Straight Pride parade on Eastern Parkway

jessebernardini · August 2008

Just when I thought this neighborhood could not get any more ridiculous, absurd and dumb, I find out that there is a straight pride parade. It's bad enough that people in front of me at the bodega hassle the cashier over It's actually kind of funny but at the same time very sad. I'm moving to Clinton Hill this weekend so maybe I will be able to find some intellectual refuge there but I doubt it.

sweet tea · August 2008

i'm not blaming the neighborhood for this one, fwiw. just the record company. now, if there turns out to be massive, enthusiastic turn-out, that would be another matter. but i'll believe it when i see it.

guvna · September 2008

Just from looking at those lyrics and reading this thread, it appears to me that many of you dont understand the lyrics. "Jah Jah gonna hit them hard" reflects that the author/performer is of the opinion that Jah-Jah (otherwise known as God) is going to 'handle' homosexuals. It simply does not encourage anyone to attack gays. Indeed, it says explicitly that is for God to handle.

Now, I wouldnt expect Gays to like those lyrics because the message is that God reserves special wrath for homosexuals. I wont get into scriptures here, but some think there is a biblical basis for this belief. That debate is for another thread.

For the purpose of this thread though, I just wanted to highlight that this song does not call for violence against gays. This is not a Buju or Shaba situation in that regard.

guvna · September 2008

jessebernardini wrote: Just when I thought this neighborhood could not get any more ridiculous, absurd and dumb, I find out that there is a straight pride parade. It's bad enough that people in front of me at the bodega hassle the cashier over It's actually kind of funny but at the same time very sad. I'm moving to Clinton Hill this weekend so maybe I will be able to find some intellectual refuge there but I doubt it.

welcome to the nabe. all kinds of people live here, so set your expectations accordingly

apollonia666 · September 2008

So according to this blogger, the parade didn't happen at all, though TCOOO sent out a press release two weeks ago saying it was still happening:

http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2008/08/straight-pride-parade-attendance-zero.html

drkman · September 2008

Guvna wrote: Just from looking at those lyrics and reading this thread, it appears to me that many of you dont understand the lyrics. "Jah Jah gonna hit them hard" reflects that the author/performer is of the opinion that Jah-Jah (otherwise known as God) is going to 'handle' homosexuals. It simply does not encourage anyone to attack gays. Indeed, it says explicitly that is for God to handle.

Now, I wouldnt expect Gays to like those lyrics because the message is that God reserves special wrath for homosexuals. I wont get into scriptures here, but some think there is a biblical basis for this belief. That debate is for another thread.

For the purpose of this thread though, I just wanted to highlight that this song does not call for violence against gays. This is not a Buju or Shaba situation in that regard.

Wow, thanks for the enlightenment. Since I am not Caribbean, I immediately jumped to the conclusion that this was like the Shaba situation. That was a fool hardy thing to do and I am embarrassed that I did not take the time out to understand. Thank you again.

sweet tea · September 2008

that is interesting, but what i find most interesting about the song is how it acts like taking up with men is something all men want to do and that you just shouldn't give into because it's bad for families. hilarious.

it's pretty funny to think that the main cause of single-mother households is formerly straight men finally giving in (and in such large numbers) to their natural urge to be gay.

carnivore · September 2008

sweet tea wrote: that is interesting, but what i find most interesting about the song is how it acts like taking up with men is something all men want to do and that you just shouldn't give into because it's bad for families. hilarious.

it's pretty funny to think that the main cause of single-mother households is formerly straight men finally giving in (and in such large numbers) to their natural urge to be gay.

LOL. PWNED!

jah · September 2008

sweet tea wrote: that is interesting, but what i find most interesting about the song is how it acts like taking up with men is something all men want to do and that you just shouldn't give into because it's bad for families. hilarious.

it's pretty funny to think that the main cause of single-mother households is formerly straight men finally giving in (and in such large numbers) to their natural urge to be gay.

