Mo Bamba I thought it couldn't get any worse i was wrong

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hottest song in the teen scene since the start of fall, and even seen it go over well at weddings (not mine personally, but from other dj's posting clips). I suspect most on here won't need this song if you're not catering to the teen market, or couples that like hip hop and the club scene... however, if either of those apply its a must play. If you watch football or basketball, this song is also played in the stadiums during time outs or stoppages in play. I hate the song personally, but if it is what the crowd wants, it's what they get.
 
Hopefully you are kidding. And I get asked why I don’t really want to DJ for young audiences anymore. Most likely just the artist name & title combo would be enough trigger a do not play it. Even a edited version wouldn’t make sense. I have to make sure in doesn’t find its way into my karaoke tracks. If I played it my 30+ year tenure at my main college locations would be over so quickly.
 
Hopefully you are kidding. And I get asked why I don’t really want to DJ for young audiences anymore. Most likely just the artist name & title combo would be enough trigger a do not play it. Even a edited version wouldn’t make sense. I have to make sure in doesn’t find its way into my karaoke tracks. If I played it my 30+ year tenure at my main college locations would be over so quickly.
I am legit not kidding lol. Every single sweet 16 has had this song played since fall, and it has been each and every time the biggest song of the night. I mean, just watch my recaps from the past sweet 16's I've done... you'll see the kids going crazy.
 
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If we played that at pretty much any of our school dances we would never be called back again. That's why we have school clients we've had for 10+ years--using discretion to extend the school's standards to the school's event. Yes, there are schools who will allow it, and typically they aren't our customer (it's a lengthy discussion if you want to hear the reasoning). Private or school event, the person holding the check is the one who sets the standard for what is played.
 
IMHO, this song is absolutely useless, disgusting and immoral. Sorry Taso, but I have to disagree you playing it.

Just because it's requested and the KIDS enjoy it does not mean you NEED or SHOULD play it.

Yes, they will listen on their own, but still, come on.

Me thinks if you had a daughter, you may feel a bit different.
 
I wouldn’t even think about playing for many reasons on so many different levels. When/if a song like this comes up I already discussed with the people or organization hiring me my limits of what I wont play & why. I recently saw a video on DMC commenting on the state of Rap music. Although I won’t call this Music. Kids ask for all kinds of stuff it doesn’t mean they have to get it, well at least from me when there is so much better real music out there.
 
Di you all actually listen to the song? This is a true professional artist right here. Amazing song writing, and real musical talent! I am surprised it has not made it's way onto the top 200 list for weddings yet!

Best song ever. Right up there with talented bands like Chicago and Earth Wind and Fire! Watch out Bruno Mars, you have some serious competition here! :)
 
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I would have gotten torn apart if I hadn't played it at the homecoming I did. Obviously I played a clean edit of it (which still isn't great). But I didn't even view it as a real option to skip it.

It's also the hottest song of the night in every bar and lounge environment I play in.

I have not played it at a wedding yet, but my last few weddings haven't been the right crowd for it.
 
At our last homecoming, that was the one song the advisors said absolutely is a no play. Yes, we had several requests for it. No, we did not play it. Yes, we're booked for next year again (I think that will be maybe our 15th year there). That particular school draws more attendance for their homecoming dance than they have enrollment, so it is possible to NOT play a song and still be a successful event. Year. after. year.
 
Guys there are clean versions of the song. Parents are totally cool with it at private events. If I didn’t play it I’d get kids complaining to their parents about not being able to play the biggest song in the teen scene. And then I’d be losing business. I guess the northeast is more lenient when it comes to stuff like this. Just like some of you have the clients you do because you choose not to play it... I have the clients I do have because I am able to play these songs through the clean versions. If I said no to every single girl who had this song as the top request, how would that go over. By the way I’ve been in this situation with countless songs... and it’s always the same story. Girl wants songs that are dirty, parents say clean versions please. Once in a while there’s no clean version, and I have to mention that to the parent... it’s then 50/50 between them saying don’t play it or them saying who cares, play it, the kids all know the words anyways.

Schools around here only say play clean versions... there’s no further filtering beyond that
 
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Nobody is arguing about availability of clean versions.

Sure, at some events, the clean version might be acceptable. For most of our clients, it is not. And we do further edit our music beyond published *clean* versions....both for audio and (mostly) video content. Things get a whole lot more offensive when viewed on big video screens across the gymnasium, or when 2000 kids are screaming the obscenities of the original lyrics... It's a lot easier to maintain a repeat client than it is to turn over a client list annually.

Again, as mentioned earlier, that's what works for us and for our clients for the past 25 years or so. Others have great experience with different standards, and that's ok too.
 
