Stir It Up

We like a bit of continuation with this here blog occasionally so it is with some delight that I am able to bring you an update on one of our previous subjects. Do you remember the singing Rasta, tormenting the good people of Salford on a daily basis with his renditions of Bob Marley songs and preaching from the bible? For those not taken with the clicking of links, he’s been given an ASBO for singing too much in the street - causing a nuisance, that sort of thing. He’s back now though because he plans to fight what he sees as an injustice.

It’s a pretty thin argument, if we’re being honest. The guy sang and chanted his way through every hour of the day, causing untold annoyance to those in his locale. It’s unsurprising, however, that his argument in defence tends to largely ignore this and concentrate more on statements that entirely miss the point.

“In court it was said I'm aggressive,” he says, “I am not. I've not thrown a stone, I don't walk with a knife, I don't sell weed. I've got an Asbo for speaking.” Fine, that is correct – but speaking loudly, out of tune, all day every day, annoying other people. That’s largely what ASBOs are for – people who annoy other people. He goes on:

“I sing songs that are spiritual – songs of emotion. When I speak what I believe is the truth it might offend some people but I have the right to speak.” You do – but not all day every day, loudly, out of tune, annoying other people. I’m pretty sure the people who live on his street aren’t much offended by the content of the songs – the point that he seems to be missing is that it’s incredibly annoying, spiritual or not.

““I just want to raise awareness and condemn social injustice faced by black people in the UK,” he says. I’m pretty sure, however, that there are better ways to be going about it.

As people singing badly seems to be something of a national obsession, if Saturday night TV is anything to go by, I might as well give you this little video clip again. Enjoy: