Nothing wrong with telling a story. The song doesn't condone or advocate anything, doesn't make a political statement and I feel the lyrics are pretty great, even Charlie Watts thought so. Songwriting would be really limited if you could only write about puppy love. A far more controversial song, in comparison, would be Sweet Black Angel from Exile, but nobody ever mentions that song due to its lower profile. People don't know or understand the history of blues, the music that inspired the Stones. It's filled with subject matter that would make most people's heads spin. Brown Sugar is tame in comparison.
Thank you for your insightful reply to my lengthy commentary. I agree with every single point you made. As a fellow Jew, I also believe the concentration camps should forever remain as they were, complete with swastika flags and all the other artifacts that make their abominable aura so palpable. Simply put: Out of sight, out of mind. Humankind must never forget this atrocity, not only to honor the memories of the millions of people who were savagely tortured and/or brutally murdered, but to prevent this level of evilness from occurring again.
As a Rabbi, I couldn't agree more. They are blights on the landscape as well as in history. But if we aren't able to say "this really happened right here" I think we fail those who come after us. I'd support a similar reclamation of Andersonville, a civil war prison known for its multitude of horrors, located just south of Chicago. History needs buildings and structures to make it real. I toured Gettysburg about 15 years ago and it taught me how important such things are.
Thank you, Rabbi, for your insightful perspective when pointing out that if we do not acknowledge actual occurrences, then “we fail those who come after us.”
Hi Alan Roseburg i like Brown sugar a lot i am black and i seen them back in 1978 that was year it was Alan the rolling stones played that song i was like a kid jumping up and down it just a song a lot stuff going on in the world thank you Alan . Terry M. In Erie Pennsylvania
Kudos to you for addressing a thought-provoking, timely topic that cannot be discussed without its controversial ramifications. Based on the total history of Stones’ tours and the zeitgeist of today’s world, your speculation about why the Stones have excluded Brown Sugar from set lists makes perfect sense. I agree with you in that the song is among the greatest rockers by any band - and a transcendent concert experience for everyone who has ever been part of the massive sing along and arm movements that accompany the song whenever it is performed. I also agree with you in that the lyrics are documenting a historical event, slavery, which, of course, is heinous. But, it did happen (as unbelievable as it seems to a decent human being). Slavery was also documented in the lyrics of Southern Man by Neil Young. (E.g. “I heard scream in’ and bull whips cracking…I’ve seen your black man comin’ round. Swear by God I’m gonna cut him down.”) With these lyrics, Neil is playing the part of the protagonist TO TELL THE STORY, just as Mick does with the lyrics of Brown Sugar. Clearly, anyone who is knowledgeable about the members of The Stones realizes they are very far from being racists.Nevertheless, I understand why a lyric like “. . .just like a black girl should” is offensive. Mick’s using a bad stereotype, just as he did in describing French, Italian, American, English, white, black and Chinese girls in the song Some Girls. It seems as though he’s an equal opportunity offender when it comes to using stereotypes. Does that make it right? Certainly not. But ignorance should not be confused with hatred. And, I don’t think the lyrics fuel any kind of hatred. Interestingly, the Some Girls album also included a song about a gay prostitute who performed sadomasochistic sex acts. (Namely, When the Whip Comes Down) There was no uproar from the LGBTQ community, or anyone else. What has always made The Rolling Stones the band that it has always been is the raunchy, raw, ugly-side-of-life, take-no-prisoners approach to the music it creates and plays. For those who are turned off by that approach, don’t buy the recordings or attend the concerts. There are hundreds of thousands of other musicians who are much “safer.” But, steer clear of such hugely popular rappers including Snoop Dogg, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and so many more whose lyrics contain lots of words like n*ggas and descriptions of women as b*tches, hoes and tricks, together with slang sayings for myriad sex acts. And, yes, the fans enthusiastically sing along and raise their arms when these lyrics are being sung in concert. When it comes to not singing Brown Sugar out of respect for the BLM movement, which is a major part of “woke culture,” Mick and the boys have made a decision to do what they feel is comfortable for the band at this point in time, I suppose. While I’m totally against any form of injustice to any group of people on this planet, I believe that “too much comfort” is not always a good thing.
Wow - thank you for your incredible comments. You cover so much ground and so eloquently. You should be on TV, as we can use some intelligent analysis out there. I hadn't mentioned the comparison / issues with some rap lyrics. I imagine that could be its own topic and I'm not an expert on it. But as with the current environment, there seems to be a double standard with many issues. Is it strange that Snoop Dog is on TV as a commercial spokesman but was / is openly seemingly proud of his years as a pimp, but other's can lose their career because they touched someone on the shoulder and the recipient felt it was inappropriate. There are stars who made it huge because they made and "released" a sex tape and others who's career are ruined for much less. Inconsistency in who's a target and who's not is not only unfair, but dangerous to everyone. What seems to be true is that our culture is cyclical - censorship comes in strong and then it goes away with everyone saying how dangerous it was....and then it returns. One thing is for sure, we not only do not study history or learn from it, we consistently repeat it and more dangerously, try to wipe it out, as opposed to keeping it there and celebrating how far we've come. Perhaps its a bad analogy, but as a Jew, I want every concentration camp to stand with all the Nazi flags and memorabilia there so the world never forgets the horrors that they did to not only Jews but to the world. Of course, you're not "celebrating" evil in history by keeping the concentration camps. They're memorials to the atrocity of it. But do tear them down, remove the swastica's etc and the world will forget and repeat itself by denying it ever happened. It's also interesting that the Stones self censored. There wasn't a current uprising against Brown Sugar. It seems they wanted to cut it before any issue may have happened. But with all they've been through, Charlie's death, Ronnie's cancer, Keith's physical issues and even Mick's health scare last year, they have more important things on their plate. Most importantly they're out there playing, sounding great, and in the big picture Brown Sugar not being in the set is not that important. Thanks again for your incredible commentary.
Hi Jimmy. Thanks so much for watching and commenting. I really appreciate it. I would like to, but not sure how to. I have a pretty large collection. I currently have over 400 Stones CDs/Vinyl plus another 100 or so of their solo records. But that includes sometimes multiple versions of their released albums, plus imports and bootlegs. One of my first videos is my "Rolling Stones Go-To songs - favorite deep cuts - like 1 per album" and in that video I show a small portion of my Stones collection. I have to figure this out...lol. Thanks again and let me know if you have an idea that people may want to see. By the way I have over 5,000 albums...and I've listened to all of them multiple times - a lot of listening since 1973 when I started collecting. THANKS again!
I, of course, remember when they made the decision to do this....and I was, simply from the point of view of a Stones fan, against it. Yes, the lyrics are 'offensive'...but so is plenty of other stuff in contemporary music, or even contemporary art. I know Jagger commented, as far back as 1995, that he would not have wrote that as a 50 year old, but being a 26 year old that he was at that time, different story. When this went down, I remember saying to people, has anybody listened to the lyrics of, say, "WAP" by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion? I have nothing against either of those artists, in fact, I find Megan an interesting and engaging talent...and the worst anyone could accuse them of is writing something pornographic. That being said, this is, at its essence, a pop or rock song....there has been plenty of fiction written over the last 100+ years that has described the same thing, in terms far more graphic and shocking. Being the constant listener of Stones live music as I've been, and I know you are too Alan, it was noticeable to me that Jagger never sings the lyrics in the first verse as they were written--at the end of the first verse, he always substitutes the second verse in its place: "Scarred old slave owner doing all right/you shoulda heard him just around midnight", instead of the 'whips' reference. I started to go back through my bootlegs and noticed that, even in 1972, Jagger was singing the former expression in concert, NOT the later, or recorded version. I will now go back and check out Marquee Club '71 to see if that was the case then, let alone the Altamont bootleg. So it seems to me that throughout much of the last 50 years, Jagger was altering the verse ever so slightly anyway. I can't believe that was not intentional. So, here we go again, the Stones circumvent one of their most beloved songs, one of the greatest rock songs ever, and one of their biggest hits because of....what? They wrote an offensive lyric that depicted, as sad as it is, situations that likely occurred in our history? This kinda dovetails into some of my previous points that the public at large and the music business in general, are dismissive of the Stones and their legacy. And I can remember when this went down, many of the talking heads on cable TV, from the lefties at NBC to the starched conservatives on Fox, saying it was about time.
Thanks for this amazing commentary and analysis. Jagger has oftentimes altered verses of their songs - including deleting whole verses (Memory Motel comes to mind immediately). But I never took that seriously into consideration regarding Brown Sugar until your commentary. That's truly fascinating how far back it goes. I assumed, oftentimes, he's just singing sloppy or nonchalant in the live setting. Does it quite often. But clearly you've hit the nail on the head with Brown Sugar. I'm certainly not one for the current (last few years) woke generation for lack of a better word. I knew the lyrics well, in fact used to sing them in a bar band I was in back in the day. Call me crazy. I never felt they were offensive. History is offensive. That doesn't mean we delete history (although apparently now we do or significantly change it - seems to happen all the time now). Mick Jagger obviously was never approving of what the song was hitting on. He was commenting - he was informing. Mick Jagger may be many things, but a racist - I think not. But even Keith at the time said, it's just not worth putting up a fight over....you pick and choose your battles. Funny thing is 99% of the population who loved and sang to Brown Sugar had no idea what it was touching upon - it was just one of the greatest Stones and rock songs of all time. Thanks again for your amazing contribution to this conversation - ....really great.
I don't think the Stones cut this from their set lists from their own volition. They might have, but I don't think so. I heard a radio DJ say about a year ago that the station wasn't playing Brown Sugar anymore and that the reason came from way up in the corporate hierarchy. This can easily carry over to the corporate connections in live concert promotions, distribution, licensing etc....
Thanks for watching and commenting. I wrote this a long time ago before the Stones commenting on it. Yes radio djs have commented about the lyrics for years but the stones always played it without repercussions. After BLM that’s what did it. The Stones have said now they don’t want to play it due to what it would probably cause. Not worth it to them. I get it. But the song is certainly not glamorizing slavery and what occurred. They’re documenting it though it’s such an upbeat song that gets lost. anyway my two cents and not the end of the world that they stopped playing it. Just another sign of the times.
I enjoy listening to the song and never had understanding of the lyrics. And would very hard now for me to stop enjoying the song even though I know the lyrics. However, Mick Jaegar is an artist and as artist draw a picture of reality in lyrics and disguises it through the music with an upbeat tone. Mick is a true Genius! We constantly as society live this type of illusion and do not see the reality.
Taking Brown Sugar out of the concert playlist isn’t a dealbreaker for most Stones fans. But as you said, where does the political correctness stop? Every time fake outrage gets rewarded with another comedian or band getting muzzled, the more we are headed towards a future where there will be artistic oppression. And what follows from that point, well, history tells us about a certain country that went down that disastrous path nearly 90 years ago.
