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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