Bryan Ferry Blasted for Praising Nazi Aesthetics

The former Roxy Music frontman has come under attack for comments made in a German magazine. Apparently, he finds those Nazis quite snappy, really, remarking, “The way in which the Nazis stage-managed and presented themselves, my gentlemen! I’m talking about Leni Riefenstahl films and Albert Speer’s buildings and the mass rallies and the flags – simply fantastic. Really lovely.”

Noting the anger his interview caused, Ferry has issued an apology: “I apologise unreservedly for any offense caused by my comments on Nazi iconography, which were solely made from an art history perspective.

“I, like every right-minded individual, find the Nazi regime, and all it stood for, evil and abhorrent.”

Of course, you can’t say such things in the modern world without facing serious questions. But did he really say anything that offensive? Ferry’s a very smart man. Are we so politically correct that we can’t admire the aesthetics – from an academic perspective – without condoning the genocide or the ideology behind it? I mean, who doesn’t watch Olympia and find it incredibly gorgeous and erotic? Or are the evil ends inseparable from the beautiful means?

I think The Sun‘s “lighthearted” drawing today of Liam Gallagher in Nazi regalia is waaay more offensive.

On to the charts: oddly, there wasn’t a single new entry on this week’s Top Ten. Lot of shifting places, though, with Timbaland‘s collaboration with Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake zooming to No. 1, averting a potential tragedy from Mark Ronson.

1. Timbaland Ft Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake – Give It To Me
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2. Mark Ronson Ft Daniel Merriweather- Stop Me
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3. Avril Lavigne – Girlfriend
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4. Proclaimers/Brian Potter/Andy Pipkin – (I'm Gonna Be) 500 Miles
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5. Beyoncé and Shakira – Beautiful Liar
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6. Gwen Stefani Ft Akon – The Sweet Escape
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7. The Fray – How To Save A Life
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8. Fergie Ft Ludacris – Glamorous
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9. Alex Gaudino Ft Crystal Waters – Destination Calabria
Watch the video – Must be 18 or older

10. Kaiser Chiefs – Ruby
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In other news:

• Pitchfork reports that Lily Allen has cancelled the entire May-June leg of her U.S. tour.
• Amy Winehouse says she’s not drinking anymore.(The Sun)
• The Libertines were just another band, says The Guardian‘s Rosie Swash in the wake of the Doherty/Barat summit. And a mediocre one, at that. This is all a bit unfair…her criticisms are focused on the band’s lesser sophomore release, their self-titled album. Up the Bracket was a revelation that they never quite lived up to.
• The two Libertines decided to reunite at the NME awards, Carl Barat has revealed.(NME)
• Kate Moss was apparently attacked by flying ice cubes at a birthday party on Saturday. A source tells The Sun: “It was all a bit of a laugh at first. Kate thought the whole thing was hilarious. But then one bit of ice was thrown a bit hard and hit her smack in the forehead. The bump came up immediately. Someone joked she should put a bit of ice on the swelling. That’s when Kate decided to leave. She went via the back door but was still photographed wearing a ridiculous bowler hat.”
• The Horrors won’t play second fiddle to the Arctic Monkeys. (Gigwise)
• Something kinda owwwww: The Girls Aloud ladies wear some very uncomfortable-looking corsets for their shampoo commercial.(Daily Mail)
• You might recall that Jesse Metcalfe was supposed to replace Daniel Radcliffe in Equus. A fine piece of manmeat, yes, but an actor he is not. Cooler heads have prevailed, and the role has gone to Billy Elliott‘s Jamie Bell, reports The Daily Mail.
• The Guardian declares Peep Show, which just began its fourth season in the UK, “the best comedy of the decade.” Commenters suggest the Simon Pegg/Jessica Stevenson sitcom Spaced as an alternative.
• My, Princess Beatrice, what gi-normous eyes you have.(Daily Mail)
• Richard Gere‘s kissing of Celebrity Big Brother winner Shilpa Shetty has caused protests in India. “Protesters have since burned effigies of Gere on the streets of Kanpur, Meerut, and Varanasi while shouting ‘down with Gere’.”
• Barry Nelson, who plays James Bond in a 1954 version of Casino Royale, has died at 89.(Digital Spy)