Oasis...

Amanda Palmer has become quite a popular subject on this blog recently...


AFP is at odds with her label yet again. After the "Leeds United" video scandal her label is at it again. This time they have some help from the media outlets in the UK.
This is a direct quote from an e-mail sent to AFP from her label, Roadrunner Records.

"I just thought I'd let you know that we have been met by fierce opposition on the Oasis track. Which is disheartening, as combined with the video, we all felt it was a great promotional tool and track. All our TV outlets have refused to play the video due to it "making light of rape, religion and abortion". This is the audio as well as visual. Many of the stations... NME tv, Scuzz, kerrang, MTV, Q, the box... like the track, and even the video but are bound by strict broadcasting rules."

Seriously? When did the UK get so uptight? Does anyone remember these guys?
To be fair maybe I am overestimating the general public. Are we that sensitive? This is the video in question...

When I first saw this video a few months ago I appreciated the brilliant depiction of a teenage girl trivializing a traumatic event. I have seen it growing up and I am sure I am guilty of it at some point as well. I did not see someone making fun of rape and abortion I saw it for what it was...a caricature of reality. Amanda Palmer is a survivor herself so I doubt that she of all people would make light of a life changing event such as this. Most great comedy is borne of tragedy. When we laugh at Richard Pryor telling us about him lighting himself on fire while freebasing or killing his car are we insensitive to drug addiction or domestic disputes?
AFP herself has been responding to the "controversy" most recently on The Huffington Post . She also addressed it as only she could at The Electric Ballroom in London.
(I have to give a "shout out" to Marchingstars for the video. She takes great concert vids! Always HQ which as we all know is rare on Youtube.)



So what do you think? Is it wrong to use art as a way to discuss subversive issues or do we just need to listen to the godfathers of dark humor and look on the bright side?