Should Recording Artists Skip Explicit Performances at Award Shows?

by Fergie Posted 2012/07/02 19:00:00

Related Topics: Music, Beyonce, Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Artist, Award, Kanye, Censorship, Jay-z, BET

538 votes
Read all 344 opinions
Lightning Report View Results and Demographics + View Demographics

Loading Demographics... Click an icon to see demographic results Display unknown and private
	Yes	395 votes	73%
	No	143 votes	27%

Jay-Z, Kanye West, Chris Brown and Beyonce all won big last night at the BET awards. The awards show featured a tribute to Whitney Houston and many other performances from award winners. Unfortunately, many of the performances were heavily censored resulting in long moments of awkward silence for TV viewers. Should artists opt for more "TV-friendly" performances at televised award shows? Or should they perform their songs exactly how they were written?

Entire segments of performances, from Nicki Minaj to Rick Ross, were muted out due to foul language and obscenities, though several vulgarities were heard on air.

+19

Add a comment above

Balladeer-PWCM-POTL 2012/07/02 19:24:51

Yes

+21
BUT they won't because they lack TALENT and therefor NEED a gimmick like shock. and thank you for your posting here...WHY because when i tell the truth about Rap and filth i am called a racist and the defenders say 'the filth is a rarity'
>> See Replies

More polls by Fergie

adeenmc... to glendajb4 2012/07/04 06:14:13

+1
agreed):

reply
BloodWineTears 2012/07/03 21:58:23

No

+1
Although I must say, what do you expect if you ask Nicki Minaj to perform? I don't think she's ever heard 'family' and 'friendly' in the same sentence. It's not the fault of the performers, it's the fault of the organisers who got these acts known for swearing and racist language to perform. If there was a problem with censoring, they'd ask the artist to change the song, or use a different artist.

reply
El Prez 2012/07/03 21:48:15

No

Their choice. If they want the long delays, then keep doing it. OR they can change and get the whole performance on TV. They have to make the choice.

reply
HipJipC 2012/07/03 21:21:58

No

Of all the things to be shocked over this isn't one of them. This isn't music I normally listen to or an award show I watch. So, to each their own.

reply
MrsB 2012/07/03 21:21:36

No

+1
I'm going to hop up on my soapbox for a moment. Here's my thing ... it's not like this is The Hunger Games and you HAVE to watch what is on ... here's my tip ... CHANGE THE CHANNEL if you don't like what you're watching. This isn't 1960 when there were only 5 shows on at a given time ... there are hundreds of things on. And dvd's. Or you could just grab a book.

And as a parent of young boys, I would never let my boys watch one of those shows without seeing it myself first. I'm sorry, with some of those artists, you know that there are going to be questionable lyrics ... just don't let your kids watch it. But for some people, if you just don't let your kids watch it, what would you gripe about the next day?!?

reply
BloodWi... to MrsB 2012/07/03 21:56:13

wow. you just compared real life to The Hunger Games.

I'm a music lover. I'd enjoy watching these awards shows if they actually awarded by a basis of talent, not who has the sexiest hair, most racist lyrics, best shock factor etc etc.

reply
MrsB to BloodWi... 2012/07/26 15:22:42

I did do that comparison - I have kids. I don't realize when I break down answers with current things like that. And I liked the Hunger Games. And it was relevant. Kind of. So hush. :)

reply
D'Art 2012/07/03 21:03:30

Yes

+2
I would skip the explicit stuff just so my "talent" could reach larger audiences. I'm wondering if BET will release the uncut version to rake in more money? Uncut DCS will probably pull in some descent dollars.

reply
Kingart... to D'Art 2012/07/03 22:12:13

+3
When you have no talent, you cave to the profanity... gets attention, and all of a sudden you are 13 years old... and for Kanye, that is like 4 years older than his actual mental age.

reply
Miesha 2012/07/03 20:52:44

No

TV shouldn't be censored in the first place!

reply
AmVet 2012/07/03 20:38:14

Yes

+4
Rap may be put to music but most of it is just the same vulger better off not having to hear it noise anyway. If you are not intelligent enough to use proper English and you have to substitute "gutter mouth language" because you don't know the proper wording, you don't need to be on a public platform anyway. It's has become a real imbarrassment to be out with your family and some ignoramus has their car radio blasting vulgar garbage for you mother, wife and kids to indure. It show a lack of respect to the people around them as well as themselves.

reply
BUCKY-- SKYNYRD 2012/07/03 20:16:12

Yes

+4
how happy parents must have been with young kids watching

reply
mklprc 2012/07/03 20:10:49

No

+4
Here's an idea: Since BET is not a broadcast station and not subject to FCC regulation, how about NOT CENSORING IT AT ALL! If you are watching, you know what to expect.

reply
Kingart... to mklprc 2012/07/03 22:13:20

How about not Libtard! Best Wishes!

reply
darazan to mklprc 2012/07/03 23:13:35

Regular cable TV is still censored and subject to the FCC regulation. The only channels that are not are considered premium, such as HBO, Starz, Encore, etc.

reply
MichaelTaylor 2012/07/03 19:50:37

Yes

+1
Yes, but that what most of them do. If it weren't for these disgustingly nasty antics they wouldn't be performing at all.

