After a short discussion about PlusBrothers anthem we decided to publish the “politically incorrect” version as well.
Personal note: Alex “Gifter”
Song lyrics don’t change so much from the original PlusBrothers anthem but I call it “politically incorrect” because its chorus is “da ba doo, da ba dee, I have got HIV…”
So, being its author, I am the one who must provide an explanation about it.
Catchy refrains to fight stigma
Some time ago while watching TV, I saw a show where most laughable people are chosen to answer silly questions and an older man started singing a song written by Italian author Cristiano Malgioglio, a homosexual Italian singer and song writer: “I’m a guy and I fell for your husband”.
However that man didn’t say correct words and sang “I’m a man and I fell for my husband”, so I addressed a big smile to the TV, saying “yes, I’m a guy and I fell for my husband too”.
He maybe didn’t even realize what he was singing but this refrain is very easy that it lives in your head for long time.
Malgioglio is a quite ridiculous character for Italian TV, but he’s a little genius in his idea: with a catchy refrain he sang love between two men so people could sing along without even considering the words so much.
So, why not treatint HIV the same way?
Making the virus powerless
No one wants to deny or belittle trouble caused by this infection but as a man living with it since more than 10 years, I just take the chance to face it head-on for what it is.
I obviously can’t eradicate it from my body but I can – and must – set myself free from stigma other people try to mark me with.
In the documentary “I’m still here” which tells the story of Plus – Italian association for LGBT+ people living with HIV, activists share an experience: every person in that group said “I am [name] and I am HIV positive”, causing several different reactions: crying, shame, liberation, discomfort… as stigma forced them to even feel ashamed only mentioning their condition.
This was another inspiration for my lyrics and I obtained a partial result because my husband’s mother, who is still afraid of my HIV condition even after years, has been singing along “da ba dee da ba doo you are positive too” for days as the refrain remained into her brain.
Defeating fake moralists
My co-worker Elettrona and I just had some regards in publishing the “politically incorrect” version of our anthem but then we found some Italian AI-created songs with very explicit lyrics – the cleanest says “your semen’s taste”.
Nothing against sexually explicit content if it has a specific history and explanation but in this case it’s unnecessary vulgarity, shared for propaganda.
Songs are described as “women publishing those records from 1950s to 1980s then censored from radio stations, with vinyls burned” and so on, but in the end it’s just political disinformation addressed by far-right communication method whose intention is to prove that older times, with fascist government and following few years, were much more free than current days.
Talking about obscenity then, what should we say about rage and hatred normalized by politicians or journalists through Internet and mainstream media? Is “da ba doo da ba dee I’ve got HIV” more dangerous than influent people promoting hate speech and war? We don’t think so! But maybe we’re wrong.
If someone wants to judge and lecture us for this song, we kindly ask them to go and read something else. Internet is full of content suitable to their needs.
PlusBrothers politically incorrect anthem: lyrics
This song’s lyrics are a bit different than Italian version but the message is the same; I must thank my former boyfriend, Reginald, who is an Italian-American guy I’m still friend with, as he helped me to translate lyrics to convey same meaning as Italian but with corresponding metric and rhymes.
Alpha male, real man
with my chest out, proud I stand
I am strong, I am cool,
I’m your positive dude.
Da ba doo, da ba dee, I have got HIV.
Da ba dee, da ba doo, you are positive too.
Biological bond, by family blood
with positive vibe, we’re proud and alive.
We challenge our fate, embracing our mates.
We don’t really care, ‘bout your judgment and scare.
I’m a mother, I’m a bride,
always gentle, that’s my pride.
With my children, at the stove,
everyday the life I chose.
Da ba doo, da ba dee, I have got HIV
da ba dee, da ba doo, you are positive too!
We don’t really care, ‘bout your stigma and scare. ‘bout your stigma and scare.