NationStates Jolt Archive

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


Radio 1 censors Pogues' Fairytale

The edited version
BBC Radio 1 has said it will stand by its ban on the word "faggot" 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."

'Ccomplete over-reaction'

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

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 faggot" in the song, which reached number two when it was first released.

The song is a duet between MacColl and Shane MacGowan
She continues: "Happy Christmas your arse, I pray God it's our last."

Another line, where MacGowan calls MacColl "an old slut 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."

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."


A little too PC?

As a result of this, the word faggot was repeated on Radio1 News about 6 times on the way into work.

Heh I both laughed out loud(my should I have used lol instead?) and groaned loudly(gl) when I read this on the way to work this morning.

I note that the song has rightly been voted as the number one Christmas song. This is bloody stupid though. what I'm more upset over though, is that I had to read once again, in the national press the phrase 'political correctness gone mad'.

Please for the sake of my sanity, please, please find another way to phrase it.

I'm actually surprised by this thread. When I saw it in most recent threads, I was assuming that epic drama had erupted and that this thread was the first shot of a gigantic flamewar.

:gundge::sniper::mp5::headbang::upyours:

The quest to hide the real world from children and the easily offended continues.

I dont believe it...
:headbang:

As a gay man myself, I would like to state clearly that the use of 'faggot' in that songs lyrics does not offend me at all. In fact, I love that song.

I should note that last year The Pogues did a version of that song on CD:UK, a saturday morning show on british television aimed at children and teens. The song was a duet with Katie Melua, and the word 'arse' was bleeped out, yet the terms 'slut' and 'faggot' were not. Do a search on YouTube for Christmas in New York and Katie Melua, and you should come up with the footage of that performance.
As far as I am aware, there was no media coverage of any complaints that were generated from that showing.

Anyway, the song is obviously about a relationship which is close to the end. The fact Shane is called a faggot in that exchange of insults does not lead me to take offence in any way.

Another good reason for ignoring Radio 1 and listening to Radio 2,3 and 4 instead.

Another good reason for ignoring Radio 1 and listening to Radio 2,3 and 4 instead.

Radio 4 FTW!

Heh I both laughed out loud(my should I have used lol instead?) and groaned loudly(gl) when I read this on the way to work this morning.

I note that the song has rightly been voted as the number one Christmas song. This is bloody stupid though. what I'm more upset over though, is that I had to read once again, in the national press the phrase 'political correctness gone mad'.

Please for the sake of my sanity, please, please find another way to phrase it.

What on earth would you call it if not political correctness?

Another good reason for ignoring Radio 1 and listening to Radio 2,3 and 4 instead.

Radio 4 FTW!

Radio 2 all the way.

Can we just censor the whole song? It's abysmal!

*Runs away befpr he is attacked by pitch fork waving Pogues fans*

What on earth would you call it if not political correctness?

Ohh it's not the PC bit that bothers me, I mean it is the accpted label we use when talking about this sorta thing.

But 'gone mad', pu-lease, just stop that right now. I adore the odd cliche as well as the next man, but we all know what their use says about a writers skill, it offends my snobbish nature, okay, alright, I have admitted it, happy now?:eek:

What on earth would you call it if not political correctness?


Idiocy (edit: ... as in the censoring ... not what Philosopy wrote ... I'll go now ...)


Radio 2 all the way.


Humphrey Lyttelton will track you down :p

If Radio 1 can find an insult that rhymes with maggot I'd love to hear it.

If Radio 1 can find an insult that rhymes with maggot I'd love to hear it.

Ohh oahh you do know what you have just done?

If Radio 1 can find an insult that rhymes with maggot I'd love to hear it.

"you scumbag, you maggot, you cheap lousy tosser".

I think it flows well.

If Radio 1 can find an insult that rhymes with maggot I'd love to hear it.

Ohh oahh you do know what you have just done?

Braggart? Or Taggart (you dead Glaswegian fictional detective you)

Bah! The band let their own name be censored in the first place: "Pogues" means "Kisses", but they originally intended to be "Pogue Mahone" (or something like that) which told people where to kiss them... ;)

Ohh oahh you do know what you have just done?
No idea :)
"you scumbag, you maggot, you cheap lousy tosser".

I think it flows well.

Bah, tosser doesn't rhyme.

No idea :)


Bah, tosser doesn't rhyme.

Sure it does, it rhymes with umm Rosser, or , errrr Posser!

Bah, tosser doesn't rhyme.

Of course it does.

You simply have to open your mind to the new rhyming possibilities that open up when you ignore your pre-defined definitions of 'rhyme'.

Of course it does.

You simply have to open your mind to the new rhyming possibilities that open up when you ignore your pre-defined definitions of 'rhyme'.

Woah, that is like, totally deep, man.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44307000/jpg/_44307652_shane_getty203b.jpg

They really should have censored this picture on their website or at least given a warning!! Yikes! Shane is one scary looking dude.

A faggot is also a type of meatball. Maybe she was calling him a meatball.

No, i don't truly believe that, but its a possibility.

A faggot is also a type of meatball. Maybe she was calling him a meatball.

No, i don't truly believe that, but its a possibility.

It's also a bundle of dry sticks.

And people wonder why I no longer listen to radio.

In a related event, has anyone seen the clip to the new Ärzte song "Junge"? It features a gory zombie uprising. However not in the version you can see during the day-time. Everything is hilariously censored and the blood is blue instead of red. :D

A little too PC?

HA HA HA! Merry Christmas! (http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=323480)

If Radio 1 can find an insult that rhymes with maggot I'd love to hear it."slag pit"

Do people still listen to radio music :p

Bah! The band let their own name be censored in the first place: "Pogues" means "Kisses", but they originally intended to be "Pogue Mahone" (or something like that) which told people where to kiss them... ;)

pogue mahone, or póg mo thóin

Ah the benefits of attending a catholic school - learn to swear and insult in Irish.

If Radio 1 can find an insult that rhymes with maggot I'd love to hear it.

Dagget. As in that guy who replaced Mulder on X-Files.

Out of interest:

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

Out of interest:

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

Well thats that sorted then.

I was rather amused thug at this gem from Peter Tatchell, who I have nowt but admiration for normally.

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

So can it be said that men with small dicks, i.e. maggots, should be upset about this?

I'm sorta in two minds about the word gay, or in this instance faggot being used as an insult.

One part agrees with Tatchell, whilst another part suggest he grow a thicker skin, and wants to accuse him of trying to police thought.

If Radio 1 can find an insult that rhymes with maggot I'd love to hear it.
"Raghead"

If it gets a swarm of complaints, then we keep the old 'faggot'.

Braggart? Or Taggart (you dead Glaswegian fictional detective you)
Try "Blackguard". Pronounced blaggard and meaning "a thoroughly unprincipled person; a scoundrel" and best accompanied by swiping your glove around the addressee's head to initiate a duel.