Doing the "Helen Keller"
I feel so old when I criticize contemporary music lyrics, but a current hit really has me steamed.
I keep hearing my girls sing "Do the Helen Keller." So I asked what it means to "do the Helen Keller," and of course they have no clue. They just like the song.
Here are the obscene lyrics by 3Oh!3:
"Don't trust a ho, never trust a ho
Won't trust a ho cause the ho won't trust me
Shush girl, shut your lips
Do the Helen Keller and talk with your hips"
How could any recording company or radio station allow this to get through? Where is the self-censorship? If they sang, "Do the Adolf Hitler and goose-step like a Nazi," would that become a hit too?

Previous entry:
Next entry:
Gretchen Day-Bryant has a son in high school and a daughter in middle school. She’s lived to tell about the struggles of juggling little kids and work...
Joy Oglesby has an infant daughter and a sister 13 years her junior, whom she babies to the now-adult...
Cindy Kent Fort Lauderdale mother of three. Her kids span in ages from teenager to 20s...
Rafael Olmeda and his wife welcomed their first son in Feb. 2009, and he's helping raise two teenage stepdaughters...
Lois Solomon lives in Boca Raton with her husband and three daughters...
Anne Vasquez loves to worry, or so her husband says...
Georgia East is the parent of a five-year-old girl, who came into the world weighing 1 pound, 13 ounces...
Brittany Wallman is the mother of Creed, 13, and Lily, 6, and is married...
Chris Tiedje is the Social Media Coordinator, and father of three blonde, blue-eyed kids all under six years old.



Comments
I can understand why you feel this way, but its definitly not comparable to saying "Act like a Nazi". Thats just making a bigger deal out of something that really isn't THAT terrible.
Posted by: ttack99 | July 1, 2009 12:30 PM
With all the publicity on Michael Jackson and how this incredible, beyond words ICON, whose music touched the World, you would think that these "road-kill waiting to happen" thugs would try to leave a positive, memorable legacy - but no - they are nothing but knuckle dragging neanderthals - no wonder Michael Jackson was ashamed of being Black.
Posted by: No Michael Jackson | July 1, 2009 1:27 PM
These dudes are white, No Michael Jackson. Very white, actually. The video is one of the dumbest I've ever seen.
I agree that the song has idiotic lyrics, and I think it's sad that kids are singing "dont trust a ho" like it's the hokey pokey, and I'm not old at all. And the Helen Keller reference irks me as well. It's just distasteful.
Posted by: Christina | July 1, 2009 1:46 PM
I'm only 25 and find this song very offensive.
Posted by: Anon | July 1, 2009 2:04 PM
They not only show insensitivity, they show their ignorance. Helen Keller was blind, not mute.
Posted by: Helen | July 1, 2009 2:37 PM
It's not right. It's actually shameful but there's a lot of junk out there.
IF I hear my son singing something offensive, I correct him and make sure he understands why it's wrong.
The more this gets play and support the less the right message gets through.
It's our job as parents to filter these terrible lyrics.
Posted by: No defense | July 1, 2009 3:15 PM
I totally agree. This is offensive in two ways. First of all, there is referencing women to ho's. Why do women listen to that and find it entertaining to be so grossly insulted? Girls who listen to that don't respect themselves. Secondly, Helen Keller should be a hero and model to everyone. She does not deserve to be disrespected in this manner.
Posted by: Margie | July 2, 2009 8:41 AM
maybe you should look up "helen keller" on urbandictionary.com....
Posted by: anon | July 2, 2009 10:16 AM
Stuff like this is only offensive if you let it be. Freedom of Speech is a great thing and when people utilize it there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. You have the choice to NOT listen to songs that offend you so just turn it off instead of crying about it on a website.
Posted by: Josh | July 2, 2009 11:08 AM
Some people think freedom of speech frees speakers from criticism. Josh, Lois has as much right to complain about the lyrics as you have to defend them. Rather than whine about her criticism on a Web site, why not appreciate that we can all express ourselves freely, even when we disagree.
