<p id=”par-1_47″>Most <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/classic-rock/”>classic rock</a> songs are forgotten naturally, but others are forgotten because the artist wants you to forget them. For example, <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/did-cher-ever-have-a-no-1-hit-song-as-a-solo-artist.html/”>Cher’s “Half-Breed”</a> has come under fire — including from Cher herself. The track was part of a trend of Cher clumsily discussing race in her music.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-cher-revealed-why-half-breed-had-to-be-retired”>Cher revealed why ‘Half-Breed’ had to be retired</h2>
<p id=”par-2_75″>Cher did well for herself during the 1970s. That decade, she had three No. 1 hits on the <a href=”https://www.billboard.com/artist/cher/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Billboard Hot 100</a>: “Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves,” “Dark Lady,” and “Half-Breed.” Each of those songs was a fictional portrayal of a particular ethnic group. “Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves” and <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/cher-never-liked-dark-lady-even-though-no-1-song.html/”>“Dark Lady” are about Romani women</a>, while “Half-Breed” is about a half-Cherokee, half-white woman who is hated by both the Cherokee and white people for being a “half-breed.”</p>
<p id=”par-3_69″>It’s hard to imagine any of these songs were written to degrade anyone. Despite this, they haven’t exactly aged well. “Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves” and “Dark Lady” both use the slur “gypsy,” while each of the songs has been lambasted as a form of cultural appropriation. Cher seems most uncomfortable with “Half-Breed,” which is part of a long history of white people literally and metaphorically donning Native American costumes.</p>
<p id=”par-4_51″>According to a 2024 <a href=”https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/offensive-songs-cher-rolling-stones-censorship-1235087496/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Rolling Stone</a> article, Cher feels the song is no longer acceptable. “I did song 50 yrs. ago, and it wasn’t meant 2 be offensive,” Cher posted in 2017. “However, that’s kinda bull s*** excuse. Need to retire beautiful costume & stop singing it. It’s way past time.”</p>
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<iframe title=”Cher – Half-Breed (Official Video)” width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/t9xTXZwnJUk?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-the-daughter-of-cher-s-producer-reacted-to-the-controversy”>The daughter of Cher’s producer reacted to the controversy</h2>
<p id=”par-5_48″>Cher released a greatest hits record called <em>Forever </em>in 2024. It includes “Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves” and “Dark Lady” but not “Half-Breed.” All three of the songs were produced by musician Snuff Garrett. His daughter, Dawn Garrett, discussed why the potential reasons the “Half-Breed” was excluded from <em>Forever</em>.</p>
<p id=”par-6_93″>“If I had to speculate, I’m going with exactly what you’re writing about,” said Garrett. “I didn’t grow up with the idea that the song was a horrendous insult or anything like that. But this is a completely different generation, and I think it’s important that nobody be insulted or upset. I guess it will remain to be seen if some of the older fans aren’t happy about that. Or if it’s too polarizing.” Even if Cher is no longer performing “Half-Breed,” fans can still find the song on YouTube and streaming services.</p>
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<iframe title=”Cher – Half-Breed / Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves / Dark Lady / Take Me Home (Believe Tour)” width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/XmPGiCRD2Is?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<div class=”related-article related-article–simple”>
<span class=”related-article-flag”>Related</span>
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Paul Stanley Had 1 Hit Song Without Kiss and It’s About Cher’s Sister </a>
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<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-half-breed-was-part-of-a-bad-album-with-2-paul-mccartney-songs”>‘Half-Breed’ was part of a bad album with 2 Paul McCartney songs</h2>
<p id=”par-7_32″>“Half-Breed” was huge in the 1970s. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks, lasting on the chart for 20 weeks. The tune appeared on the album <em>Half-Breed</em>. </p>
<p id=”par-8_82″><em>Half-Breed</em> feels a little slapdash, as it features so many covers. Cher had no apparent desire to keep up the song’s Native American theme, so <em>Half-Breed</em> instead features many renditions of then-recent easy-listening hits. For the album, Cher recorded the Bee Gees’ “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart,” Paul McCartney & Wings’ “My Love,” and The Beatles’ <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/chers-cover-the-beatles-the-long-and-winding-road-awful.html/”>“The Long and Winding Road.”</a> None of those songs are among the original artists’ best work and Cher doesn’t improve them in any way.</p>
<p id=”par-9_20″>“Half-Breed” was beloved at the time — but Cher seems content to leave it on the ash heap of history.</p>