Metropol

I quite like Harry Hill, but what in shitting crikey is this supposed to be? Is Harry really a nasty, sneering, stereotyping, hateful twat or is this the result of some desperate financial venture? I pray to God it's the latter. What a hideous piece of shit this is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gybuEqDnBLM

I don't find it hateful. Its acerbic social commentary.

I have to walk through Leith to get to my office. Its a real thing - believe me.

He could be "nice" and not mention it - but why on earth not?

It's fair to say Harry Hill isn't a good singer, but that song has it spot on with what is wrong with alot of Britain today, as Gav said it's a reflection of society.

Acerbic social commentary? Yes, Hill is really being discerning with his targets. No one has ever pointed out those things to me before. HAHA, ALL POOR PEOPLE HAVE TRAMPOLINES. Nice to see him having a go at all poor people who live on council estates at last, yes. If you're attacking council estate dwellers (as I was) then you've got to be funny and have a defensible attitude, and to be honest Hill just comes off like a miserable Daily Mail bastard. For a start, the tune is totally crummy and Harry's voice is awful, and all it seems to even *do* is list a load of 'chav' things and rhyming them together. Yes, mercilessly mock the underprivileged and portray them as sub-human scum.

It snipes, it's lazy and he has pissed away a lot of good will with this absolute piece of shit. Not only is his pouring scorn on this stereotype not funny, it's also hopelessly unfunny in terms of its lyrics.

You two, thinking he's being some sort of clever social commentator when all he's doing is reeling off a list of 'chav' things in a poorly structured way that reduces even its lyrical merit.

but that song has it spot on with what is wrong with alot of Britain today, as Gav said it's a reflection of society.

No it fucking isn't. It's pointing out an age-old stereotype and laughing at it.

I can't stand Harry Hill, so I won't be bothering to listen to it.

However, for the record, it sounds as if it's excellent.

I should say that I do understand why Ronnie might feel this is a hateful piece; but I have to balance that with what I observe all around me.

Just yesterday the Evening News led with this as a cover story:

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topst ... 6588141.jp



Jaqueline Bowers (there she is, looking wretched) epitomises the character Harry is portraying. She blew £50,000 on holidays and flat screen TVs, whilst drawing over £7,000 in benefits she wasn't entitled to.

She's now mewling that she doesn't know how she'll heat her house and thinks she's being unfairly punished.

Well... *shrugs*... what am I supposed to make of that? I've got a social conscience, but that doesn't extend to supporting people taking the piss, ripping off the state, kids who want to have babies in return for social housing and who live outwith their means.

Socialism (to me) is about protecting those who need protecting, not supporting those who don't try and expect everything.

Or indeed anyone who aspires to be a whore like Jordan.

And how is Harry's piece in any way clever or insightful, outside of just listing, as I said? "I've got a big bag... of Haribo, my bruv-ah, he got an AS-BO". Bugger RIGHT OFF, Harry.

Yes, these people exist, but they're made fun of so often by tedious bigots who have a massive lack of perspective and who universally define these people as 'council estate people', and Harry has just flung himself right up there with them. Chubby Brown, Jim Davidson - Yes, maybe. But Harry bloody Hill? I expected far, far better from him. And for the record, I've met far more of the people who look this way than Harry has, and I've been pleasantly surprised by how they spoke to me. Probably because I spoke to them as an equal and didn't scurry away muttering 'scum' under my breath.

Ronnie Rowlands wrote:Acerbic social commentary? Yes, Hill is really being discerning with his targets. No one has ever pointed out those things to me before. HAHA, ALL POOR PEOPLE HAVE TRAMPOLINES. Nice to see him having a go at all poor people who live on council estates at last, yes. If you're attacking council estate dwellers (as I was) then you've got to be funny and have a defensible attitude, and to be honest Hill just comes off like a miserable Daily Mail bastard. For a start, the tune is totally crummy and Harry's voice is awful, and all it seems to even *do* is list a load of 'chav' things and rhyming them together. Yes, mercilessly mock the underprivileged and portray them as sub-human scum.

It snipes, it's lazy and he has pissed away a lot of good will with this absolute piece of shit. Not only is his pouring scorn on this stereotype not funny, it's also hopelessly unfunny in terms of its lyrics.

You two, thinking he's being some sort of clever social commentator when all he's doing is reeling off a list of 'chav' things in a poorly structured way that reduces even its lyrical merit.

but that song has it spot on with what is wrong with alot of Britain today, as Gav said it's a reflection of society.

No it fucking isn't. It's pointing out an age-old stereotype and laughing at it.

Wait a mo - its not about people who live in council estates or on low incomes.

You work hard Ron - and will throughout your life I have no doubt. But you know as well as I do that there's huge swathes of people who don't and have no desire to - but inexplicably they have flat screen TVs, leather sofas and manage to take holidays that I can only dream of. I've not had a holiday since 2004 other than business trips.

You should be able to separate those who work hard and those who don't.

Lads with ASBOs - are you suggesting that someone who menaces neighbours should be pitied? Fuck that. I live on a street littered with them. Saturday evening I had a 3 litre glass bottle of wine smashed against my front door (empty, I should add).

Haribo I cannot comment on as I have a bag of them in my drawer this very minute - nom nom.

There's a difference between good people on low incomes and ferrule spongers who expect it all handed to them. Good grief, I'm the big lefty around here and its as plain to me as anything.

If you're not in the latter camp, why on earth would you take offence?

