MTV fears offending Bush

[tgnyc]

Rock group Nine Inch Nails has decided to pull out of its scheduled performance at this week’s 2005 MTV Movie Awards show, after the network balked at the set the group planned to use for the performance of their song “The Hand the Feeds.”

The performance was to take place in front of a backdrop of a photo of George W. Bush. The song takes swipes at the war in Iraq and, more broadly, those who blindly follow misguided national leaders, with such lyrics as:


you're keeping in step in the line
got your chin held high and you feel just fine
because you do what you're told
but inside your heart it is black and it's hollow and it's cold

AND

what if this whole crusade's
a charade
and behind it all there's a price to be paid
for the blood on which we dine
justified in the name of the holy and the divine


MTV claimed in a statement that it was “uncomfortable with their performance being built around a partisan political statement.” When MTV approached the band to discuss its “discomfort,” the group walked.

This collapse makes one wonder whether the folks at MTV actually read the lyrics of the songs to be performed on their awards shows. The song is clearly an attack on Bush’s decision to go to war and the current environment in America (though it’s not clear why such a message would be considered “partisan”), with or without the Bush backdrop. If MTV had already realized this fact when it booked the group, then its reaction to the visual element means that network was hoping to hide the essence of the song from the less cognizant of its viewers. Why would it want to do that?

Actually, MTV’s recent history is pockmarked with examples of the network’s trying to have it both ways, featuring provocative artists in the name of maintaining the network’s “edgy” brand image, while seeking to erase traces of the provocative content that made the artists noteworthy in the first place – particularly when that content veers into the political arena.

more at www.intelligencesquad.com/id117.html

[DebJ]

1. another internet story on this said that NIN's response was this:

MTV objected to a large picture of Bush to be set up behind the group as they performed. NIN replied something like: I guess they can't stand to look at a picture of Bush anymore than I can!

[gmoney]

2. Corporate Rock Still Sucks

... maybe I WILL go buy the new NIN album after all.

[Kerrytravelers]

3. Who owns MTV?

It seems everyone is afraid of stating the truth... perhaps MTV's Big Brother was lurking behind the curtain...?

[FreedomAngel82]

4. I'm not sure

The people who own MTV also own Nickeloden I believe. Funny since on a lot of their award shows they have rap artist's like Eminem and Jay-Z who curse up a storm but they can't have this? Please!

[Alex88]

5. I think Viacom owns MTV

and VH1 as well

[kiraboo]

6. Well, I don't watch MTV and this gives me another reason

not to start. I refuse to knowingly support anybody who knowingly supports the Shrub.

[Kerrytravelers]

14. I thought it was Viacom.

The CEO of Viacom was quoted as saying, prior to election disaster 04, "My vote goes to what ever is good for Viacom."

Since Viacom is past of the "media," we can only guess the obvious... and why MTV has lost their courage to question authority.

Not the MTV I grew up on... boy, that's saying a lot, isn't it? :eyes:

[bluedeminredstate]

7. Not sure

but it's one of the biggies and I'm sure that's the very reason.

[otohara]

8. MTV Fears Losing Advertisers - GOP Donors

errr... Read Viacom Fears Losing Advertisers...Coke, Pepsi, Budweiser, COORS....all friends of God's Only Party

[flvegan]

9. This story was the one that made me decide

to go buy "With Teeth"

I do really like NIN, but I don't normally spend cash on music unless it's a must have. However, Trent's stance here made this one a must-have.

[FreedomAngel82]

10. I'll have to check out some

stuff and see if it's my style. I also want to buy the Foo Fighters new album.

[flvegan]

11. If you like NIN, you'll probably like this one.

I try to support any anti-bunnypants musicians if their music suits me (Green Day, Beastie Boys, etc).

[XemaSab]

12. I've been a NIN fan from

Back In The Day and while there has been a long subtle history of social commentary in their lyrics, I'm really surprised and impressed by this.

:-)

From http://www.nin.com/current/index.html



and

[Neshanic]

13. Bush forced MTV to do a dance/variety show with his daughters

as stars if Viacom did not tell NIN to drop the backdrop. Too bad, they could of made it an extravaganza with synchronized swimming and cool guests like Ricky Martin.