Brothers, Sisters…We don’t need this fascist, sexist, homophobic groove thang

Hello folks.

A somewhat disturbing story that I read on NME which can be read in a little more detail over at AllHipHop.

The man in the picture at the top is called Trick Trick. Trick Trick is a collaborator of Eminem, and Trick Trick has some serious issues. The man is homophobic to his core. I am not going to reprint what he said here -with freedom of speech comes responsibility, and his views on homosexuality are just offensive, not just to those who define themselves as non-heterosexual but any right thinking person. He has said, quite bluntly, that he doens’t want homosexuals buying his album. Don’t worry, I don’t think many people will, hater, bigotry has to stop somewhere.

I’m encouraged by most of the comments on the NME and AllHipHop posts that I read, it’s clear that the majority of people think he’s a sick, sick man in a very bad way. It’s time that society confronted this sort of hatred full on. There is no excuse. Period.

Oh, and anyone who tries to excuse themselves by quoting this passage from the Bible can go away. Stop hiding your prejudice behind religious teachings that you have distorted to promote your hatred.

Society is changing, and hopefully, not just with Barack Obama’s election as President, but people do seem to be realising that standing out against sexism, racism and homophobia isn’t about political correctness, it’s to do with human respect. Mrs. 17 Seconds and I have quite a few gay and lesbian friends; in fact, some of them – gosh! shock! HORROR! -are Christians as well. It is, as they say, not about where you’re from, it’s where you’re at.

As a teacher, I find many young people are becoming more enlightened. The school where I teach does deal with homophobic incidents, though in the previous school there was amazement that I’d reported one girl for making homophobic remarks about another girl. There has been the somewhat disquieting rise in the use of the word gay meaning ‘stupid.’ As a fellow teacher said to one child: ‘What do you mean, that chair’s gay? Are you saying it wants to have sex with other chairs?!’ tee hee…

There’s an interesting list here about songs that speak out about homophobia.

Bronski Beat -‘Smalltown Boy.’ mp3

…and that video

Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy – ‘ The Language Of Violence.’ mp3 [BTW excellent piece on this band over at Teenage Kicks

…and that video

Senseless Things -‘Homophobic Asshole.’ mp3

Chumbawumba -‘Homophobia.’ mp3

…and yes, the video for this too

‘All that is needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.’ Edmund Burke.

Yet Another Festive Fifty-themed post

Here are ten songs today from the legendary Festive Fifty compiled by John Peel. As yesterday’s entry focused on the eighties, it seemed only fair to do the nineties today. Some of the records were obscure, but other artists went on to do massively well. Much like the eighties, in fact.

The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy -‘Television: The Drug Of The Nation.’ mp3 (1992 Festive Fifty No.38)

Dawn Of the Replicants -‘Science Fiction Freak.’ mp3 (1999 Festive Fifty No.29)

The Orb -‘The Box.’ mp3 (1996 Festive Fifty No.7)

The Fall -‘Bill Is Dead.’ mp3 (1990 Festive Fifty No.1)

Nirvana -‘Where Did You Sleep Last Night?’ mp3 (1994 Festive Fifty no.27)

Hefner -‘The Hymn For the Cigarettes.’ mp3 (1999 Festive Fifty no.2)

Orbital -‘Blue Room.’ mp3 (1992 Festive Fifty No. 20)

AC Acoustics -‘I Messiah Am Jailer.’ mp3 (1997 Festive Fifty no.19)*

Slowdive -‘Catch the Breeze.’ mp3 (1991 Festive Fifty No.20)

Paris Angels -‘All On You(Perfume).’ mp3 (1990 Festive Fifty no.6)

* OK, I’m aware that there were only thirty-one records in the chart that year due to restrictions on John Peel’s time. But you get the point, yes?

Seven Songs Selected At Random

(Roddy Frame of Aztec Camera)

These seven songs have indeed been selected at random!

Enjoy. And as always, if you like what you hear GO AND SUPPORT THE ARTISTS INVOLVED!!

Aztec Camera -‘Jump (Van Halen cover).’ mp3

Talking Heads -‘Memories Can’t Wait.’ mp3

Pretty Girls make Graves -‘This Is Our Emergency.’ mp3

Danger Mouse and Gemini -‘Ghetto Pop Life.’ mp3

The Fall -‘Spoilt Victorian Child.’ mp3

Goldie -‘Inner City Life.’ mp3

Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy -‘Television, The Drug Of the Nation.’ mp3

Happy Listening, wherever you may be…