The Pope Song

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"The Pope Song" is a song written by Tim Minchin in 2010. The song is a response to the allegations that Pope Benedict XVI protected priests and other church officials who were accused of child molestation. The song caused controversy due to its religious themes and use of profanity.

Contents

Production

Tim Minchin’s rationale behind including swear words in The Pope Song

"And if you don't like the swearing this motherfucker forced from me
And reckon it shows moral or intellectual paucity
Then fuck you motherfucker, this is language one employs
When one is fucking cross about fuckers fucking boys"

—The Pope Song (2010)

The song was inspired by both Pope Benedict's 2010 visit to the UK, and the abuse controversy that resurfaced that year. Minchin released the song on the Internet with a cartoon showing multi-ethnic cardinals and the pope dancing the can-can without any underwear.

The song contains over 80 instances of the words "fuck", "motherfucker" and derivatives of these.

Minchin said:

"I really don't like upsetting people...and I never do it myself unless it is an incredibly carefully thought-out polemic like the Phil Daoust song or the pope song which have carefully constructed points to them." [1] and "It's a thing of great beauty because it's a challenge, a desecration of something people hold sacred. I want to make people realise that being angry about being mean about the Pope is completely inappropriate in the context of talking about child abuse." [2]

Minchin also explained: [3]

That song's actually an examination of what we find offensive. It challenges people who find that language more offensive than the pedophilia. I'm constantly outraged by that. If you listen to the song carefully, it justifies its language: this is the language you should use when you're angry at kiddie-fucking.

Synopsis

In the song, Minchin states that anyone protecting child molesters is a "motherfucker", which made him so angry that he was reduced to swearing.

Minchin said he wrote the song in a crude and juvenile way to demonstrate that "the actions of the Vatican, who made it a matter of public policy to protect and shelter child rapist priests while covering their actions is revolting, orders or magnitude more revolting than any repeated expletive should be". [4]

Controversy

The group "Protect The Pope" released a statement regarding this issue: [5]

Tim Minchin is the composer of the disgusting anti-Catholic rant, 'Pope Song' seemingly designed to offend Catholics and incite hate against the Catholic Church. Imagine the uproar if Minchin had performed a similar foul-mouthed rant against Muslims, Jews or homosexuals! Members of all three groups have been involved in child sexual abuse. The lyrics are extremely offensive and mostly a rant of very obscene words."

In early 2012, Patheos.com reported on Minchin's performance of the song at the National Mall in Washington DC. The site argues that opposition to the song is because "people don't get it". The site does acknowledge the argument that "Freedom of speech is awesome, but perhaps some venues are more appropriate than others [for] saying "fuck" an absurdly frequent number of times in a song played publicly". [4]

Patheos further claimed

"Maybe bad words are like invisible lightning bolts of evil, radiating through the child's body and causing irreparable damage and turning them into atheists who will burn in hell". [4] Ooblick.com said those whose mental processes are blocked by the swearing, "rendering them incapable of hearing what the song actually had to say", are "delicate flowers on their fainting couches", and therefore provided a censored version for their benefit. It further explained "curse words are bad because they make some people feel momentarily uncomfortable. Child rape is bad because it causes physical harm and psychological trauma, often for a lifetime...if you're not angry enough at the church to swear, then what's wrong with you?". [6]

In Australia, an investigation was lodged about Tim Minchin vs The Sydney Symphony Orchestra after a complaint said "'The Pope Song' was 'distasteful and offensive'; and, that the song's introduction by Tim Minchin was 'inflammatory'". The Australian Broadcast Corporation explained "the purpose...was to illustrate that the behaviour being criticised, namely pedophilia, is more offensive that the language being used to criticise it", and that "the coarse language formed a legitimate part of the song and was not gratuitous."

It was concluded that "The ACMA therefore finds that the ABC did not breach clauses 7.1 of the Code" and "The ACMA finds that the ABC did not breach clauses 7.7 of the Code". [3]

The Independent reported "on his American tour [in 2011] he found himself piano-less in Dallas when the hire company cancelled his contract, calling him a "God-hater" and a "demon". [2]

Critical reception

JT Eberhard from Patheos.com wrote "The message of the song is clear from the lyrics, and is brilliantly written, in my opinion." [4] PZ Myers from scienceblogs.com described the song as "utterly delightful", and explained "it's catchy. You might end up singing it around the house". [7] Den of Geek described the song as "gloriously obscene". [8]

The Sydney Morning Herald deemed the song "gloriously offensive". [9] Metro described it as "an expletive-strewn yet neatly phrased anti-Pope song backed by an oompah band". [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Profanity</span> Socially offensive form of language

Profanity, also called cursing, cussing, swearing, bad language, abusive language, foul language, obscenity, expletives, vulgarism, or vulgarity, is a socially offensive use of language. Accordingly, profanity is language use that is sometimes deemed rude, obscene, or culturally offensive; in certain religions, it constitutes sin. It can show a debasement of someone or something, or be considered an expression of strong feeling towards something. Some words may also be used as intensifiers.

Cunt is a vulgar word for the vulva or vagina. It is used in a variety of ways, including as a term of disparagement. "Cunt" is often used as a disparaging and obscene term for a woman in the United States, an unpleasant or objectionable man or woman in the United Kingdom and Ireland, or a contemptible man in Australia and New Zealand. In Australia and New Zealand, it can also be a neutral or positive term when used with a positive qualifier. The term has various derivative senses, including adjective and verb uses.

