(TV) The Old "Ray Davies is an anti-semite" thread

[Jeff Strell <jeff.strell@usa.net>]

John Mendelsohn?s notes for the Great Lost Kinks Album say that ?When I Turn
Off the Living Room Light? was composed for a British television drama, but he
doesn?t delve into its plot or characters.  He also notes that ?Kinks fans of
Semetic lineage will perhaps not be inordinately delighted by the ditty?s
opening remarks,? which are these:

Who cares if you?re Jewish
And your breath smells of garlic
And your nose is a shiny red light

To me you are gorgeous 
And everything?s right
When I turn off the living room light

Your clothes are old-fashioned
Your knuckles are boney
Your hair looks a terrible sight

But I don?t have to see you
The way that you are
When I turn off the living room light

A close reading of my previous posting on this topic will show that I did not
accuse Ray Davies of anti-semitism ? just idiocy.  But I think I?ve provided
enough context for most people to at least agree that it is certainly POSSIBLE
to interpret these lines as anti-semetic.  Every adjective here other than
?Jewish? is pejorative; it?s not that much of a leap to think that he meant
?Jewish? as a pejorative as well.

What John Lennon might have said or not said is not pertinent to my point,
which is that the lyrics to this song are disgusting.

- Jeff


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