Karaoke Forums

One time I wanted to sing "You Don't Have to Call Me Darlin," and I sure didn't want to try immitating the spoken interlude.  So I get this idea that I might find the true origin of the song and tell a little different story.  Well, I found out the true history of that song.  Unfortunately I found out Mr. Coe is an outspoken racist (or at least he was).  I'm not one for censorship, though I do appreciate political correctness.  I just wonder if his songs are really appropriate for Karaoke, where unknowing people sing his songs.  It is embarrasing to me.  And I feel sorry for the people singing his songs when they don't even know that David Allen Coe hates them.

:-David

What songs ARE appropriate - let's ask that question?  Most of the RAP songs & ALOT of the current R&B/Pop/Hard Rock songs of today I wouldn't consider appropriate for karaoke, but unfortunately - many of these songs are what is hot right now.  Times have changed & you either adapt, or die - like it or not.  

Anyone remember when a great song DIDN'T have to have a bunch of F words in it?  Now it seems that no one even pays attention unless it does.

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there are so many foul songs out there... from rap to country, rock to pop.

also, once you start down the censorship route, when do you stop? at what point is something acceptable? it's so personal.

I personally find Eminem to be massively distasteful, but it's in my books.

1.  Political correctness IS censorship.  The first amendment was written to protect unpopular speech, and stupid speech is right in there with it.  I always say that if stupidity were a crime we'd REALLY have a prison crowding problem in this country!

2.  Obviously you haven't heard any of the David Allan Coe "blue" material from the albums "Nothing Sacred" and "Underground".  You shouldn't go looking for them either.  If "You never even called me" bothers you, his blue stuff would make your PC head explode!  

3.  David Allan Coe is a Racist.  Michael Jackson likes little boys.  Cat Stevens embraces what some would call radical Islamic tenets.  James Brown does drugs.  Oh Wait...so did the Beatles and the Rolling Stones and Willy Nelson and Elvis and Metallica and The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Waylon Jennings and Hank Williams Jr and Kurt Cobain and on and on and on...Once you start pulling music based on moral judgmentsas to whether you feel the artist is "APPROPRIATE" or not, you are on the way to having no music at all.  See point 1.

HOWEVER,

As a KJ, if there is music that you want to exclude from your songbooks, I don't really have a problem with that either.  After all it IS your business to run as you see fit.  If you omit that sort of music, I can either live with it or go to a show that has it.  It's kinda like getting pi$$ed off at McDonalds because they don't sell hot dogs.

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Spreading the karaoke gospel

Yeah I guess there is no law that protects people from their own ignorance (like people who sing songs and don't know the artist's social views).

If there were a law like that, and I pressed charges against myself, I'd be a lot better off today :)

:-David

see, I could care LESS what an artist stands for politically, personally, socially, or even professionally. My favorite writer in the world refuses to argue politics with his common fans, only with those that he's come to "trust" will he debate us... he calls me his "token republican" cause he knows it gets under my skin! !

But I've heard talk radio where the artist guest was ambushed on the air by the interviewer... it was shocking to hear... as the interviewer had professed a staunch love for the artist and what she stood for. However, her politcs were diametrically opposed to the artist, and they clashed. The interviewer was in my opinion stupid, but she did make a valid point. "I guess you should never meet your idols"... because when you do, you see the real them, and not what you have come to love about them.

I will NEVER listen seriously to artists that feel that they have the right to influence me personally. I say "you have the right to entertain me... not educate me." Unless the artist is a politician, they are just a normal citizen, and are not really any more informed than you are, unless they've been traveling in the circles that have inside information.

I thought it was hysterical when Linda Rondstadt made a politcal statement at her concert, and a riot happened... then she had the gall to whine that she should have the right to her opinion.

I feel she has that right, but NOT the right to do that statement when she's entertaining the crowd. She wants to voice her opinion on politics... then she can hold a press conference, write a letter to an editor, be interviewed, whatever.

It disgusts me when people use their celebrity status to try to influence war or politics in general. Until they do a "Fred Thompson" who went on to become a senator... they just SHOULDN'T have the right to preach to us just because people are enamored with them.

Matt

"I will NEVER listen seriously to artists that feel that they have the right to influence me personally. I say "you have the right to entertain me... not educate me."

Matt, if you don't mind me calling you Matt, you have struck at the heart of why I can't stand love songs :)

:-David

I totally agree with that statement Matt, but would like to add something. Nobody on this earth is an angel, and before tossing the baby out with the bathwater about other people, you should at least look at yourself. We all have little (or big) quirks, and don't think that people living in glass houses should be throwing stones. This, dave-sinatra, is not a reflection on you as person, but on every-one in the world. Only he without sin can have something to say about others.

Another thing, political correctness!!!!!!!!!  What a load of B/S. just because of political correctness we are not allowed to speak our true minds anymore. Society has brought this upon us, and we just have to learn how to live with it. It makes me sick, but then again, I have $40 in my pocket and a grudge, so why not just sue some one!

Allstar,
 I refuse to debate anything with you as long as you speak so disrespectfully.

:no: David

all-star's not being disrespectful, Dave. Not at All. Tony and I are old friends... and he's made a valid point. But the point he made is also mine.

I will not judge others... that's not my place in the world, the way it appears to be for so many. Only a higher power has the right to judge. I am neither qualified to be that, nor would I want it even if I was! ! To take it on a Christian basis "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone!"

All I'm saying is that I won't listen to political stances made by anybody other than in politics. That includes celebs. I also won't really judge the Michael Jacksons of the world, nor the O.J. Simpsons. I wasn't there when these events happened, nor was i in the courthouses when the evidence was submitted. We're only getting SOME of the info from the press - that which the editors feel is "newsworthy".

Trouble with that is, it's so incomplete!

