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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Boney M asked to skip hit in West Bank gig |
| 2010-07-25 |
| When the iconic 1970s disco group Boney M rocked Ramallah this week, the local music festival prevented the band from performing one of its biggest hits. Lead singer Maizie Williams said Palestinian concert organizers told her not to sing "Rivers of Babylon." The song's chorus quotes from the Book of Psalms, referring to the exiled Jewish people's yearning to return to the biblical land of Israel. Palestinians often question the Jewish historical connection to the Holy Land. Organizers said they asked for the song to be skipped, deeming it "inappropriate." "I don't know if it is a political thing or what, but they asked us not to do it and we were a bit disappointed that we could not do it because we know that everybody loves this song no matter what," she said. The band performed its other big hits, like "Ma Baker," "Daddy Cool," and "Rasputin" in front of hundreds of screaming fans. The Palestinian International Festival started Monday and runs through Saturday, bringing international performances to the West Bank cities of Ramallah, Jenin, Hebron and Bethlehem. The concert comes amid a Palestinian campaign to get international artists to boycott Israel. The Pixies and Elvis Costello, among others, have canceled concerts in Israel following pressure from pro-Palestinian groups. "I believe you should entertain wherever you are asked to entertain, whether it is Israel, whether it is Palestine, whether it is Lebanon, where ever it is, we go," Williams said in Ramallah. "At the end of the day, politics is one thing and entertainment is another thing and when I got into the entertainment business I didn't get into it for politics. I got into it to make people happy," she said. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #12 ZOOOMG, like you know they're still alive! |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2010-07-25 23:23 |
| #11 "I don't know if it is a political thing or what, but they asked us not to do it and we were a bit disappointed that we could not do it" Apparently artistic freedom is a subjective thing for Maizie. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2010-07-25 19:21 |
| #10 Bob Marley's version was sooooo much better Quicksilver Messenger Service |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2010-07-25 14:39 |
| #9 I don't care about the Pixies but, I think I will boycott Elvis Costello from now on. Do any of you know any other artists who are boycotting Israel? |
| Posted by: Formerly Dan 2010-07-25 14:28 |
| #8 Hey...I remember seeing them at the Kingston Hyatt back in 75. Or maybe it was Montego Bay. Anyway, that Maizie was a Mink. Whew... |
| Posted by: Secret Asian Man 2010-07-25 12:55 |
| #7 Nope. Sorry... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2010-07-25 12:10 |
| #6 Bob Marley's version was sooooo much better |
| Posted by: Frank G 2010-07-25 12:04 |
| #5 Here you go tu3031, just a little reminder. |
| Posted by: tipper 2010-07-25 12:00 |
| #4 Iconic 1970s disco group Boney M? I must've killed more brain cells then I thought back then, because it's 2010 and this is the first I have ever heard about "iconic" 70's disco group Boney M. But I'll bet a road trip through the West Bank does make you appreciate the airport Holiday Inn curcuit a lot more. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2010-07-25 11:33 |
| #3 "I'm pretty sure Paleos aint shelling out $100 a ticket." I'd have to agree, phil. They probably wouldn't have enough left over after shopping in their upscale malls and eating in their fancy restaurants (which were highlighted here not long ago....). |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2010-07-25 11:10 |
| #2 I wonder who pays for them. I'm pretty sure Paleos aint shelling out $100 a ticket. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2010-07-25 10:42 |
| #1 oh noes! The Pixies cancelled? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2010-07-25 09:37 |