Enrage Your Audience Stories?

Subject: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: JedMarum
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 10:09 AM

This is the second time in recent years that something like this has happened to me. I am sure that there are more incidents to come - but I am equally sure that some of you Mudcatters have similar stories to share.

I played a festival this weekend, and introduced a song I wrote with a bit of background. The song is called, "WINDS WILL" and was written for my friend Billy Dunlop who sailed the Atlantic solo, in a nine foot sail boat. He told a television interviewer that he left Portland Maine a Scotsman and arrived in Falmouth England a Mexican because he lived on canned chili for 76 days. I commented "I guess that's what Billy think real Mexian folks eat," poking a bit of fun at my friend's ignorance.

Well a letter of complaint reached the desk of the festival's president before I even got home! Someone misunderstood my comment and thought I was casually dismissing the eating habits of Mexicans! I believe it was an honest mistake on their part (but I realize it's possible someone purposely twisted the comment to create an issue) - but then I wondered how many times does it happen that I tell a story and someone in the audience gets it wrong? Or maybe since I've told the story a hundred times before, did I leave out parts of the story and not say what I think I said?

In this case, I wrote back to the festival and explained the story and comment, and I expect they will forward that message on to the complainer. But I'd like to hear some Mudcat stories. Have you ever unintentionally put someone in your audience over the roof, either because they misunderstood - or because they took offense at something you believe inoffensive?

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 10:24 AM

Hi Jed, I believe any of us who perform regularly (or irregularly in my case) have instances where we inadvertently offend or enrage an audience member. I was singing at a folk festival once and there were a bunch of us on stage doing a tribute to Stan Rogers. When I sang Barretts Privateers, several people got up and left. One of them later chewed me out profusely for not warning them of the lyric "God damn them all" before I started singing the song. Since that experience, I always make a short comment about that particular lyric prior to beginning my performance.


Mike

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: JedMarum
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 10:28 AM

LOL - exactly the kind of story I was looking for Mike!

Too funny. I never thought about "damn" or "God damn" in songs. I sing those words all the time. I've probably been p*ssing people off all over the place and don;t even know it!

;-)

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 10:35 AM

I learned 'Parting Glass' with the final line of "Good night and God be with you all" -

Sang it one day - and enraged one audience member - who informed me I had "totally ruined" the song for her in the future by forcing my Judeo-Christian morality on her.

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Willie-O
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 10:42 AM

Places not to sing "Barrett's Privateers" even if someone says it'll be fine:

-religious schools
-public schools
-children's camps and (especially religious ones)
-kids areas of festivals...
-American audiences who might not care to hear "The Yankee lay low down with gold...She was broad and fat and loose in stays..."

Beyond this, it's cleared for general-purpose use in Canada--and is obligatory in many locations (particularly licenced premises with Keith's draft). Hey, it's a standard.

Another thing you might not want to do is invite an audience of kids to make up their own verses to "What do you do with a drunken sailor".

There are a lot of songs I do which I preface with "this isn't very correct, sorry"--I figure it defuses the situation, cause I've never heard a complaint after that. That's my exception to my standard on-stage rule of "never apologize".

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Doktor Doktor
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 10:49 AM

There's a whole bunch of stuff you can't really do in public nowadays - I cringe to admit that having got outside a quantity of Abbot Ale I once launched into "Well I never seen the like since I been born ...... " only to spot a rather large West Indian chap at the bar. Discretion demanded a coughing fit .....

Similar issues surround "Thuthie", beloved by Cosmotheka afficionadoes (another one I sang in the wrong company & I'm still plucking up the courage to say sorry) and that nice song about Hecate & Inanna - try it at a Church Social .... or in our case in the vestry ....

Is there a serious issue here? Do we do folk songs balls & all or do we temper them to PC sensibility?

