Summing Up a Band’s Body of Work, Washington Post Style

The Washington Post published this correction today.

A Nov. 26 article in the District edition of Local Living incorrectly said a Public Enemy song declared 9/11 a joke. The song refers to 911, the emergency phone number.

I tracked down the original article (which has since been corrected) here. In relevant part:

Public Enemy has earned notoriety with more than 20 years of politically charged music about fighting the power, challenging racism and declaring that 9/11 was a joke.

I’m not really interested in the error – I’m more amused by the way the Post chose to sum up Public Enemy’s body of work.

Let’s sum up a few other bands in a similar way, shall we?

“The Beatles earned notoriety with more than 30 years of groundbreaking music about having tickets to ride, advocating taking day trips, and promoting the proliferation of strawberry fields.”

“Pink Floyd earned notoriety with more than 40 years of progressive music about the differences between heaven and hell, their love of shiny diamonds, and not needin’ no education.”

“The Rolling Stones earned notoriety with more than 40 years of attention-grabbing music about painting red doors black, their undying search for satisfaction, and declaring their ownership of clouds.”

“Michael Jackson earned notoriety with more than 40 years of pop music about starting something, staring at himself in the mirror, and declaring himself  ’bad’.”

Maybe some things are better left undefined.