[AS PUBLISHED IN MALAY MAIL]
BIZARRE.
Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) has banned hit singleDespacito from radio and TV airwaves.
That catchy Latin American song, which has become the most streamed song of all-time with 4.6 billion streams in six months, pulled from repeat.
The decision comes after Wanita Amanah arts and culture chairperson Atriza Umar raised the alarm on “sexually explicit lyrics” unfit for Eastern culture and Islam.
Lyric in question?
Let me breathe your neck slowly,
Let me undress you with kisses slowly,
Sign the walls of your labyrinth,
And make your whole body a manuscript.
— Luis Fonzi and Daddy Yankee in ‘Despacito’
This is the English translation.
But everyone knew the verse’s original meaning in Spanish anyway, right?
Seemingly the call was made on the song’s immense popularity.
Had RTM vetoed the track prior to it being played on the hour by local radio the situation would seem less of a farce.
Despacito has captured the rise of reggaeton genre, with origins in Puerto Rico that combines Latin and Caribbean music with hip hop influences.
Reggaeton songs are typically rooted in cultural and political subjects as opposed to sexually-charged themes.
But with fresh, seductive approach and a Justin Bieber remix, the song has become accessible to a worldwide audience.
Its unfounded popularity is cause for celebration, said Universal Music Group chief executive Lucian Grainge.
“Streaming has opened up the possibility of a song with a different beat, from a different culture and in a different language to become a juggernaut of success around the world,” he said.
RTM banning Despacito is dangerous fodder.
Are they prepared yank all pop hits on similar merit?
It’d be a question of how many songs survive the onslaught rather than face the chop.
Let’s revisit the charts and see which artistes need to clean up their act.
Verses this time don’t need to be translated.
Ed Sheeran — Shape Of You
I’m in love with the shape of you,
We push and pull like a magnet do.
Goodness!
Is that innocuous British singer-songwriter Sheeran singing about interacting with a woman’s body?
Last night you were in my room,
And now my bedsheets smell like you.
Sincerely hope this isn’t a reference to lovemaking, Ed.
The Chainsmokers — Closer
So, baby, pull me closer,
In the backseat of your Rover,
That I know you can’t afford,
Bite that tattoo on your shoulder.
Woah, woah, woah!
Stop right now.
A song about hooking up with your ex?
Turn that off, NOW!
Hailee Steinfeld — Starving
By the way, right away you do things to my body,
I didn’t know that I was starving ‘til I tasted you.
Come again?
Actually on second thoughts, don’t.
Kygo and Selena Gomez — It Ain’t Me
Who’s gonna rock you,
When the sun won’t let you sleep?
Excuse yourself Ms Gomez.
DNCE — Cake By The Ocean
“Working on the record, these Swedish producers we worked with kept confusing ‘sex on the beach’ with ‘cake by the ocean,’ so that’s how the song started,” said frontman Joe Jonas.
Sheesh. Coitus? On our sandy shores? No thank you.
Wait, what? They’re coming to Kuala Lumpur in three weeks?
Ellie Golding — Love Me Like You Do
On the edge of paradise,
Every inch of your skin is a holy grail I’ve got to find.
Only you can set my heart on fire, on fire,
I’ll let you set the pace,
Cause I’m not thinking straight.
Filth.
Zayn Malik — Pillowtalk
A place that is so pure, so dirty and raw,
In the bed all day, bed all day, bed all day.
Eek!
Just how long have these songs littered local radio?
Let’s take heed from Zayn, who used to be in that little cute One Direction boyband:
“Everybody has sex, and it’s something people want to hear about. It’s part of everybody’s life, a very BIG part of life!”
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