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 10:51 AM

I remember reading this in the UK Daily Mirror back in the 60s (so it must be true!): some Britsh academics were touring Russia giving talks on the life and works of Charles Dickens, who they described as "writing about life under Victorian captialism" ... only, their interpreter (obviously English!) said "victorious captialism" by mistake. Went down like a lead Soyuz.

And if my wife is around when I'm singing, she always (after al these years) assumes there's a message in my choice of song. I usually try and include Jesse Fuller's "I don't know why I love you like I do", or "Fathom the bowl, with the wonderful line "My wife, shes a bitch".

There was a UK band called The Black Country Three (Jon Raven et al), and they went to Spain about thirty-odd years ago. They were in a cantina singing English songs one night, and the locals asked them if they knewanything in Spanish; they foolishly obliged with the only Spanish song they knew, "Viva la Quince Brigata" from the communist side of the Civil War. Went down like a lead globo.

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: HuwG
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 11:20 AM

I sang "The Seven Deadly Sins" once, at a Social Club. At the start of verse 4, "Some say smoking's a sin ...", there were a few ripe comments. How was I to know that there had just been an acrimonious debate on whether the lounge was to be made a no-smoking area.

Apparently kissing, gambling, swearing and drinking weren't regarded as particularly worthy of condemnation.

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Schantieman
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 11:51 AM

Many years ago a group of us went from Southport (Lancashire) to Bradford (Yorkshire) for a curry. (This may seem a long way, but curry aficionadoes will understand). It was preceded by the usual pub crawl, and the last one was a Victorian edifice, high ceilings, yellowed wallpaper and all.

The 'act' was on as we arrived - a Flamenco guitarist, of all things. Shortly after we sat down, he stopped for his break. So we sang a song or two (as you do). I sang (perhaps unwisely!) the Holmfirth Anthem. When I got to "Wilt thou go fight the French and Spaniards?" the guitarist got up and walked out!

Steve

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 11:52 AM

I couldn't imagine any audience over here in the UK being upset by "Barrett's Privateers". You might hit some opposition if you sing a Fox-Hunting song these days though.

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 11:57 AM

Having just done a typical Leadfingers humorous set of not particularly P C songs a young lady with very short hair and sensible shoes came up to me and said I was a Male Chauvinist Bastard.upon which I merely smiled my sweetest smile and thanked her.She seemed somewhat nonplussed!

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 12:05 PM

LOL Leadfingers, I also have been referred to as a Male Chauvinist Bastard by women in sensible shoes, but I never knew how to spell it before to put it into a post. Thanks.

Mike

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Peterr
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 12:07 PM

I had a moment a while ago. Several of us were asked to jolly things up a bit at a (male) friend's wake. My turn came and I launched into Cosmotheka's version of Arry Arry Arry which includes the chorus line 'There's a nice little widder wiv a nice little pub' Changed after the first time through to 'A nice little lady.....'
In a similar vein, singing 'Shaking of the Sheets' when some people had come to a session to be cheered up after a bereavement. (I do know songs that don't involve death..............I think.)

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Amos
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 12:21 PM

Well a lot of folk songs are MCB material, given they come from the hey day of the MCB -- when kings were kings and pirates were pirates and a man was a man and so on.... :>) (ducks to avoid flying rolling pin from stage right). So you can't do them justice, without at least taking on the colors of a MCB. It's a tribute to your art to be taken for the real thing!

:>)

A

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 12:43 PM

I think the one I do that is the most divisive is the Innocent Hare - even got a comment from a normally "be nice to everyone" MC at a club one night, about it being an inapt use of the word "sportsman" but some of the travellers (not, I think, Roma) in North Kent seem much to like it.

And the line from the Old Man from Over the Sea "the daft old cock couldn't learn how to screw" has been known to cause "tut-tut" noises.

