Should More Flexibility Be Allowed In The Use Of Dialects On TV Charity Shows ?

31 October 2007

I decided to raise the above query after a related report came out in yesterday's Edition of the Evening Chinese newspaper the Shin Min Daily News Newspaper ( Page 5 ) where numerous TV viewers called in their hotline numbers to voice their displeasure as they were clearly disappointed and upset that during the Cancer Charity Show held last Sunday , Chen Lei was allowed to sing two Hokkien songs but the 881 stars so famous for their Hokkien songs and dance performances here were not allowed to do so and many viewers felt that it is unfair 'treatment ' and arrangement given to the 881 casts given their mass popularity here !

Many viewers felt that had the 881 casts been allowed to sing their popular Hokkien songs , even more money could be raised given the huge support that the casts have received so far ! So why were they not allowed to sing Hokkien songs then , if it is really their success formula ?

A check with the relevant authorities by the reporter later revealed that it turned out that the MDA has a guideline that states that only on Charity Shows that dialect songs will be allowed but provided that that all dialect songs MUST NOT EXCEED 6 mins in the same show . So as Chen Lei had already spent the full 6 mins singing his two dialect songs , the 881 casts were not allowed to sing any more dialect songs in their subsequent performances !

Now my Question is : Why this restriction ? Why have this guideline ? What is their concern anyway ? I really don't understand ... Here is a Charity Show meant to entertain us and at the same time to persaude us to call in and help raise funds for the needy Cancer patients and yet so much restrictions are being placed ! How to attract and persaude even more people , especially the older generations in this case , even if they have the ability , will and financial means to do their bit for Charity ?

The much elderly generation of people , and I mean those in their 50s and 60 years old onwards are not going to get very interested watching and hearing pop stars like Angela Chang , Campus Superstars or Project Superstars singing the hit Chinese pop songs ! They would most likely be interested in Cantonese opera performances , Hokkien or dialect songs etc ... Things that really connect and relate to the people of their age group and generation . Similarly , young teenagers are certainly going to get very bored hearing oldies from the 60s or 70s .... Honestly speaking ... !

Have u ever wondered why there is a need for Cantonese Opera troupes to be invited to perform in the Charity Shows ? Have u or anyone wondered why even sometimes Cantonese Opera are being able to raise so much funds in their segment ? That is because of the generous support that they received from this elderly group of people ! This is something that really connects and are so closely linked with the people of their age group ! They enjoy every minute of it and are able to understand what the performers are performing . So , naturally , they will show their support by calling the numbers !

So , since this is a Charity Show , and the aim is to persaude and attract as many people to call in and donate as much as possible they can , a Charity Drive so meaningful that really benefits the needy so much , and it is for a good cause , can we see some sense or rather more sense being made and allow more flexiblity where dialect songs and dialect performances on TV Charity Shows are concerned ? If that really means being able to raise even more funds for those in need ?

Whatever the concerns and rationale are behind this policy and restrictions , let's not forget that utimately , we are talking about saving lives here and helping those in need to live a better life in whatever means and ways we can to help them !


* Feel free to have your say and share your views with us here on this hotly debatable topic ! *