[12-06-97 Sat] There is plenty of controversy now surrounding the new Prodigy single. Most likely because of a statement issued by Prodigy, MTV has decided to air the band's controversial "Smack my Bitch Up" video. The video will premiere on the station Sunday, December 7 at midnight during "120 Minutes" and will air again at 1, 2, and 3 AM. The video, which contains some nudity and violence, will be somewhat censored and will have a warning before the video comes on.
However, on Friday morning Wal-Mart decided to pull the Prodigy's album "Fat of the Land" of store shelves because of the song. The discount chain giant said it would not sell the album because "of objectionable lyrics that clearly would offend our customers." In 1996, Wal-Mart would not sell Sheryl Crow's self-titled second album because of the song "Love is a Good Thing," which contains the lyric: "Watch our children while they kill each other/With a gun they bought at Walmart discount stores".
The NOW (National Organization for Women) has decided to chase Time Warner, which co-owns with Madonna Prodigy's label, Maverick. NOW spokesperson Janice Rocco said of the song, "This teaches violence against women is a form of entertainment." In another interview she said, "I think it is deplorable for Madonna's record company to be putting this kind of message out into the mainstream music market."
Prodigy's press release says that the line "Change my pitch up/Smack my bitch up" was taken from the Ultramagnetic MCs song "Give The Drummer Some" and isn't really written by Prodigy. The band adds that since there aren't any other lyrics to the song, it doesn't glorify anything. Also they say, the band is against violence against women, or any of that type of violence.
Prodigy - December 06, 1997
Back to Archives
Back to December 1997