HEAR HEAR !
" simply in the voice on all of those songs, on 'Asian Rut' or 'Bengali In Platforms' or 'The National Front Disco', one can plainly hear that here is no hate at all "
I love Bengali in Platforms. It's a strong critique of the racist society of those times (it was recorded during 1987). It seems there was a change during the last 3 decades.
Leaving aside the skin color, which is a big issue in some self called first world countries, the fact of being an immigrant is very difficult anywhere in the world. Very few migrate by choice, most are pushed into it by economical and political circumstances. Not surprisingly, exile was considered the worst punishment in ancient times. Personally, I admire poor inmigrants, I don't know if I could make it if I had to begin a new life without money in another country. It's a huge challenge.
.....
es, dear. I recognize now that your delusions are second hand.That's just your opinion. The funny part is that he is avoiding the actual issue and talking nonsense.Again,your opinion. Racism doesn't necessarily have to be hate,then what else can it be If not hate? and the sort of pity he shows to "Bengali In Platforms" HAS been carefully diagrammed to show how it's racist.Really?I'd like to see that diagram. Of course that is an old quote but do you really think he sat and gave anyone a chance to discuss this with him? I don't. He's an habitual liar, as the real story about the behind the scenes events of #ParisForProfit show. "Devious, truculent, and unreliable," More opinions right? right
Um... Ok.
Being very much alive in 1987, I would like to know where 'racist society' comes from. I was more upset about The Smiths breaking up than race issues. I don't believe the average NME reader of the time was listening to John Peel and then going out assaulting Bengalis (a racial group well established in the UK already).
The song is simply about trying to fit in - hardly a critique of the times - the music of the Eighties is anything but racist and reflected very diverse influences.
Emigration / immigration is a choice to leave/move elsewhere - thousands of not at all poor people do it yearly - are you are confusing that with asylum seekers and refugees?
Regards,
FWD
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I have no idea what you're going on about there. Also,I did answer.
Right. Morrissey is the one who didn't answer. "Is 'Bengali In Platforms' racist?" "No one ever explained to me how it was. Listen to my voice."
"National Front Disco" seems to work either way. If you assume Morrissey is not sympathetic to the National Front, which is how I always heard it, then it does seem to be "trolling racists" but then when you find years later that some of his views align so perfectly with British nationalism that they can be used in their advertising, unaltered and with no change of meaning due to being "taken out of context," you can hear it differently. Some people hear "England for the English" as a statement of nationalist pride, and with his comments on "the floodgates" of immigration, are they wrong?
I don't think he ever discussed this with anyone from the media. He just said "listen to my voice."
It's his right not to publicly dissect or discuss the meanings of his work, but he does discuss it if the carefully chosen journalist he is speaking with is not going to challenge him. He is or was an expert at working the media and he knows generally what he can get away with. Once in a while, like with #ParisForProfit, he is challenged and his position crumbles.
I think bringing up a comment made many years later, when you consider the disaster that the EU has been in many ways, is irrelevant. Anyone with any sense agrees that immigration is good but uncontrolled immigration is bad. In 1992 we had the former state and when Morrissey made his 'floodgate' comment the situation had changed considerably.
but I did answer in post #11 ....
'I never accused you of not answering.' ?
Maybe but I'm just going by what he has said, previous to 1992.
http://motorcycleaupairboy.com/songs/bengali.htm
Thus Spake Morrissey
Regarding the line in "Bengali In Platforms": "Shelve your Western plans/And understand/That life is hard enough when you belong here". Don't you think the song could be taken as condescending?
"Yeeeees... I do think it could be taken that way, and another journalist has said that it probably will. But it's not being deliberately provocative. It's just about people who, in order to be embraced or feel at home, buy the most absurd English clothes." - Morrissey, Melody Maker, 3/12/88
Oh, okay...
and
Was it intended to have a double edge?
No, it still doesn't, not at all. There are many people who are so obsessed wtih racism that one can't mention the word Bengali; it instantly becomes a racist song, even if you're saying, Bengali, marry me. But I still can't see any silent racism there."
Not even with the line, "Life is hard enough when you belong here"?
"Well, it is, isn't it?"
True, but that implies that Bengalis don't belong here, which isn't a very global view of the world.
"In a sense it's true. And I think that's almost true for anybody. If you went to Yugoslavia tomorrow, you'd probably feel that you didn't belong there." - Morrissey, Sounds, June 18, 1988
So, not so much racist as nationalist. People who go to other countries don't belong and feel they don't belong. And they buy absurd clothes. Okay.
After a while a pattern emerges, and you can make up a million interpretations of how each individual instance might mean something other than the interpretations most people who are not fans arrive at, and that's up to the listener to decide for themselves I guess.
It must be said that your comments in this thread seem only tangentially linked to the OP and for you to suddenly be bringing out these hoary 28 year old quotes is rather odd. I`m really not sure there is anything new to be said about a forgettable song like 'Bengali in Platforms'.
As you have presumably listened to Morrissey's music for many years however, I presume you are aware that this song fits in perfectly with the likes of 'November Spawned a Monster', 'Mute Witness', 'Michael's Bones', 'Ambitious Outsiders' etc. It discusses an aspect of society not often mentioned in song, yet doesn't heavy-handedly come down on the side of right or wrong. That is what Morrissey has been doing since 'Suffer Little Children' and before.
But you said his opinion had changed recently so I used old quotes. And the song is forgettable now? Apparently not. Other people seem to remember it vividly. You're right about one thing. Morrissey has been trolling at a master level for his whole career.
I think bringing up a comment made many years later, when you consider the disaster that the EU has been in many ways, is irrelevant. Anyone with any sense agrees that immigration is good but uncontrolled immigration is bad. In 1992 we had the former state and when Morrissey made his 'floodgate' comment the situation had changed considerably.
It must be said that your comments in this thread seem only tangentially linked to the OP and for you to suddenly be bringing out these hoary 28 year old quotes is rather odd. I`m really not sure there is anything new to be said about a forgettable song like 'Bengali in Platforms'.
No, I didn't. Must try harder!
Let me tell you two things. First, I'm right. Second, even if you had a point, you're clearly contradicting yourself here, and you're using very obvious tactics, telling me my argument is odd, that no one cares about that song anyway, that the discussion is off-topic, that times have changed so my new quotes don't apply, but using old quotes is odd, anything you can think of.
It is you who must try harder.