Enemies of Reason Poundshop potshots at the media moral maze.

‘Thoughtless’ – or not, maybe

As ever, I feel I need to set my stall out early on with this one. I've found myself in recent times finding sympathy for such horrendous turds as Chris Moyles and Russell Brand, when they were the victim of pathetic attacks from the hysterical non-journalist cunts at the Mail. I may not like those people, but that doesn't mean I agree with slagging them off for irrelevant reasons or whipping up the usual lying frenzy against them. And so it is today, with their latest target: Dido.

Don't get me wrong, she's shit. I think she's dreadful. It's like a sound version of one of those awful women's books you get with bright magenta covers. I'd rather listen to someone dying in a hospice. It's appalling. Crap music, crap words, crap everything, then with an extra sprinkling of dogshit on the top to make it even crapper. Abysmal wank that any right-minded person should surely destroy in a vast bonfire before pissing on the embers. But that's just my view. As ever, I appear to be in the minority; everyone in the entire world appears to have a copy of No Angel or Life for Rent - even my own father (although nothing was a surprise after that dark afternoon when I found a copy of I've Been Expecting You by Bobby Billions in his CD rack. That was a low.)

So anyway, what's the talent-free fool gone and done?

'Thoughtless' Dido criticised over IRA rebel song on new album

Hmm, as ever with the Mail you have to peel away the layers. She's been 'criticised' because the Mail - or whoever they've lifted the story from almost wholesale, given that it's by 'Mail on Sunday reporter' rather than a bylined journo - have found someone to criticise her. Person of Irish descent in 'releases song containing some stuff about Ireland' shocker! I mean, is it a surprise? Is it a problem?

As one of pop music’s golden girls, she has amassed a £10million fortune from her catchy yet inoffensive songs.

Got to stop you there, they fucking offend me.

But one of the tracks on Dido’s latest album takes a surprisingly political twist, and is likely to upset some fans.

Well, obviously. I imagine those Dido fans in bowler hats with orange sashes, at a guess. But isn't that kind of the point about political songs - to make a point of view that isn't going to be loved by everyone? Maybe that's why she did it, to try and escape the 'bland' label? Or maybe she really believed in what she was saying, and rather than being 'thoughtless' it was actually rather thoughtful?

The singer, whose late father was of Irish descent, has included in it a verse from a Republican protest song once banned by the BBC.

Banned by the evil BBC communist bastards... but then doesn't that make it a good thing... but it's about the Irish scum... so therefore... aaaargh! *Mail brain pops*

The lines borrowed by Dido include: ‘Armoured cars and tanks and guns, Came to take away our sons, But every man must stand behind, The men behind the wire.’

Well the meaning seems pretty straightforward and unambiguous, doesn't it? Apparently it's referring to internment in the 1970s, where suspects were held without charge for alleged terror offences - sound familiar? Maybe there's another layer of meaning there, and maybe rather than standing up for terrorists and bombers, Dido is standing up for victims of a police state? Although using a Republican anthem, if indeed it is one, would appear to be a pretty powerful statement.

Gregory Campbell, MP for East Londonderry and Minister for Sports, Arts and Leisure in the Belfast devolved government, said: ‘Given her Irish roots, it is inconceivable that she doesn’t know the background of the wording.

Well, however much of a shitstick I think Dido is, I reckon she understands the meaning of 'armoured cars and tanks and guns...' - no? That's Gregory Campbell of the DUP, if you hadn't guessed. What offends Gregory Campbell may not offend everyone. Surely even those who would be offended just wouldn't buy the woman's records?

Campbell again:

'She should clarify her position so that her fans and the wider public knows where she stands on these things.’

Why? It seems fairly obvious, doesn't it? If she'd come out with a song on the other side of a polarised community, that would have pissed the other people off. As opposed to pissing me off by simply existing, which is what she does most of the time.

Readers add their views, and as you'll see the Mail's comment rating system is throwing up a world of surprises - not that they mind, I'm sure, seeing as it's more clicks for them.

The song centers on the 'Internment' campaign when the vast majority of people held were innocent of any extreme terrorism charges.
Rating +46

Dido is entitled to her opinions. Perhaps a better understanding of past history is needed, something that has been lacking in UK education. I am a proud Brit and also second generation Irish. My Irish relatives are more openminded and forgiving than we are here in the UK.
Rating +65

She's decided to risk alienating a segment of her fan base. That's her choice. Hopefully she's not one of those celebrities that whines when people are put off by their political statements, and cease to become fans. Free speech is a two way street. Performers have to decide if they want to appeal to the largest market possible, or segment that market by becoming a political spokesperson. They can't have it both ways. I wish her luck.
Rating +44

A reasonable, insightful opinion. What's going on?

The only appropriate response would be to boycot any and all of her output.
Rating -51

Nice use of the verb 'boycott' there.

As an Irish person I detest the IRA and everything they stand for. Why do people who have never lived in Ireland make idols of these evil men. I for one don't believe they have gone away and I will certainly not buy her album and I hope other people will do the same.
Rating +49

Don't know if that's what Dido is doing, since we don't have her comments on the story - it would have been helpful, wouldn't it, but then again it might have blown the story out of the water / been more difficult and time-consuming than ctrl + c and ctrl + v. But a fair enough view.

In point of fact, men did come with tanks and guns and took away our sons.
Rating +50

well no one should buy her products and throw ones already purchased out
Rating -94

Well I do agree, but not for the same reasons. By all means chuck Dido out because she's shit, but because she's dared have a view about something? Surely not.

Be Sociable, Share!

• 

No related posts.