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Stop wondering if you are smarter than a fifth grader and start worrying about which version of Sean Kingston’s “Beautiful Girl” your favorite fifth grader is listening to. If you’ve ever doubted that common sense has been shafted by a nebulous interpretation of freedom of speech, surf the top 40 stations and compare the two versions of this catchy melody.
In the first rendition, Kingston relies heavily on repeating the word “suicidal” as if its just another begnign adjective. Shivers run down my spine as I flash on the 31,000 families a year who are devastated by suicide in this country. As the third leading cause of mortality for Americans in the 10 to 24 age group, this subject is too serious to mock.
Kingston did put out an alternate version where the phrase “in denial” replaces the “S” word.
I realize that this subject has been lifted up in song before. But how many people really know the words to the theme from M*A*S*H? And how many artists have given us the freedom to choose?
I’ve spent the better part of last night e-mailing radio stations to voice my concern about the song. I’ve called radio request lines and requested the alternate version.