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The Daily Planet's Opinion: ‘Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah’ (a terrific song) ditched in ‘woke’ nod by Disney
Wednesday, 15 March 2023 20:52
“Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay 
“My, oh, my, what a wonderful day 
“Plenty of sunshine headin’ my way 
“Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay!”
— “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” song
from 1946 film, “Song of the South”

 

In yet another signal that the formerly great Walt Disney Co. has shifted from an iconic upholder of mainstream American sensibilities to a cultivator of the totalitarianism of the far-left “woke” cancel culture, the entertainment conglomerate recently quietly axed the beloved “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” tune from its daily park parade performances.

Disney’s latest exercise in idiocy was made “because the catchy song is tied to the 1946 film ‘Song of the South,’” the New York Post reported on March 7.

“Amid a woke makeover at the amusement park, Disneyland visitors will no longer hear the iconic song during its popular twice-daily Magic Happens parade.

“Instead, the parade’s playlist will now feature a song from the ‘Peter Pan’ film,” the Post noted, adding that “Song of the South,” which is set on a Georgia plantation, has been widely panned over the years for having racial undertones and offering a romanticized view of the South during Reconstruction.

“But the song itself – complete with the upbeat lyrics ‘Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay. My, oh, my, what a wonderful day’ — hasn’t been slammed for being racist.”

Back in March 2020, Disney’s then-CEO Bob Iger announced that “Song of the South” would be axed from the Disney+ streaming service because the “outdated cultural depictions” essentially made it inappropriate in today’s world.

To the contrary, we think actor James Baskett’s brilliant and joyful portrayal of Uncle Remus, including his stellar singing and dancing to “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah,” is of such a magnitude as to make anyone of any race smile, sing-along and, if even for a moment, feel the joy of living.

Maybe the cancel culture needs to cancel itself, instead.

 



 


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