Posted by: Rafael | July 2, 2009 11:28 AM
Obviously it does not free you from criticism thats a pretty obvious observation so congrats on pointing out common sense. Please do not get me mixed up with the majority of the people who are morons that live in South FL. Rafael, listen to your own advice and don't "whine" about my post criticizing somebody else.
Posted by: Josh | July 2, 2009 11:42 AM
I don't care for this song either. BUT...I do have to say that the line of "Do the Helen Keller and talk with your hips" is not so bad. I find it to mean: Helen was blind, deaf and mute so she learned to use body language to express herself. As for the rest of the song...no, women are NOT ho's and if you are a girl and are singing along to this then shame on you. Have some respect girls!!!
Posted by: KK | July 2, 2009 11:48 AM
This is a pretty good song actually. Alot better then whats mostly on the Radio. Lets take a look at the lyrics of another popular song by Solja Boy called Turn my Swag on.
100 dolla bills, turn my swag on took a look in the mirror said whats up, yea turn my swag on I'm getting money, 100 dolla bills turn my swag on took a look in the mirror said whats up, yeaaaaaa i'm gettin money!
I got a question why they hatin on me, I didnt nothing to dem but count this money...
Yea lets pick on the Helen keller song.
Posted by: Solja Boy sucks | July 2, 2009 1:13 PM
- Responding to ttack99 - It isn't that terrible? So you've got a group that is basically telling all girls to just shut up and be sluts and put out. While at the same time they are disrespecting a renowned poet who had the misfortune of being blind. The song IS THAT BAD and should be removed from the radio waves. People are just too accepting of lower species behavior anymore and it's disgusting.
Posted by: Vickie | July 2, 2009 6:52 PM
oh and KK. You in a special school???? Everyone performs body language and is done on a subconscious level 90% of the time. Deaf and deaf/mute individuals perform SIGN LANGUAGE which does NOT include the freakin' hips. OMG!!
Posted by: Vickie | July 2, 2009 7:04 PM
Okay people know your facts before you get so angry with eachother.. helen keller was blind and deaf, therefore she could not use sign language she needed to communicate with her body.. I agree it is very distasteful music but obviously some people like it because its all over every station down here!
Posted by: Nicole | July 4, 2009 1:39 PM
lois needs to get a life and leave her kids alone because 3oh!3 is amazing and nazis have nothing to do with a girl dancing, you freak!
Posted by: bianca loves 3oh!3 | July 5, 2009 1:57 PM
lois needs to get a life and leave her kids alone because 3oh!3 is amazing and nazis have nothing to do with a girl dancing, you freak!
Posted by: bianca loves 3oh!3 | July 5, 2009 1:57 PM
I agree the lyrics of this song are at best distasteful. They really are shameful. Just as importantly, I think most of you entering responses her must be just plain ignorant. Helen Keller was blind and deaf. Because she was deaf, she was thought to be mute. She learned to communicate from her teacher, Annie Sullivan. Annie taught Helen how to use sign language AND to speak by feeling and imitating the vibrations Annie's throat made when she spoke. You folk should spend less time listening to the radio and more time in school.
Posted by: GGC | July 6, 2009 1:34 PM
To the original poster of this topic:
I don’t think "Do the Adolf Hitler and goose-step like a Nazi,” would make a hit song lyric. It's a mouthful and I mean it doesn’t even rhyme. How do expect kids to dance to something like that?
And why stop at Helen Keller? Why don't they just rip on every other misfortunate historical figure? I got some better lyrics for their next song:
"Sit girl and stay where you are. Keep them legs still just like FDR."
"Dance girl and just don't stop. Do the Michael Jackson and feel you heart drop."
"Come on girl, don't you tease. Do the Michael J. Fox and shake as you please."
"Let’s go girls and don’t play dead. Do the Christopher Reeves and move with your head."
Just a thought. I bet the kids would go crazy for these.
Posted by: Rudy | July 7, 2009 3:13 PM
This is some serious whining, people. Come on, it's pop music. Go listen to "do the Jane Fonda." Does that offend you too? It's just a pop culture reference, and to the Helen that posted earlier: Helen Keller was deaf blind and mute.
