In the world of music, artists and their works often encounter diverse social and political contexts. These contexts can strongly influence the perception and meaning of a song. A case in point is "L'amour Toujours" by Gigi D'Agostino, an iconic hit in electronic music. However, a recent incident involving the right-wing populist party Alternative for Germany (AfD) has raised the question of whether DJs should still be playing this song.

The incident that sparked the discussion occurred during an AfD event in Bavaria, where "L'amour Toujours" was played. This led to strong disapproval from many fans and critics, as the song, which stands for love and unity, was associated with a political movement often criticized for its controversial views and actions. The lines "Germany for the Germans, foreigners out" were then sung, unfortunately giving the song a far-right connotation.

An important aspect to consider is the integrity and meaning of a song for both its creators and listeners. "L'amour Toujours" was created by Gigi D'Agostino, an artist celebrated for his contributions to electronic music. For many, this song is a symbol of love, togetherness, and positive emotions.

We DJs also have a social responsibility and serve as role models for young people.

By continuing to play "L'amour Toujours" after the AfD incident, DJs could devalue the song's original meaning and associate it with a political context that contradicts its spirit. This could lead fans to view the song in a different light and question its positive message.

As artists and members of a cultural community, DJs have a certain responsibility to uphold the meaning and integrity of music. By no longer playing "L'amour Toujours" after the AfD incident, they are sending a clear message that they oppose the appropriation of the song by political movements and wish to preserve its original message.

It's important to emphasize that this decision is individual and should be made by each DJ based on their own convictions and values. My personal opinion is that if someone plays it anyway, they're either greedy for money or a Nazi, or a money-grubbing Nazi. Venues that book DJs who play this kind of music also need to be held accountable. Even in 2024, these venues still can't seem to grasp that something like this can change a venue's image and suddenly attract a clientele they never wanted in the first place.

Nevertheless, we should all be aware of how the contextualization of music can influence our perception and what impact our actions as DJs can have on the music and the people around us. Ultimately, it's about respecting the integrity of the music and ensuring it's presented in a way that does justice to its meaning.

Unfortunately, I've observed that many mobile DJs, village disco DJs, and open format DJs couldn't care less whether they play a song that incites hatred against foreigners (or has been rewritten for that purpose by certain subcultures), or is in any way misogynistic (e.g., the 2023 Mallorca hit "Layla," and Rammstein now also falls into this category), or attacks queer people (various German rappers). They usually excuse themselves with "Oh, I didn't know that" or "Yeah, I don't watch the news," and when I hear the latter, I know exactly how to categorize the person I'm talking to (as someone uninterested in society and a functioning democracy). This also applies to venues, because for a good atmosphere, to be the "cool DJ," for good sales, or for repeat bookings, one can readily trample on democracy and human rights. Because those who are celebrating wanted it that way, but the fact that this contributes to further manifesting opinions and attitudes in society and in the minds of the guests ("oh, it's normal anyway, because the DJ is playing it" or "these songs are always playing at this venue, it's normal there") is pretty much irrelevant to most DJs and venues...

As a DJ, I always discuss problematic songs with my clients because, depending on the type of event, if something like this isn't discussed beforehand, things can quickly turn unpleasant and cause lasting damage to everyone's image. We DJs have a responsibility, and unfortunately, many DJs are becoming less and less aware of it.

And for all the excuses, philosophers, ignoramuses, and DJs who still haven't gotten the message, here's a small collection of links to the reports and articles on the first page of Google results for this topic...

• Carnival scandal: Racist slogans directed at Gigi D'Agostino again
• Gigi D'Agostino: How a pop hit became an anthem for right-wing extremists
• Is singing "Foreigners Out" to Gigi D'Agostino a crime?
• Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: State security investigates racist slogans at village festival

And this is just a tiny excerpt from the research I did for this article...

DJs against the far right - 089DJ Booking and Robert James Perkins are involved, are you?