The fuss surrounding the controversial party hit “Layla” is fueling the business acumen of the song’s creators. With a version for children, they now want to defuse the song – and bring it closer to a younger audience. “Puff” becomes “Wuff”, the “puff mama” becomes a “dog mama”.
The party hit “Layla” is criticized for its lyrics. After the sexism debate, the song’s star producer, Ikke Hipgold, now reveals the production of a new Layla lyrics. “We see that there has to be another version of the song. We know that small children also listen to ‘Layla’. That’s why there has to be a children’s version,” said Ikke Hipgold in the ntv interview. “I’ve got a woof… and the dog mom’s name is Layla” should be the new version in the chorus. After all, Layla is also a popular dog name, says the producer and makes it clear: “The original song will continue to exist. We’re definitely not rewriting it! That would be fatal.” Ikke Hipgold and the performers DJ Robin and Schürze state that the new version will not give in to the sexism debate.
The debate had become increasingly widespread in the past few days. After the organizers of the Kiliani folk festival in Würzburg had banned the playing of the song in the marquee, the Düsseldorf Rheinkirmes followed suit a few days later and imposed a “Layla” ban here too. The organizers think the song is too sexist. You are not alone in this assessment. The director of the Center for Popular Culture and Music at the University of Freiburg, Michael Fischer, said: “Of course the song is sexist.” However, he also adds: “It’s a party hit.”
Even Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann, a passionate amateur musician, expressed his opinion in the “Layla” debate. “You don’t have to like hit lyrics. You can even find them stupid or tasteless. But to ban them officially, I think, is one too much,” wrote the FDP politician via Twitter.
Ikke Hipgold’s record company “Summerfield Records” even started an online petition under the motto
