Name: 4:44.
Length: 3:54.
Age: Three months, one week.
I’m confused. What are we talking about? It’s a piece of music.
Is it that one where no one plays their instruments? That’s 4’33” by John Cage. This is 4:44, a song by Jay-Z, so-called because that’s what time he woke up and started writing it. It’s the first track on an album of the same name that he released in June.
I see. Any good? Yes. Pretty good. It’s been an inspiration to his pal Harvey Weinstein.
Isn’t he that famous movie mogul and a champion of liberal causes? Not any more. A report in the New York Times alleges that Weinstein has been sexually harassing young women for decades. They claim he used to invite them for meetings in his hotel room, then take his clothes off and suggest a massage.
Perhaps he got confused? Do we know if he also forced showbiz meetings on his massage therapist? I don’t believe so. Weinstein denies the accusations, but has apologised for his unspecified “behaviour”, which he admits “caused a lot of pain”.
Ah. So not really a champion of liberal causes any more? No. And not really a movie mogul any more either. He has taken a leave of absence to spend more time with his lawyers.
Right. So which part of all this was inspired by Jay-Z? The apology. Jay-Z was (basically) accused of having an affair in his wife Beyoncé’s album Lemonade. The album and song 4:44, in which he shows great remorse, is (basically) his response to that. As Weinstein now says: “Jay-Z wrote in 4:44: ‘I’m not the man I thought I was, and I better be that man for my children.’ The same is true for me.”
Hang on. I’m sure this is horrible for Weinstein’s children, but the allegations against him are a bit worse than an affair, aren’t they? Yes. And furthermore, Jay-Z never wrote those words in 4:44. The closest he gets is: “And if my children knew / I don’t even know what I would do.”
So Weinstein is a proven misquoter! That really is unforgivable.
Do say: “My heart breaks for the day I have to explain my mistakes / And the mask goes away.”
Don’t say: “I’m preparing 99 lawsuits and I’m going to win each one.”
