There have been many revisions over the years for reasons of political correctness, making Doctor Who a woman and James Bond’s sidekick Felix Leiter black are just two recent examples. But the latest concerns the world of music.
The Beatles’ celebrated White Album, being reissued for its fiftieth anniversary, has just been reissued as the Multicultural Album, to reflect the more enlightened times.
The move has approval from both surviving Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, as well as John Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono and both his sons Julian (by his first wife Cynthia) and Sean, and George Harrison’s widow Olivia and son Dhani.
At a joint press conference, Paul, Ringo, Yoko and Giles Martin, son of the the album’s original producer George Martin, made the announcement.
“We’ve done a lot of thinking about this,” Paul McCartney said, “and we decided this was important. This album has been the White Album for half a century, but the human race isn’t all white. Even back in the 60s in Liverpool we had a lot of different people of different skin colours, and they all matter. And Beatles music has always been from a very diverse range of styles. So we’re reflecting that with this relaunch of one of our best albums.”
Yoko Ono added, “this album’s reissue is dedicated to all the peoples of the world, black, white, yellow, red, everyone. If you are a person, then this album is dedicated to you, regardless of skin colour. John wrote a lot of songs about the desire for peace, and I know he would approve of this decision.”
The album, which features hits such as Revolution and Back In The USSR, comes complete with a redesigned cover representing all the major ethnic groups.
Many people have welcomed the move with open arms. Jeremy Corbyn has been particularly congratulatory about it:
“The Beatles were ahead of their time in singing songs about wanting love and peace, and this move proves it yet again.”
Not everyone has welcomed the move however. Nigel Farage in particular was very vocal in his disapproval:
“It’s the White Album,” he said emphatically. “It always has been the White Album and it always will be the White Album, not any of this politically correct nonsense. I for one refuse to buy any album with the world Multicultural in the name.”
The Beatles’ Multicultural Album is in the shops now.