Posted by: SHN | July 9, 2009 7:32 PM
Helen Keller I THINK was blind and mute; the beat is catchy but the words are offensive.
Posted by: Williams | July 12, 2009 9:20 AM
No offense, but I think the only thing that's embarrassing is the bad history here. Helen Keller was blind AND deaf from birth, so the lyrics technically do make sense.
Posted by: Ben | July 12, 2009 2:20 PM
Helen Keller was both blind and mute, so the lyrics do make sense. "Do the Helen Keller and talk with your hips" -- referencing sign-language/body-language, heh. I think it's amusing/creative, anyway. The song's addicting.
Posted by: Tom | July 12, 2009 2:23 PM
I don't think any of you know the real meaning of "The Helen Keller". If you did you would be UBER offended. Check the Urban Dictionary and get back with me. PS the Michael Jackson comment is null cause he was the most popular pop singer in history and he grabbed himself obscenley for years and noone seemed to mind. BOO YAH!!!
Posted by: Commen Sense | July 15, 2009 1:12 PM
Okay just to let all of you who seem misinformed... the "Helen Keller" is a dance made up before these guys even did the song. Instead of rushing to have a song ripped off the air why not take a look at what there saying. Oh and don't trust a ho... well if you are outstanding parents which I am sure you are given that this is even and issue then I am sure you didn't raise a ho. Women should be treated with respect this is just warning those out there not to trust the bad ones.
Posted by: Richard | July 16, 2009 11:13 AM
I think you should all stop talking. The song is a joke. It was meant as a joke. Honeslty, who care about blind deaf and/or dumb people? I don't. And chances are, neither do you. You just rant about how you're "offended" by lyrics from people who generally have never even seen a book.
Play high and mighty all you want, don't make it true
Welcome to the internet
Posted by: SuckIt | July 17, 2009 10:35 PM
I think its a funny song and I love it.
Posted by: sheep | August 2, 2009 5:14 PM
Calm down you guys. Yes the lyrics are offensive but I doubt the writers of said lyrics were not aware of this... just lighten up a little. There are so many offensive things in the world, you just need to get over it, accept that you shall occasionally be offended. If you let every little thing bother you, you're never going to be happy.
Also, let your kids do whatever they want. The more you limit them, the more narrow-minded and Christian they'll grow up, not to mention they'll have a "rebellion" against you who didn't et them do aything.
Posted by: Envy | August 7, 2009 2:15 AM
I disagree the writers know exactly what they were writing...kids however may not know what they are singing. Its our role as educators, parents ect to educate them on who Helen Keller was and why the song is offensive. Everyone is so upset at the reference to Helen keller what about the way they are talking about women?
Posted by: Meg | August 8, 2009 2:04 PM
There isn't much you can do about kids being ignorant. The song was just a blast on someone just like any other song. It's just kids being kids, and if you educate them as to who Helen Keller is, then they'd really think about the song. It honestly isn't as bad as you people are making it out to be.
Posted by: Brandi | August 23, 2009 8:50 PM
Whos helen Keller was she the one with the dairies ?
Posted by: mike N. | October 7, 2009 6:05 PM
Whos helen Keller was she the one with the dairies ?
Posted by: mike N. | October 7, 2009 6:05 PM
Whos helen Keller was she the one with the dairies ?
Posted by: mike N. | October 7, 2009 6:05 PM
GODWIN'S LAW
Look it up if you don't know what it is.
You have failed.
Posted by: asif | October 20, 2009 8:18 PM
Yes, I totally agree. "Do the Helen Keller, and talk with your hips" is disguting and it's disgraceful knowing that 12 year olds are singing to it like it's a lullaby. I bet that not one of them know the true meaning of it, and yes, I did look it up and I was disgusted. Helen Keller should be respected better. And how they disrespectfully call girls "ho's"!! erghhh.
Posted by: Very disthoughtful. | November 1, 2009 12:04 PM
o come on the song isn't that bad there are worse songs that talk about drugs and i agree lois needs to give her kIds some freedom
Posted by: alexis quest | November 5, 2009 11:21 PM