Some passages from OrelSan’s latest single, The smell of gasoline, do not pass near theNomadic Routes association, which works for cultural exchanges between France and Mongolia. In this explosive political track released on November 17, which prophesies the “crash“of society is the term”Mongolian“which is controversial.
“On takes Mongols, gives them weapons / Call it justice, is surprised by the tragedies“, OrelSan raps at the heart of his song. And he adds a little further:”Ever since Mongols became experts / Surrounded by Mongols, the Mongol Empire / We make Mongols to please Mongols. “
The Nomadic Routes association launched a petition on Change.org in early December, signed to date by nearly 13,000 people, asking for the “boycott of Orelsan” and “the abolition of the offensive connotation of the term “Mongolian” of the French language.
“The term Mongolian defines the cultural and national identity of a whole people. This name which should be neutral like the adjectives French, English, Jewish, Inuit and many others, is unfortunately still and still in use in French, connoted byidiot “, recalls the association, which considers that although the song does not return”not to people of Mongolian nationality or origin (from Mongolia), its use remains racist and discriminatory“.
The association intends “put pressure on the media not to broadcast this song” and on “concert halls and festivals to deprogram this singer”, so much that Orelsan will not have done “a public apology“and withdrawn “the offending part of the song”.
This is not the first time that the words of OrelSan are controversial. The most violent controversy dates back to 2009, around his song Dirty whore, in which he put himself in the (fictional) skin of a deceived man, insulting and threatening his companion in very violent terms.
Accused by feminist associations of inciting violence against women, the rapper had been deprogrammed from many venues and festivals on the eve of his departure on tour. What had almost cost him his career, as seen in the recent documentary Never show that to anyone directed by his brother Clément.
But it turns out that OrelSan must start on January 15, 2022 a tour of around thirty dates, including five AccordHotel Arena (Paris Bercy) from March 15 to 19. A sold-out tour whose tickets sold out in record time.