FCKH8 posted on their twitter feed on the 9th of January, saying that Kidz Bop, who let's face it, have already committed a billion and one atrocities against music, are now also committing crimes against humanity too. Okay, that's a little dramatic.
Long story short: their cover of Lady Gaga's single Born This Way on their 157th BILLON album has censored lyrics, omitting words from the bridge of the song:
"Don't be drag, just be a queen
Whether you're broke or evergreen
You're black, white, beige, chola descent
You're Lebanese, you're orient"
Whether you're broke or evergreen
You're black, white, beige, chola descent
You're Lebanese, you're orient"
As well as:
"No matter gay, straight or bi
Lesbian, transgendered life
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born to survive
No matter black, white or beige
Chola or orient made
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born to be brave."
Lesbian, transgendered life
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born to survive
No matter black, white or beige
Chola or orient made
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born to be brave."
If you're feeling like you might need something to remind you that the world sucks, you can listen to the cover here.
Hooray, ignorance!
Here's the thing: I get it. I GET that the people who make this recycled pop music bullshit wanted to produce music that teachers and misguided parents could play their kids without conservatives getting up their asses about it. I get that kids don't need to be subject to social commentary and that omitting the lyrics was probably not Kidz Bop using it's phenomenal political influence to hate on the LGBT community.
But it's the PRINCIPAL of the thing, goddamn it. Heaven forbid a child inquire as to what transgender means. Heaven forbid in this day and age we expose them in the smallest of ways to equality and understanding. If people are uncomfortable with hearing a bunch of pre-pubescent ten year olds singing about "a different lover" and bisexuals, MAYBE, Kidz Bop, you just picked the WRONG song.
But REALLY: If you want to pick a song about self acceptance that pulls a couple of punches, do Firework by Katy Perry. Oh wait, you already did. These people multiply pop covers like rabid rabbits in the springtime. (Note: KB also has made fantastic song choices in covering LMFAO's Party Rock Anthem and Beyonce's Single Ladies. That's right first graders, put a fucking ring on it.)
Don't pick an anthem which Lady Gaga, an LGBT rights advocate herself SPECIFICALLY wrote to express love and empower people from literally ALL walks of life. That's a slap and a spit in the face if there ever was one.
You won't like her when she's angry.
I know this isn't the kind of thing that was about to turn humanity upside down, but it's the sort of thing that if left intact, could have been a score for the good guys. Well whatever. What can you expect from people who spell 'Kidz' with a fucking z?
Hooray, ignorance!
Here's the thing: I get it. I GET that the people who make this recycled pop music bullshit wanted to produce music that teachers and misguided parents could play their kids without conservatives getting up their asses about it. I get that kids don't need to be subject to social commentary and that omitting the lyrics was probably not Kidz Bop using it's phenomenal political influence to hate on the LGBT community.
But it's the PRINCIPAL of the thing, goddamn it. Heaven forbid a child inquire as to what transgender means. Heaven forbid in this day and age we expose them in the smallest of ways to equality and understanding. If people are uncomfortable with hearing a bunch of pre-pubescent ten year olds singing about "a different lover" and bisexuals, MAYBE, Kidz Bop, you just picked the WRONG song.
But REALLY: If you want to pick a song about self acceptance that pulls a couple of punches, do Firework by Katy Perry. Oh wait, you already did. These people multiply pop covers like rabid rabbits in the springtime. (Note: KB also has made fantastic song choices in covering LMFAO's Party Rock Anthem and Beyonce's Single Ladies. That's right first graders, put a fucking ring on it.)
Don't pick an anthem which Lady Gaga, an LGBT rights advocate herself SPECIFICALLY wrote to express love and empower people from literally ALL walks of life. That's a slap and a spit in the face if there ever was one.
You won't like her when she's angry.
My other beef with the song is that it's okay to keep the lyrics "believe capital H-I-M", obviously in reference to God. Again, not exactly controversial wildfire. But really, it's okay to teach kids about God and religion, another MONUMENTAL facet of human identity, but it's not okay to talk bout multiculturalism or transgender identification or different kinds of love? STUPID. It's not like these subjects are going away any time soon.
I know this isn't the kind of thing that was about to turn humanity upside down, but it's the sort of thing that if left intact, could have been a score for the good guys. Well whatever. What can you expect from people who spell 'Kidz' with a fucking z?
No way! why the hell did they even cover this in the first place? Oh Kidz Bop.
ReplyDelete