In case you haven't yet heard of this, the Marines are in a tizzy over a singing soldier and his song. Wish I could send you to the video, but it has been removed from YouTube. "due to terms of use violation." So it will take us a little longer to evaluate the song's merits and/or demerits. (Doesn't sound, offhand, like a very pleasing treatment, but who knows.)
Does war make you less sensitive, and tone deaf? By John Oates Published Wednesday 14th June 2006 11:41 GMT
The US army is investigating whether a video which purports to show a serving Marine singing and playing the guitar on YouTube is genuine.
The clip appears to show a chubby US soldier playing acoustic guitar and singing into a microphone in front of an audience. The man's voice might upset Simon Cowell, but it is hardly the most offensive video the Marines have made in Iraq. Last year, US police investigated website www.that'sf**kedup.com where serving soldiers were trading stills and videos of dead and injured Iraqis and Afghans - along with porn clips.
Called "Hadji Girl" the lyrics are more or less what you'd expect. It's not the most culturally-aware composition you've ever heard but presumably the squaddy wasn't recruited for his singing ability.
A spokesman for the Marines told AP the video was: "inappropriate and contrary to the high standards expected of all Marines." He did not confirm whether the man was a serving soldier but said it was being investigated. The Marines are being investigated for some real crimes in Iraq, like the alleged massacre in Haditha, rather than just crimes against musical good taste.