Saturday, October 30, 2004
Rehashed
I just noticed this piece by Mrbrown (?by a Today reader) about the evils of profane, raunchy songs and their potential detriment to society, the environment, and the fabric of reality itself.
I couldn't help but smile a little as I recalled hearing Alanis Morisette ask "are you thinking of me when you ...C her" (subtle censorship that, small insertion of silence. no discordant beep here, just white noise) as I was driving the other day. (You Oughta Know, Alanis Morisette)
I've been away a looong time. I'd forgotten that in our prudish virginal asian-ness we censored the horrific 'F' word here in Singaland. (But kids start shagging here at 12. mm.) Funny, that. I overheard two sixteen year olds standing at a traffic light today apparently discussing life in general. "Eh, Kan Ni Nah Beh Chao Ji Bai, Fuck You. No, Fuck YOU. no, FUCK you. etc"
bemused. Well, they're sure not learning it off the radio.
One thing that strikes me about swearing in Singapore is how venemously it's done. Over in good ol' England swearing's kinda jocular, your girlfriend must be a great shag, laugh laugh, fuck you mate, patpat on shoulder. Shove. Harder pat. Eventually it's the shoving seems to provoke the first punch, not the words. That and the 20 pints of Strongbow beforehand. But the swearing itself seems pretty innocuous. We used to swear a lot in casualty. Especially whenever the boys in green brought in a new patient with pseudo chest pain. (grooooan. will you wankers please go away...)
Over here, stone cold sober teenagers stand at traffic lights and fuck each other. Where is the decency I ask you.
Speaking of decency, while I'm precariously perched the proverbial Singalandic high horse (must empathise la. This virginal stuff is quite fun. hee hee.) I have to protest Celine Dion's latest beautiful boy song. Seriously, read the lyrics and tell me it doesn't sound just a little paedophilic to you :
I can hardly wait
To see you come of age
But I guess we'll both just have to be patient
Cause it's a long way to go,
eEeeeeeyer...
...cool.
snigger.
I couldn't help but smile a little as I recalled hearing Alanis Morisette ask "are you thinking of me when you ...C her" (subtle censorship that, small insertion of silence. no discordant beep here, just white noise) as I was driving the other day. (You Oughta Know, Alanis Morisette)
I've been away a looong time. I'd forgotten that in our prudish virginal asian-ness we censored the horrific 'F' word here in Singaland. (But kids start shagging here at 12. mm.) Funny, that. I overheard two sixteen year olds standing at a traffic light today apparently discussing life in general. "Eh, Kan Ni Nah Beh Chao Ji Bai, Fuck You. No, Fuck YOU. no, FUCK you. etc"
bemused. Well, they're sure not learning it off the radio.
One thing that strikes me about swearing in Singapore is how venemously it's done. Over in good ol' England swearing's kinda jocular, your girlfriend must be a great shag, laugh laugh, fuck you mate, patpat on shoulder. Shove. Harder pat. Eventually it's the shoving seems to provoke the first punch, not the words. That and the 20 pints of Strongbow beforehand. But the swearing itself seems pretty innocuous. We used to swear a lot in casualty. Especially whenever the boys in green brought in a new patient with pseudo chest pain. (grooooan. will you wankers please go away...)
Over here, stone cold sober teenagers stand at traffic lights and fuck each other. Where is the decency I ask you.
Speaking of decency, while I'm precariously perched the proverbial Singalandic high horse (must empathise la. This virginal stuff is quite fun. hee hee.) I have to protest Celine Dion's latest beautiful boy song. Seriously, read the lyrics and tell me it doesn't sound just a little paedophilic to you :
I can hardly wait
To see you come of age
But I guess we'll both just have to be patient
Cause it's a long way to go,
eEeeeeeyer...
...cool.
snigger.