I don't get any of this from the lyrics at all. Please elaborate or explain or whatever. You grasping at straws.

dinsdale · September 2008

Guvna wrote: Just from looking at those lyrics and reading this thread, it appears to me that many of you dont understand the lyrics. "Jah Jah gonna hit them hard" reflects that the author/performer is of the opinion that Jah-Jah (otherwise known as God) is going to 'handle' homosexuals. It simply does not encourage anyone to attack gays. Indeed, it says explicitly that is for God to handle.

Now, I wouldnt expect Gays to like those lyrics because the message is that God reserves special wrath for homosexuals. I wont get into scriptures here, but some think there is a biblical basis for this belief. That debate is for another thread.

For the purpose of this thread though, I just wanted to highlight that this song does not call for violence against gays. This is not a Buju or Shaba situation in that regard.

Thanks for the explanation; I had hoped there was at least some misunderstanding going on. Of course it's not completely comforting to now understand this as a reference to gays getting smote by the hand of the almighty, but honestly it is good to know it's not trying to directly incite listeners.

What does "thunder ball" mean in the context of the lyrics? I admit I jumped to the conclusion it meant bullet, but I could see it now literally meaning, like, a bolt of lightning? Do you think it's supposed to conjure both images?

guvna · September 2008

Dinsdale wrote: [quote=Guvna]Just from looking at those lyrics and reading this thread, it appears to me that many of you dont understand the lyrics. "Jah Jah gonna hit them hard" reflects that the author/performer is of the opinion that Jah-Jah (otherwise known as God) is going to 'handle' homosexuals. It simply does not encourage anyone to attack gays. Indeed, it says explicitly that is for God to handle.

Now, I wouldnt expect Gays to like those lyrics because the message is that God reserves special wrath for homosexuals. I wont get into scriptures here, but some think there is a biblical basis for this belief. That debate is for another thread.

For the purpose of this thread though, I just wanted to highlight that this song does not call for violence against gays. This is not a Buju or Shaba situation in that regard.

Thanks for the explanation; I had hoped there was at least some misunderstanding going on. Of course it's not completely comforting to now understand this as a reference to gays getting smote by the hand of the almighty, but honestly it is good to know it's not trying to directly incite listeners.

What does "thunder ball" mean in the context of the lyrics? I admit I jumped to the conclusion it meant bullet, but I could see it now literally meaning, like, a bolt of lightning? Do you think it's supposed to conjure both images?

I cannot say for sure, but my instinct tells me that it is literally referring to lightning. Capleton usually says "fire bun dem" to mean that God will send gays to burn in the flames of hell, but never (to my knowledge) incites people to set gays ablaze. I suspect this guy's approach is similar, given the context of the rest of his lyrics.

Dancehall reggae has long accepted anti-gay lyrics as part of the socal commentary to be found in its songs (see Johny Ringo's "Pass the paper, gimme the matches" from the ealry 1980's). I think what you are find ing now is that the music has become more mainstream, and people are starting to understand the patois. Remember, rastafarians, who still have a very strong influence on the music, are staunchly anti-gay. It is tied to their religious views. In many ways, the carribean community can be more conservative than the republicans on some issues. For rastas, this is one of those issues.

guvna · September 2008

sweet tea wrote: that is interesting, but what i find most interesting about the song is how it acts like taking up with men is something all men want to do and that you just shouldn't give into because it's bad for families. hilarious.

it's pretty funny to think that the main cause of single-mother households is formerly straight men finally giving in (and in such large numbers) to their natural urge to be gay.

Well, remember, not everyone is convinced that homosexuality is biological. Some believe there are choices being made, either consciously or subconsciously. Again, these people will likely point to the Bible for support. Songs that get you for something or against something generally sell well. Lets not forget we're talking about the music business here, trying to sell to a particular demographic.

Also, some cultures dont see single parent households as the end of the world. Indeed, many see males with multiple baby-momas as natural. He is just a ladies man, if you will. They may bitch about it sometimes, but in general it is somewhat 'normal' and in any case they would rather have single parent households than have homosexuals in their midst.

That may be harsh, but it gives context to the popularity of anti-gay lyrics in dancehall reggae over the years. A swith any music, this music is not created in isolation. It generally flows from the culture of the people who make it.

Straight Pride parade on Eastern Parkway

Comments

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories