Malaysia bans hit song 'Despacito' due to indecent lyrics
The song was banned on state media after public complaints. Photo courtesy: Daily Express (UK)
(Web Desk) - Malaysia has banned the hit song “Despacito” from state radio and television after complaints from the public that the song’s lyrics were indecent.
According to NBC News the Malaysian Communications Minister Salleh Said Keruak said on Thursday that the song was banned because of public complaints that the lyrics were obscene.
Speaking to CNN Money Salleh said that people had complained that the lyrics were not "suitable" and that the song was full of improper references which made it "wholly inappropriate to be aired by our national media outlets for our general public, especially children,”.
However the ban of the song only applies to the state media. Private TV and radio channels can play it although Salleh was quoted by local media saying that private radio stations should not air the song out of respect for local culture.
The state’s media ban has received a mixed reaction from the public. While some have supported the government’s decision others have come out against it such as this one Twitter user who asked how could the song’s lyrics be considered vulgar when most people did not even understand them (the song is in Spanish).
Malaysia banning despacito because the lyrics are obscene when 90% of the people here don t even understand the lyrics. Lol.
— Beng (@Shafiqbeng) July 20, 2017
This is not the first time “Despacito” has faced resistance in Malaysia. An Islamic party, Amanah, had earlier called for the song to be kept off Malaysia’s airwaves stating that it was corrupting young children as many of them were singing it without understanding any of the words.
The song has become a hit across the world. Video courtesy: YouTube
“Despacito” was first released in January by Puerto Rican artists Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee. Since then the original song and its remix featuring Justin Bieber have become the most streamed track of all time with more than 4.6 billion plays.
