Everyone knows about Wal-Mart’s longstanding refusal to carry albums they consider not to be family-friendly.
Victims of the policy include John Cougar Mellencamp, who had to edit out a devil on an album cover; Nirvana, which was forced to change the name of the song “Rape Me” to “Waif Me” (I know, what?); and Sheryl Crow, whose album was summarily banned from the store’s shelves because of the song “Love Is A Good Thing,” in which she sang “watch our children as they kill each other/with a gun they bought at Wal-Mart discount stores.”
But because the nation’s biggest retailer accounts for more than 10 percent of CD sales in the country, most musicians are willing to release a sanitized version to be sold there.
So it comes as a bit of a surprise that the store has signed veteran rockers AC/DC to an exclusive agreement for their upcoming album.
Obviously this can’t be the long-awaited greatest hits compilation. Otherwise we could look forward to such anthems as “Highway to Heck,” “She’s Got Guts,” and “You ***** Me All Night Long.”
Big Galas / H-double-hockeysticks Bells / If You Want Red Stuff, You Got It
Oh boy…but it’s ok for them to sell violent video games like ‘Ninja Gaiden’ where the characters slice each other in half.
Wow! In 1983 when I was 20, I took my 15 year old brother to see AC/DC at the Meadowlands. My mother was furious. She was convinced I was in a satanic cult and that my brother would become posessed. It was a debauchery fest!! Best “in your face” rock ever. Now they’re accepted at Walmart?! WTF…Satanism isn’t what it used to be.
As a long time AC/DC fan, I am going to reserve my disappointment for Wal-Mart, a place I refused to shop at in the States even if I had to go out of my way and pay more elsewhere for precisely this issue of sanitizing music for the masses. After all, they are truly the hypocrites here given AC/DC’s music.
Damn! I never thought I would see the day where AC/DC would receive the “Family-Friendly” sticker! This brought to my mind the following question: do we became so jaded to not be impress by their music or AC/DC turned into a brunch of pussies?
And yet, when I was in the walmart in my area for the first time in 2 years (what can I say, I craved a midnight shopping spree) as I was in the checkout, one of the magazines had Stephanie Tanner on it, and in HUGE BOLD LETTERS IT SAID:
“FROM METH ADDICT TO MOM!”
Yay, family friendly!
You’re right Zorg. Satanism isn’t what it used to be. I went to Chuck E. Cheese for my friends kids’ birthday party and the animal band was CRANKIN’ King Diamond.
I hate to do this, but I’ve gotta disagree a tiny bit. I used to hate Walmart’s censorship stance with a passion, but the more I thought about it, the smarter it sounded to me.
Walmart sanitizes their music, but still garners a 10% share of the market - and if you think about it, that benefits EVERYONE. Has anyone else noticed that we’re not hearing all the b.s. we did in the 90’s about the government censoring music, film, and video games? Yeah, you see it in certain states and local areas, but not on a national level. Why is that? I firmly believe it’s because of Walmart.
Those parents that were bitching now have a place to buy their kids music while having peace of mind (regardless of the fact it’s still the same damn music). It shut them the f*** up, and is keeping them from demanding that censorship extend to everyone via the government. Seriously, wouldn’t you rather have the capitalist system working as it is, with some stores offering censored versions and others offering uncut versions, and the market deciding which to buy, instead of the government stepping in and censoring EVERYTHING? Lesser of 2 evils folks, lesser of 2 evils.
Some other name changes: For Those About to Waltz, We Commend You (cannons replaced with violins); Rock N’ Roll IS Noise Pollution; Odd Jobs Done for a Fair Price; Hoot for Bill; Givin’ the Canine a Snack; Problem Child Should be Punished
She’s Got the Jack (Cheese)
Scott F. “Hot Coffee” mod ring any bells? That was what, two years ago? They talked all about censoring then.
But more importantly, why is AC/DC releasing a new record? All anyone wants to hear is the old songs anyway.
Right Rocko. I like AC/DC but after “Back in Black”? Eh.
Chronic Malanga, why would you just be disappointed in Wal Mart, the deal had to have been mutual. Being an AC/DC fan, wouldn’t you share more of that disappointment with the band? A rock band known for dirty lyrics signing an exclusive deal for an album with a mega chain who’s known for offering clean albums seems much more hypocritical than said mega chain signing an exclusive album deal with artists who are willing to make and sell a Wal mart friendly album. Wal mart hasn’t changed their ways. In my opinion, AC/DC get more of the hypocritical credit.
Scott F, the reason you don’t hear all the BS about censorship and labeling records and movies from the 90’s is that TIPPER GORE is no longer in the spot light. Al Gore has her licking envelopes for his Global Warming scam. The Liberals are not there any longer to try and take away your Constitutional rights.