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Willie-O
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 01:17 PM

Many years ago I saw Murray McLauchlan (Canadian songwriter) in concert at the National Arts Centre. He's known for, um, crossing the line now and then. On this occasion, I really have no idea why, but he remarked "Woody Allen's a funny guy", expanding on that to say that after his then-wife, or recent ex (not Mia) was raped while walking through Central Park, Woody quipped "knowing my wife, it probably wasn't a moving violation."

Months later I read a story in Maclean's magazine about Murray, which recounted this very incident, and how someone sent him a note that the so-called joke was sickening. "Enhh," said Murray to the interviewer, "the point of my story was that Woody's an asshole."         

I was there, and I didn't catch the irony either--although in retrospect I believe him. You have to be careful using irony, where the implied meaning is the exact opposite of the literal meaning. Too many literalists out there.

W-O

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Joan from Wigan
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 01:37 PM

A song which always offends me, whoever sings it, is John Lennon's "Working Class Hero" because of the inclusion of the f*** word. Call me old-fashioned, but I was brought up to believe swearing is not acceptable, and it certainly does not add any extra meaning to the lyrics. I know this isn't a folk-song, but I've heard it a few times in folk clubs.

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 01:46 PM

the "f" word while scatological, crude and offensive to many is NOT a swear.

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: M.Ted
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 02:05 PM

I was once fired in the middle of a two month gig at a summer resort lounfw because I sang "Guantanamerra"--apparently the owner's wife heard me and was afraid that my Spanish music would fill the bar up with migrant farm workers--

Another time, many years ago, I was playing for a school group of young children--they wanted to sing"Billy, Don't Be A Hero"(so you know how long ago that was) so I played it, and they sang. The next day, the school administrator told me that one of the parents complained about me because I was glorifying militarism. Considering the fact that I worn shoulder length hair and a fatigue jacket covered with peace signs and anti-war buttons, she thought it was pretty funny--

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Bill D
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 02:29 PM

ah, the "PC police" will always be with us...I was once chided for singing "Poor Lil" at an 'occupational hazards' workshop..(it's about the 'hazards' of the oldest profession)

We know that there some songs which should be reserved for relevant occasions and understanding audiences, but you simply cannot censor everything, or half the references cease to be coherent!

As Bok, Trickett amd Muir once said onstage.."You don't have to believe everything you sing!"

(I can just hear Barrett's Privateers ...."...gosh durn them all.." POOH!)

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Cluin
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 02:44 PM

I sing "Barrett's Privateers" for Americans all the time, and never had one of them be offended by it yet. Don't forget that the Yanks kicked ass in that song.

The only people I've ever found to be offended by it are those who prefer we not use the Lord's name in vain... one of whom is the fiddler in one of the groups I play with. He tends to stand way back on the stage or leaves sometimes when we do it. We only do it if it's requested; and he understands that. But I have sung that song so many times I don't really care if I never do it again. Of course we never perform it in the venues suggested above by Willie-O, with the exception of the American ones.

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 03:18 PM

For more on the non-PC drunken sailor bits, have a good read at Drunken sailor song protested

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Megan L
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 03:36 PM

Our church was asked to do a service at the old folks ward in the local hospital, the atmosphere grew steadily chillier as the singing went on. The bright spark who chose the hymns must have been really depressed when he did the choosing for every one was about death. He couldn't understand why they were never asked back.

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Joybell
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 05:07 PM

Here in Australia there is usually no real problem. "She'll be right" seems to prevail as it always has. There are a few lines in songs that are potentially offensive like "...when Chinese are coppers in Bourke street my darling I'll come back to thee" - which have quite rightly become meaningless except as a comment on past attitudes. "when rocks melt with the sun" would have been a more lasting way of putting it.
We get requests for songs about death all the time in nursing homes. I've asked about it and I understand that it's because it reminds people that they are still alive - that's what they tell us anyway.

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Willie-O
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 05:12 PM

Hey, I was kidding about Americans and Barrett's Privateers.

(sigh) nobody ever gets my irony...

