Falcons declining fast!

[Sackem90]

And I don't mean their football record! I was looking for something else on thestate.com website and came across this:



Posted on Mon, Nov. 03, 2003

Falcons scramble to explain halftime show
PAUL NEWBERRY
Associated Press

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - As if they didn't have enough problems, the Atlanta Falcons were scrambling to defend a halftime show featuring three rap groups.

Bonecrusher, Youngbloodz and Jermaine Dupri performed Sunday during a 23-16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Falcons' seventh straight loss.

Bonecrusher, a hefty, Atlanta-based artist, sang the hip-hop hit "Never Scared," in which he muses about shooting someone in the head.

According to profanity-laced lyrics obtained from an Internet Web site, the song goes, "Let a choppa go PLOOOOOOWWW! to yo melon. Now the plasma is oozin outta yo cerebellum."

Groups often cut two versions of songs - one to go on the album and one that's appropriate for radio airplay.

It wasn't clear which versions of their songs the groups used at the Georgia Dome. Some people at the game claimed they heard profanity, others said they didn't.

Roddy White, the team's director of event marketing and entertainment, conceded Monday there were "some things that happened that shouldn't have happened."

"We had a conversation with them prior to (the show). We said, 'Look, this has got to be appropriate for the audience that's there.' The crowd that comes to a Falcons game is different than a crowd that comes to one of their shows," White said.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank watched the performance from his private box, but said he couldn't decipher the lyrics.

"Well, I'm sorry," Blank said. "If there was profanity, given the family atmosphere we have there, that's not right. We shouldn't have entertainers there that do that."

Bonecrusher took the stage first, ripping off his shirt during a raucous version of "Never Scared." Youngbloodz went next, performing the song "Damn!"

Dupri, a prominent producer as well as performer, finished the 10-minute performance with his hit song, "Welcome to Atlanta," which is often played by the Falcons during play stoppages.

Dupri could not be reached for comment. His personal assistant did not return two messages left at his Atlanta-based company, So So Def Records.

Dupri has produced hits for Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, TLC and others. In January, he was named a senior vice president of Arista Records, taking with him the So So Def label.

Bonecrusher and Youngbloodz both record for Dupri's label.

White insisted that team officials screened the songs and felt they would be appropriate for a diverse crowd that included plenty of children.

"We listened to the tracks beforehand and we didn't see any reason to be alarmed," he said. "When you're in a live situation, like doing live TV, things can happen that are good, bad or indifferent."

White said he wasn't sure if the team had received any complaints about the show. He said it's impossible to come up with entertainment that appeals to everyone in the crowd.

"I'll be honest with you - I didn't hear the profanity that people said was being put out there," White said. "I will say this: Whether you liked it or didn't like it, there were a lot of people in the building that liked the show."

 

[PantherFanz]

Here is a piece of email I got from a friend of mine who was at this game Sunday

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From an eye witness perspective, I could not understand the lyrics. They did not plug the show in the main system in which they play the songs when a team scores, etc. They rolled speakers out on the field for use during the halftime show. The only reason I knew what they were saying is that I have heard the songs on the radio. My personal sentiment is that I would not want my son listening to the song on the radio or at the game; however, with all of the avenues such lyrics have to travel to the ears of listeners, some things can't be avioded. If the same people who were complaining listened close enough they would hear worst things come out of the mouths of those who surround them at the football game. If people consume themselves worrying about violence and graphic lyrics of that song, they should have closed thier ears and eyes so they could have missed the halftime show and the fight in the stands in the fourth quarter!!! ...and it was a good one!!!
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[Sackem90]

This upheaval has made it onto nfl.com and espn.com. Like you said (or your buddy), kids hear things that we think that they don't hear. My two kids come up with stuff that they've heard and it absolutely floors me! It's like, "Where did you hear that from?!" And what's so sad is, they are 9 and 4!!!