonEile · 31/01/2023 22:44

It’s tough one ,
in terms of Delilah there’s a song being played on my local radio station daily called Kill Bill and it’s about a woman killing her ex and his new girlfriend which I thought was fairly gross

when it comes to Michael Jackson so many of his songs are sampled or remixed in todays music you’d have to ban so much - i think because he was never found guilty (despite attempts) it’s up to the individual how they approach it. I was never a fan of his so it doesn’t affect me either way

I love Princes music but after reading about how he treated his wife over their baby son I’m not sure how I feel about him as person so again that would be a personal choice , I still enjoy his songs and the irony being I can listen to them on the internet which he would’ve hated :-/

How did prince treat his wife after their child died?