<i>Motherfucker</i> American vulgarism

Motherfucker, sometimes abbreviated as mofo, mf, or mf'er, is an English-language vulgarism. It is a form of the profanity fuck. The word is usually considered highly offensive. In common usage, however, it is rarely used in a literal way, which, under a standard reading, would mean an incestuous relationship with one's own mother. Rather, the word usually refers to a mean, despicable, or vicious person; or any particularly difficult or frustrating situation. Conversely, it can be used positively, as a term of admiration, as in the term badass motherfucker (BAMF), meaning a fearless and confident person.

The term four-letter word serves as a euphemism for words that are often considered profane or offensive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fighting words</span> Speech or writing intended to incite hatred or violence

Fighting words are spoken words directed to the person of the hearer which would have a tendency to cause acts of violence by the person to whom, individually, the remark is addressed. The term fighting words describes words that when uttered inflict injury or tend to incite an immediate breach of the peace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quebec French profanity</span> Profanities in Quebec French

Quebec French profanities, known as sacres, are words and expressions related to Catholicism and its liturgy that are used as strong profanities in Quebec French and in Acadian French. Sacres are considered stronger in Québec than the foul expressions common to other varieties of French, which centre on sex and excrement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seven dirty words</span> Words disallowed in U.S. radio and TV

The seven dirty words are seven English-language curse words that American comedian George Carlin first listed in his 1972 "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television" monologue. The words, in the order Carlin listed them, are: "shit", "piss", "fuck", "cunt", "cocksucker", "motherfucker", and "tits".

A bleep censor is the replacement of offensive language or classified information with a beep sound, used in television and radio.

Profanity in Finnish is used in the form of intensifiers, adjectives, adverbs and particles. There is also an aggressive mood that involves omission of the negative verb ei while implying its meaning with a swear word.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Minchin</span> British-Australian comedian, actor and musician (born 1975)

Timothy David Minchin AM is a British-born Australian comedian, actor, writer, musician, poet, composer, and songwriter.

<i>Fuck</i> English-language profanity

Fuck is an English-language profanity which often refers to the act of sexual intercourse, but is also commonly used as an intensifier or to convey disdain. While its origin is obscure, it is usually considered to be first attested to around 1475 CE. In modern usage, the term fuck and its derivatives are used as a noun, a verb, an adjective, an interjection or an adverb. There are many common phrases that employ the word as well as compounds that incorporate it, such as motherfucker, fuckwit, fuckup, fucknut, fucktard, and fuck off.

The following is a list of words and formulations commonly used as profanity throughout Romania.

A fleeting expletive is a non-scripted verbal profanity or obscenity expressed and broadcast during a live television broadcast or radio broadcast. The term appears primarily in discussions of United States broadcasting law.

Profanity in science fiction (SF) shares all of the issues of profanity in fiction in general, but has several unique aspects of its own, including the use of alien profanities.

It is common to find minced oaths in literature and media. Writers often include minced oaths instead of profanity in their writing, to avoid offending their audience or incurring censorship.

Federal Communications Commission v. Fox Television Stations, Inc., 567 U.S. 239 (2012), was a decision by the Supreme Court of the United States regarding whether the U.S. Federal Communications Commission's scheme for regulating speech is unconstitutionally vague. The Supreme Court excused the broadcasters from paying fines levied for what the FCC had determined indecency, in a majority opinion delivered by Justice Anthony Kennedy. The Supreme Court had previously issued an opinion in the case in 2009 addressing the nature of the fine itself, without addressing the restriction on indecent speech.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hokkien profanity</span>

Hokkien is one of the largest Chinese language groups worldwide. Profanity in Hokkien most commonly involves sexual references and scorn of the object's ancestors, especially their mother. The mentioning of sexual organs is frequently used in Hokkien profanity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tagalog profanity</span> Profanity in the language of the Philippines

Tagalog profanity can refer to a wide range of offensive, blasphemous, and taboo words or expressions in the Tagalog language of the Philippines. Due to Filipino culture, expressions which may sound benign when translated back to English can cause great offense; while some expressions English speakers might take great offense to can sound benign to a Tagalog speaker. Filipino, the national language of the Philippines, is the standard register of Tagalog, so as such the terms Filipino profanity and Filipino swear words are sometimes also employed.

The Polish language, like most others, has swear words and profanity. Some words are not always seen as very insulting, however, there are others that are considered by some greatly offensive and rude. Words that might be considered most derogatory, based on multiple sources, are not necessarily a general and have not been decided upon in a more definite manner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Back Tour</span> 2019–22 concert tour by Tim Minchin

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References

  1. Kellaway, Kate (28 September 2013). "Tim Minchin: 'I really don't like upsetting people'". The Observer . Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Tim Minchin: Comedy's rant'n'roll hero varies his routine". The Independent . 17 November 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Investigation Report No. 2748: Tim Minchin vs The Sydney Symphony Orchestra". Australian Communications and Media Authority . 22 March 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Stephens, Christina (29 March 2012). "Tim Minchin, The Pope Song, and offense". What Would JT Do?. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  5. Nick, Deacon (11 May 2012). "BBC honours aggressive anti-Catholic Tim Minchin, composer of disgusting 'Pope Song'". Protect the Pope. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  6. Arensburger, Andrew (26 March 2012). "Tim Minchin's Pope Song — the Clean Version". Epsilon Clue. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  7. Myers, PZ (29 April 2010). "Tim Minchin serenades the Pope". Pharyngula . Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  8. "Tim Minchin And The Heritage Orchestra Live At The Albert Hall DVD review". Den of Geek. 14 December 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  9. Cunningham, Harriet (31 March 2011). "Tim Minchin v The Sydney Symphony". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  10. metrowebukmetro (7 December 2010). "Tim Minchin: I wouldn't have the guts to do what Russell Brand does". Metro . Retrieved 9 July 2014.