I also will not give political positions on anything unless I directly am involved!

As for David Allan Coe being a racist.  You better check out some of the other older Southern Country singers........you might find you wouldn't have much left in your books from this era.  Hank Williams Jr's "If The South Woulda Won" also labeled him as a racist.  Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard are also more that have not been very popular in the racist category.   Unfortunately racism was a way a life here for many years.  It's gotten much better now but it does still exist.  

But I can't imagine not doing someone's song because you don't like their political views.  I may not do a song because I don't like the lyrics but if I like the song......I don't give a crap who did it.  It sure doesn't mean that I believe in everything they believe in because I sing one of their songs...I just won't sing the song that offends me.

Edit:   Oh and I forgot to mention Charlie Daniels!  Strong Views!!!

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SAY IT WITH MUSIC!!!!

Just as recently as the Dixie Chicks making their little statement about the president a couple years back.  No worse than half of the recording artists of all genres have said in the past, present or future - yet they were banned by many stations for awhile & even some karaoke companies pulled their songs.  
I'm sorry, that's dumb.  If you pulled the songs just because of political views, you wouldn't have much of a music selection left - and that's a fact!

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I don't care if entertainers do 'sound bite politics' but it better not be at a venue I am paying them to entertian me.

Feel free to make comments on the red carpet at the grammy's, to issue press releases with your views, etc.  But don't force feed them to me unless the entire venue is about the view - think 'rock the vote'.

There are some entertainers that have become synonymous with their causes...

Think about PETA and the NRA.  Entertainers are head spokespeople for those groups that have strong views.  I don't have a problem with entertainers heading those organizations any more than I have an issue with Ted Nugent discussing his views on hunting.  They don't do it at concerts or other venues where they 'entertain'.

When an entertainer leaves the entertainment business and opts to become an active part of the government then more power to them.  We've seen this time and time again - Sonny Bono, Clint Eastwood, Arnold Swartzeneger, Jello Biafra (former lead singer for the Dead Kennedy's), etc.  These are people that became politicians and activist first, and entertainers second.  More power to them.

As for 'strong views' - Charley Pride's albums were released without his picture on the cover for a long time to keep anyone from knowing he was - gasp - black and singing country/western music.  Charlie Daniels has very strong views on patriotism and he's been hassled for it.  U2 is known for singing about political issues as are a number of other bands.  David Allen Coe, and many other of the country artists mentioned were raised in a time before segregation.  They have views based on how they grew up and were rasied - even into adulthood.  They can't change those views overnight and the songs that were mentioned were largely written in a time when it was 'acceptable'.  Yes, times change, but condemming an artist based on political views is ludacris; especially when those views were expressed in music many, many years ago.  I might not buy an album for my personal use because I don't like the artists' views, but I won't eliminate them from karaoke library for it.  Some people agree with the views, some people just like the music, some people could care less.  I won't sacrifice my business because some entertainer can't keep their mouth shut.  I love the quote, "You can remain silent and have them think you a fool or open your mouth and remove all doubt".  Many 'stars' have done just that.

No matter where you live you are likely to experience racism or prejudice in one form or another.  I grew up in the 'South' - born in Valdosta, Ga. (Vidalia onions, yummy!) raised outside Pensacola, Fla. less than 1/2 mile from the Alabama border.  Spent 6 years in Orlando, and another 6 in Huntsville, Alabama.  I've seen racism of all sorts.  PC is BS, but PC'ing against racial slurs is fine.  In other words, there are some ways of expressing yourself that are meant to create anger, hatred, and resentment and should be avoided.  But 'weight-challenged', 'calorically-challenged' are bupkiss.  I'm overweight.  I might even be called - gasp - 'fat'.  Tell it like it is.  Putting a pretty label on it doesn't make it any better than it is, which is all PCness is trying to do.  BTW, "I'm fat but you're ugly and I can diet is another favorite of mine."  Er, I mean, 'I'm calorically challenged and your charisma impaired but I can reduce my body mass."  Just isn't the same....

BTW, I seem to remember some of the Baldwins saying they'd leave the country if someone got elected.  I'm still waiting for them to move!  Not to mention a number of other artists making 'ultimatums'.... we're waiting for them to follow through... If Nelson Mandella can go to jail for years for his views the least they can do is follow through on their threats!

I can't believe you missed the biggest entertainer to politician - Ronald Reagan.

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And politician to entertainer....Bill Clinton!   OLOL

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If you can't have fun...why bother?

DAC is a racist, there is no doubt about it.

He insults me and all Americans with many of his songs.

Still, I do sing "You never Even Called Me By My Name" cause it sells beer and drinks....The patrons haven't heard his other songs or they would throw their bottles and glasses at me.

I've met DAC in person. He is a filthy, unkept person....He really is...He stank....He  smelled of body odor and alcohol..I told him he stank...He replied, "XXXX You!" Then he got on stage and sang racist songs.....People cheered cause he had a big name....But out in the parking lot, they all said he sucked.


DAC does suck and he and his band deals with it everywhere they go.

most of DAC's songs are "unknown"... unless you listen to them all. The "n" word is promiment in them, as is the hate behind his message!

massive racist! Whooo Boy! Funny, but sick!

Never Mind.........Found some of this stuff ya'll are talking about!

This is some pretty old stuff of DAC.

But I will add that DAC has many songs that I think are good ones.  I can't really put him down for what his views were back then because here in the south we all grew up in that way during those years.  Times have changed and so has most people's views.  Racism comes from both sides.......If you don't believe me...come live in Memphis.

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SAY IT WITH MUSIC!!!!

"My Wife Ran Off With A "N""
""N"hatin' Me"
""N"Fu**er"
""N" Hatin' Me"

These were just a couple that I found on an Amazon search for DAC songs.

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