Jamaican pop culture: less censorship?

This is a view from my eyes, and I've been wanting to post or ask someone if I am perceiving this all correctly, or at least if I am on the right path...and I hope I am not generalizing...

It seems Jamaica has a lack of a certain level of censorship regarding the sexuality expressed openly in pop culture vs. where I am from. Advertisments, song lyrics, etc...

I'm not criticizing. Just starting a discussion...because I am curious.

First example:
(picture removed due to copyright)

This poster was in the country bar, and I saw it on the bus crawl. I think it's hilarious, "energy when you need it." I doubt it would be used in any places near me...

Second example:

My favorite dancehall song ever. Vybz. Look at THESE lyrics!!!!!!!

(lyrics removed due to copyright)

The song is essentially romantic, you can hear the passion and the "subject" wants to make a baby with his lover...so it's got some racy lyrics but it's not "dirty." But with lyrics like the above, it''s no wonder why American radio didn't touch it...huge hit in Jamaica though.

Is this "sexuality" or use of sexual innuendo etc. akin to the drinking age in Europe being virtually non-existent? As in, is there a different outlook regarding sex in popular culture in Jamaica? What is confusing for a guy trying to get a grasp on the current of the culture is in many ways, Jamaica also seems more conservative than where I am from...i.e. requiring uniforms in school etc.

Just wondering over my Saturday morning coffee...I could be way off and just seeing a couple examples that stand out...

I think you're on to something. Jamaica is full of dicotomies fi sure!! But, I sure do love it!!! Don't think I would change a thing. Dear Jah am I missing it right now and only been back 22 days.
Now trying to figure out a way to get back ASAP> BTW, your reports rocked my man!!!:)

I think it is like anywhere these days, except with extremes. Moral values are still trying to be taught by the old, and rejected by the young. Sign of the times.

Hmmmm. It appears there is more sexual innuendo in Jamaican music, mostly dancehall. However I'm sure you have noticed there are usually "clean" versions of particular songs that are to racy for the radio. What you hear in a nightclub might be the "raw" version but usually on the radio they play the clean ones. But you are right about there being a less conservative vibe in a lot of ways. At least compared to America. But than again, over here you can't even sneeze the wrong way without some idiot being offended.

I think culturally as a society Jamaican's have a more laid back style. I tried to look up info about school uniforms but can't find much. Since the British ruled for so long I'm sure that is when the uniform's were put into place? According to Wikipedia England implemented school uniforms around 1870 with the Elementary Education Act. I wish they would enforce uniforms in the schools here but unfortunately that takes us back to schools being afraid of being politically incorrect. Parents will argue it does not allow children freedom of expression and that is usually the end of that. Someone always has a problem with something.

This is a great topic and there will probably be a lot of opinions.

Rasta: I wasn't aware of the RAW mix etc...and I am feeling stupid for not thinking about that!

Rob, sorry to make your life more difficult. I didn't consider the copyright issue when i posted. :o

Yetta: thanks! I have noticed a LOT of reports have kicked tail lately. I am glad mine worked for you..!

All opinions and thoughts on this appreciated...

Brasi WHAT are you talking about?You are a seasoned traveller to Jamaica! You know Jamaica is a sexy place, everything is sexual in tourist resorts at last, country country has naked burger on the menu drinks and signs are about having strong back and more energy with seductive messages and photographs, dancehall music is full of sexually explicit lyrics and do not even begin to tell me that you have not noticed the sexual dance movements down in tha CLUB!
There is also hedonism a nude resort and allsorts of other sexual things, the sex industry (shhh) sexual things are there if you look for it.Sometimes you do not have to look!
You gotta love it.Nothing brightens a boring grocery trip than walking down the drinks isle and laughing at the labels! childish I know but I can't believe some of the things that are advertised in Jamaica! FUNNY

Oh and yes rastagal is correct Brasi look for the edited or CLEAN version of the rude songs for suitable radio play versions , one example cannot remember the song think it was a kartel song possibly romping shop or it was something about riding something anyway and the clean version with video sang the female wanted to ride his bike back and was sat riding a motorbike.Happens a lot get with it brasi you can do it! Dancehall rocks

as with the rest of the world as a whole, moral values and open advertising, is in the "crapper"...................

so many censorship "rules" have evidently just disappeared, from what I can see at ANY time on TV...........

I am NO prude for sure...but it was more fun when there was a "separation of power" as what you could do, see or say as a Adult that you couldn't do as a "child"..........lol

now its no big deal to grow up....lol

I've collected Jamaican Ska and Bluebeat since the 60's and 'riske' lyrics have always been part of the music. Listen to anything by Judge Dread and Prince Buster and you will hear the same stories of sex, winding and grinding that are still used today. Same story, different tellers.