Thanks so much Sam. I did that video a year ago and it's only gotten worse. I can't imagine being a comedian, you can't say anything without offending someone today and then facing a serious backlash. We seem to never learn from history. We live in a sad time and one day it will be looked back on as a dark age.
I’m very disappointed that they won’t be playing it at my first ever Stones concert next month, since it’s one of my all time favorites, but honestly I can understand the reasoning for retiring the song. It’s really not a “woke” thing to say that maybe the a song about raping black slaves shouldn’t be played by a band of elderly British dudes to an audience of mostly old white people 😂😂 I think it’s more of a “reading the room” kind of thing.
Yea, they're reading the room. If the song was advocating that, it would be one thing. If its documenting something that happened, that's a different thing. History should always be documented...so it doesn't repeat hopefully.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow oh I absolutely agree. I’m in college to be a history teacher and it shocks me how many people don’t know some basic common sense when it comes to history.
I discuss that. Don’t know if inspired is the correct word as much of the song is about slavery. But the dance so good and taste so good part possibly. Jagger and Bowie had relationships with her and Jagger had relationship with Marsha hunt as well In fact his first child is with her. Based on actions Jagger and the stones have never been racist.
I remember Jagger saying at the time, in '71 or so, that he took inspiration from Fats Domino in his deliberate slurring of the lyrics. And lets face it, neither 'Brown Sugar' nor any other rock song is something to be picked apart (by a university student or lecturer, for example) in the way they might pick apart a novel by Jane Austen or William Faulkner. After all, who the hell knows what 'Tumbling Dice' is about either? On the other side of the coin, I remember Charlie saying, after a concert in Lausanne in the Noughties, that playing 'Brown Sugar' for the 539th time did get a little wearying after a bit. And so one may infer that playing other high-profile Stones songs ad infinitum in a live setting could get rather samey for the band too, if not the audience as well. So that would be an alternative reason for dropping some of these songs. For the purposes of this discussion however, I think I better leave my thoughts about Generation Z, with their ants-eye view of the world, at the door!
again love your contribution. My quote is I've heard Tumbling Dice 10,000 times and I still have no idea what the lyrics are (I'll never read them) and that's for the better. As for Brown Sugar - we now know why they dropped it. Gotta say, when I did that video, there was no talk about it...so I pat myself on the back a bit. I've no problem with them not playing classics because they're bored with it, not challenging, can't play it as well anymore etc. But I was proposing the question which became confirmed later on why they're not playing it....hence my disappointment... but it's the world we live in now...as you say - left at the door.
Love your channel. Personally, I hate the term “woke” and personally think anyone who uses terms like it, are actually woke. I just hate labels I look at it this way. The Stones wrote it and performed it and they more then anyone have the right to decide whether to play it live or not. I don’t think the Stones bowed to any pressure from anyone or any group, nor did they do it because of what is happening with things like me too and so on. I just think they have a lot of respect for black music and culture and they recognize it is a graphic song that isn’t appropriate. If they want to stop doing it, then that’s their call. If others wanna say this is a woke decision, I don’t think the Stones give a shyte. The song itself hasn’t gone any where. So if the whiners wanna whine, go listen to the album or check out the thousands of versions they have played live over the years. Appreciate ya brother
Thanks so much. The Stones certainly couldn't give a shit about my channel...lol or the general opinion out there. They definitely stopped playing it because of what was going on. Keith admitted that. "Just wasn't worth the fight" or something close to that, was what he said. It is clearly their decision to make. Some have said its because Jagger is not comfortable singing it anymore (obviously) because he has an African American child. I respect that decision. But it was an interesting topic when I did the video - I did that video early, really before too many others talked about it.
I think the Stones are gonna do whatever they wanna do - just like always. It's fine to debate "woke culture" in the context of different songs and whatnot - but if they haven't said anything about it, you're just speculating while that may have absolutely nothing to do with why they aren't playing it.
Yes, the Stones are always going to do what they want to do. Part of why we love them. I'm not angry that they're not playing Brown Sugar and yes I'm speculating. I say that in the video. But after 50 years of playing it, it indisputably always being a highlight of every show, and what's going on in the country right now, it certainly seems pretty clear that that has to have an influence on why they're not playing it. But yes, it's speculation. Thank you for watching and commenting. I appreciate it. Curious if you think they should play it or not...but I'm not out to make anyone uncomfortable or start any kind of nastiness.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow I'm indifferent. I've loved that song since I first heard it decades ago. I've loved hearing it live. Just like I'll love every song I get to hear them play. Sure, some warhorses taken out would make me a little unhappy, like sympathy or midnight rambler, or like, if they cut out the two from Keith, but I'm not upset about Brown Sugar. Further, let me pose a question. If for example, Mick says to the guys, "I'm just not comfortable playing this song g anymore" - is that "woke culture" or is it a just Mick's choice? I don't know- you've been very careful to say you're not trying to start any arguments and I appreciate that, but blanket blaming things on "woke culture" is divisive. We don't need any more divisive right now, especially over something - truly - as trivial as one song in a setlist, one way or the other. Go enjoy a show or five. You know you'll have a great time, Brown Sugar or no. I'm grateful I still have a chance to see em. Rock on :)
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow even as far back as 95 we know Mick had some discomfort with Brown Sugar. (When he told Rolling Stone if was to write Brown Sugar today- he wouldn't do it/ he would self censor himself.) So without speculating, we know even 26 years ago Mick was questioning the appropriateness of the song. There haven't been protests about the song, or calls for the Stones to stop playing the song, so this doesn't feel like them reacting to outside pressure to drop the song. Because there hasn't been any outside pressure. I could see this coming internally as Dale says- Mick could've made the call he just wasn't comfortable playing the song. He might've seen the BLM protests happening around the world and that made him question if the song worked in a contemporary context- and that to me isn't 'woke culture' that's an artist making a call on what he wants to perform based on how he feels about the world. Plus to me there is a certain irony in fans who have complained for years about the Stones always playing the same songs, complaining when they don't play one of their most played songs.
