What Made Red Man Red (Peter Pan) | Controversial Tunes 😈🎶

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In the 13th edition of Controversial Tunes (2023), we explore the controversy behind the song, “What Made Red Man Red” by Candy Candido & The Jud Conlon Chorus.

Bring on the controversy! Controversial Tunes is a column that provides background information and insight into songs that raised eyebrows and totally stirred the pot. The records that grace Controversial Tunes are old and new alike, with all genres of music welcome. In the 13th edition of Controversial Tunes (2023), we explore the controversy behind the song, “What Made Red Man Red” by Candy Candido & The Jud Conlon Chorus.

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“Hana Mana Ganda.” Say what!? During Disney’s Silver Age (1950 – 67), many classic animated features arrived including Peter Pan in 1953. Peter Pan was a movie I watched many times as a child – a true classic by the studio. That said, when you’re a child, you often miss the controversies and suspect decisions made, particularly in a film originating from a vastly different time. The controversies are there, notably in select songs, which has prompted Disney to issue content warnings. One of the most troublesome songs from Peter Pan is “What Made Red Man Red” which insensitively portrays Native Americans. Sadly, it is one of many instances where Disney has exhibited racism, much like “The Siamese Cat Song” from Lady and the Tramp of the same era.

Obviously, the cringe of “What Made Red Man Red” begins with the chanting by the Native Americans in the film. It does not feel like an authentic representation, once more, promoting stereotypes. From there, the constant reference as Injuns is a total miss (“Once the Injun didn’t know all the / Things that we know now / But the Injun sure learned a lot”). Mercy! Of course, the Indian chorus translates the lyrics, which sound like utter nonsense – at least in the hands of Disney. Of course, worse than the chanting (with drum, of course) and use of Injun is the titular lyric – “What made the red man red?” The explanation, you ask? “Let’s go back a million years / To the very first Injun prince / He kissed a maid and start to blush / And we all’ve been blushing since.” My, my, my! That is another controversy in itself: redskin. Ultimately, “What Made Red Man Red” is not one of Disney’s finer musical moments. Why is it that the minorities received these problematic, racist, and stereotypical portrayals? Oh, the controversy!