Nickelback caused a controversy at a recent show in Canada's Prince Edward Island, when singer Chad Kroeger swore repeatedly during the band's set. The band was playing the Charlottestown Canada Day festival, which had been promoted as a family event. Kroeger's constant swearing and repeated use of the f-word led to a bunch of complaints from audience members.
Mayor Clifford Lee told the Charlottestown Guardian, "The number of emails I've got from visitors from off-Island, the number of phone calls I've gotten, the number of people who approached me on the street is just unbelievable. People were really, really disappointed and really upset."
The mayor added:
I honestly think, as a city, we have to step back and determine how we want to promote Charlottetown. Is that what we want people all across the world to think of Charlottetown?
Not everyone agreed, however. Councillor Rob Lantz called the complaints "ridiculous" and added that asking "a bad boy rock star to not use profanity is simply adding fuel to the fire."
The Canada Day concert also included performances by Staind, Hedley, Finger Eleven, Buckcherry and Default.
Hey, for starters, when you're organizing a family event, you might not want to invite a band whose most popular choruses are "Hey, you're crazy bitch, but you fuck so good I'm on top of it" and "I love the cocaine, I love the cocaine." As for Nickelback, check out the following lyrics to the song "Figured You Out."
I like the freckles on your chest
And I like the way you like me best
And I like the way you're not impressed
While you put me to the test
I like the white stains on your dress
And I love the way you pass the check
And I love the good times that you wreck
And I love your lack of self-respect
While you're passed out on the deck
I love my hands around your neck
Wait, the band that wrote this song ended up saying something that wasn't family friendly? Get out of town. Perhaps the heads of Charlottesville may want to try portraying their city as a place that knows what's up and does its research before hiring a rock band to perform at a family concert. On the other hand, you can't match the comedy of a legislator saying "bad boy rock star," so maybe the naïvety is for the best.