@@richardgrant517 thanks for commenting. So well said. Agree with everything you said. I think if they did play it they ran the risk of causing an uproar. Then they would’ve had to decide to drop it and run the risk of backing down. Plus it would’ve caused all this stress that they don’t need with everything else they’re dealing with. With their catalog it’s certainly not that big a deal not playing it. And yes Jagger is probably not comfortable singing it anymore which is the most important thing. And changing the lyrics would be far worse than not playing it anymore. But with all this. It’s an interesting topic of not playing one of the greatest songs ever after 50 years. Thanks again.
it was "make some girl". Never heard pregnant before. Also Lets Spend Some Time Together and Mick rolls his eyes. But that was a different time and they were young and hungry and trying to make it really big....or maybe it wasn't such a different time after all....Thanks.
they also have black singers singing behind them.The Stones are big enough to tell them to F^%ck off.When they changed the lyrics on let's spend the night together on Sullivan I believe was they had to get a foot in the U.S.Bottom line is I think if their backup singers aren't offended why should anyone else
From the beginning of The Stones career through their history, they have always paid their respects to the black music scene. And The Stones we’re always respected back from the black musicians. When I posted that video I wasn’t sure if Brown Sugar was cancelled but it certainly was. The world we’re living in right now.
Alan, you're talking about a band that crossed Ed Sullivan when Sullivan was the arbiter of American tastes. I seriously doubt they worry about extremist nonsense.
This video is old. The Stones have since confirmed that they did cancel Brown Sugar and that Mick Jagger is no longer comfortable singing it and not worth risking the protests that were going on around that time.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow Well, As a conformed liberal, that disappoints me. Should ZZ TOP dump "LaGrange" ? What about Grand Funk's "Black Licorice" ? Singing about loose black women goes back to the early days of the Delta blues. As a songwriter myself, I think the only reason to not perform a song is because it no longer "fits" you. If you write it, you take responsibility for what it says and you perform it as long as it represents who you are. Maybe Mick decided "not so much" in the 21st century. I urge my fellow liberals to take a powder about silliness like this.
@@derhandtrommler Obviously I don't support the Stones decision. That's why I did the video, although, gotta say, I was early. I noticed it, but didn't see others talking about it until afterwards.
They bowed to Sullivan and spent some time together. Cowards. Love the Clapton version of brown sugar. Consider it the mate of the Phil Spector version of the dominoes tell the truth. Both rock out furuously
I did this video so long ago and way before we knew if they canceled it. Well they sure did. I’m still disappointed. Only one of the greatest rock songs of all time. And it was commenting on what was. A rock n roll history lesson. Not that anyone was studying the lyrics anyway because the music was so great. World we live. Don’t learn from history. Just wipe out what you don’t like.
Was definitely a bit overplayed - warhorse played at every show and I don't miss it terribly. I can do without them playing pretty much every current warhorse played. But yea they definitely caved.
This isn't the first time the Stones caved into political correctness....in case anyone didn't notice the lyrics to Some Girls have been " revised" for the last 30 years.........and the southern drawl of Far Away Eyes also disappeared......( Jagger singing that in his normal voice is ridiculous ).....also the lyrics to When the Whip Comes Down were " modified " on the Bridges and No Security tour at some shows.......
True, but dropping Brown Sugar was caving in to a whole nother level. Brown Sugar's been a highlight of every tour since the song came out. At the end, is it the biggest deal...no. Are the shows great without it....of course. Is it horrendously missed at every show...probably not. Personally I'd rather than just play deep cuts...lol. But it is a sign of the times...
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow interesting that when the Stones broke through and played in China they were told not to play Brown Sugar....because they believed it was a drug song named after the street name that was printed on heroin baggies....
@@larrynolletti4594 I never knew that though I remember China had a list of songs they didn’t want the Stones to play. Funny before I knew The lyrics I thought it was a drug song too
One of my favorites - especially the remixed version of GHS where you can hear the lyrics - fantastic track in my opinion. Wish they would play that live now.
I say wake up Stones and don't cave in to woke..
Thanks Sharon
Nothing wrong with telling a story. The song doesn't condone or advocate anything, doesn't make a political statement and I feel the lyrics are pretty great, even Charlie Watts thought so. Songwriting would be really limited if you could only write about puppy love. A far more controversial song, in comparison, would be Sweet Black Angel from Exile, but nobody ever mentions that song due to its lower profile. People don't know or understand the history of blues, the music that inspired the Stones. It's filled with subject matter that would make most people's heads spin. Brown Sugar is tame in comparison.
Thanks for watching and commenting. As per my video I totally agree with you. Thanks again.
Thank you for your insightful reply to my lengthy commentary. I agree with every single point you made. As a fellow Jew, I also believe the concentration camps should forever remain as they were, complete with swastika flags and all the other artifacts that make their abominable aura so palpable. Simply put: Out of sight, out of mind. Humankind must never forget this atrocity, not only to honor the memories of the millions of people who were savagely tortured and/or brutally murdered, but to prevent this level of evilness from occurring again.
