September 8th 2024.
According to some audience members who attended the launch show, Strictly Come Dancing star Paul Merson was less than thrilled with his first dance song. Reports claim that the former professional footballer had to re-film a moment during the pre-recorded show due to his disappointed reaction to the song choice.
Paul is just one of the many celebrities joining the 20th-anniversary series of the hit BBC show, alongside names like Tasha Ghouri, Sarah Hadland, Pete Wicks, Tom Dean, JB Gill, Jamie Borthwick, and Sam Quek. While the series is broadcasted live each weekend, the launch show is pre-recorded to reveal the celebrity and pro pairings, as well as their first routine before they begin training.
During the filming of the launch show, Paul was apparently visibly upset upon learning that he would be dancing to the World Cup anthem Vindaloo. The iconic track, originally released in 1998 by Fat Les, is a favorite among football fans, but has also faced criticism for its potential racist connotations.
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Back to Paul's less-than-impressed reaction to his first dance song, it seems that audience members had to sit through a re-filming of his reaction to make it more exciting. One audience member told The Mail on Sunday that Paul looked "really cross" when celebrities and their partners were told their song choices. While many were given lovely classics, Paul was given Vindaloo.
The audience member sympathized with Paul, who played in the 1998 World Cup in France, for feeling like he was being set up as the "joke act". They also pointed out the potential negative connotations of the song, which has been accused of being racist and associated with far-right football hooligans.
The BBC was also criticized for being "thoughtless" in their song choice, especially given the recent scandals surrounding the show. This includes the sacking of two professional dancers, Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima, after allegations of bullying and physical violence. The audience member expressed disappointment with the BBC's decision, particularly in light of these controversies.
Vindaloo, co-written by Blur bassist Alex James and Guy Pratt, with lyrics by comedian Keith Allen, caused even more controversy when it was revealed that it was inspired by a heated argument between Keith and writer Farrukh Dhondy on The Late Show in 1989. Keith initially claimed that he used the word "vindaloo" because it is not directly linked to Asian culture, but in 2016, presenter Nick Ahad shared a personal experience of being racially targeted with the word.
After being announced as a contestant last month, Paul shared the special reason behind his decision to join Strictly. He revealed that he is doing it for his mother, who is a huge fan of the show, and to give back to her after all the support she gave him during his football career. He also acknowledged that he will be out of his comfort zone and may embarrass himself, but he's willing to give it his all.
The BBC has been contacted for comment on the controversy surrounding Paul's first dance song. As we eagerly await the return of Strictly on September 14th, it remains to be seen if these scandals will be referenced during the live shows. Can you predict what will happen on Strictly in 2024? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
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