The lyrics may be explicit but the dance moves back then were much less so.....

Brasi, the day you posted this I caught bits of a show on JA tv discussing music lyrics etc (I don't know the scope of the program). One participant (Carolyn Cooper I think) said it used to be more covert, that adults would know the lyrics were referring to sex but the kids didn't.

The show also posted up some info from a survey - that 68% of adolescent boys and 65% of adolescent girls said dancehall music and lyrics made them want to 'have sex often' or 'have sex more often'.

That is a sexy tune you posted!

Yes...I mean...it's my fav dancehall tune but it basically encourages young adults to boom boom to produce babies....

I encourage anyone to Google the lyrics.

Wow. I am no prude but this is wayyyyy up front. LOL

It seems this is always the case as generations get older. When my gramdma was young, her parents couldnt understand her "vamp" ways. And that was near the beginning of the last century. The dance marathons in the early-mid 1900's were looked upon as sinful by the older generations. When the term "rock-n-roll" was first used, it had nothing to do with music. Jim Morrison was arrested on stage for pushing the lyric envelope.

I am sure that when this younger generation gets to be older, they will be complaining about how bad their kids behavior has become....

Something never change... (grin)

Brasi, about that song yes - I could have enjoyed it only twice in my life, lol. All the rest I sure didn't want to make no baby!! (PS I was looking at those lyrics earlier in the day you made your post! coincidence??? LOL)

Rob,
That is ceratinly one aspect of what Brasi is discussing. I think we also have to check out our American roots vs. those of the Jamaicans. Our country was founded (kicked off at the very least) by religious fanatics. Puritans, remember them.
Sure it was a long time ago but they're hypocrisy lives on.

Jamaica has a dash of Spanish in its roots (less uptight than the Puritans), the English that followed were capitalists not Puritans, then you have the African influence. Because the Maroons were able to live unfettered a lot of African culture was able to flourish and fully take root. The slave masters did not allow that to happen in America and most true African culture was lost (with music being an exception).

So in America you have a set of roots that would have no trouble accepting sharia law (scarlet letter anyone - come on you adulterers step up) while Jamaica has a culture with its roots (most of them anyway) buried in African soil.

This is a subject I'd love to explore on the board, but I think it would be easy for it to innocently become offensive. Regardless, it is a fascinating subject: the juxtaposition of Amercan culture with Jamaican culture. Overall I think we got railroaded by the damn puritans.

Lola
I rest my case.

Rob - Mr Mojo Risin was arrested on stage for letting Mr. Winky slip out of the envelope! :) The establishment WAS more than a little concerned about the message of some of his songs though, he was advocating revolution. No one here gets out alive! :)

Rum,

I hadn't thought about your specifics...I was thinking it might be to a lack of the "development" of the relevant agencies regarding regulations...

(For example: I found the scooter rental process to be amazingly easy-a credit card-no license, no "fees" or government tariff etc. and thought maybe that the Jamaican Gov had more to do then watch over every Vybz Kartle release).

Rob, Guir

I love these types of discussions. I really do expect to be living at least part-time in Jamaica someday, and although the best way to learn things is to be there on vacations...when I can't there is Negril.com discussions! Thanks!

Your posts are on the money. I told my youngest son (16) that they once made Morrison change his lyrics for live TV, and he asked what did he say? I said "girl we couldn't get much higher..." and he gave me a look like "Really?" Yes kid. Really LOL :cool:

LOla:
I dream of meeting the woman who wants to enjoy that song WITH me. :D:D:o

Brasi, ready for round 2 of child-rearing, eh? bless ya!

...maybe...now that my kids are getting ready for college etc I am getting the empty nest syndrome...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rum-polephoreskin

Rob,
That is ceratinly one aspect of what Brasi is discussing. I think we also have to check out our American roots vs. those of the Jamaicans. Our country was founded (kicked off at the very least) by religious fanatics. Puritans, remember them.
Sure it was a long time ago but they're hypocrisy lives on.

---

If I remember correctly, Columbus (the dude, not the city) was commissioned for his voyages by the Catholic monarch's from Spain. Jamaica was "discovered" in 1494, and the inhabitants were claimed to be now a part of Spain as well as the Catholic Church. So.... it seems that religious fanatics have had their hand in the formations of many modern countries...

In my years here in Jamaica, I have seen many parallels to what I grew up experiencing in the USA. While not being a perfect one to one parallel - there are more similarities than differences.

It seems to be one of the responsibilities of the youth to make the preceding generations uncomfortable with their behavior. And so it goes...