As a Rabbi, I couldn't agree more. They are blights on the landscape as well as in history. But if we aren't able to say "this really happened right here" I think we fail those who come after us. I'd support a similar reclamation of Andersonville, a civil war prison known for its multitude of horrors, located just south of Chicago.
History needs buildings and structures to make it real. I toured Gettysburg about 15 years ago and it taught me how important such things are.
Thank you, Rabbi, for your insightful perspective when pointing out that if we do not acknowledge actual occurrences, then “we fail those who come after us.”
Hi Alan Roseburg i like Brown sugar a lot i am black and i seen them back in 1978 that was year it was Alan the rolling stones played that song i was like a kid jumping up and down it just a song a lot stuff going on in the world thank you Alan . Terry M. In Erie Pennsylvania
Thanks so much Terry.
They still can replace it with Stray Cat Blues
Lol. Or Some Girls.
Very clever. Excellent response!
So true. I like your humor.
Kudos to you for addressing a thought-provoking, timely topic that cannot be discussed without its controversial ramifications. Based on the total history of Stones’ tours and the zeitgeist of today’s world, your speculation about why the Stones have excluded Brown Sugar from set lists makes perfect sense. I agree with you in that the song is among the greatest rockers by any band - and a transcendent concert experience for everyone who has ever been part of the massive sing along and arm movements that accompany the song whenever it is performed. I also agree with you in that the lyrics are documenting a historical event, slavery, which, of course, is heinous. But, it did happen (as unbelievable as it seems to a decent human being). Slavery was also documented in the lyrics of Southern Man by Neil Young. (E.g. “I heard scream in’ and bull whips cracking…I’ve seen your black man comin’ round. Swear by God I’m gonna cut him down.”) With these lyrics, Neil is playing the part of the protagonist TO TELL THE STORY, just as Mick does with the lyrics of Brown Sugar.
Clearly, anyone who is knowledgeable about the members of The Stones realizes they are very far from being racists.Nevertheless, I understand why a lyric like “. . .just like a black girl should” is offensive. Mick’s using a bad stereotype, just as he did in describing French, Italian, American, English,
white, black and Chinese girls in the song Some Girls. It seems as though he’s an equal opportunity offender when it comes to using stereotypes. Does that make it right? Certainly not. But ignorance should not be confused with hatred. And, I don’t think the lyrics fuel any kind of hatred. Interestingly, the Some Girls album also included a song about a gay prostitute who performed sadomasochistic sex acts. (Namely, When the Whip Comes Down) There was no uproar from the LGBTQ community, or anyone else. What has always made The Rolling Stones the band that it has always been is the raunchy, raw, ugly-side-of-life, take-no-prisoners approach to the music it creates and plays. For those who are turned off by that approach, don’t buy the recordings or attend the concerts. There are hundreds of thousands of other musicians who are much “safer.” But, steer clear of such hugely popular rappers including Snoop Dogg, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and so many more whose lyrics contain lots of words like n*ggas and descriptions of women as b*tches, hoes and tricks, together with slang sayings for myriad sex acts. And, yes, the fans enthusiastically sing along and raise their arms when these lyrics are being sung in concert. When it comes to not singing Brown Sugar out of respect for the BLM movement, which is a major part of “woke culture,” Mick and the boys have made a decision to do what they feel is comfortable for the band at this point in time, I suppose. While I’m totally against any form of injustice to any group of people on this planet, I believe that “too much comfort” is not always a good thing.
Wow - thank you for your incredible comments. You cover so much ground and so eloquently. You should be on TV, as we can use some intelligent analysis out there. I hadn't mentioned the comparison / issues with some rap lyrics. I imagine that could be its own topic and I'm not an expert on it. But as with the current environment, there seems to be a double standard with many issues. Is it strange that Snoop Dog is on TV as a commercial spokesman but was / is openly seemingly proud of his years as a pimp, but other's can lose their career because they touched someone on the shoulder and the recipient felt it was inappropriate. There are stars who made it huge because they made and "released" a sex tape and others who's career are ruined for much less. Inconsistency in who's a target and who's not is not only unfair, but dangerous to everyone. What seems to be true is that our culture is cyclical - censorship comes in strong and then it goes away with everyone saying how dangerous it was....and then it returns. One thing is for sure, we not only do not study history or learn from it, we consistently repeat it and more dangerously, try to wipe it out, as opposed to keeping it there and celebrating how far we've come. Perhaps its a bad analogy, but as a Jew, I want every concentration camp to stand with all the Nazi flags and memorabilia there so the world never forgets the horrors that they did to not only Jews but to the world. Of course, you're not "celebrating" evil in history by keeping the concentration camps. They're memorials to the atrocity of it. But do tear them down, remove the swastica's etc and the world will forget and repeat itself by denying it ever happened. It's also interesting that the Stones self censored. There wasn't a current uprising against Brown Sugar. It seems they wanted to cut it before any issue may have happened. But with all they've been through, Charlie's death, Ronnie's cancer, Keith's physical issues and even Mick's health scare last year, they have more important things on their plate. Most importantly they're out there playing, sounding great, and in the big picture Brown Sugar not being in the set is not that important. Thanks again for your incredible commentary.
Alan could you share your Stones CD collection with us? I collect Stones bootlegs and have since 1989. Great channel.
