Big up, Irie FM!
I have this cousin I used to hang out with back when I was a likkle yute. We used to play together all the time coming up, because we were the same age, and I guess, because we used to live fairly near to each other. Most of his family migrated somewhere between the 70's and the 80's and I have only seen him twice since then. Its a common story of Yard! Socialism and crime separated many a family. 
Anyway, I last saw John when I was in Tampa back in late July, early August. He came to see me when I visited his sister's house and he brought along his daughter, (MBJr's age) and they were both playing with his sister's grand daughter who was also in the same age group. It brought back fond memories of the times when we used to be playing together as kids. Its nice to see the next generation of Bulls playing together, but we will see it only rarely, because we are widely dispersed.
John dropped me back to Jay G's home where I was staying, and when we got into his SUV, the music that was playing was from some Kiddie movie. Along the way home, my cousin changed the cd for his daughter and he put on yet another movie soundtrack CD.
I asked him about it and he told me that both he and his wife do that all the time! They never let their daughter listen to the radio, because of the type of things that she would hear if they did! 
Of course, there is more... this includes pictures from the Jr. Gong concert of Friday nite, so be sure to click pon de link dung dehso, seen!
I remember thinking at the time that it was really strong of him to give up listening to all the hot music of the day everytime his daughter was in the car, especially since they spend so much more time in the car over in the U.S., you know? I guess that filters into their home life too, and so they must almost never listen to irie music! I kind of thought it was a lot of work for nothing though, because in a very short while, her friends at school would be bussing her out and exposing her to all the shyte that people play on the radio today.
Natty and I do not really take that approach as we both like to listen to the hot music of the day, but we do switch if the music is too foul in one way or another. We are not prepared to give up on our music entirely, but we still have to change it when the song really goes over the edge. In my opinion, we really shouldn't have to be as extreme as John and his wife are, nor should we have to be like Natty and I, keeping our ears peeled for the curse words or the sex laden lyrics and trying to judge, "Will he understand that? Will he go to school and sing about what he wants to do with some girl and embarrass us?". Its just not right!
That is why I love the decision taken by Brian Schmidt and Irie FM recently! Irie FM has banned the playing of all those songs which they have to "beep out" words in. As Brian says, ""It is one thing to beep out a word, but to sing a song with beep, beep, beep, its almost like an instrumental, it does not make sense.". They hope that other stations will follow suit and that this initiative will drive the members of the dancehall community to follow the trend in hiphop, where the artistes commonly produce "clean", fit for airplay versions of their songs.
I read that many artistes in Jamaica are not really behind the ban, but I think its absolutley great! Irie FM, large up oonoo self! (by the way, Irie FM has quite a pretty site, its worth paying them a visit. Gwaan nuh?)
Wouldn't it be good if the other stations follow suit and they do eventually force the artistes to produce clean versions that everyone can listen to? It would be good if this initiative was to sweep the Caribbean, actually. I wonder if I, and indeed you, my readers, could influence the stations in our own countries? I mean, we could write in to the newspapers and encourage it? Maybe others would take up the cry and eventually we would influence the radio stations in our countries to jump on the bandwagon. I wonder if we could do that? What oonoo think?
On an entirely different tack, I notice that Irie FM and RJR both try to sell their content over the airwaves. Imagine, you have to pay them to listen to their programs over the internet! What a bunch of shyte! Look at how many radio stations offer up their programming free of charge! Why, even here in Cayman, Vibe FM and Z99 do it, and if I swing by the sites of the other radio stations, I would be surprised if I found even one that was trying to sell their programming! What makes these radio stations think that they are so special? I hope that this initiative on their parts fails, big time! Dear readers, don't pay them a dime to listen to them over the internet, you hear? I pray that these income streams dry up, and that they end up having to provide their shyte for free, just like everybody else! Cho, man, they are a set of mercenary bumboholes!
People, as I expected, partySurfers.ky has posted the pictures from the concert. You can go look at them here. Below is a pic of Jr. Gong and the same girl I wrote about in my concert review... she look nice, eeh?
