Government bans sexy songs
February 28, 2008
Phnom Penh authorities have censored three songs because of lyrics that glorify infidelity.
The titles of the three songs banned from public broadcast for inciting infidelity say it all, according to Cambodian government and cultural officials, local media reported Thursday. The offending songs, If I Can’t Be First Can I Be Second?, Love Another’s Husband and May I Have a Piece of Your Heart Too? have been banished from the nation’s thousands of karaoke restaurants, Khmer-language Koh Santepheap reported.
“We are searching for other songs which affect people’s honour, especially that of women,” the paper quoted Phnom Penh governor Kep Chuktema as saying.
[...]
“People can still play the songs in private – this is only a public ban,” one official said on condition of anonymity. “I don’t think music has much to do with it, but it’s an official request.”
It seems likely that this “official request” came from first lady Bun Rany Hun Sen, as crackdowns on suggestive things almost always originate from her — just never you mind about that silly little constitution thingy.
February 29, 2008 at 11:24 am
De Standaard, supposedly THE quality Flemish newspaper, reported this story. On their website it was filed under the Famous and Bizarre header.
There’s a slip-up though: the article calls the Cambodian government a communist government (“… de communistische regering …”). Fact checking please?
The link
http://www.standaard.be/Artikel/Detail.aspx?artikelId=0V1OJJPB
Tom
February 29, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Everybody loves the offbeat stories don’t they? Cambodia is a limitless source of them, as DPA regularly reminds us.
March 2, 2008 at 6:02 pm
it seems Cambodia is not so strict now,
few years ago they totaly banned the karaoke to open ! to preserve the youth !
Paul
see recent news about Cambodia on : http://www.netvibes.com/cambodia