Hi Jimmy. Thanks so much for watching and commenting. I really appreciate it. I would like to, but not sure how to. I have a pretty large collection. I currently have over 400 Stones CDs/Vinyl plus another 100 or so of their solo records. But that includes sometimes multiple versions of their released albums, plus imports and bootlegs. One of my first videos is my "Rolling Stones Go-To songs - favorite deep cuts - like 1 per album" and in that video I show a small portion of my Stones collection. I have to figure this out...lol. Thanks again and let me know if you have an idea that people may want to see. By the way I have over 5,000 albums...and I've listened to all of them multiple times - a lot of listening since 1973 when I started collecting. THANKS again!
I, of course, remember when they made the decision to do this....and I was, simply from the point of view of a Stones fan, against it. Yes, the lyrics are 'offensive'...but so is plenty of other stuff in contemporary music, or even contemporary art. I know Jagger commented, as far back as 1995, that he would not have wrote that as a 50 year old, but being a 26 year old that he was at that time, different story. When this went down, I remember saying to people, has anybody listened to the lyrics of, say, "WAP" by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion? I have nothing against either of those artists, in fact, I find Megan an interesting and engaging talent...and the worst anyone could accuse them of is writing something pornographic. That being said, this is, at its essence, a pop or rock song....there has been plenty of fiction written over the last 100+ years that has described the same thing, in terms far more graphic and shocking.
Being the constant listener of Stones live music as I've been, and I know you are too Alan, it was noticeable to me that Jagger never sings the lyrics in the first verse as they were written--at the end of the first verse, he always substitutes the second verse in its place: "Scarred old slave owner doing all right/you shoulda heard him just around midnight", instead of the 'whips' reference. I started to go back through my bootlegs and noticed that, even in 1972, Jagger was singing the former expression in concert, NOT the later, or recorded version. I will now go back and check out Marquee Club '71 to see if that was the case then, let alone the Altamont bootleg.
So it seems to me that throughout much of the last 50 years, Jagger was altering the verse ever so slightly anyway. I can't believe that was not intentional. So, here we go again, the Stones circumvent one of their most beloved songs, one of the greatest rock songs ever, and one of their biggest hits because of....what? They wrote an offensive lyric that depicted, as sad as it is, situations that likely occurred in our history? This kinda dovetails into some of my previous points that the public at large and the music business in general, are dismissive of the Stones and their legacy.
And I can remember when this went down, many of the talking heads on cable TV, from the lefties at NBC to the starched conservatives on Fox, saying it was about time.
Thanks for this amazing commentary and analysis. Jagger has oftentimes altered verses of their songs - including deleting whole verses (Memory Motel comes to mind immediately). But I never took that seriously into consideration regarding Brown Sugar until your commentary. That's truly fascinating how far back it goes. I assumed, oftentimes, he's just singing sloppy or nonchalant in the live setting. Does it quite often. But clearly you've hit the nail on the head with Brown Sugar. I'm certainly not one for the current (last few years) woke generation for lack of a better word. I knew the lyrics well, in fact used to sing them in a bar band I was in back in the day. Call me crazy. I never felt they were offensive. History is offensive. That doesn't mean we delete history (although apparently now we do or significantly change it - seems to happen all the time now). Mick Jagger obviously was never approving of what the song was hitting on. He was commenting - he was informing. Mick Jagger may be many things, but a racist - I think not. But even Keith at the time said, it's just not worth putting up a fight over....you pick and choose your battles. Funny thing is 99% of the population who loved and sang to Brown Sugar had no idea what it was touching upon - it was just one of the greatest Stones and rock songs of all time. Thanks again for your amazing contribution to this conversation - ....really great.
I don't think the Stones cut this from their set lists from their own volition. They might have, but I don't think so.
I heard a radio DJ say about a year ago that the station wasn't playing Brown Sugar anymore and that the reason came from way up in the corporate hierarchy.
This can easily carry over to the corporate connections in live concert promotions, distribution, licensing etc....
Thanks for watching and commenting. I wrote this a long time ago before the Stones commenting on it. Yes radio djs have commented about the lyrics for years but the stones always played it without repercussions. After BLM that’s what did it. The Stones have said now they don’t want to play it due to what it would probably cause. Not worth it to them. I get it. But the song is certainly not glamorizing slavery and what occurred. They’re documenting it though it’s such an upbeat song that gets lost. anyway my two cents and not the end of the world that they stopped playing it. Just another sign of the times.
It's art.
I enjoy listening to the song and never had understanding of the lyrics. And would very hard now for me to stop enjoying the song even though I know the lyrics. However, Mick Jaegar is an artist and as artist draw a picture of reality in lyrics and disguises it through the music with an upbeat tone. Mick is a true Genius! We constantly as society live this type of illusion and do not see the reality.
Taking Brown Sugar out of the concert playlist isn’t a dealbreaker for most Stones fans. But as you said, where does the political correctness stop? Every time fake outrage gets rewarded with another comedian or band getting muzzled, the more we are headed towards a future where there will be artistic oppression. And what follows from that point, well, history tells us about a certain country that went down that disastrous path nearly 90 years ago.
Thanks so much Sam. I did that video a year ago and it's only gotten worse. I can't imagine being a comedian, you can't say anything without offending someone today and then facing a serious backlash. We seem to never learn from history. We live in a sad time and one day it will be looked back on as a dark age.
Thank you!
Thanks for watching. Appreciate it.
I’m very disappointed that they won’t be playing it at my first ever Stones concert next month, since it’s one of my all time favorites, but honestly I can understand the reasoning for retiring the song. It’s really not a “woke” thing to say that maybe the a song about raping black slaves shouldn’t be played by a band of elderly British dudes to an audience of mostly old white people 😂😂 I think it’s more of a “reading the room” kind of thing.
