August 06 2008
Hot Grits Too Hot For TVNZ
posted by Steven Shaw at 5:58 pm
The Hot Grits — banned from TVNZ
Auckland afro soul band the Hot Grits have had their first music video release banned by TVNZ. The video for “Headlights”, the second single from their album It’s Too Drunk To Be This Early, features a group of four year old children simulating an adult night out on the town.
The group’s local label Monkey Records claims the TVNZ censor said that it was inappropriate to show children drinking from a funnel and from shots, and that the general behavior of the children was unacceptable. Meanwhile, in the two weeks since its release, the video has received plenty of airtime on Juice, C4 and Alt TV.
The video was shot by local production house The Downlow Concept, whose intention was to “demonstrate the child-like greed with which adults conduct themselves whilst on the road to excess”.
The group and record label did a little research and they believe this to be the first New Zealand made music video to be banned by TVNZ since the notorious 1988 Skeptics clip “A.F.F.C.O”, which filmed the journey of sheep through an abattoir in graphic detail. “It is interesting to note,” says the press release from Monkey Records, “that TVNZ finds images of children drinking milk as offensive as watching sheep get their throats slit.”
We asked Hot Grits vocalist Barnie Duncan if the ban may have been because TVNZ were worried that the video might be played in front of children. “No, we asked them to reconsider giving it an AO rating so it could be played at night,” says Duncan, “they wouldn’t do that either.”
“We all loved the concept,” says Duncan, “we thought it might provoke discussion due to the children, but there’s nothing creepy in it. It just looks like they’re having a whole lot of fun. There’s a bit of ‘it’s not what we’re drinking, it’s how’ — but the point is to metaphorically show that adults can show a lot of child-like glee when we’re out.”
We think the video is okay — sure it depicts adult behaviour, but no more than the old “Our Gang” or “Little Rascals” short films of the 1920s to 1940s did. So what do you think — should it be banned outright?
One last thought: maybe it’s because the kids are drinking blue label milk instead of light blue or calcium plus…
(View the video below or at the Monkey Records website — their tour dates are listed below the clip.)
THE HOT GRITS WINTER TOUR
w/ DJs Uncle Barnie and Balkanetic
Fri 15 August, Bar Bodega, Wellington
Sat 16 August, Old Church, Hawkes Bay
Sun 17 August, Schnapps, National Park
Tue 19 August, Le Café, Picton
Wed 20 August, Penguin Club, Oamaru
Thu 21 August, Blue Pub, Methven
Fri 22 August, Sammy’s, Dunedin
Sat 23 August, Revolver, Queenstown
Sun 24 August, Red Rock, Wanaka
Wed 27 August, Als Bar, Christchurch
Thu 28 August, Phat Club, Nelson
Fri 29 August, Matinee, New Plymouth
Sat 30 August, Scallop Festival, Whitanga
Sat 6 September, Galatos, Auckland w/ Dam Native
Presales for main centre shows from www.undertheradar.co.nz
August 7th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
This Hot Grits vid is certainly not as bad as that awful ad of the 2yr old in nappies driving a car and picking up his girlfriend…
August 8th, 2008 at 9:59 am
Crap song, matching clip. Here’s a band destined to remain in Auckland forever.
August 8th, 2008 at 10:18 am
That vid seems pretty innocuous, even amusing in parts. I’d be curious to hear why TVNZ banned it. To be honest, it didn’t make me want to hit the town – the images were too similar to the real life drunken binges of my early twenties.
Kids of the age in the vid would see it and run into the kitchen and pour milk over their heads.
The Hot Grits sound like a band to see live, to me.
August 8th, 2008 at 10:20 am
I am sincerely in awe. TVNZ bannedness aside, I think this is one of the best music videos ever to come out of NZ.
Subtle, provocative, well made.
The idea would have looked dumb on paper but they way it’s done… super high fast awesome.
Ben
August 8th, 2008 at 10:28 am
“Town thanks Driver. How’s your night been?” – my fave part.
Also the little jerk baby with sunglasses on his head getting shot down – that’s what would have happened to his 25 year old equivalent at Crow too!
