Clergy knocks Blakey’s panty song

“No long talk” is by far the biggest hit so far for Carnival 2008, and while it is stirring mad excitement in every party, it has also become a talking point among church leaders – who have condemned the song as grossly indecent and unacceptable.{{more}}

Vincent “Blakie” Cuffy’s partnership with crowd favourite Gamal “Skinny Fabulous” Doyle for the hit song, coupled with the much touted “Project Blakie”, which is an attempt to get the 48-year-old off drugs and alcohol, has created a show within the show that is Carnival, but the song has attracted sharp criticism in church circles.

“Except something is wrong with us as a society, that song can’t be acceptable,” said Anglican Priest, Patrick McIntosh, who laid into the song during a recent sermon.

Dean McIntosh told SEARCHLIGHT that his criticism of the song, which encourages women to “Tek off the panty, no more long talk” is not a religious one, but rather moral.

He said that when that song is placed in the context of the increase in the disrespect of women in society, a sad picture is painted.

He said songs like that one continue to nurture an inferior view of women in society.

McIntosh, who is Dean of St. George’s Cathedral, said he was also very disgusted by the use of the song to promote carnival shows.

“Surely we can use more tasteful songs to promote Carnival,” he said.

He said that he is not suggesting that questionable songs have not been made before. However, according to him, there comes a time when stocktaking needs to be done.

“This is not an attack against Carnival. It is not me taking a fundamentalist approach,” he said.

He noted that in the past, sexually suggestive songs were written with more creativity that could at least shield the very young, so when “No long talk” is written so plainly, “Is it a sign of the society, can we allow this to go along?” he asked.

This view is also shared by Rev Noel Clarke, outspoken tele-evangelist, and long time pastor of the Layou Miracle Church.

Clarke told SEARCHLIGHT that he was very disappointed that the song was getting so much airplay, and he, too, stressed that his concern was not a religious issue, but rather a moral one.

Clarke also alluded to the fact that in times past, songs with sexual overtones were disguised, and said that he, too, is concerned about the uncensored message that is being fed to the young children. (KJ)