tegs07

I don’t find it confusing at all. If something inspires you and gives your life meaning go for it. If you are doing it with sincerity I don’t think it’s anybody else’s business to judge. I always got the impression George Harrison was profoundly moved by his experiences in India and had a genuine love for the country and the music. He did things his way. The only way to do things.

How far do we take this though? Are people who meditate, practice yoga or become buddhist guilty of cultural appropriation? Are Indian cricketers that enjoy a nice cup of tea and a crisp ironed shirt and brogues culturally appropriating. How about Bangalore call centre workers in Nike TNs, baseball caps and Jay Z T Shirts? How about if they form a rap group?

Indeed. Not that any of it matters. He was just Bob Marley. One of the greatest songwriters ever.

OK so the criteria is a middle class person can only get involved if the end result is good? So does that include Siouxsie and the Banshees? Would Abel be open to abuse if the words were clumsy and who gets to judge what art is good or not anyway? Edit: My take on this is just be sensitive to the subject matter. If Eric Clapton had covered I shot the Sheriff in a fake Jamaican accent it would have been parody. As it was IMO it was neither offensive nor anywhere near as good as the original.

Just as well the Ukrainian jewish heritage Abel Meeropol had no such qualms or it would never have been written.

Meanwhile whilst we’re all distracted Musk and his cronies steal our future.

This all boils down to respect and sensitivity. If a performer resorts to parody then they will only embarrass themselves and potentially offend others. Ben Kingsley is a Quaker and is neither a Jain or a Hindu but most would agree he did a pretty decent performance as Ghandi. He was also great in Sexy Beast with Ray Winston. Ray Winston as Ghandi however would be parody.

Well the Nazis appropriating the Swastika and turning something beautiful into something ugly and depraved kind of makes any usage of it (transposed or otherwise) in very poor taste. When certain objects have been imbued with meaning and could cause offence then I would suggest no don’t do it. However if you like the style and feel of a sari or have a passion for country music I don’t see why anyone whether they are born and raised in Delhi or Texas should be shamed for wearing a sari or a stetson, or both no matter what gender they identify as.

From Alan Lomax protesting electricity at Newport folk festival, Santana fusing Latin rhythms with rock, Cream taking the blues to a new level, British SKA, Northern Soul, Heavy metal in Delhi, Katmandu and Tokyo. Cultural Appropriation, dilution, desecration or just art? I am all for culture NOT being either sacred or static. That’s the death of creativity. I don’t think Dylan should have apologised to Lomax or Cream apologised or Santana etc. I think George Harrison had as much right to pick up a Sitar as any young lad in Delhi has to wear cowboy boots and sing country music and if working class white lads in Wigan have a passion for US Soul music and are inspired to dance please do.

I honestly find these type of people to be idiots that would only be getting annoyed by something else when they were drunk. The Corrs are hardly a traditional band playing rebel songs but mixing folk with pop. I guess Phil Lynott should never have picked up an electric guitar either and introduced that American rock sound and diluted the purity of the gaelic music.

All I would say is it’s up to you. Personally I am glad that the ancient Greeks didn’t pass upon the rich culture of ancient Byzantium and later Greek scholars took the rich cultural and intellectual heritage to Italy and the renaissance men absorbed and learned from this and passed the knowledge and culture on to … etc etc I do think culture is an incredibly valuable thing and should be shared. If a 52 year old white man can get across the message and emotion of Public Enemy then I see no reason why not. Perhaps Terry Hall should have just done the culturally appropriate thing and become a plumber? Edit: When I spent time in India I met a Harley Davidson biker ‘gang ‘ (mainly wealthy businessmen) dressed according and a line dancing club. All wore full regalia. Were they taking the piss or just people with a shared interest and passion spending time together and enjoying themselves?

Oppressive governments using coercion and violence against their own people. Working class and oppressed people being used by the military to further their own agenda. Feels like fairly universal concerns to me. I think this song is as relevant to the victims of ICE, the residents of Gaza, the people of Kiev, the immigrants detained in hotels facing a howling mob as it is to the people of Nigeria in the 1970s. To me it’s a universal message that echoes our common humanity and sense of injustice.

And then mixed with country and folk music. Bloody cultural appropriation. Edit: I would also trace the blues back further to Mali and the roots even further back. People have travelled and traded, migrated and integrated for milenia. There are so many cross overs and parallels in religion, folk stories, music etc. Culture is not a static or exclusive concept IMO.

It’s a pretty upbeat song unless It’s another one I am unaware of. If Fela Kuti wanted folk to sit around and mope it would have been a different tune altogether. I also doubt he released it hoping it would only be appreciated and played by and to a very limited audience who could fully appreciate and embrace its cultural context. Its a tune and a damned good one.

Personally I feel culture is something to be shared and celebrated by everyone. I think if you are celebrating and sharing culture it’s not appropriating it but absorbing it, being influenced by it and changing your mindset and behaviour because of it. It’s a positive not a negative thing. Appealing to soldiers not to blindly follow orders, which I think this song is about, is as relevant to any culture or race and no more so than in the current world situation.