HAZIUS v. YO MAJESTY
July 8th 2009 00:49
Whether Sunday morning means a wake ‘n’ bake or a visit to a church, most people find the idea of mixing children with adult sexual behaviour offensive.
This attitude is embodied in our criminal laws and everyday values. Whilst liberal and relaxed in many respects, our western attitudes quickly become conservative when it comes to children – and for these reasons the combination of eroticism and children in a positive context is never shown in the media, film, television or music industry.
But all that changed this year when Yo Majesty released their video -“Don’t let go.”
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See the English video here
Rated MA by RAGE – ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Yo Majesty (American)
Don’t let Go (Domino) – filmed in the UK
Production Company: Academy Films
Director: Ali Taylor
Producer: Liz Kessler
Production Manager: Lucy Kelly
DoP: Catherine Derry
Editor: Darren Baldwin at Final Cut
Telecine: John Holloway at Soho Post
Commissioner: Bart McDonagh
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The pages of web links confirm the ‘adult’ context of the band:
DCist Interview: Yo! Majesty
… Say it with us now: sex-crazed lesbian Christian hip hop. That's what Yo! Majesty have been delivering for a decade, since Shunda K linked ...
The Outliers :: Music :: Philadelphia City Paper
… Yo Majesty is a rarity — they make raunchy lesbian Christian hip-hop. ... The lyrics are either defiantly hyper-sexual or speak lovingly of the Godly good. ... Every night, between rough, sexy songs like "Club Action" and "Kryptonite …
Los Angeles Music - Yo! Majesty …
… The duo — black, lesbian, Christian — flouts just about every social more one could imagine. ... Alternative Healing · Little Sexy Black Book · Digital Jukebox ...
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As do these examples of their song titles and lyrics:
Fucked up
Kryptonite pussy
Club action
(what?)
Get your xxx on the flo' nigga
(get yo xxx on the flo')
Club action
I said get yo xxx on the flo'!
Fuck that shit
Fuck that shit
Fuck that shit
Say xxxxx that shit"
Fuck that shit
Fuck that shit
Fuck that shit
Say xxxxx that shit", nigga!
Who's who among the one most wanted
Yo majesty, 'cuz so many niggas fronted
Instead of running from the truth
Man, just be you
I'm gonna be me
Call me juicy
I got ya crazy
Shun got ya crunk
And everybody drunk
It's your birthday month
And you on the run
It ain't no fun
So bounce when you hear this song you've waited for so long
For a nigga to feel how you feel
“ “ “
(Note: XXX = ?????)
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And yet the injection of children into one of their adult-themed videos has caused not a ripple in the music industry or anywhere at all.
Yo Majesty 'Don't Let Go' by Disco salon - Apr 17, 2009
Yo Majesty is a little less potty-mouthed than usual in 'Don't Let Go' and the video matches. It's a playful story in which our heroine visits beauty salons and gyms and dances like a disco stripper.
myspace.com/yomajesty4life
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Here’s what the video’s director, Ali Taylor said about it:
“Here's my latest video for the MAGNIFICENT American band Yo Majesty and their dancy number "Don't Let Go.”
. . . A lesbian, Christian rap band from Florida, I like them because they do what they love, and they don't give a Goddamn what anyone else thinks about it.
. . . The video was shot, without the band, in various locations around London using an all female cast and crew, and focuses on real people out on a Saturday afternoon. We filmed in places where ordinary women typically go: nail bars, hairdressers, a yoga class, a wedding shop and a women's art class. Although it was made on a shoes-string budget, it's been the video most representative of me as a director so far. It allowed me to shoot loads of things I've been dying to do for ages; nudity, latex, big bums, women having a laugh, Hackney streets, and for vanity's sake, a director cameo role. It's sort of rude in an innocent way.”
Posted by Ali Taylor at: taylorfilm.blogspot.com
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Not a word about the children, however – just ‘real people’ and ‘ordinary women.’ It’s as if children don’t exist in the video, or don’t play an important enough part to warrant a mention.
But when the video’s editing is analysed, it’s obvious that children DID play an important part in the video - as the stills and GIFs clearly show.
child OUT of focus .... to child IN focus
So …. whose idea was it to have children present in a video that is clearly for adults?
And then film the children in full-frame?
And then to edit in these full-frame children shots with adult erotic behaviour – in particular, the little dancing girl in yellow next to a rear-view closeup of Connee D bending over and spreading her legs?
