Del Mar Fair blows off reggae
June 30, 2009 - 1:00 pm
Well, it looks like that harpie, Lisa Silverman, won the battle to ixnay reggae music at the Fair.
Reggae fans, musicians feel slighted by the fair.
Read my original article about her campaign to stop reggae, cuz of, you know, marijuana
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Last Blog On Earth 
“Boom bye bye [gun shot sounds]
Inna batty bwoy [gay boy] head
Rude bwoy no promote no nasty man
Dem haffi dead”
Homophobic songs like this one from Buju Banton offer a much more legitimate premise for banning some Reggae groups than consumption of a harmless herb. If the crusading Silverman really wants to save children she could start with the street kids who are kicked out by their parents after coming out. But these zealots never seem to be guided by concerns about real people so much as their abstract and dogmatic “morality.” I’m boycotting the Del Mar Fair for joining Silverman’s sorry crusade (along with all Buju Banton appearances.)
I’m not much of reggae fan, beyond the Marley and other top 40 stuff. Is this homophobic attitude rampant in roots reggae? Thems some pretty gnarly lyrics.
People stop being so sensitive if everything were the way some of you individuals want it you couldn’t even say a single cuss word, without someone getting offended. Pull your skirt up, and let freedom of speech ring.
Reggae music homophobic? “Boom Boom, Bye Bye” is one reggae song out of thousands. That’s like saying the genre of rock n’ roll is satanic because of the Iron Maiden song “Number of the Beast.” Reggae music is way too diverse to be classified, because of one artist.
Yeah, um, Randall, I did not SAY it was homophobic. I ASKED if it was – cuz I did not know. And I was only asking about roots reggae, the stuff they play in Jamaica that we don’t hear. Obviously the stuff we hear on the radio in the U.S. is not homophobic.
Don’t act like it can’t happen. It’s not like there isn’t a misogynistic streak in hard core rap.
And John, I don’t believe anybody in here suggested banning the song. We only criticized it, which is also free speech.
Chill out Ed – my comment was directed at Charlie Pratt, who stated “Homophobic songs like this one from Buju Banton offer a much more legitimate premise for banning some Reggae groups than consumption of a harmless herb.”
My point is, I don’t think reggae music or bands deserve a bad rep because of one song by Buju Banton. You catch my drift?
I don’t think any reggae group — or any group period — should be banned from performing. If you don’t like the music, don’t support the band. I hate the hell outta racist, homophobic groups like Skrewdriver — but I would never campaign to have them “banned” from performing either. Freedom of expression is a two-way street.