nina gordon - "straight outta compton"

What about when CCR covers "Cotton Fields"? What about white guys who frequent hiphop shows? What about when Ben Kingsley portrays Gandhi in a movie? Are all these things outrageous too?

I don't believe that only some are "entitled" to certain experiences (e.g. hoodlife), and those people are the sole proprietors of any language and dialogue that stems from such experiences. As a common race, we can understand and empathize with other humans. And I understand it sounds ridiculous for a folkie doing an NWA cover, but not too long ago it was skinny white British guys like the Rolling Stones and the Beatles and Led Zeppelin who were playing Robert Johnson and Rev. Gary Davis covers. And where did they get their muse from? Sure as fuck not from getting lynched in Mississippi. What right did they have to do those songs?-- and not just do them, but also build on their themes and make hundreds of albums of them? Empathy. A shared bond from being human. That gives them the right.

Is this song parody? Who knows? All I'm saying is that parody or not, it communicates the idea that these two divergent perspectives (Nina Gordon, Ice Cube) co-exist on planet Earth simultaneously; in fact, perhaps that's the thing that causes us all to respond to this with so much gusto. Some of us see it as an affront for one person to champion their ghetto lifestyle so passionately only to see someone else mimick it so (ostensibly) thoughtlessly; some of us think that the apparent cry for help exhibited in the lyrics is being exploited for humor value; some of us think that it's a good song, so who cares? ; others think that a valuable message is being conveyed through the odd juxtaposition.

Regardless, one thing is easily and effectively communicated by this song: there is a huge disparity in the living standards and lifestyles of different people in the world. Is it so bad for us to be aware of this? And, furthermore, is it only acceptable for the underpriviledged to make this statement? Aren't the priviledged also entitled to the same statement?

What is clever about it? Every high school talent show Ive ever been to had an act of some kid doing rap covers accoustically.

I referring to good cover versions in general, although for this one, "stylistic overhaul" should be emphasized more than "clever".

For me personally, I will always have a weak spot for people covering brash, "Wall Of Sound"-choked tracks by stripping them down to acoustic simplicity.

-- noodle vague (noodle_vagu...), January 20th, 2005.

jeez... would you relax?

I never really thought about it after my initial reaction which was "Jesus Christ, this sucks."

My main point being: we don't know why Nina covered "Straight Outta Compton", or just the first verse thereof. And we don't have a right to know why. But there it is.

I'm with Anthony on this one, even though my opinion on the song still stands.

That's called liberal guilt; and I say that as a stone cold liberal myself. It only takes one listen of "Boyz in tha Hood" or "Straight Outta Compton" to realize that NWA often brag about recklessly causing suffering-- in fact, it forms the backbone of most of their shit. It's a bit harder to feel sympathy for that mentality, which is why we are all prone to describing these songs as 'ironic' when a white person covers them; perhaps the original lyrics are so over-the-top and ostensibly describe a world most of us are so unfamiliar with that we are unable to pick up on the ridiculousness in the original lyrics. If Nina Gordon had covered Bob Marley's equally troubled, but more peaceable "Redemption Song" nobody would be complaining about 'irony.'

also, kid606's version of "straight outta compton" is incredible. make of that what you will.

Huh?

"would you guys be this outraged if The Kids Of Widney High did a cover of "Straight Outta Compton"? What about Dismemberment Plan, had they still been around? Kottonmouth Kings? Kid 606?"

Yes, Yes, and Yes, if they were as thoughtless and ugly as this one. (Kid 606 is irrelevant - he didn't cover the song so much as mess with the tape and remix it). (X-POST)

Look, the song is politically charged, and she must recognize that.
Tori Amos' cover of the Eminem song (which was also ear murder) was presented with some context! She made it very clear with that album that she was playing a role in each of the songs she was singing.

Nina Gordon has not done that. ** She has posted an MP3 where she says "Niggers" several times in a song. ** She offers no explanation or context, and the song itself smacks of "wacky contrast between pretty-voiced girl singing outrageous, profane things hilarity."

Yep, it's fucking offensive.

"Wouldn't it be funny if I covered this song from another genre?"

Next time anyone hears that, say NO.

How do you know she was trying to be funny? (if she says so on her site, then I'll stand corrected.)

Let's not get angry on Ice Cube's behalf; I'm sure he'll retaliate with some beef song... oh wait, he's making emasculated children's movies now.

x-post. She says "niggers" because those are the lyrics. Are cover versions all supposed to come with signed affidavits explaining their intent? The "wacky contrast" thing is in your head. Why couldn't it be a straight reading of a song she likes? Your obvious disdain for the artist stops you listening beyond the words. NWA are political in a sense so loose that it's virtually meaningless.

Also, I find nothing offensive about it otherwise. The n-word thing is not what should be criticized here.

[massive xposts]

donut, I'm not talking about mash-ups. I'm talking about acoustic covers of electronic and rap tracks which are just the most cloying thing known to man. They're supposedly "clever" and "reveal" the hidden qualities of the "real" song blah blah vomit.
-- Spencer Chow (spencercho...), January 20th, 2005.

mark, I am totally playfully muckraking here. Obviously, a lot of people don't like the cover of the song in question. Fine. I'm just amused by all the quasi-political baggage that everyone is emptying onto the whole issue, when other artists whose covers of same song we respect are on the same level, culturally/class speaking, as nina gordon.

Spencer, why are acoustic covers of hip hop/electronic songs automatically "clever" or "oooh, revealing"? Maybe someone just likes the song, and covers it, you know?