The National Front Disco

[Patric Doonan]

The accusation of Morrissey being a racist is one that we hear quite frequenly.

The track "The National Front Disco" is often cited as proof to this argument. I don't understand this. I guess I just don't understand the references in the song, so would someone like to shed some light on this for me?

thanks!

[dacid]

I always take this song personally because my name is David and
I like to play militant dance music. I can't decipher the racism at
all - sorry. (hey that song is playing on my stereo right now - weird!)

[toasty]

The National Front is or was a far-right political party in Britain. Anti-immigrant, racist, all that. The song is about somebody who joins up, much to the dismay of his friends ('we've lost our boy'). It's kind of a sympathetic portrayal of a confused, aimless young person who gets sucked into a fascist group because he wants somewhere to belong. It's not a racist song. Some folks might find the title offensive or something, though it's a silly title. Like ... the KKK Disco?

> The accusation of Morrissey being a racist is one that we hear
> quite frequenly.

> The track "The National Front Disco" is often cited as
> proof to this argument. I don't understand this. I guess I just
> don't understand the references in the song, so would someone
> like to shed some light on this for me?

> thanks!

[254]

> The National Front is or was a far-right political party in
> Britain. Anti-immigrant, racist, all that. The song is about
> somebody who joins up, much to the dismay of his friends ('we've
> lost our boy'). It's kind of a sympathetic portrayal of a
> confused, aimless young person who gets sucked into a fascist
> group because he wants somewhere to belong. It's not a racist
> song. Some folks might find the title offensive or something,
> though it's a silly title. Like ... the KKK Disco?

as I understand it, the National Front Disco was the once-yearly occasion at which new members were recruited.

[greasetea]

> as I understand it, the National Front Disco was the once-yearly
> occasion at which new members were recruited.

The national front is some racist group, but you know what?
Who gives a rat's ass...eat pancreas and @#!!!...what a stupid stupid question. Slit your wrists question-monkey!

[Colin]

> The National Front is or was a far-right political party in
> Britain. Anti-immigrant, racist, all that. The song is about
> somebody who joins up, much to the dismay of his friends ('we've
> lost our boy'). It's kind of a sympathetic portrayal of a
> confused, aimless young person who gets sucked into a fascist
> group because he wants somewhere to belong. It's not a racist
> song. Some folks might find the title offensive or something,
> though it's a silly title. Like ... the KKK Disco?
---------
You've got it exactly right. The problem is that the narrow, reactionary leftism of the British music press holds that it's a crime to use words like "National Front" or "England for the English" in a song, no matter the context. And the individual writers are too stupid to understand the context, anyway.

[hnia]

> The National Front is or was a far-right political party in
> Britain. Anti-immigrant, racist, all that. The song is about
> somebody who joins up, much to the dismay of his friends ('we've
> lost our boy'). It's kind of a sympathetic portrayal of a
> confused, aimless young person who gets sucked into a fascist
> group because he wants somewhere to belong. It's not a racist
> song. Some folks might find the title offensive or something,
> though it's a silly title. Like ... the KKK Disco?

Thanks, this is why i come here.
Now I can listen to a brand new song...
hnia

[Michael]

hello,
just to add the others' comments, national front parties exist in many countries, not just england. they promote fascist, xenophobic views.

> The accusation of Morrissey being a racist is one that we hear
> quite frequenly.

> The track "The National Front Disco" is often cited as
> proof to this argument. I don't understand this. I guess I just
> don't understand the references in the song, so would someone
> like to shed some light on this for me?

> thanks!

[beau]

Kinda like Republicans in America?


Passions Just Like Mine (http://www.ultim.net/~morrissey/)
http://www.biwa.ne.jp/~presley/60stage/68tv1.jpg

[Colin]

> Kinda like Republicans in America?
--------
No, there is no American equivilent. There are far-right groups, but there is no "front" as such. Avowedly radical politics doesn't play so well in the US.