BBC censors classic christmas song

[the_ultimate_evil]

Radio 1 censors Pogues' Fairytale



BBC Radio 1 has said it will stand by its ban on the word "******" from the Pogues' 1987 Christmas hit Fairytale of New York to avoid offence.

The word, sung by the late Kirsty MacColl as she trades insults with Shane MacGowan, has been dubbed out.

But MacColl's mother, Jean, called the ban "too ridiculous", while the Pogues said they found it "amusing".

The BBC said: "We are playing an edited version because some members of the audience might find it offensive."

'Gratuitous vulgarity'

A Radio 1 spokeswoman said the station's management had met on Tuesday morning to discuss the issue.

Shane MacGowan
The song is a duet between MacColl and Shane MacGowan
She said they "had made their decision" and would not be going back on it.

But the ban does not apply across the BBC. Radio 2 said it would be playing the full version of the track.

MacColl, who was killed by a speedboat off the coast of Mexico in 2000, brands Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan "you scumbag, you maggot, you cheap lousy ******" in the song, which reached number two when it was first released.

She continues: "Happy Christmas your arse, I pray God it's our last."

Another line, where MacGowan calls MacColl "an old **** on junk", has also been edited.

Jean MacColl told BBC Radio 5 Live's Breakfast: "These are a couple of characters - not in the first flush of youth, I would have thought.

"This is the way they spoke. Today we have a lot of a gratuitous vulgarity and whatever from people all over which I think is quite unnecessary.

"They are what they are. These are characters and they speak like that."


HAVE YOUR SAY
No! It's a cracking tune about two people having a blazing row at Christmas. They're meant to be offending each other!
Sophie Shinigami, Belfast

Send us your comments
A spokesman for the Pogues, who first formed in 1982 and reunited in 2001 after a five-year break, said they "found it amusing that a song that has been one of the best-loved Christmas tunes should suddenly have been deemed offensive".

'Complete over-reaction'

Listeners have also been criticising the ban on the Radio 1 Newsbeat website.

Denise Venn said it was "a complete over-reaction" and Simon from Southampton called it "political correctness gone mad".

Dean in Southampton added: "I'm gay and it certainly doesn't offend me.

"I find it more offensive that the BBC has tampered with this track which hopefully will be number one this Christmas."

However, veteran gay rights activist Peter Tatchell said Radio 1's actions were right.

"The word ****** is being sung as an insult, alongside scumbag and maggot. In this abusive context it is unacceptable," he said.

"It is shameful that BBC Radio 2 and other radio and TV stations are continuing to play the full version with the word ****** included. It shows that they don't take homophobic language as seriously as racist language."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7149525.stm

you can hear the edited version on the site

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

What a miserable world you all live in, terrified and enraged by certain combinations of vowels and consonants.
It's fascinating, also pathetic.

Why don't they ban invasions on foreign countries, getting the legs blown off of daft kids who were manipulated into giving their lives for nothing?
That's what's offensive.

I feel like an alien here, trying to understand your bizarre customs, and fianlly giving up because you're incurable.

 

[kainedamo]

I find this part interesting...

"The word ****** is being sung as an insult, alongside scumbag and maggot. In this abusive context it is unacceptable," he said.

"It is shameful that BBC Radio 2 and other radio and TV stations are continuing to play the full version with the word ****** included. It shows that they don't take homophobic language as seriously as racist language."

So... does he think scumbag and maggot should be banned from the song too??

This is a song that has been on radio and tv for many years unedited. Why now? Has there ever, ever been a large number (or small number) of complaints about the use of the word ******?

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

I find this part interesting...



So... does he think scumbag and maggot should be banned from the song too??

This is a song that has been on radio and tv for many years unedited. Why now? Has there ever, ever been a large number (or small number) of complaints about the use of the word ******?

Well see, back when the word could be heard clearly, society crumbled, once angelic children were corrupted and instantly turned into crack****es and serial killers, and the world was a dark place, a cesspool of hatred and suffering.....


....and now that you can't hear the word, we live in a Utopian hugfest of enlightenment and peace.

Thank God they edited it!

 

[Borax]

They changed their mind

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7150693.stm

 

[kainedamo]

See I think whats hurtful and ignorant is for people to feel like they have to brush over and edit the past.

You know what Aer Lingus did recently? They stopped doing their "welcome aboard Aer Lingus" introduction in Irish... in fear of offending people.

Nutso. Whats offensive is that they feel the Irish language would be offensive.

 

[kainedamo]

"While we would never condone prejudice of any kind, we know our audiences are smart enough to distinguish between maliciousness and creative freedom. In the context of this song, I do not feel that there is any negative intent behind the use of the words, hence the reversal of the decision."

Glad they saw sense.

 

[Why Are You Crouching Spock?]

I cant read what the word is because your posts are censored.

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

"While we would never condone prejudice of any kind, we know our audiences are smart enough to distinguish between maliciousness and creative freedom. In the context of this song, I do not feel that there is any negative intent behind the use of the words, hence the reversal of the decision."

GORGEOUS

Good Sense
Reason
Yes!

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

I cant read what the word is because your posts are censored.

you can read the article and find the word.

 

[kainedamo]

I cant read what the word is because your posts are censored.

Surely you must know the song in question.

 

[Why Are You Crouching Spock?]

Literal huh?
Yes, it gets played over and over to please the Irish.

 

[Hunter Rider]