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i havent played this yet... and probably will not... so far ive been able to stay away from the filthier stuff with my teen dances...

but i can understand Taso's delimma .... Valeries client is essentially the school.... though she wants to please the kids... the kids will rotate out every couple years but the faculty will remain... Taso's client (though the parent is paying) is actually the one child... her social cosmos is on the line and this is her one night to shine ...and at the end of the day...if baby aint happy ...mommy aint happy....

He no doubt will be getting the call for her wedding in 3 to 5 years as well... where as Valerie is working towards another successful school dance season.

just my observation

cc
 
Guys there are clean versions of the song. Parents are totally cool with it at private events. If I didn’t play it I’d get kids complaining to their parents about not being able to play the biggest song in the teen scene. And then I’d be losing business. I guess the northeast is more lenient when it comes to stuff like this. Just like some of you have the clients you do because you choose not to play it... I have the clients I do have because I am able to play these songs through the clean versions. If I said no to every single girl who had this song as the top request, how would that go over. By the way I’ve been in this situation with countless songs... and it’s always the same story. Girl wants songs that are dirty, parents say clean versions please. Once in a while there’s no clean version, and I have to mention that to the parent... it’s then 50/50 between them saying don’t play it or them saying who cares, play it, the kids all know the words anyways.

Schools around here only say play clean versions... there’s no further filtering beyond that
Still one of the worst written and worst sung songs in all of human history ... it makes Rebecca Black seem like a Diva in comparison.
 
Still one of the worst written and worst sung songs in all of human history ... it makes Rebecca Black seem like a Diva in comparison.
Lol I NEVER said I liked it!! But just like chris said... if i don't play it... the other 4 or 5 girls at the party that would consider having me dj, will not be inclined to when the bday girl says to her friends "dj taso said he won't play mo bamba". It actually happened to me once many years ago from a misunderstanding. I had a client call me and wanted to book me for her daughter's sweet 16, but the daughter heard from her friend that booked me, that "dj taso doesn't play songs with curses, even if there's clean versions". Now the girl and her mom that called me didn't believe that to be true since they know what I play, but wanted to double check, since half the girls playlist would be songs that are technically explicit. Now I knew which girl they were referring to, and what had happened was me telling the mom that one of the songs her daughter requested had no clean version, and the mom said don't play it. I saw the family at another event a few weeks later, and politely asked the girl if she had told her friend that I don't play songs even if there's a clean version... she said that's what her mom told her. So now I make sure that whenever there is a song that is questionable, I have the discussion with BOTH the daughter and the parents. These kids tak amongst themselves, and they're the one's picking their dj, not the parents. The parents just pay the bills. The parent's hear the songs their kids listen to in the car and have no issues with it. Schools have more liability when it comes to this stuff, especially in more rural/conservative areas. Up here schools are way more lenient with this, and have the mentality of, their gonna listen to and play these songs regardless, so lets at least give them a safe environment to do so in.
 
Lol I NEVER said I liked it!! But just like chris said... if i don't play it... the other 4 or 5 girls at the party that would consider having me dj, will not be inclined to when the bday girl says to her friends "dj taso said he won't play mo bamba". It actually happened to me once many years ago from a misunderstanding. I had a client call me and wanted to book me for her daughter's sweet 16, but the daughter heard from her friend that booked me, that "dj taso doesn't play songs with curses, even if there's clean versions". Now the girl and her mom that called me didn't believe that to be true since they know what I play, but wanted to double check, since half the girls playlist would be songs that are technically explicit. Now I knew which girl they were referring to, and what had happened was me telling the mom that one of the songs her daughter requested had no clean version, and the mom said don't play it. I saw the family at another event a few weeks later, and politely asked the girl if she had told her friend that I don't play songs even if there's a clean version... she said that's what her mom told her. So now I make sure that whenever there is a song that is questionable, I have the discussion with BOTH the daughter and the parents. These kids tak amongst themselves, and they're the one's picking their dj, not the parents. The parents just pay the bills. The parent's hear the songs their kids listen to in the car and have no issues with it. Schools have more liability when it comes to this stuff, especially in more rural/conservative areas. Up here schools are way more lenient with this, and have the mentality of, their gonna listen to and play these songs regardless, so lets at least give them a safe environment to do so in.
I understand ... you're selling your soul .. :)
 
Interesting input from everyone. And some valid comments. But this song, is much worse than the lyrics. It is sooooooo not danceable. I know the audience can bump and grid and that's about it. But I'd much rather play a song with a tempo that creates a jumping, fist pumping. FUN dance motion. And this song, aside from the lyrics just doesn't do that.

I did seven Homecoming dances in the month of September and October and never had a request for this song. Maybe it'll be more the scene for the coming Proms. I can only hope not.
 
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