Hmmmmm. Offensive?

Surely the intention of the singer is important.

But there are layers within layers.

And first, let me say I really am offended, or at least irritated, by the use of euphemisms for words like "nigger" ("the N word", "n***er", etc.) when the word is being used in a serious and valid context. It's prissy.

So, a song from 1845 with the word "nigger" in it is a historical specimen, interesting and valid in its context, although most of us wouldn't espouse the values it expresses.

But if I wrote a song today, casually referring to black people as "niggers" then that would be offensive.

But what if I wrote a serious song, inspired by my sincere hatred of racism, and used the word deliberately for effect? That shouldn't be seen as offensive, although some people might find the particular example to be in bad taste, or misjudged.

And what if a black person wrote one, with the intention of performing it to a predominantly black audience? (S)he might argue that it was "reclaiming" the word and deliberately stripping it of its offensive connotations and neutering it. Some black people might agree, but others might still find it offensive.

Yet 150 years ago, many black people probably used the word just out of habit and never thought about it being offensive. They were too busy being oppressed to worry about a word.

Then there's "post modern irony" which is where we laugh at the fact that something used to be funny or acceptable, but isn't now. At one level, that's making camp "Carry On" jokes; at another, it's pretending to admire Bernard Manning's style of humour. To a knowing audience, which understands the distinction, it's a valid and sometimes powerful form of satire.

So, the only test I could apply to whether a song is offensive is the intention of the singer (not the song writer). If (s)he intends to offend, then it's offensive; if (s)he doesn't care who (s)he offends, then it may be offensive. Otherwise, the worst it can be is "in poor taste", and the best it can be is very funny, or moving.

That said, I can think of one song I'm never quite comfortable with, even though it's a very good session song: "My proper name is Clarence". This is a funny song, but predicated on all those present agreeing that homosexuality and transvestism are frightening. It never crossed my mind that it was offensive until I was in the same room as a gay friend when it was being sung, and he wasn't laughing. This is a low level offensiveness, arising from the fact that it carelessly perpetuates or endorses a prejudiced opinion.