. . . while at the same time that Jwl B is singing:
“Let’s spend the night
You’ll feel so right
I love your hair
I love your stare
The way you smell
Can we go there?
Can we go there?
Can we go THERE………?”)
Who decided to place the little girl sucking her thumb in the centre of the frame before panning to Connie shimmying her breasts?
To find out the answer to these questions and any comments they may have, an email has been sent to Yo Majesty (via Colleen Maloney – UK publicist), the video’s director - Ali Taylor, Producer - Liz Kessler at Academy Films, and to the editor - Darren Baldwin at Final Cut.
(Will post the questions and replies)
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CENSORSHIP
As censorship is meant to reflect society’s attitudes and values, it is surprising and disturbing to find that this video was permitted to be aired at all.
For where in normal society do you see an adult dancing erotically in front of children?
Strip clubs and ‘skimpy’ nights at the pub don’t involve children, as it is illegal.
Street dancing or public shows don’t involve erotic dancing, as that could violate municipal and perhaps criminal laws.
So what was the censor’s reasons/rationale/justificati ons for permitting this to be aired?
Many questions are raised . . .
For example, would the Rage (ABC) censor allow this clip if a ‘man’ danced erotically in front of small girls or boys?
What would the Australian or British police do if they saw a male or female dancing this way in a public place in front of small children?
What would you do?
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MUSIC FANS AND THE MUSIC INDUSTRY
Music is about pleasuring and growing the soul.
The Grates - Aw, yeah ....... Chairlift - Evident Utensil ....... Florence and the machine - Dog days are over
And upholding civil rights.
Bob Dylan - Hurricane
It’s about advocating the rights of women and loving life.
Deborah Conway - It's only the beginning
It’s about protesting against personal egos and war.
John Butler Trio - Something's gotta give ......... The Herd - 2020
And standing up to the Catholic Church.
ACDC - Let there be Rock
It’s about articulating the misery of under-privileged urban youth.
Smashing Pumpkins - 1979 X 2 ............................. .... Elbow - One Day like this
And the darkness of a tormented soul.
The Mess Hall - Rage Intro ....... Sleepwalking
It’s about sex, shock and gore.
Iggy Pop & Peaches - Kick it .............Peaches - Boys want to be her
And it’s about a rock lobster …
B-52s - Rock Lobster
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But is it about adult behaviour and young children?
Or is that something else?
Music artists and fans - please share your views.
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GAY AND LESBIAN COMMUNITY
As the ‘lesbian’ tag (along with ‘Christian’, ‘sexy’, ‘shocking’ etc), is constantly being used to describe Yo Majesty in their promotion, it’s relevant to bring this up.
What are your views? Do you feel the band (and their promotion) is exploiting being gay to arouse market interest and boost sales?
Are they advancing the ‘Gay’ causes of financial/legal equality, marriage, acceptance within society and parenting rights?
Or will this clip retard those causes?
What do you think?
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What does everyone think?
Please share your opinions.
(If you are a lawyer (particularly in the UK) a policeman/woman, a child advocate or an ABC CENSOR, it would be interesting to hear your views.)
In the coming days I will be contacting various media groups, government departments and non-government agencies to see what they have to say.
Thanks for reading . . .
hazius
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PS: As there are hundreds of links selling this music, here are a few protesting against it:
If you are an Australian citizen and object to this video, you can complain to the ABC here
If you have seen the video ONLINE in Australia, you can complain to ACMA here
If you are a British citizen and object to this video being aired on British television, you can complain to OFCOM here
If you are a British citizen and object to this video being broadcasted on-line in Britain, you can complain to the IWF here
(Note: If Australian citizens have seen this clip on other Oz channels, or if anyone has seen this video aired in countries other than Britain or Australia, please let us know.)
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LINKS TO ABOVE ARTISTS: Please support them.
The Mess Hall
Deborah Conway
The Grates
The John Butler Trio
ACDC
The Herd
Smashing Pumpkins
Billy Corgan
Elbow
Chairlift
Peaches
Iggy Pop
Florence and the Machine
B-52s
Bob Dylan
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Comment by hazius
home with hazius
On 28 Jun 2009, at 06:56, hazius wrote:
Dear Ms Kessler,
I am currently writing an article in protest to Yo Majesty’s use of children in their ‘Don’t let go’ video and would greatly appreciate your answers to the following questions:
1. Whose idea was it to include children in the video?
2. Whose idea was it to film the children in full-frame?
3. Whose idea was it in editing to place these full-frames of children immediately next to erotic scenes – in particular, the dancing girl in yellow next to the rear-view of Connie spread-legged and bending over?
