Ahh, NME! You really are first for music news. Around an hour ago, it was announced that Bloc Party would be releasing their third album, entitled Intimacy, on MP3 format in 3 days time. Very short notice for a band, which had thought not long ago that the album would not be ready until next year. Here they are, providing us with a digital release 4 months before Christmas, and a CD release date penned in for October 21st.
I was ecstatic – and a wee bit miffed at the spontaneity of the declaration – about the news. However, it was whilst I was thumbing through a few other articles on NME’s website that I came across something more intriguing to the eye.
Avril Lavigne may be forced to cancel a booked concert in Malaysia if her dance moves are deemed to be “too sexy”.
Oh no, you haven't read that incorrectly. This is a significant possibility.
The whole concept is laughable. How on earth can you define “too sexy”? What is that? Sounds like something a virile young man would use in the middle of a cheesy chat-up line, standing around in a shady nightclub.
“Miss, I’m going to have to arrest you. You are too sexy!” I could never bring myself to use a thing so crass with the intention of picking a girl up in my life.
Naturally, any woman would huff whenever they heard such a thing; knowing full well it was a lame attempt to get into her underwear. Sadly for Avril Lavigne, she must take the comment 100% seriously, and know for once that the purpose is certainly not to do with anyone making sexual advances towards her. How can you listen to that comment without letting out a laugh of disbelief at the very least?
Apparently, according to the article, it isn’t the first time western female artists have run into difficulties trying to organise shows in Malaysia, a largely Muslim country. Conduct on stage is laid out by a set of strict guidelines: no visible skin between the chest and knees, no jumping or shouting, and minimal sexual contact on stage (no kissing or hugging or any sort). They absolutely must be abided by. Therein lies the confusion over the comment; if Avril Lavigne were to adhere to all of these rules, why should her show need to be scrapped?
I can understand some of the calls against Avril Lavigne’s traditional style; if they feel it wouldn’t be appropriate for people of their religion to see it, fine, they have basis for saying it shouldn’t be allowed to be shown then. But Lavigne must already know about the stringent policies in place, as her tour opens at the end of this month. What I am beset with anger about is the fact that the party (a youth wing at that) who wants to see the cancellation of the concert have made up an incongruous reason for it, and do not appear willing to compromise. They say that they don’t want their teenagers seeing it, as her performance could influence them? Excuse me? Teenagers aren’t all 5 years old! They don’t follow everything they see. The ones that do are a gigantic minority, since most teenagers can think and act for themselves. And anyway, why not let them make the decision whether they should be going to show or not? Most Muslims would surely decide not to attend if they thought it would be offensive to their faith once forewarned, right? They could at least seek some public opinion, because it clearly wouldn’t be fair to the fans. In reality, that wouldn’t have made any difference. If the public opinion polls don’t agree with what you want to do, you just ignore them. It happens over here in the UK too, and is nothing new. Why bother calling it a democracy when people are told what to think, eh?
Can’t Lavigne be asked to cut out the moves that are “too sexy” out of her routine? Was that suggested?
The Malaysian government has yet to decide whether or not to allow Lavigne to perform. Let’s hope they permit it.
A little bit extra:
Read the article in full...
http://www.nme.com/news/avril-lavigne/39032
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