A victim of the taste of times: When Cher decided to retire ‘Half Breed’
In the 1970s, Cher attempted to be more socially conscious with music that captured the cultural zeitgeist of the time. Many of these songs are still celebrated today, shaping her legacy as one of the most influential figures in pop. However, a small handful became victims of the bitter taste of time, using words and concepts now considered problematic.
Maintaining an appearance free from controversy is nearly impossible for stars who have been around as long as Cher. Being in the spotlight is difficult as it is, but occupying audience and media attention for decades—while also figuring things out alongside the ever-changing vernacular landscape—means there will inevitably be some questionable moments.
For instance, in the 1970s, Cher utilised several phrases and concepts that are now deemed dated. One was the upbeat carnival anthem ‘Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves’, which, aside from the obvious slur, also somewhat reinforced stereotypes of marginalised communities, sung from the voice of someone who didn’t have the appropriate experience to comment.
Along with ‘Dark Lady’, which also used the same slur, Cher became heavily involved in appropriating cultural tropes and traditions in her work, not just in the song’s lyrics but how she came across in her music videos. In the video for ‘Half Breed’, for instance, she wore a headdress and attire styled after Indigenous clothing while performing on horseback, romanticising Native American identity despite not having the heritage herself.
‘Half Breed’ eventually became somewhat erased from Cher’s legacy by choice, particularly after the singer embarked on a period of reflection about her music and the tropes that she played into before they were considered offensive. “I did song 50 yrs. ago, and it wasn’t meant 2 be offensive,” Cher wrote in 2017. “However, that’s kinda Bull Shit excuse. Need to retire beautiful costume & stop singing it. It’s way past time.”
The singer then released her 2024 compilation album Forever, which included ‘Dark Lady’ and ‘Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves’, but not ‘Half Breed’. While the reason is clear, many legacy acts still feel unclear about certain discrepancies in their discographies, knowing that what was once a forward-thinking hit has since become stale and tainted by the evolving minds of the generations.
Similarly, it’s difficult to find any artist immune to such developments, with such songs becoming more a symbol of gracious learning than anything inherently insidious, especially if the words and concepts weren’t considered malicious when they first emerged. Take Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Gypsy’, for instance—while the song’s title and lyrics reference the term, they were not intended to be derogatory at the time.
That said, others, like The Rolling Stones’ ‘Brown Sugar’, should never be given a free pass and used to acknowledge the perpetuation of negative stereotyping among some of the world’s most influential figures. After all, these provocations were never acceptable, even if mainstream audiences once overlooked them.