4. Whose idea was to place the little girl sucking her thumb (in the street scene) in the centre of the frame before panning to Connie shimmying her breasts?
5. Whose idea was it to take the arms of the toddler in pink and encourage her to dance?
6. Were any of the children paid actors? If so, did their contracts specify that the video would include adult erotic behaviour? If not, were their parents/guardians informed of the same?
7. As Domino describe Don’t let go as a ‘live favourite with a strong message about soldiering on through adversity’, what is the relevance of children?
This article will be posted in a blog entitled "home with hazius" at www.orble.com/ within the next few days, together with your reply (if any).
I will email you the article’s link when posted.
Yours sincerely,
Hazius
PS. The above questions 1-7 will be sent to Ali Taylor, Domino, Yo Majesty, and question 3 to Darren Baldwin at Final Cut.
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Liz Kessler's reply:
Dear Hazius,
Thanks for writing to us and also for requesting a response which you are willing to publish.
The director, Ali Taylor, has written the notes below attached which she has requested you reproduce in full and I would like to echo that request.
If you would like any more information regarding the video, please feel free to write/call, my numbers are below.
I am sending this information from Ali separately to all the people that you are sending your questions to incase they would like to add anything, however, I hope you feel that she has responded fully.
Best wishes
Liz Kessler
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ALI TAYLOR'S REPSONSE:
Dear Hazius,
I hope this gives more insight. I would ask that if these answers are used on the blog then they should be used in full and not paraphrased.
I hope that this will allow your reader to form a balanced view and make up their own mind.
1) I think the question is interesting, however I think the phrasing "who's idea " etc is a bit leading because obviously the ideas in any film are those of the film makers, from the director through to the editor, camera person and producer. The band and label also have ideas, and so the film evolves and develops as a team effort. "Don't Let Go" is a comedy video NOT an erotic one. It is about the absurdity of a woman in a tight latex costume dancing in places where women hang out on a Saturday afternoon. Although we did not set out with the intention of having kids in the video they ended up being in it because their parents brought them to the locations and encouraged them to dance on the day.
There was a community feel to the shoot and the permission of parents was always obtained. The crew was all female, and the camera person and producer are both mothers with a good sense of what they themselves would consider appropriate when it comes to the portrayal of kids.
2) As handheld video the framing was incidental not planned.
3) I have not come across anyone yet who found the dancing in the video erotic. Most people find it funny and silly, as it's intended to be. I would consider it very strange if someone did find it erotic!
The video was based on the popular Jamaican dance the dutty wine, which in a lot of west indian families is performed in front of, and even with kids. It's not considered an erotic act, it's just a dance, a bit of fun and a display of agility and flexibility. Look it up on youtube and you will see that many of the people performing it are in fact under 18. Some dutty wine videos show kids performing it for their parents. All the parents of the kids in the video were present while the dance was being shot (including Connee's part), and they encouraged their children to dance alongside her. To the children she was just like a big doll, shiny and colourful, they loved her. Not one of the parents objected to the content of the scenes containing kids OR Connee's dancing in those scenes, which was all filmed in front of them.
Films often contain both non-erotic and erotic scenes. It is my belief that in the "Don't let Go" video there is only one scene which contains material that could be classes as sexy, and it is not a scene involving children. It is the tanning booth scene when Connee dances in front of a semi naked woman. I would be curious to know what rating that would get in a feature film, probably less than an 18. In my opinion it is innocent silliness.
4) The parents decided to let their kids watch and participate in the street scenes where Connee danced in a tight latex suit. The parents were free to say if they did not want their children to be filmed. We would have taken that very seriously and made sure they were not included. Most people thought the "breast jiggling" was just funny, not erotic. That was the case on the day and when people watched the film afterwards. It's a silly looking thing to do in the street, and the breasts were clothed at the time.
5) It was the parent of the child who held her arms while she danced with Cionnee in the nail bar. He decided spontaneously to do so because the little girl was dancing and enjoying herself.
6) The kids were not paid actors. The parents were present as stated above, and permission was given.
7) The video was supposed to reflect different aspects of a normal woman's life in an urban area. Going to a nail bar with your kid is something a lot of mothers would do. Conee's entrance is for comic effect NOT erotic titillation. Nobody found it erotic, that's why they are laughing in the video.
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Comment by Anonymous
Loved your article can't wait to read more.
Suzie from QLD
Comment by hazius
home with hazius
And yep, I found her letter ridiculous as well.
