At awards show, Morissette skit protests U.S. censorship
Knight Ridder News Service Tue, Apr. 06, 2004 dfw.com
Canadian rocker Alanis Morissette didn't bare her breast like Janet Jackson did, but she did bare her soul Sunday night at Canada's annual music awards, demonstrating her disdain for what she called "hypocritical U.S. censorship."
Hosting the 2004 Juno Awards ceremonies, Canada's version of the Grammys, Morissette disrobed onstage to reveal a skin-colored, naked body suit with nipples and pubic hair.
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The satirical act, Morissette said, was aimed at U.S. government institutions for overreacting to cultural free expression as a result of the fallout surrounding Janet Jackson's Super Bowl "wardrobe malfunction," when her breast was exposed to millions of TV viewers.
"As you may or may not be aware, recently in the United States, I ran into a little problem with regards to a lyric in one my songs," Morissette told the near-sellout audience of 17,000, referring to her latest release, titled Everything. The lyrics include the words, "I can be an a------ of the grandest kind."
"Well, I am overjoyed to be back in my homeland, the true North ... strong and censor-free."
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I see government censorship issues as being a hot topic in the upcoming election. FCC is cracking down on radio, Oprah and soap operas? Having had little success with its "War on Drugs," or its "War on Terrorism," is the GOP moving on to the "War on Indecency?"
It is strange, and somewhat embarrassing to me to see another country (even worse, Canada) rightfully mocking the U.S.A.'s crackdown on Free Speech. I guess the First Amendment ain't what it used to be. |