This is shaping up to be an unofficial theme week on controversial videos by female artists.
Our next entry is ‘Hello Kitty’ by Avril Lavigne, which has been criticized for its use of Japanese cultural motifs. Fans and critics have labelled the Canadian singer racist for employing a quartet of stoic Japanese background dancers and parading through a series of exaggerated colorful sets.
Lavigne responded to the criticism on Twitter: “”RACIST??? LOLOLOL!!! I love Japanese culture and I spend half of my time in Japan. I flew to Tokyo to shoot this video specifically for my Japanese fans, with my Japanese label, Japanese choreographers and a Japanese director in Japan.”
I don’t know if this video is racist or just bad. I’ve certainly seen some crazy shit out of Japan, so the imagery itself doesn’t seem out of line. Maybe just the fact that it’s a white woman in the foreground?
I don’t know. I just know that the song itself is offensive to my ears, regardless of the video.
Ka-ka-ka-kawaii
[Verse 1]
Mom’s not home tonight
So we can roll around have a pillow fight
Like a major rager, OMFG (oh-oh, oh-oh)
Let’s all slumber party
Like a fat kid on a pack of Smarties
Someone chuck a cupcake at me
It’s time for spin the bottle
Not gonna talk about it tomorrow
Keep it just between you and me
Let’s play truth or dare now
We can roll around in our underwear how
Every silly kitty should be
[Pre-Chorus]
Come Come
Kitty Kitty
You’re so pretty pretty
Don’t go Kitty Kitty
Stay with me
Come Come
Kitty Kitty
You’re so silly silly
Don’t go Kitty Kitty
Play with me
[Chorus]
Ka-ka-ka-kawaii
Hello Kitty, Hello Kitty
Hello Kitty, you’re so pretty
Hello Kitty, Hello Kitty
Hello Kitty, you’re so silly
[Verse 2]
Wake up got a secret
Pinky swear that you’re gonna keep it
I’ve got something you need to see
Let’s be friends forever
I wanna do everything with you together
Come and play with Kitty and me
[Pre-Chorus]
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
Minna saikou, arigato, ka-ka-ka-ka-kawaii
Minna saikou, arigato, ka-ka-ka-ka-kawaii
Ka-ka-ka-ka-kawaii
Ka-ka-ka-ka-kawaii
Ka-ka-ka-ka-kawaii
Ka-ka-ka-ka-kawaii
Meow!
[Chorus]
[Pre-Chorus](2x)
Hello Kitty, Hello Kitty
Meet Me In Montauk 
I would be curious to know if Japanese fans and Japanese critics find this racist. I suspect they don’t and, if they don’t, why exactly should the opinion of non-Japanese matter? I suspect this is an instance of political correctness run amuck. As Jon Stewart recently said, we all seem to agree that racism is bad, we just don’t seem to know what racism is.
Made me nostalgic for that popping Japanese ultra-modern stuff. Fun!
Musically, not my cup of tea. Tea? tee hee.
“Everyone’s a little bit racist.”
Just saw an amusing juxtaposition of fan photos Avril took with her fans and Rhianna took with her fans. Apparently Avril has all sorts of rules about physical proximity, so these are some pretty awkward photos.