London, April 4: The BBC has been condemned for broadcasting a song that compares the queen to Saddam Hussein and accuses the royal family of murdering Diana, Princess of Wales.
Great Britain, which is currently being played on Radio One and on the BBC’s digital station 1Xtra, is a diatribe against the British way of life.
Written and performed by Scor-Zay-Zee, a hip-hop performer who has recently converted to Islam, the song is considered by some in the music industry to be more offensive than God Save The Queen by the Sex Pistols. That track was banned by the BBC following a flood of complaints about its anti-royal lyrics.
The new record portrays a nation torn apart by rising crime, grinding poverty and political corruption. It claims that the country’s young are being “brainwashed and put in a daze” by an out-of-control consumer culture. Over the course of just four minutes the song also manages to take potshots at Britain’s support for Israel and its special relationship with the US, which is labelled “The Devil”.
The track saves its most damning criticism, however, for the royal family, which it accuses of carrying out thefts and killings. “Slavery made the riches of Great Britain, the Queen wears stolen diamonds, her husband’s a Freemason, they killed Lady Di,” the record states. It goes on: “The Queen lives in a house like Saddam Hussein. They’re both rich so I guess they are both one and the same.”
The chorus, which is about Britain being held to account for its crimes, is even more controversial. Scor-Zay-Zee sings: “If I had an army I would fight ya. If I had the police I’d arrest ya. If I had my own court, my own judge and jury I’d sit back and let history tell the story.”
Julie Kirkbride, the shadow culture secretary, said she favoured freedom of expression, but thought Great Britain was too extreme. “I know there is an argument for free speech and for airing arguments about Britain’s past and the monarchy,” she said. “But I think that this particular song has gone too far and I think it is a pity the BBC is giving it airtime.”
Despite the criticism, steady airplay has turned the song into something of a cause celebre, with record companies battling for the right to release Great Britain as a single.