It would have been sweet to incorporate that nappy-clad baby who drives the Suzuki or whatever into this, maybe as their sober driver.
August 8th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
I love this band, and the video is hilarious. “I got some lollies!”
The video really isn’t all that offensive to me, I think it’s pretty funny. But then again, I’m in America…where censorship only exists when it’s convenient.
August 8th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Loved it. just a bunch of over PC poops banning it. I couldn’t see why it was banned. And as someone mentioned above, we watch ed an advert where a young person goes to great lengths to get his “girl” in a car for a joy ride. Please wake up.. smell the milk!!
August 8th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Huge fan of the hot grits – not my favourite song of theirs but the video is awesome! Can’t believe it got banned, there’s nothing offensive in it to me. It shows kids drinking milk, making messes and eating lollies and kebabs. GASP!
August 8th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
‘the general behavior of the children was unacceptable.’ Dancing kiddies drinking loads of milk? If only.
I wish the ones at our house could find their own way into town and entertain themselves.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
This is a fantastic video! Bloody TVNZ… I can’t see how this is any worse than the Hyundai ads. Surely!? Political correctness gone mad.
August 8th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Crap music, excellent vid. The Hyundai ad is great but this would have been done on a fraction of the budget and deserves airplay without doubt.
August 8th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Also, kudos to the photog & editor. Anyone who can control that number of kids(older than 4, more like 6 or 7)for the time required deserves a medal.
August 8th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Full cream milk is edgier than skim….jus’ keepin’ th’ faith.
August 8th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Excellent video. Not that keen on the music, and don’t think the subtitles were necessary. Found them a bit distracting. Don’t see why it was banned. Thought it shed interesting perspective on youth drinking. Seems like you don’t have to drink (alcohol) to have a good time.
August 9th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Crap music, hard to understand the words. Video was good though. tvnz? more like a victorian aunt than a broadcaster. ‘You cant watch this, dont you realise, there’s a milk shortage!’
At the very sight of this video, I rushed straight in to the kitchen and went on a drinking binge. I made myself sick too, but I’m lactose intolerant so milk always does that. Should have stuck to the brandy! (I’m in my mid 30’s though, I suppose its ok for me, but not for six year olds.
I’d like to know why tvnz REALLY banned it.
August 9th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Meanwhile, let’s remind ourselves what TVNZ does consider ‘appropriate content’ for Sunday evenings at 8.30 — The Tudors. Softcore porn with plenty of torture and executions.
I was particularly charmed by the episode where (closet gay) George Boleyn celebrates his wedding by violently buggering his wife as she, crying, begs him to stop.
Children drinking milk from shot glasses in a music video. Verboten.
Simulated martial rape? Not so problematic.
August 11th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
The Downlow Concept would have been well aware of TVNZ guidelines when making this video. They are fairly strict with this stuff and was inevitable…waste of the band money invested im sure….i like the track, the guy is a better singer than the chick anyways….
August 16th, 2008 at 12:10 am
Awesome music vid, loved it…so did my kids, they thought it was hilarious. I think we just need to chill out a little and stop being too “PC” about the little things.
Keeping in mind…..these are just my opinions. Good stuff!
August 19th, 2008 at 9:08 am
This vid has got to be one of the best to come out of NZ for a long time…I loved the kebabs at the end of the night, brings back a few memories & as Craig pointed out I think TVNZ needs to sort its priorities out quicktime! As for the caliber of the singers, I will have to agree to disagree with John. The ‘chick’ has a voice to die for!
August 20th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
those kids are exceptionally well behaved – i’d love to know how to calm my 2 and their mates down to just that level…
August 22nd, 2008 at 7:52 am
Great band Great clip.
The concept is fantastic.
That TVNZ armchair cednsor is probably the same bloke who banned the “bugger” ad’s…
September 30th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Awesome vid and great banned, what 4 year old is watching c4 when most of the american bands have half naked women and derogatory lyrics anyways. even to reject the AO consideration is a lil anal-retentive.