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 06:01 PM

Of course there is always the professional complainer who goes out with the intention of being offended.

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: harvey andrews
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 06:17 PM

Good L..d there's some touchy audiences out there.
I once was talking to a female singer/songwriter who'd done a marvellous set about her newborn child and the impact motherhood had had on her and fatherhood had had on her husband.She walked the tightrope and never slipped off. A woman came up and interrupted our conversation with;
"Do you realise that every song you sang was heterosexual thereby excluding a large percentage of the female population?"

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Joybell
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 07:01 PM

Joybell's pardner sez: i was in singapore at the end of 1975 to give some concerts live & on radio & tv, sponsored by the USIA. the organizer gave me a document issued by the local authorities. it was a mimeographed list, 2 or 3 pages long, of banned songs. it included "puff the magic dragon" (obvious to any paranoid wowser), and also "leaving on a jet plane" (supposedly because it is clear that she's going away to get an abortion). for my appearance on tv, i also had to omit the verse from Matchbox Blues which ends "you ought to seen me grab the pillow where my good gal used to lay".

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Mark Ross
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 07:01 PM

While playing for a conference in Missoula, Montana, in an effort to get the audience to sing along(they being full of good food, and spirits, and feeling somewhat lethargic)I told them that if they didn't sing, I would personally see to it that a Jehovah's Witness was at their door at 6AM the next day. Unbeknownst to me the fine woman who was in charge of the conference for a state agency, was a member of that faith. I had to do some fine back pedaling, let me tell you.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Cluin
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 08:21 PM

Sorry, Willie-O. I see that now. Hope you weren't enraged by my obtuseness.   ;)

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: LadyJean
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 12:41 AM

Anne Feeney, a local folksinger, has a collection she calls, "Seven Songs You Can't Sing In Edgewood". Edgewood is a Pittsburgh suburb, where, as my mother who grew up there said, "Even the Democrats are Republicans". Mom, incidentally, heard Anne Feeny sing one of those songs "That F Word" and thought it was hilarious. Mostly, because it is.

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Jimmy C
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 12:51 AM

Years ago, during a St. Patrick's Night gig we noticed some young Japenese men in the audience. Trying to be funny and also to make them feel welcome one of our group sang 'It's an Irish Lullaby" but introduced it as an Irish/ Japanese song " Tora Tora Tora". That was the last time we played that particular bar, some people got offended but NOT the Japanese.


We have ran into some problems with ' Barret's Privateers" as well, so if we remember we sing ' Well damn them all ", but mostly we forget and sing it the way Stan wrote it.

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 01:42 AM

We perform mostly in schools. The rule is:

In a public school you can't say God.

In a parochial school, you can't say God enough.

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 03:44 AM

All my stories enrage the audience, but then they know when I end the story I'm going to sing, which enrages them more!
After my birthday bash one friend remionded me I'm only allowed to sing on special occasions and another regretted I'd already given up the day job!
Sticks and stones....

RtS

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Gurney
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 04:21 AM

You are going to upset someone everywhere. They come out wanting to be upset.
I sing folk songs in a folk setting. Anyone who doesn't like that, politely go away. It is MY setting, and I'll only consider folkies.
The folkies I'll argue with.
Having said that, I only use swearwords if I consider them necessary, and try to cut down the blasphemy. Barrett's priveteers is not blasphemy, the man the singer is representing is calling on God to curse the owners, no differently from any preacher calling on God to strike down sinners.
Or does anyone think that only the appointed and anointed are allowed to talk to God?

