Editor’s Note: Language Warning.
Musician Daryl Hall, of Hall & Oates fame, was interviewed by the left-wing rag Salon a few days ago about his career and the music industry. Towards the end of the interview, things appeared to become less friendly when the Salon reporter asked Hall a series of liberal talking point questions which he clearly didn’t appreciate, judging by his reaction. Hall pushed back against the questions, incredulously asking where those liberal talking points came from.
In an otherwise very genial interview about music, Salon’s David Masciotra felt compelled to ask Hall some political questions at the end of the discussion, given the left-wing nature of the website. He began by asking the white Hall about “cultural appropriation.”
MASCIOTRA: One of the current debates is over “cultural appropriation” – The idea that white people should not appropriate the culture of ethnic and racial minorities. I know that you don’t like the term “blue eyed soul.” Have you followed this conversation?
Hall was clearly flummoxed by this question and blasted back:
HALL: Are you trying to say that I don’t own the style of music that I grew up with and sing? I grew up with this music. It is not about being black or white. That is the most naïve attitude I’ve ever heard in my life. That is so far in the past, I hope, for everyone’s sake. It isn’t even an issue to discuss. The music that you listened to when you grew up is your music. It has nothing to do with “cultural appropriation.”
Masciotra started to respond, “I agree with you entirely” before Hall added:
I’m glad that you do, because anyone who says that should shut the fuck up.
Hall added that it was silly to call people out for "cultural appropriation" since American culture is a blend of so many cultures to begin with.
We live in America. That’s our entire culture. Our culture is a blend. It isn’t split up into groups. Anyone who says otherwise is a fool – worse than a fool – a dangerous fool.
Masciotra tried to defend his question by saying that critique comes from “academia.”
MASCIOTRA: Well, this entire critique is coming back…
HALL: I’m sorry to hear it. Who is making these critiques? Who do they write for? What are their credentials to give an opinion like that? Who are they?
MASCIOTRA: Much of it is academic.
To which, Hall hilariously responded:
Well, then they should go back to school. Academia? Now, there’s a hotbed of idiocy.
H/T to The Blaze and Mark Hemingway at The Weekly Standard.