The video description on her homepage mentions 'real people' and 'ordinary women', and then in her letter it's suddenly "a Jamaican dance performed by a lot of West-Indian families in front of their children."
.....curious that she didn't mention that on her homepage when she was describing the video.
But it's still a ridiculous argument anyway as it's all about context.
I saw a doco last week where a tribe killed and ate a dog before a celebration/hunt? (forgotten) because they consider the dog to be a courageous animal (which of course they are) and they believe they will take-on some of that courage by eating it.
In context, like the Jamaican dance Ali tells us about, that's fine! It's a cultural thing that must be respected.
But you can't go killing and eating dogs in London, as that is not in context and would be a crime.
Yep, agree with you totally - shock value and perhaps not much thought put into it.
Hope you're enjoying that nice climate in QLD - it's brass monkey weather down here.
cheers
hazius
Comment by WHaaaaaaat!
And what's erotic anyway? Sexuality is part of your (human)being.
Is this serious?
Comment by hazius
home with hazius
So the private emails didn't work and now you're trying this tack?
Pathetic .....
For the rest of you, there's much happening behind the scenes here that will be revealed.
Comment by hazius
home with hazius
If you think bending over and spreading legs etc in front of small kids is no big deal, then how's this?
1. I will cease my campaign against you/those
involved and the video (in the UK).
AND
2. I will give you a genuine and comprehensive apology
on this blog
IF . . .
1. You can name ONE other music video - or movie/film (of any rating - including XXX) - or TV advertisement or TV program that has been shown/broadcasted in the West in a positive context, where adult erotic behaviour is combined/mixed/edited-in with toddlers and/or (young) girls in the same scene.
Definitions:
"Shown/Broadcasted" = Television, Cinema, commercial DVDs or videos.
"West" = USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand.
"Positive context" = happy, humerous, fun etc.
"Adult erotic behaviour" = Bending over and spreading legs, humping things or making 'humping' movements with pelvis, shimmying breasts, sticking out tongue for longer than one second and wiggling it - or anything to the equivalent.
If you can, I promise to do the above and will confine my campaign and comments to the Australian censors.
ONE music video or movie or television show in the West - ANY rating!
Comment by WHaaaaaaat!
But I think you are seeing intention here that isnt meant.
To me the woman shimmying in the video looks ridiculous, not sexy. The onlookers are cracking up because she looks so silly.
I think you'd have to be paranoid to attribute some deviant sexual context as you infer. Did you know that in Victorian England table legs had to covered to prevent salacious thoughts?
I'm still thinking you can't really be serious.
Comment by hazius
home with hazius
RE: Victorian table legs?? We're talking now, not in Victorian times. What's the relevance of that?
RE: "The onlookers are cracking up because she looks so silly."
No, not all of them are - and the fact that you're ignoring the ones that aren't show that you are biased in your arguments.
(Why would that be, I wonder?????)
Some ARE laughing and some ARE NOT.
The lady in the chair (the one getting Connie's arse in her face) actually shakes her head mouthing "No" before the next shot shows her laughing.
The young hairdresser shows her disapproval and doesn't laugh at all!
The shot with the young girl sucking her thumb (above) shows three men on the left who aren't laughing - the bloke on the very left actually looks pissed off.
But if I'm so paranoid and reading things in etc - then answer the challenge above:
Where have you seen an adult dancing like this/shaking their tits etc in front of kids, either in real life or on TV?
WHERE?????????
And if you can't answer that question, then you better ask yourself WHY you think this is
so normal and no big deal.
????
Comment by WHaaaaaaat!
If you invite comments - rtake them at face value. Ali Taylor has made a good explanation and doesn't need a fake commenter to pretend support.
The fact of never having seen this before does not contribute a SCRAP of evidence for anyything you are saying. It doesnt support your argument in any way.
Why dont you just go and get a sense of humour.
Comment by hazius
home with hazius
Does she need a sense of humour too?
And these men?
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You still haven't commented on the 'not all people are laughing' thing.
Instead, covering table legs . . .
which I got the first time . . .
You're trying to imply that I am a prude or paranoid, which infers that my 'prudishness' or 'paranoia ' is the result of me taking offense at children being mixed in with adult erotic behaviour.
( . . . which is why I didn't take your comments seriously.)
BTW - WHO and WHERE is the parent/guardian of this
little girl (who isn't laughing)?
She looks alone.
And again, WHY is she in centre shot?
Comment by WHaaaaaaat!