Yea, they're reading the room. If the song was advocating that, it would be one thing. If its documenting something that happened, that's a different thing. History should always be documented...so it doesn't repeat hopefully.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow oh I absolutely agree. I’m in college to be a history teacher and it shocks me how many people don’t know some basic common sense when it comes to history.
@@jamesdean9183 and unfortunately history seems to repeat itself quite often.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow yep, we keep shooting ourselves in the foot then complaining when it hurts
@@jamesdean9183 very true
The chorus of "Brown Sugar" was inspired by the group's African American background singer, and Jagger's one-time girlfriend, Claudia Lennear.
I discuss that. Don’t know if inspired is the correct word as much of the song is about slavery. But the dance so good and taste so good part possibly. Jagger and Bowie had relationships with her and Jagger had relationship with Marsha hunt as well In fact his first child is with her. Based on actions Jagger and the stones have never been racist.
I remember Jagger saying at the time, in '71 or so, that he took inspiration from Fats Domino in his deliberate slurring of the lyrics. And lets face it, neither 'Brown Sugar' nor any other rock song is something to be picked apart (by a university student or lecturer, for example) in the way they might pick apart a novel by Jane Austen or William Faulkner. After all, who the hell knows what 'Tumbling Dice' is about either?
On the other side of the coin, I remember Charlie saying, after a concert in Lausanne in the Noughties, that playing 'Brown Sugar' for the 539th time did get a little wearying after a bit. And so one may infer that playing other high-profile Stones songs ad infinitum in a live setting could get rather samey for the band too, if not the audience as well. So that would be an alternative reason for dropping some of these songs.
For the purposes of this discussion however, I think I better leave my thoughts about Generation Z, with their ants-eye view of the world, at the door!
again love your contribution. My quote is I've heard Tumbling Dice 10,000 times and I still have no idea what the lyrics are (I'll never read them) and that's for the better. As for Brown Sugar - we now know why they dropped it. Gotta say, when I did that video, there was no talk about it...so I pat myself on the back a bit. I've no problem with them not playing classics because they're bored with it, not challenging, can't play it as well anymore etc. But I was proposing the question which became confirmed later on why they're not playing it....hence my disappointment... but it's the world we live in now...as you say - left at the door.
@TheAlanRosenbergShow I have also noticed they don't sing I shouted out who killed the Kennedys from sympathy,and the final lyric on rambler
That's really interesting. I haven't noticed that. Thanks for that info. @@keeponrollin7922
Love your channel.
Personally, I hate the term “woke” and personally think anyone who uses terms like it, are actually woke. I just hate labels
I look at it this way. The Stones wrote it and performed it and they more then anyone have the right to decide whether to play it live or not.
I don’t think the Stones bowed to any pressure from anyone or any group, nor did they do it because of what is happening with things like me too and so on.
I just think they have a lot of respect for black music and culture and they recognize it is a graphic song that isn’t appropriate.
If they want to stop doing it, then that’s their call. If others wanna say this is a woke decision, I don’t think the Stones give a shyte. The song itself hasn’t gone any where. So if the whiners wanna whine, go listen to the album or check out the thousands of versions they have played live over the years.
Appreciate ya brother
Thanks so much. The Stones certainly couldn't give a shit about my channel...lol or the general opinion out there. They definitely stopped playing it because of what was going on. Keith admitted that. "Just wasn't worth the fight" or something close to that, was what he said. It is clearly their decision to make. Some have said its because Jagger is not comfortable singing it anymore (obviously) because he has an African American child. I respect that decision. But it was an interesting topic when I did the video - I did that video early, really before too many others talked about it.
I absolutely agree with you on this and I wish they would not fall to the woke . But I’m still a forever fan .
thanks - forever fan as well. did that video a long time ago - still wish they did it though.
I think the Stones are gonna do whatever they wanna do - just like always. It's fine to debate "woke culture" in the context of different songs and whatnot - but if they haven't said anything about it, you're just speculating while that may have absolutely nothing to do with why they aren't playing it.
Yes, the Stones are always going to do what they want to do. Part of why we love them. I'm not angry that they're not playing Brown Sugar and yes I'm speculating. I say that in the video. But after 50 years of playing it, it indisputably always being a highlight of every show, and what's going on in the country right now, it certainly seems pretty clear that that has to have an influence on why they're not playing it. But yes, it's speculation. Thank you for watching and commenting. I appreciate it. Curious if you think they should play it or not...but I'm not out to make anyone uncomfortable or start any kind of nastiness.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow I'm indifferent. I've loved that song since I first heard it decades ago. I've loved hearing it live. Just like I'll love every song I get to hear them play. Sure, some warhorses taken out would make me a little unhappy, like sympathy or midnight rambler, or like, if they cut out the two from Keith, but I'm not upset about Brown Sugar. Further, let me pose a question. If for example, Mick says to the guys, "I'm just not comfortable playing this song g anymore" - is that "woke culture" or is it a just Mick's choice? I don't know- you've been very careful to say you're not trying to start any arguments and I appreciate that, but blanket blaming things on "woke culture" is divisive. We don't need any more divisive right now, especially over something - truly - as trivial as one song in a setlist, one way or the other. Go enjoy a show or five. You know you'll have a great time, Brown Sugar or no. I'm grateful I still have a chance to see em. Rock on :)
@@wharfrat70 thank you for your comments. I agree with what you said.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow even as far back as 95 we know Mick had some discomfort with Brown Sugar. (When he told Rolling Stone if was to write Brown Sugar today- he wouldn't do it/ he would self censor himself.) So without speculating, we know even 26 years ago Mick was questioning the appropriateness of the song.
