Thursday, June 14 2007

Hip hop star Akon is accepting blame, in song, for his sexually explicit dance with teenager Danah Alleyne at Zen nightclub on April 12.

Akon apologises a lot in his new single, “Sorry, Blame It On Me”, which he released yesterday.

He says sorry to his girlfriend for not being there for their son, to his mother for bringing trouble into her life when he was arrested and to Danah and Club Zen for the embarrassment he caused. “Sorry for the hand that she was dealt/for the embarrassment that she felt,” sings Akon, who also said he felt bad that Club Zen got shut down by police which raided the Keate Street, Port-of-Spain club in search of evidence related to the dirty dance. Akon, however, had some advice for the Johnny Soong run club.

“Sorry for Cub Zen getting shut down/I hope they manage better next time around.”

Akon’s raunchy performance with Danah made the headlines after video clips of the show were posted on the Internet, and also circulated via cell phones. Shortly after it became public that Danah, the daughter of a pastor, was underage: she’s 15. The clip sparked a national debate on who should be blamed. Minister in the Ministry of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds said Danah was “young, wild and stupid.”

Prime Minister Patrick Manning came to her rescue saying she needed forgiveness and promised to have the matter investigated. Tourism Minister, Howard Chin Lee, who was at the club that night but said he left before the raunchy dance, called for a review to be done of all international artistes coming to perform in the country. Akon was also criticised, and lost a multi-million dollar contract with US telecommunications giant Verizon. Yesterday, Danah’s brother Ian Alleyne, the president of the TT Crime Watch Association, said he was glad that Akon has apologised and admits that Danah should not have been at the club.

“I am glad that he has apologised but the truth of the matter is that incident with Danah should have never happened. She should not have been there, she should have been at home focusing on her academics,” he said. He described the incident as a wake up call for every parent and called on the Government to shut down clubs that allow minors to enter.

“There should be an investigation on clubs, so when it is found out that they are allowing minors into their clubs, their licences must immediately be taken away,” Alleyne said. Soong did not answer calls to his cell phone for comment yesterday.

As life goes on I’m starting to learn more and more about responsibility

I realise everything I do is affecting the people around me

So I want to take this time out and apologise for things I have done

And things that have not occurred yet

And the things they don’t want to take responsibility for



I’m sorry for the times I left you home

I was on the road and you were alone

I’m sorry for the times that I had to go

I’m sorry for the fact that I did not know

That you were sitting home just wishing we

Could go back to when it was just you and me

I’m sorry for the times I would neglect

I’m sorry for the times I disrespect

I’m sorry for the wrong things that I’ve done

I’m sorry I’m not always there for my son

I’m sorry for the fact that I am not aware

That you can’t sleep at night when I am not there

Because I am in the streets like everyday

Sorry for the things that I did not say

Like how you are the best thing in my world

And how I am so proud to call you my girl



(Bridge)

I understand that there are some problems

And I am not too blind to know

All the pain you kept inside you

Even though you might not show

If I can apologise for being wrong

Then it’s just a shame on me

I’ll be the reason for your pain and you can put the blame on me



Chorus

You can put the blame on me (4 times)

Said you can put the blame on me (3 times)

You can put the blame on me



Sorry for the things that he put you through

And all the times you didn’t know what to do

Sorry that you had to go and sell those packs

Just trying to stay busy till you heard from Dad

And you would rather be home with all your kids

As one big family with love and bliss

And even though Pops treated us like kings

He got a second wife and you didn’t agree

He got up and left you there all alone

I’m sorry that you had to do it on your own

I’m sorry that I went and added to your grief

I’m sorry that your son was once a thief

I’m sorry that I grew up way too fast

I wish I would’ve listened and not be so bad

I’m sorry your life turned out this way

I’m sorry the FEDS came and took me away



(Bridge)



I’m sorry that it took so long to see, they were dead wrong trying to put it on me

I’m sorry that it took so long to speak, but I was on tour with Gwen Stefani

I’m sorry for the hand that she was dealt

For the embarrassment that she felt

Just a little young girl trying to have fun

Her daddy should never let her out that young

I’m sorry for Club Zen getting shut down

I hope they manage better next time around

How was I to know she was underage

Enter 21 you know the club they say

Why doesn’t anybody wanna take blame

For rising back out disgracing my name

I’m just a singer trying to entertain

Because I love my fans I’ll take that blame

Even though the blame’s on you (3 times)

I’ll take that blame from you



And you can put that blame on me (2 times)

You can put that blame on me

And you can put that blame on me