By Emily Sullivan
Opinion and Associate Editor
There always seems to be some sort of controversy in the music industry. Whether it’s because of Lady Gaga’s strange videos or Miley Cyrus’ never-ending twerking, artists are constantly coming up with new ways to be noticed and get publicity.
But while Gaga and Cyrus rely on interesting and/or uncomfortable tactics, it seems that Patrice Wilson of Pato Music World is taking things one step further by using racism to gain popularity.
Wilson, who was one of the masterminds behind the song “Friday” by Rebecca Black, released a new single called “Chinese Food,” sung by 11-year-old Alison Gold on Oct. 14, according to an Oct. 17 Telegraph story.
If you haven’t heard the song yet, you’re lucky. If you haven’t seen the video, you’re even luckier.
The song is bad enough as it is. It begins with Gold singing “After balling, I go clubbing. Then I’m hugging. Then I’m hungry.” I don’t personally know any 11-year-olds who claim to go balling and then go clubbing, and I’m pretty sure that’s not a common thing for any young girl to do.
The words are just plain stupid. It’s like Gold went into a Chinese restaurant and decided to sing the entire menu, which would probably have made for a better song.
But while the song is horrible, the video is absolutely absurd, and it’s probably one of the most racist things I’ve ever seen, primarily because of its intense use of stereotypes.
I don’t know what’s worse: when Gold starts skipping through the fields next to a giant panda bear, or when Gold and her backup dancers come out dressed in traditional geisha garb.
First of all, the panda bear is actually just Wilson finding an extremely stupid way to put himself in the video for his small rap in the middle. Second, geishas are not a part of the Chinese culture. Geishas are Japanese.
The worst moment is when the giant panda is playing a game of Monopoly with a group of pre-teen girls. The camera zooms in on the board and what space does the giant panda land on?
Oriental Avenue.
When “Nightline” interviewed Wilson about the song, he simply said “I just really love Chinese food and that is why I wrote a song about it,” according to an Oct. 17 ABC News story.
Okay, what?
So because you love Chinese food, you’re going to make an extremely offensive video about it and insult Chinese culture. Makes perfect sense.
This song is geared towards a younger generation, seeing as Gold is only 11. What is this going to teach kids? That stereotypes are right and that blatant racism is okay? This isn’t real music. This is just an attempt to make money, and apparently Wilson and Gold don’t care who they offend along the way.
I can only hope that Wilson will give it a rest and stick to writing songs about days of the week.
As for Gold? Go eat your chow mein and shut up.
sullivec10@bonaventure.edu
