Censorship in the Music Industry
Wednesday, November 26th, 2008The Korean music industry is a strict place. While America and other Western countries seem to have few problems with the content of songs as long it isn’t incredibly offensive or full of swearing, Korea on the other hand seems to have very strict ideas about what is and is not suitable for the public. Bad language is an obvious one, but what takes me by surprise every single time is that one of the things they ban songs for - or at least demand lyric changes for - is sexually suggestive content.
비’s latest title song Rainism has recently been banned in it’s original form because the the government feels some of the lyrics are unhealthy material for young Koreans, and encourage sexual behaviour. The original song has been removed from music sites and charts, and 비 can only perform the revised version on television programs. The lyrics came under criticism in late October, but passed review at first. It seems a bit late now to suddenly ban the song, after it’s been out for well over a month.
Here’s the lyrics in question:
떨리는 네 몸 안에 돌고 있는
나의 magic stick (magic stick)
더 이상 넘어갈 수 없는
한계를 느낀 body shake (body shake)
Suggestive, sure, but it’s not that bad.
As far as I’m aware, at least one television programme also banned or wanted to ban 비 from performing You, another song from his fifth album, for more suggestive lyrics.
신화 member 전진 also had two of his solo songs censored earlier this year. The first was the MV for Wa, set in a nightclub with people getting up close and personal, which broadcast stations decided was too sexually suggestive to be aired during the usual hours and shows. The second was the song 사랑한다는 그 말, featuring 신화 bandmate Eric, for having the word “bullshit” in one of the rap lines.
And yet Western songs aren’t banned or censored in Korea, no matter how sexually suggestive they are. Is it because the lyrics in question are in English? Or is it because Korea simply has different ideas of what is and is not appropriate for their own artists?
Sexually suggestive lyrics aren’t all that get songs banned or censored. Hiphop trio Epik High have also found themselves being censored in the past for lyrics that deal with social issues such as sexual crimes, war, religion and education. Last year during an interview with The Korea Times, Tablo said “if we talk about a social issue, we get censored. I don’t understand how discussing a social issue or saying that something wrong should be made right is bad for the youth… If talking about serious issues and reality and how to make it better is wrong; If we’re living in that kind of society, things are not going to get any better.” 서태지 has also in the past found his songs being censored for the same reason, with lyrics that criticised society.
These were just a few examples, but there’s been plenty of other occurences of this happening.
What do you guys think about this? Is the censorship and bans good intentions taken too far, or something that’s necessary? Should Korea lighten up, or are the rest of us just way too liberal?
Posted by Taliana in Korean Music |
November 27th, 2008 at 2:36 am
I think we’re far far FAR too liberal. Freedom of expression is one thing, but the US has gone way overboard in my opinion.
November 27th, 2008 at 5:08 am
I’m not used to a lot of censorship, except from when it comes to blatant racist material and straight out porn. So I suppose from my point of view Korea takes it way too far. We generally don’t censor English songs nor our own, as far as I know.
I think the US is too conservative when it comes to how sexual content is defined and cursing, and perhaps slightly too liberal when it comes to violence. =)
November 27th, 2008 at 8:20 am
Great topic Taliana!
I think Korea is like all other counties in that they simply want to protect the interests of their country as a whole by censoring what they deem inappropriate. Where the line is drawn is what gets so many of us hot-headed.
I agree with Chriss in that America, in particular, is especially free with violent images but more buttoned down with sexual material. But as far as political viewpoints and whatnot, America has a long history of saying whatever we want. Even something as simple as a music video can leave subtle ripples in the fabric of a given society. Remember Green Day’s American Idiot? Watch it again and really take a close listen to the lyrics and combine it withe imagery in the video . It is an especially blunt criticism and commentary on American society. Yet, it didn’t create THAT many waves, all things considered. Yet, our boy 미 has shocked the nation with his magic stick. Go figure.
For that matter, look at American AM radio. Nuff said.
Korea draws the line in a different place is all. I mean, it still kind of makes me chuckle when a breaking news story is on Korean TV and the confidant is pixelated and has their speech altered a la Alvin and the chipmunks. I suppose each nation will always draw the line in different places.
November 27th, 2008 at 8:22 am
opps, “비” not “미”. Me didn’t do anything ㅋㅋㅋ
November 28th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
I don’t really care much for sexual songs because I get bombarded by these type of songs everywhere no matter how subtle they are. What about TV shows nowadays? They’re becoming more risque. I don’t know how sexual songs make any differences from seeing girls doing “sexy dance” to boys on reality shows.
But I agree with Tablo. Censoring the songs that criticize the society to help improve the social conditions or resolve social problems that people face everyday is stupid. Government just can’t handle the truth; no wonder corruption persists. For this example, have you heard a recent news about judge releasing rapists to take care of the minor in wheelchair? That’s outrageous.
