Is Merely Impersonating An Accent Racist?

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-29722860

[andy-hughes]

ludwig - "he'd taken it upon himself to unilaterally ban 'Relax' as a Radio 1 DJ, on the grounds that he personally found it offensive,..."

If memory serves, Mr Read simply elected not to play the record on his show, and advised the listening public of his choice, and the reason for it - which is not quite a 'unilateral ban'.

But fair play, he did look a tit for doing it!!!

[saintpeter48]

'Vot is your name' ...... 'Don't tell 'em Pike'!!!

[jomifl]

The next thing will be that speaking a foreign language is racist unless you can do it without a foreign accent. Ironically my French friends have been complimenting me on my improved French accent ie. lack of an English one so not everybody is offended.

[murraymints]

I think we are all getting a bit of pcitis....one has to learn to laugh at oneself now and then regardless of sex creed race age etc etc

[Slapshot]

^^^^ what Miss Whiplash said.... ;0) xx

[janbee]

andy, she's of german extraction !

[anotheoldgit]

Perhaps Chris Eubank should be arrested for his impersonations?

https://explore.bfi.org.uk/sites/explore.bfi.org.uk/files/styles/gallery_full/public/bfi_stills/bfi-00m-yas.jpg?itok=lJVFX2p5

http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/26/c5/6b/26c56beddc7266337e0e6409fccec1ff.jpg

Oh wait a minute, I think he has.

http://www.poppanet.com/afivertorubout/ChrisEubank.jpg

[ludwig]

andy - it did rather force the BBCs hand though, as he no doubt knew it would. At a time when he was supposed to be working to a playlist, they had to either insist that he stuck to it (and face their main DJ resigning), or ban it universally - which they duly did.

[murraymints]

and I can always wield the whip and send you to the naughty step if Idon`t like it !!! LOL

[jno]

so everyone's agreed that because it was okay in the 60s it's okay now because, hey, the world hasn't changed since Harold Wilson's day and we've just won the World Cup!

Right.

[andy-hughes]

ludwig - "andy - it did rather force the BBCs hand though, as he no doubt knew it would. At a time when he was supposed to be working to a playlist, they had to either insist that he stuck to it (and face their main DJ resigning), or ban it universally - which they duly did."

A fair point.

Although - The BBC has always denied that it ever 'bans' records, it simply elects not to play them - a distinction that merely covers their remit as a public service broadcaster, while instigating exactly the same effect - the absence of a record from the nation's airwaves.

As is the way of these things, the furore ensured that the single shot to the top of thc charts!

[murraymints]

I refer to my post at 13.35...we need to chillax a bit !

[woofgang]

I think, like a lot of other things, it depends on intent and content. I agree that its a bit rich singing a song that includes approval of tight border control in a jamaican accent!

[ludwig]

// As is the way of these things, the furore ensured that the single shot to the top of thc charts! //

We can only hope that doesn't happen with Ready's own dubious offering.

[anotheoldgit]

/// Conservative MP Nigel Evans added: "Why have they chosen a Jamaican calypso, which really represents a whole section of society they want to close the door to? ///

When was the last mass immigration from the Caribbean?

UKIP's policy is to close the idiotic open borders policy of the EU.

[Gromit]

Andy,
Read has requested that the song to be withdrawn, but it remains on iTunes and Google Play. If it does indeed chart, will the BBC play it?

[andy-hughes]

Gromit - "Andy,
Read has requested that the song to be withdrawn, but it remains on iTunes and Google Play. If it does indeed chart, will the BBC play it?"

Interesting.

I wonder if we can get one of these mischievious internet campaigns going - enough to get it into the charts?

What a wonderful idea!

In reality though, I've got more chance of an evening out with Alison King that Ready hitting the charts!

[anotheoldgit]

woofgang

/// I agree that its a bit rich singing a song that includes approval of tight border control in a jamaican accent! ///

Given that thinking, there could only be one accent that it would be allowed to be sung in, that being in English.

But what if it had been sung in English by a person of Caribbean decent who had been born in England, would they have to change their accent?

So it is really all down to the fact that it was all because it gave out the UKIP message, or simply because the singer was not black?

[anotheoldgit]

andy-hughes

/// In reality though, I've got more chance of an evening out with Alison King that Ready hitting the charts! ///

Oh dear Andy is that your dream, what would your lovely wife say about that?

[Peter Pedant]

yeah dat marn