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Dave Masterson
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 04:25 AM

I've been singing Barrett's Privateers for donkey's years, having learned it back in the 80's from John Purdy. I'm also a practising Christian (I'll get it right one day) and have no problems with singing 'God damn them all'. It's part of the song, which is about the frustration of a young man who has had his life ruined, basically through greed. This might be how he would vent that frustration. I don't find that offensive, although I realise that some of my fellow Christians might do. For that reason I wouldn't sing it in their presence, as the Bible has something to say about 'not stumbling the weaker brother'. I sing it because it's a great song, and also as a tribute to Purdy, who was a good bloke.
Having said that, I do have problems with the f-word and the like. Spoken or sung in public I just find plain offensive. Not so much the word itself, but the assumption behind it that it's OK. That shows a total disregard for your peers, is a very selfish attitude and is just plain pig ignorant.

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 04:33 AM

Joybell- I was in Singapore with the R A F when the Singopore Government had a clamp down on 'drug oriented' music with Puff high on the list.Also on the list was The Rooftop Singers recording of Walk Right In which just happened to be the Signature tune of the BBC
Far East radio Folk programmme!!

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: EBarnacle
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 09:20 AM

I once did a bar gig in Paterson, NJ, where I explained the history of Maid of Amsterdam. Talk about getting mobbed!!

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 09:56 AM

I was co mpering on the main stage at Stainsby Folk Festival a few years ago when the following incident happened. Stainsby is a very safe grenfield site and has lots of kiddies activities, however some parents had decided to be oblivious to their off spring running up and down the aisles and at the front of the stage during concerts, I tried the nice 'can you make sure they don't spoil people's enjoyment' bit but the next day at the afternoon concert they were at it again. I wnet on stage and prior to indroducing the next act 'Could parents look after their kids as if they didn't they would be taken out a shot !!' a large cheer from the audience and I'm just about to continue when this woman starts berating from the front of the stage about frightening her child. As I'm trying to calm her down from main stage, the sound engineers (the inimitable Johnny Ramsey) is shouting at me thro' the stage monitors 'Good we can gas them then, or string them up !!' talk about tring not to laugh.

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: GUEST,Obie
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 10:02 AM

There is a pub in Halifax's Historic Properties Called the Lower Deck. It is in front of the Privateer's Wharf and this building was the privateers warehouse. No spot on earth could be a more appropriate setting for the singing of Barrett's Privateers. If any offence could ever be taken at the song it would be there if someone dared to change Stan's words.

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 11:50 AM

I have been quite a few pubs which have displayed signs along the lines of:

Any badly behaved or uncontrolled children will be sold into slavery.

Several songs which I sing have words which would not be acceptable to some polite company. I tend to vary which words I use depending on the audience. In the "lobster Song" I get much more of a laugh by using the word "leg" rather than the word that would rhyme with "grunt". Mind you if I subsequently used the supressed word instead of a word to rhyme with leg, it would bring the house down and probably cause very little offence - once they laugh, they can hardly show outrage.

Mind you I was once chided by an American Tourist for using the word "bloody" in the song "With her head tucked underneath her arm" - when I explained that "The Bloody Tower" was a location in the Tower of London, she told her husband that he should cross it off their itinery. Unless I was singing specifically for children, I would be very loathed to change the words of any traditional song to make it more acceptable.

I was very amused by the quote "Do you realise that every song you sang was heterosexual thereby excluding a large percentage of the female population?". Surely the female who made it, was excluding the percentage of the male population who happen to be gay as well. Since a large percentage of traditional songs are about heterosexual relationships, perhaps she should find some other genre of music.

My most embarassing moment was when I asked for a lady to help me sing "I touched her on the toe" a stunningly attractive girl volunteered. It was only when I got to the last line of the chorus that I realised that she was black. Since then I have always sung "My darling draw near" rather than the very non PC original.

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Peter T.
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 12:21 PM

I cannot imagine singing Working Class Hero without using what is, in the song, a truly appropriate word. It suggests that people think of songs as inoffensive entertainment, which is about as bourgeous as one can get.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Joybell
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 04:57 PM

Leadfingers, Ah yes my true-love did tell me about "Walk Right In", it was one of the more puzzling ones.

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 07:28 PM

Our local health food store has a sign on their front door which says We don't mind your children, as long as you do.

