Should some songs never be sung again?

[Atethehalloweenchocs]

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?

The one I can never listen to again is lostprophets and I do feel bad for the innocent other band members but it's his voice and his lyrics. I used to like them as well. I found their cd in my stuff and just threw it in the bin. Wouldn't even give it to a charity shop. Was surprised to see them on Spotify though. I also don't like listen to r Kelly going on about bumping and grinding 🤮

WAP. The Cardi B song is as gold digger as it gets

Glad the ABBA song was cleared up the lyrics are clear it’s one sided adoration and he’s telling her to go home

Re Lena Zavaroni, there were various child stars & they generally just sang adult songs didn't they? I'm thinking of Little Jimmy Osmond's Long-haired Lover from Liverpool aged 9 or 10. And The Jacksons' ABC wasn't really about the alphabet. Is it different on talent shows now? I don't think so.

I think what was sad about Lena Zavaroni is looking in retrospect. Her belief that she was ‘too fat’ and even saying she had to diet as she was ‘so fat they couldn’t get anything to fit’ for her to wear on stage. And then getting sicker and sicker and dying a young woman. Very sad. Many child stars all through history have been so mistreated. I don’t think her singing adult songs is necessarily the problem, more that maybe looking back it’s like she was singing these adult songs and being exposed to all these adult situations. So it’s sad watching her now and knowing what will happen in her future.

So many people who become famous in childhood are horribly exploited, have no privacy and have mental health issues in adulthood. You only have to look at the US Disney kids stars - sorry I don't know if that's the actual name - and going back to Judy Garland. Their childhoods should be protected instead they have no privacy and every "mistake" they make as they grow up is all over the media and social media. The developed world bans child labour and I really think children in showbusiness need far more protection than they currently get. That includes the press agreeing not to papp them or report on their private family lives. It should be fun for the children involved and not the money making business it is.

At the time I always thought Lena seemed like a nice kid (when she started out) and Bonnie Langford was the odd one. I think maybe the Violet Elizabeth thing sort of stuck to her. Then as they got older it was obvious that Lena had issues and Bonnie seemed fine. Maybe it was Lena being sent so far from home as a child that made her more vulnerable.

Oh, thought of another one which is really not ok, but that I loved and still like to sing along to - Human League - Dont you want me - that lyric - you better change it (your mind) back or we will both be sorry. Chilling when you stop and think about it. But a banging tune.

But don't forget it's me who put you where you are now
And I can put you back down too

Oh god, yes, @Chouetted - it is really a sinister song, and yet we belted it out without thinking twice!

I suspect one of Maurice Chevalier'songs doesn't get much air time these days.

I seems bizarre that it was ever acceptable.

In Don't You Want Me the woman does respond she'd have made it anyway without him. The video showed a spurned lover turned stalker though.

She does. And it ends with him asking "don't you want me", not doing anything sinister.

I don't think that song is encouraging or justifying stalker or threatening behaviour. It's just a story with characters and if anything, he's quite pathetic.

I also think it's really overrated.

Lena Zavaroni is a name I'd forgotten about. This article about her life is so very sad www.theguardian.com/music/2022/feb/26/lena-zavaroni-fame-anorexia-and-the-tragedy-of-a-1970s-child-star