The Islamic political party Amanah has spoken, and at least one person was listening, when they asked for Despacito, the catchy, Spanish-language banger featuring Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and certified gringo Justin Bieber, to be banned.
That person? Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), the government-linked radio and television station watched and listened mostly by those who first tuned in in 1946, their first year of broadcast. The rest of us couldn’t hear Amanah over the chorus “Dessss-pa-ciiito.”
The move comes one day after women’s division Awan member Atriza Umar wowed Malaysia with her Spanish knowledge, and condemned the song as not “compatible” with Islamic and Eastern values.
Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak made the announcement of the ban yesterday at the ministry’s Raya open house last night. Let’s hope the DJ didn’t have that one lined up for later.
Yes, on the day that the track became the most streamed song ever in the history of songs, RTM wanted to show the public just how relevant they still are by outlawing the “racy” track.
Just what qualifies as seksi to a non-Spanish speaking public in a Spanish song? Well, it could be the suggestive scientific lyric, with a dash of project management, that translates to:
You, you are the magnet and I’m the metal
I’m getting closer and I’m setting up the plan
Maybe? Who knows! If you bother to learn Spanish to decipher the meaning behind a reggaeton song, the joke is forever on you. There is no meaning, only a beat.
Gasolina forever.
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