The BBC was shocked - Shocked! - when Sir Paul McCartney did an impromptu "trans-racial" impersonation of Michael Jackson on the air. McCartney is said to have talked in a high-pitched Jackson-style voice when asked about the once-black-man turned middled-aged white-woman singer, which the usually insensitive and over-the-top BBC decided was too outrageous, even by non-existent British standards.
A BBC source told the Daily Mail: "McCartney started to reply in this high-pitched Jacko voice, and apparently it was very funny. But the BBC - deeply nervous, perhaps because of the Jonathan Ross-Russell Brand affair - has declined to broadcast the interview."
Explaining the reasoning as to why the impression could possibly be deemed offensive or unsuitable for broadcast, the source continued: "They say it's a 'trans-racial impression' - that's what they say in a memo - and even by Macca that is beyond the pale."
Sir Paul likely no longer has love for Jacko. The two superstars used to be friends, but fell out when Jackson outbid the ex-Beatle for the rights to most of the Beatles' back catalog of music. Jackson bought the rights for $48 million (£33m).
The purchase soured their friendship. Sir Paul later said: "You know what doesn't feel very good, is going on tour and paying to sing all my songs. Every time I sing 'Hey Jude' I've got to pay someone."
Comments
I agree with Paul that it's not right that he has to pay to sing HEY JUDE. But when some of those concert ticket prices reach the outrageous hundreds of dollars mark, I think he'll be able to afford the fees. As a young struggling lad in Liverpool, I wonder what the 16-year-old James Paul McCartney would think about his favorite artist charging "$300 plus" to see a live concert in the 21st century.
Posted by: SScalise | January 2, 2009 4:58 PM