There haven't been protests about the song, or calls for the Stones to stop playing the song, so this doesn't feel like them reacting to outside pressure to drop the song. Because there hasn't been any outside pressure.
I could see this coming internally as Dale says- Mick could've made the call he just wasn't comfortable playing the song. He might've seen the BLM protests happening around the world and that made him question if the song worked in a contemporary context- and that to me isn't 'woke culture' that's an artist making a call on what he wants to perform based on how he feels about the world.
Plus to me there is a certain irony in fans who have complained for years about the Stones always playing the same songs, complaining when they don't play one of their most played songs.
@@richardgrant517 thanks for commenting. So well said. Agree with everything you said. I think if they did play it they ran the risk of causing an uproar. Then they would’ve had to decide to drop it and run the risk of backing down. Plus it would’ve caused all this stress that they don’t need with everything else they’re dealing with. With their catalog it’s certainly not that big a deal not playing it. And yes Jagger is probably not comfortable singing it anymore which is the most important thing. And changing the lyrics would be far worse than not playing it anymore. But with all this. It’s an interesting topic of not playing one of the greatest songs ever after 50 years. Thanks again.
On Ed Sullivan they were supposed to cut 🎶Trying to make some girl pregnant🎶 from Satisfaction. But if I recall- they went ahead and sang it anyway.
it was "make some girl". Never heard pregnant before. Also Lets Spend Some Time Together and Mick rolls his eyes. But that was a different time and they were young and hungry and trying to make it really big....or maybe it wasn't such a different time after all....Thanks.
Play it stones its a classic about a dark side of our history stones are not racist.
they also have black singers singing behind them.The Stones are big enough to tell them to F^%ck off.When they changed the lyrics on let's spend the night together on Sullivan I believe was they had to get a foot in the U.S.Bottom line is I think if their backup singers aren't offended why should anyone else
From the beginning of The Stones career through their history, they have always paid their respects to the black music scene. And The Stones we’re always respected back from the black musicians. When I posted that video I wasn’t sure if Brown Sugar was cancelled but it certainly was. The world we’re living in right now.
Alan, you're talking about a band that crossed Ed Sullivan when Sullivan was the arbiter of American tastes. I seriously doubt they worry about extremist nonsense.
This video is old. The Stones have since confirmed that they did cancel Brown Sugar and that Mick Jagger is no longer comfortable singing it and not worth risking the protests that were going on around that time.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow Well, As a conformed liberal, that disappoints me. Should ZZ TOP dump "LaGrange" ? What about Grand Funk's "Black Licorice" ? Singing about loose black women goes back to the early days of the Delta blues. As a songwriter myself, I think the only reason to not perform a song is because it no longer "fits" you. If you write it, you take responsibility for what it says and you perform it as long as it represents who you are. Maybe Mick decided "not so much" in the 21st century. I urge my fellow liberals to take a powder about silliness like this.
@@derhandtrommler Obviously I don't support the Stones decision. That's why I did the video, although, gotta say, I was early. I noticed it, but didn't see others talking about it until afterwards.
Better on Album
Than live
I agree that the studio version is sheer perfection. But some mighty fine live versions out there especially back in the day.
They bowed to Sullivan and spent some time together. Cowards. Love the Clapton version of brown sugar. Consider it the mate of the Phil Spector version of the dominoes tell the truth. Both rock out furuously
I did this video so long ago and way before we knew if they canceled it. Well they sure did. I’m still disappointed. Only one of the greatest rock songs of all time. And it was commenting on what was. A rock n roll history lesson. Not that anyone was studying the lyrics anyway because the music was so great. World we live. Don’t learn from history. Just wipe out what you don’t like.
They sure did. It’s overplayed
Was definitely a bit overplayed - warhorse played at every show and I don't miss it terribly. I can do without them playing pretty much every current warhorse played. But yea they definitely caved.
This isn't the first time the Stones caved into political correctness....in case anyone didn't notice the lyrics to Some Girls have been " revised" for the last 30 years.........and the southern drawl of Far Away Eyes also disappeared......( Jagger singing that in his normal voice is ridiculous ).....also the lyrics to When the Whip Comes Down were " modified " on the Bridges and No Security tour at some shows.......
True, but dropping Brown Sugar was caving in to a whole nother level. Brown Sugar's been a highlight of every tour since the song came out. At the end, is it the biggest deal...no. Are the shows great without it....of course. Is it horrendously missed at every show...probably not. Personally I'd rather than just play deep cuts...lol. But it is a sign of the times...
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow interesting that when the Stones broke through and played in China they were told not to play Brown Sugar....because they believed it was a drug song named after the street name that was printed on heroin baggies....
@@larrynolletti4594 I never knew that though I remember China had a list of songs they didn’t want the Stones to play. Funny before I knew
The lyrics I thought it was a drug song too
Wait, since the slaver is a MAP (minor attracted person), isn't this song fine?
I'm not sure what you're saying, but the song is certainly fine with me.
Short and curly
Not sure what you're saying - Short & Curlies from It's Only Rock 'n' Roll Album - fun little track for me.
Star Star
One of my favorites - especially the remixed version of GHS where you can hear the lyrics - fantastic track in my opinion. Wish they would play that live now.
I prefer it's original name, Starfucker, LMAO!