SNL: “Accidental Racist” or Just Racist?

Country singer Brad Paisley and hip hop artist LL Cool J released a duet titled “Accidental Racist.”  The song clumsily discusses racial prejudice in United States.  Since the single’s release, Paisley and LL have been on a media offensive, defending the allegedly offensive track.   

Last weekend, the duo stopped by Saturday Night Live‘s “Weekend Update.”  

I intended to post a link to the song.  However, it seems that most of the videos on YouTube  have been taken down, will be taken down, or of poor quality.  

My take: the song is bold move, characteristic Paisley’s unconventional lyrics.  While the song certainly seems created a dialogue about race, the song is not very good.  It is a sort of ad hoc mash up musically.  Moreover, the lyrics do not measure up to the gravity issue.  

It reminds me of what I was told in a creative writing class I took in college.  My professor recommended that new writers shouldn’t write about cancer.  She advised that because cancer is such a powerful topic, it is difficult to pull of a story that is fresh and deft.   Having listened to all six plus minutes of “Accidental Racist,” it strikes me as a story about America’s cancer that is neither fresh nor deft.