I have never been a fan of Wiley - or indeed of any grime artist. To me, he was just that bloke who did a track in 2009 entitled Wearing My Rolex. Not a person I've ever given much thought to, though I somehow had about twelve of his songs in my DJ music collection - either his or through collaborations. Maybe they got played in the past, maybe they did not.
This week saw that change. Anything of his was promptly removed from the collection. It is a fate that has befallen the likes of R Kelly and Chris Brown. I don't consider myself a censorious old b@st@rd, but I don't really want to promote the music of people who have actively caused harm. Jonathan King and Gary Glitter also have no place in the collection. Michael Jackson, however, remains innocent in my eyes. And in the eyes of so many others. In fact, only once (in 2003) have I had someone come up and say: "Oi don't play Michael Jackson, he's a pervert!" I promptly told that person to p*ss off and stop telling lies.
So where do we stand on Elvis Presley? It has been stated many a time that he had dalliances with females as young as 14. Apparently we should stop romanticising him and start acknowledging him for what he actually was - a paedophile and a rapist. So what do I tell the VERY MANY older people who continue to request his music? Do I seriously tell the old dear in her seventies: "Sorry, I don't play music by paedophiles"? I know it would be the "woke" thing to do, but that generation are not going to disown The King™ just like that! Some things just do not come easy. It is with heavy heart that I will continue to play The Great Burger Muncher™ for the older listener.
For the record, I also avoid Blurred Lines, with it's ignorant, mocking refrain of "I know you want it!" In fact I don't just avoid it - I don't possess it. You cannot play what you do not have!
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