ultragrrrl

So I've been hesitating from saying anything about this because I didnt want to add fuel to the fire... and while all of me believes in the 1st amendment right to say whatever you want -- positive or negative -- about whatever you want, I didn't want to give gawker, or whomever, fodder for their relentless criticism that's always misdirected.

But anyway... here it is: There are these parents in this country who are trying to get Schoolyard Heroes banned. WTF!? is that even possible anymore? There's like 5 pages of signatures! I just can't believe it. Tipper Gore is too busy for this BS, right?

The only time my parents ever got upset with something i was listening to was "Closer" by nine inch nails... and that was because it came on the radio in the middle of a fight my mom and i were having over the fact that i cut off all my hair and dyed it black -- save for a tragic skunk strip in the front -- when i was 15. When the song came on the radio my mom couldnt believe what i was listening to. That happened exactly at the moment Trent said "I wanna ugh you like an animalllllll."

Anyway, these people think that my little bubs in Schoolyard Heroes are trying to spread Satan's message. Are you kidding?!

But then, there was a clip of their next video that i saw for "Dude, where's my skin?" and i'm kinda worried that that label will just continue to stick with them. it was this incredibly disturbing sequence involving Ryann the singer and every time i watch it, it's like the equivelent of touching a wound even thought you know it'll hurt you. It was like smelling something that you know stinks. You can't stop doing it even though you know you should. And then i keep on wanting other people to experience this with me, so i call them into my office, and as if i'm sharing my snuff porn collection with them, i show them the minute long clip and then they look at me with this look of disturbance and disgust and want to watch it again. The band's publicist, Adesina, who is black, actually turned white. I couldnt believe it. She screamed and said she had to stop watching it and ran out of my office. I felt almost guilty.

So i'm stuck with a dilemma. Do i pull the plug on this video? I mean, there are people who work with the band who cant watch it without getting ill and threatening to puke. I, myself, have seen this clip about 20 times and still turn pale and have to put my head down for a moment everytime I see it. My friends whom i say "this will disturb you are you sure you want to see this?" chastise me for not warning them ahead of time. I watched this video so many times that I had to promise myself not to watch it again until the finished video was delivered at the end of this week because the last time i watched it i got the idea to pull the scissors from my desk and bring it to my skin to see blood, turning numb to the pain. That shit is fucked up, right?

All weekend long, I kept on hearing their lyrics run through my mind ("You're so dead to me /I want to see you suffering for me" and "Take off your skin and dance with me / cut out your tongue and sing for me") and i'm thinking that I've been duped and maybe these parents are right and maybe I'm going to be somewhat directly responsible for someone having the same ideas as me. But then I call the band to get an update on how their tour is going and they're on their way to the modern art museum in chicago and they're the sweetest hearts of sweet. God, I love them.

PS. Their album is now available in the UK -- along with ALL stolen transmission releases!!!!