The situation of the Administration censoring the Marching 110's performance of "Blurred Lines" has caused quite the uproar.
I have read the letters about why the song should not have been performed, and I have read the letters from those unhappy with the administrations censorship. I side with the unhappy folks, but my reasoning is a little different.
Sure, I am a 110 alum and really don't like the idea of my band working their tails off only to have their hard work flushed by an oversensitive person. Sure, there is the idea of the dangerous precedent of censorship of university groups. (This is a very valid concern by the way...I would think that even the young student that first urged the band not to play the song would agree that infringement of freedom of speech is a no-no. I mean...she was a Political Science Major...don't they teach freedom of speech in political science classes?)
Sure, there is the issue that the song lyrics are in poor taste. I can agree with that. Although, I listen to it on the radio all the time and can barley make out the lyrics... it’s just a catchy song in my mind. The point I think everybody has missed...is the 110 can't possibly offend anybody by playing a song with "iffy" lyrics because the 110's music doesn’t have lyrics!
Unless someone out there is offended by various notes in the scale, grouped together in fun rhythms and played at an awesomely loud and powerful dynamics, then the argument is invalid. This whole situation was a bunch of unnecessary BS.
This is the beauty of a marching band... they can play anything they want, without having to worry about bleeping out the bad parts, because all the parts are one big freakin’ bleep! Case rested.
Ryan Smith is an Ohio University alumnus who graduated in 2000.
