Here's Why The Rolling Stones Removed "Brown Sugar" From Their Setlist After 50 Years
"Brown Sugar" is the one in every of the biggest songs that The Rolling Stones have ever made, but what exactly does it imply? Here's a breakdown.
The affect that The Rolling Stones have had on rock 'n' roll music is simple. As one in all the biggest acts in the genre's history, their song has transcended over half a century of listeners and the group is still promoting out stadiums lately. In that time, The Rolling Stones have launched countless chart-topping hits, won multiple Grammys, or even been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
One of their greatest hit tracks over the years is "Brown Sugar," a track that has been an integral a part of their common live performance setlists and is one among their maximum well-known works, even to those that are not enthusiasts of the band. However, the true which means of the vintage music is a bit more debatable than many may suppose, and now even the band has determined to stop appearing it. So, what's the true that means in the back of "Brown Sugar"? Keep reading to determine.
The true meaning of "Brown Sugar" largely revolves round derogatory statements about Black ladies.
If you might be passively paying attention to "Brown Sugar," odds are you would possibly not have picked up on the racially charged innuendos made right through its lyrics. but a extra important look at the phrases finds that the song carries a lot of problematic messages. Released in 1971, the opening lyrics in "Brown Sugar" largely refer to a woman being sold into slavery as well as being whipped via an obvious slave master.
The slavery-focused lyrics are most obvious in lines like, "Gold coast slave ship bound for cotton fields / Sold in the market down in New Orleans / Scarred old slaver knows he's doing alright."
Furthermore, lyrics such as, "Hear him whip the women just around midnight," "Brown Sugar, just like a young girl should," and references to a "Black girl" all the way through additionally obviously corroborate the dark racial undertones the track is accused of having.
Although it's getting a large number of consideration now, band frontman Mick Jagger first spoke about the controversy surrounding the lyrics almost three many years ago.
"I never would write that song now," the rock 'n' roll legend told Rolling Stone again in 1995, adding, "I would probably censor myself."
The Rolling Stones have made up our minds to forestall performing "Brown Sugar" indefinitely.
In an interview with The Los Angeles Times, Mick and bandmate Keith Richards defined that "Brown Sugar," which has been a staple of their common tour setlist for many years, will likely be not more.
"We’ve played 'Brown Sugar' every night since 1970, so sometimes you think, 'We’ll take that one out for now and see how it goes,'" Mick stated. Nonetheless, he mentioned, "We might put it back in."
Keith was just a little less circumspect than Mick in his explanation, telling the e-newsletter, "I’m trying to figure out with the sisters quite where the beef is. Didn’t they understand this was a song about the horrors of slavery? But they’re trying to bury it. At the moment I don’t want to get into conflicts with all of this s--t."
He then added, "I’m hoping that we’ll be able to resurrect the babe in her glory somewhere along the track."
The Rolling Stones have now not carried out "Brown Sugar" at any of the stops on their current "No Filter Tour," which has dates scheduled till November 2021. This tour marks the first time that the staff is appearing together since the demise of bandmate Charlie Watts.
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