Also below, I get back into my fascination with "teeth". 
Look at these two! Their dentists would be proud, nuh true?
Anyway, enjoy your day, people.
Posted by Mad Bull at January 17, 2006 06:19 AM
Comments
Fine that Irie has taken that initiative. What would be better is if the aristes themselves just made music with clean lyrics that no bleeping out of words would be necessary for.
Had to ask a mother I was seeing as a patient last year if she thought that her seven year old daughter who was singing and whining to the words of "Pon bed, pon floor, against wall" by Beenie, if she thought that her seven year old knew what it is she was singing about.
Children today are indeed exposed to a bit too much too early. Radio, MTV, BET, RETV and them things is not pickney channel. But, I agree with your point. Don't raise your child in a bubble, at the same time, you have to know when to start to allow them exposure. They will learn from others at school....didn't we all? Just think back to our days a yutes rude bwoy.
Posted by: Dr. D. on January 17, 2006 07:52 AM
Forgot to mention the net as a source of 'learning' material! How could I forget that?
Posted by: Dr. D. on January 17, 2006 07:53 AM
Hi Mad Bull- Monitoring is a must with your young ones. Thanks for the photos from the concert. Yes, Damien's young lady is a beauty. Looks latin.
Posted by: sunshine on January 17, 2006 02:03 PM
I man enrolling in dentistry school forthwith and without delay.
Posted by: jdid on January 17, 2006 08:26 PM
Bwoy Jr.Gong lady is a 'Muy caliente senorita'.I agree with jdid those two ladies woulda mek any man go study dentistry.
Posted by: charles on January 17, 2006 09:23 PM
Now you gone an mek me feel bad dat I miss de concert man... Why you didn't buy me a ticket too...
As for what you are saying about how much exposure is right for kids... I more agree with you than your cuz. Kids need gradual exposure to the 'real' world around them, so they can learn to 'deal' with it, and children develop at differing rates. I prefer your approach because you are actively evaluating what is appropriate for him at a specific period in his development, which you guys are the best judge of… Not just taking the safe pre-programmed route.
Posted by: Trouble on January 18, 2006 08:52 AM
I have to speak in defense of your friend. I was raised in a bubble of a sort. I wasn't allowed to watch TV past a certain time because of the type of content that was broadcast. Would you say I am the worse for it? (no - not a trick question :-) )
I think I have a very healthy sense of right and wrong and a very low count of times that I "got into trouble" for whatever reason. I also had a late but SHORT rebellious period too. I dunno - I can't say that bubble-ism is wrong at all - I am a product of one.
BUT: I am a HUGE fan of moderation... in everything. It is the excesses of our time that will be our downfall - that is my firm belief.
On a totally diffrant note: soh - ahm - mek me aaaks yuh sumn... is not Jr. Gong dat Lauren Hill hook up wid? Is who again? Always mixin dem up. Too much a dem Marley pickney deh bout star!!!
Posted by: Fyr on January 18, 2006 01:23 PM
It get that bad now? We still have "clean" radio here. It always cracks me up how protective parents are of their daughters. One father told me he's going to buy a shotgun as soon as he gets a daughter.
Posted by: guyana-gyal on January 18, 2006 08:44 PM
Fyr, Kymani is the Marley who is with Lauryn Hill...
Posted by: Mad Bull on January 18, 2006 10:49 PM
Post a comment
Fine that Irie has taken that initiative. What would be better is if the aristes themselves just made music with clean lyrics that no bleeping out of words would be necessary for.
Had to ask a mother I was seeing as a patient last year if she thought that her seven year old daughter who was singing and whining to the words of "Pon bed, pon floor, against wall" by Beenie, if she thought that her seven year old knew what it is she was singing about.
Children today are indeed exposed to a bit too much too early. Radio, MTV, BET, RETV and them things is not pickney channel. But, I agree with your point. Don't raise your child in a bubble, at the same time, you have to know when to start to allow them exposure. They will learn from others at school....didn't we all? Just think back to our days a yutes rude bwoy.
Posted by: Dr. D. on January 17, 2006 07:52 AM