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Mark Dowding
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 07:31 PM

I remember a gig I did at a village hall that wanted some folk singers as a bit of entertainment and I sang "The Green Fields of France" as one of my songs. Later that evening I was told that somebody who had "heard" me sing it had walked out in disgust at the fact that the organisers had hired an IRA sympathiser to sing some songs!!! I only wish he'd have come and said something to me and I'd have put him right about the song - I'd even have sung it again to him on his own but I imagine the lines about "the guns firing o'er you" and "the pipes played the Flowers of the Forest" set his mind racing and he didn't bother listening to the rest of the song.
Ho hum!

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 11:24 PM

Margaret and I managed to tick off someone singing "Da Co-Dependant Polka" at Kentucky Music Weekend. Someone came up and asked if she could talk to us about that song. She pretty much read us the riot act about it being woman unfriendly. I answered that the song was written by a woman (Susan Urban) and was based on true occurrances. But she wasn't buying it. I noted that the next ten people we talked to on the way up to get an ice cream cone (we were the act before the break) were very complimentary, several mentioning the same song. You always remember the negative comments.

Speaking of Barrett's Privateers, I've heard of school performers being summarily fired for singing it at programs. When Stan performed it at a concert in the Chicago area in 1982, I believe, someone took him to task at the post concert party. Their beef was they were born again christians and found the "god damn them all" line offensive. Stan thanked them for speaking their piece and said (paraphrasing here, so will not use quotes) that the notion of all the universe paying homage to some grand puba of the universe was offensive to him.

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: LadyJean
Date: 05 Nov 03 - 12:00 AM

I used to do a puppet show of St. Dunstan and the Devil. At one point, my devil said, "You tore off my dose! you doddamed old idiot!" Thid did not play well in West Mifflin PA.

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 05 Nov 03 - 01:41 AM

Dave Bryant reminds me..

I went to see the second (I misseed the first, so had to wait till it came back again) production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" when it came to Brisbane - had John English as the Devil!

At the point where the disciples have had the last supper, and were continuing to enjoy the religious benefits of Jesus' Blood, and are starting to be a little the worse for wear according to the words, this woman up near the back, leapt to her feet, and stormed down the aisle and out the main entrance, greatly upset. Her boyfriend, obviously captivated by the show, and looking rather confused and bemused, took a few minutes to follow her.

:-)

Robin

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: Jen M
Date: 05 Nov 03 - 07:28 AM

Regarding Drunken Sailor, not all Connecticut towns are so conservative. My daughter's chorus sang a version with no repercussions. Her director was a classically trained singer and lacked knowledge of the full bredth of the song -- until my lovely daughter enlightened him by teaching a few additonal verses to her friends. She also delights in singing Rikkity Tikkity Tin to all who make the mistake of regarding her as a quiet innocent young lady. Of course since my mother loved to have my sisters and me entertain visitors with "Fascinating Witch" she is simply staying true to the family.

Subject: RE: Enrage Your Audience Stories?
From: JedMarum
Date: 05 Nov 03 - 09:30 AM

When I first moved to Dallas and started playing music, I heard a song that the locals sang frequently. As ong they all got a big kick out of, and one I thought I thought my old Yankee New England friends would enjoy hearing - just because the the Dallas folks thought it was funny. So next time I played a pub in New England, I introduced and sang for them Lee Harvey Was a Friend of Mine. This is a silly song about the JFK assasination, pokes fun at the poor dumb "red-neck" type singing the song - but in no way is disrespectful of JFK, or anyone but the singer of the song.

Anyway - sure enough the crowd loved the song. But afterward a young lady came up and said to me, "I have never been so insulted in all my life then by that song."

Wow - I started to say I'm sorry you didn't like the song, but I wasn't - so I didn't. Maybe she misunderstood. Maybe she just needed to find something insulting that night. She wasn't in the modd to discuss it - so I'll never know.