Gavin Scott wrote: Wait a mo - its not about people who live in council estates or on low incomes.

I can find you a hundred people who look look at her and go 'wurgh, council estate whore'. I'm willing to bet that that is who Harry Hill is appealing to. I can further validate my belief that Harry is basing the 'opinion' expressed in the song on what he reads in the papers, what with him living in Kensington and having a privileged upbringing. Makes his ignorant sneering all the more loathsome.

Gavin Scott wrote:Lads with ASBOs - are you suggesting that someone who menaces neighbours should be pitied?

Never said that.

Gavin Scott wrote:Haribo I cannot comment on as I have a bag of them in my drawer this very minute - nom nom.

See, that is *exactly* what I see as being part of the problem. Eat Haribo, Gav? Get on the trampoline my son, you big sponge. And what exactly is the bloody obsession with trampolines in that song? Are housing estates littered with trampolines? Well if so, so fucking what? What is with this song's pathological obsession with trampolines?

What infuriates me more is that this girl is 14 years old, 14! Is *she* even the one scrounging off the state? No! It's 'her' parents! Not content with being a sweeping generalizer, he's putting his shoes into someone who has been *brought up* to be this way! Yes, they're cunty. But is their nature entirely down to them, given the environment they've grown up in? No. But hey, let's not try and do anything to combat that, let's write a really cunty song about it so we can laugh at them a bit.

And also, can I make a point about some of the things Hill lists and attributes to chavs?

She's 14, she wants to have a kid but doesn't know the consequences. She has a trampoline, wants a phone, uses Facebook, likes sweets, fancies people off the telly.

Know what that sounds like to me? Not a chavvy 14 year old girl, no no. To me, it sounds like...

MOST 14 YEAR OLD GIRLS

That's right, materialistic, hormonal, slightly ditzy 14 year old girls. This could actually have been a rather charming little ditty about being a 14 year old if he hadn't thrown in the elitism.

I can name you a few non-chavs who fancy Ashley Cole if you'd like?

I know you're cross, but lets go calmly, and step by step.

Ronnie Rowlands wrote:I can find you a hundred people who look look at her and go 'wurgh, council estate whore'. I'm willing to bet that that is who Harry Hill is appealing to. I can further validate my belief that Harry is basing the 'opinion' expressed in the song on what he reads in the papers, what with him living in Kensington and having a privileged upbringing. Makes his ignorant sneering all the more loathsome.

Well if I understand the distinction between good people on low incomes and scrounging wastrels, does it not follow that others might too? Is it true that people who don't walk a certain path are spoonfed vital knowledge from the tabloids? Its not in my case, and I may be special, but I'm not unique.

Is your fear that less evolved types will fail to see the difference and "tar you all with the same brush"?

There are people who fail to see a distinction between homosexual men and paedophiles. Does that make it true? Does it follow that no one should crack a joke for fear that the unenlightened would misunderstand?

Ronnie wrote:

Lads with ASBOs - are you suggesting that someone who menaces neighbours should be pitied?

Never said that.

Sorry, but you mentioned the line and reacted strongly. What did you mean about it - I think I misunderstood.

Ronnie wrote:

Haribo I cannot comment on as I have a bag of them in my drawer this very minute - nom nom.

See, that is *exactly* what I see as being part of the problem. Eat Haribo, Gav? Get on the trampoline my son, you big sponge. And what exactly is the bloody obsession with trampolines in that song? Are housing estates littered with trampolines? Well if so, so fucking what? What is with this song's pathological obsession with trampolines?

I didn't take any particular message about the tramapoline. Trampalomine. Bouncy thing.

Its just a comedy thing.

What infuriates me more is that this girl is 14 years old, 14! Is *she* even the one scrounging off the state? No! It's 'her' parents! Not content with being a sweeping generalizer, he's putting his shoes into someone who has been *brought up* to be this way! Yes, they're cunty. But is their nature entirely down to them, given the environment they've grown up in? No. But hey, let's not try and do anything to combat that, let's write a really cunty song about it so we can laugh at them a bit.

Maybe you can combat it by having a laugh at it. I'm not being glib - but let me tell you, no amount of me attempting to help the kids who surrounded me when I walked out of my door on Saturday will help - but perhaps if their comedy hero Harry Hill shows them that to have zero ambition coupled with unrealistic desires for possessions is laughable then THEY will resort to self help. I've heard 15 year old (I'm guessing) boys talking to their mates about how many points they have and need to get a council house. What's that all about? How about working>renting>saving>buying? Who is teaching these kids these lessons? If they don't get it from their parents then they might learn something here.

Its possible. I don't know.

And also, can I make a point about some of the things Hill lists and attributes to chavs?

She's 14, she wants to have a kid but doesn't know the consequences. She has a trampoline, wants a phone, uses Facebook, likes sweets, fancies people off the telly.

Know what that sounds like to me? Not a chavvy 14 year old girl, no no. To me, it sounds like...

MOST 14 YEAR OLD GIRLS

I can name you a few non-chavs who fancy Ashley Cole if you'd like?

Its pointing the finger at those who want celebrity for its trappings, like X factor audtionees (the ones with delusions of grandeur), or Big Brother contestants, or star fuckers.

They exist everywhere, not just on estates. You're being really touchy about this because you live on one - but the song isn't directed at you, so why does it bother you?

Trailer trash don't just live in trailers - but they are trash.

I don't know what else to say about it.

I agree with Gavin. I'm assuming good faith with Harry on this.