reply
Ruby Santos 2012/07/03 18:48:25

Yes

+1
there really is no need for it, and they have to remember kids like to watch.

reply
Crusher 2012/07/03 18:40:54

Yes

+1
It's getting to funny! They keep there standards so low,

reply
Riobhca 2012/07/03 18:27:35

Yes

+2
They should have some respect for other people. If you truly have talent, you don't need to add garbage to your music.

reply
Jennifer Maesner 2012/07/03 18:04:42

Yes

Honestly, if you can't write a song without all the filth in it, you should consider a different career, because you aren't the least bit entertaining. At any rate, on live tv, artists should be singing the clean version most of them create for the radio, like with Nicki M's song starships... She says "check who you want" instead of the f word in the explicit version.

reply
Gahnzo 2012/07/03 17:57:13

Yes

Take out the "backbeat" and what do you have.. someone talking.. and that's supposed to be music? Sorry but I still don't get it.. and I doubt in 20 years they'll be doing a "best of Rap of the 10's".....

reply
EEYORECJ4 2012/07/03 17:39:45 (edited)

No

Yes. If we wanted to bear that crap, we would. Buy the cd.

reply
Ashley 2012/07/03 17:38:07

Yes

If all I am going to hear is a censor or whatnot, then I am not going to waste my time watching garbage like that and turn the channel! Not that rap or hip-hop should classify as music in the first place, and most of the award shows are total jokes, anyway. How long does a "star" practice acting shocked for when their name is (surprise, surprise) called? And it still comes off as cheap and corny!

reply
cc 2012/07/03 17:36:04

Yes

All they have is thier worst, and bring out and encourage the worst in thier fans. You can't go to one of thier venues without risk of getting knifed and enduring horrifically pathetic manners, behavior, drug use, gang activity and crime.
Nobody wants thier children to hear this garbage. I don't want to hear it at all.

reply
tina 2012/07/03 16:58:16

Yes

Yes!!!!!!Yes!!!!!!! and YES............

reply
M'lud 2012/07/03 16:50:42

Yes

+1
If you can't entertain without going blue, you shouldn't be at an awards ceremony. Then again, does anyone actually watch awards programs?

reply
None of your business 2012/07/03 16:46:32
katy.isodo 2012/07/03 16:37:33

Yes

+1
If you can't play it on the regular radio, why would it be allowed on TV? It seems obvious to me...

reply
Mj PINKYFINGERDOWN 2012/07/03 16:37:18
Sonic 2012/07/03 16:32:18

Yes

How about they just skip explicit performances and we go back to when it was about music, not dancing half naked on stage (camera).

reply
ronbo 2012/07/03 16:19:46

Yes

+1
I don,t want to see anyone ever impose any type of censorship( save for the ten second delay) but I wish artists would refrain from crudeness or vulgarity when performing at an awards ceremony.The event is supposed to honor them and other artists. I think some good taste is in order. What they record in studio is up to them.

reply
Lucy Pannell 2012/07/03 16:19:25

Yes

+1
Stars need to perform their radio edit version for televised performances. And BET needs to get it together and stop allowing such trashy non-family friendly performances. The stars don't record inappropriate videos or they wouldnt get played on air... Why should a live televised performance be any different??? Their awards show is bottom of the barrel classless!!!

reply
Fran 2012/07/03 15:56:00

Yes

+1
They should censor their performances if they want air time. They can act as foolish as they want during their OWN concerts or in the privacy of their homes.

reply
Gwen 2012/07/03 15:53:22

No

+1
why....this is who those performers are....

makes it easier to base a judgement and feel good about missing the lack of class and ...um...talent?

reply
nightowl 2012/07/03 15:47:52 (edited)

Yes

Rap is crap...

God when will this tragedy of a "musical" genre die?! I actually enjoyed some rap/hip hop songs back in the 80s...but as an art form, it lost its way very quickly. Gangsta rap dominated the 90s and now this drivel I call "Bling Rap" seems to dominate the charts. All these morons can think of to say now is, "Dis my ride, dis my bitch, look at me, I'm fukkin rich!" - I got that beautiful rap-haiku from comedian John Bizarre btw.

But, people keep buying it...

reply
Carlos ... to nightowl 2012/07/03 16:11:36

Yeah, "Rap Is Crap"! I'm a METALHEAD! My profile picture says it all! But believe it or not, just like you, I used to like rap in the 80s. Back then it was about the music itself, now it's about foul language, racism, etc...

I'm hopeing it dies soon also...

reply
Miesha to Carlos ... 2012/07/03 20:59:01

+1
I'm not a big fan of rap but metal is 10 times worse. Talk about crap.... at least not all rap is the crap that comes out of kanyes mouth.... Metal is just senseless screaming by drug addicts and white trash.

reply
mimi je... to Miesha 2012/07/03 21:07:47

Not all metal has screaming in it. That is its own category. Good metal doesn't have a lot of screaming.

reply
Miesha to mimi je... 2012/07/08 22:29:35

True. True. Just like how not all rap is crap.

reply
Carlos ... to Miesha 2012/07/06 20:03:33

"Figures" A know-nothing boy (With a girls' name) like you would make such a worthless & useless comment that you know nothing about. why not listen to what mimi said before you stick your worthless nose and make comments about something you know nothing about...

reply