Abdul Abul bul amir--PC?

Subject: Abdul Abul bul amir--PC?
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 02:16 PM

Opinions please.
In a historical theatre production set in the 1870/80s in a goldrush town we are performing the song "Abul abulbul ameer".
There is some concern with our director that it is not politically correct and that it is racist.
On the other hand we are trying to be true to the time and period, within reason.
There are problems, of course, deciding where to draw the line on PC. Clearly we will not use the N-- word, but Abul and "Allah Akbar"--well, .....knowing mudcatters opinions and points of view are useful.

Richard Wright
Theatre Royal, Barkerville, B.C.

Subject: RE: Abdul Abul bul amir--PC?
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 02:22 PM

try this version

ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR

Subject: RE: Abdul Abul bul amir--PC?
From: JedMarum
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 02:37 PM

take the time to point out that the song reflects opinions that were not menat to be offensive in their day - even though they do not reflect the way we'd say it today ...

Subject: RE: Abdul Abul bul amir--PC?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 02:39 PM

This has been discussed at length on Mudcat. Follow MMario's links and you'll find not only versions of the song but discussions about the versions of the song.

SRS

Subject: RE: Abdul Abul bul amir--PC?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 02:42 PM

PC?

Who cares?

PCness is a blight on communication....

Subject: RE: Abdul Abul bul amir--PC?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 02:54 PM

Two strong brave men who meet and fight to the death- I fail to see the need for squeamishness about presenting it. The Scouts still sing it.

Subject: RE: Abdul Abul bul amir--PC?
From: greg stephens
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 06:20 PM

I am a sensitive pinko-liberal, and mostly quite politically correct. I fail to see anything offensive in this favourite old song.could someone explain what is meant to be wrong with it?

Subject: RE: Abdul Abul bul amir--PC?
From: kendall
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 07:27 PM

I've sung this song since I was a boy and still don't see anything offensive about it. The parody, well, that's a different story.

Subject: RE: Abdul Abul bul amir--PC?
From: DonMeixner
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 10:12 PM

"If correctly viewed, everything is lewd,
I can tell you things about Peter Pan
and the Wizard of Oz is a dirty old man."


:-)


Don

Subject: RE: Abdul Abul bul amir--PC?
From: paddymac
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 10:52 PM

This is one of the most well-known, but rarely attributed, songs of Percy French (1854-1920). It was pirated early on and became a popular club-house, then fraternity song. I say to hell with the pc prudes.

Subject: RE: Abdul Abul bul amir--PC?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 11:13 PM

The study thread on this song is 47949: Abdul

Subject: RE: Abdul Abul bul amir--PC?
From: Gurney
Date: 05 Jun 04 - 05:05 AM

Take no notice of the twats, brother. Sing it.

Subject: RE: Abdul Abul bul amir--PC?
From: GUEST,guest mick
Date: 05 Jun 04 - 10:47 AM

I have an Arab friend who loves the song. This friend has an accute antennae for racism and would be the first to point out anything he thought was offensive.Go ahead and sing it.

Subject: RE: Abdul Abul bul amir--PC?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 05 Jun 04 - 02:54 PM

Percy will be laughing his head off, racism, he wouldn`t have know what it meant.Sing on.