November 28th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
i’m not against censorship in general, but i just don’t understand the rationale behind the censorship in korea. bi gets censored, and the lyrics are changed to something that isn’t much less suggestive (but completely ridiculous), but other songs that are much more suggestive are left alone (boa’s “eat you up”, anyone?). not to mention all of the blatantly sexual english music that is commonly accepted. perhaps the people censoring the music don’t understand english? i don’t know..
November 29th, 2008 at 11:31 am
I’m pretty upset about it.
They also recently censored dbsk’s 4th album and do not allow anyone under 19 to purchase the album T_T
It’s really ridiculous.
So now, if i go to korea and want to buy dbsk’s album…i would either have to prove i’m 19 (which i’m not) or get my mom to buy it for me. It’s really ridiculous. So, if foreigners under 19 go to korea and want to buy dbsk’s album…is it still banned for them to buy?
T_T Mirotic isn’t even half as bad as BoA’s eat you up (the lyrics)
those koreans censoring the music should be more open….or they’ll start losing evid fans of kpop. Cause we dbsk fans are kind of upset alr because of the ban.
and dbsk’s album was released it september…and was only banned recently T_T so if they had wanted to ban it , they would have banned it earlier right???
all i can say, is that it’s getting out of hand. Look at the lyrics in dbsk’s album…T_T the content is not even half as bad as some pg movies i’ve watched in Singapore T_T
December 1st, 2008 at 4:17 am
Definitely an interesting topic, and I’m not sure what to think. “Cultural relativism” is such a tricky thing, but in this situation I’m inclined to say, if that is the point Korean society is at right now, then that’s just where it is. 비 (and others) might push the envelope a bit and move things, but this probably won’t be the “test case.”
I also think it’s wrapped up in larger issues around Korea’s relationship with outward expressions of sexuality. Toronto is pretty cool with public expressions of (opposite sex, anyway) affection, but I know it would make everyone uncomfortable if a couple really started getting physical on the subway (though true to Canadian-style, we’d politely try to ignore them). Yet, we don’t have signs like on the Korean subway, explicitly stating that “others will frown on you for excessive displays of affection.”
Of course, from my understanding, such a sign would have been redundant in Korea even 15 years ago, since everyone would naturally know his/her place. And if not, the cold stares from, well, everyone would certainly “remind” the individuals in question.
December 2nd, 2008 at 8:20 am
Another point that could be made is that ROK is still fairly young as far as a democratic country goes. I’m 19 just recently, but when I was born, the american music industry was really beginning to jump the gun as you might say. When our parents and grandparents were our ages, it was unheard of to hear a rather sexually aggressive song, or watch a risque MV. During I Love Lucy, husband and wife didn’t even sleep in the same bed! TV had to strictly abide by the no man and woman will be shown together in bed even though they are husband and wife and we all know that husband and wife sleep together in the same bed.
I’m sure as time goes on, Korea will do what practically every other successful democratic country has done and change rapidly.
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:22 pm
I think that the government is wasting time with this… most of the songs censored in the past month were remotely suggestive. But I will say that Rain’s lyrics with the ‘magic stick’ were a bit lewd… hehe! But TVXQ’s Mirotic was far from suggestive…
I believe that as long as there are no vulgarities or racism in the lyrics, it’s fine… and if the MV is too racy, I understand that it has to be shown past 10pm… but do they really think that they can reduce the exposure of such things to the youth in Korea? The internet is rampant with sexual images and free downloads of music and videos… Censorship is the last thing the Korean government needs to worry about. They should focus their efforts elsewhere e.g. reducing the suicide rate?
December 6th, 2008 at 7:08 am
There needs to be standards of public decency to protect children. Persons still have the choice to practice and develop their immorality in private. There are infinite, endless, styles of expression within the boundaries of public-decency. I have seen censorship go too far at times, which should be balanced; however, not enough censorship is worse, permitting immoral persons to lead children into immorality. Purveyors of indecent lyrics want to sell records and make a lot of money for themselves with selfish motive. In the U.S. in the 1940’s there were music-bands in every town who sat in ballrooms and played for the public to dance there, for the public to enjoy themselves. Today, the public sits and watches the band dance around, and the public pays high prices to do so. The bands served the public in the 1940’s and serve themselves today. Kids who do not have life experiences are the most vocal in promoting indecent lyrics. The kids are manipulated by the music producers pocketing a lot of money. These kids should prove themselves responsible by serving the poor and the elderly effectively and they will so gain wisdom and knowledge and no longer believe it important to spend their time trifling in imposing indecent lyrics upon children.
December 15th, 2008 at 9:23 am
I find it odd how DBSK’s Mirotic was censored, too, and even after nearly 400,000 copies were sold..and the only words changed were “under my skin” to “under my sky”…what? I thought they were being weird about it because the music video is a little racy, if you have a good imagination…but “under my sky”? I’m disappointed.