You scumbag, you maggot...

[andygates]

BBC Radio 1 have done it again.  I remember when they censored Captain Sensible used a word that began with 'c' - even though it wasn't the c-word.  "Golly baby, I'm a lucky catoblepas".  Well, now they've decided to cut the 'faggot' from the Pogues' Chrimbletide classic Fairytale of New York because "You scumbag, you maggot, you cheap lousy faggot" is insulting.  Of course it's bloody insulting, it's an insult!  But it's not a hot-button word of doom, you have to take it in context and that context is a pair of burned out raddled old romantic drunks. 

What do they want to replace it with?  "You scumbag, you maggot, you cheap lousy unicorn" ?

Fairytale is the one song in the whole benighted seasonal playlist (there's a point, where's the cheesy Hannukah music?  I want a techno remix of the dreidel song, dammit!) -- it's the only song that touches me.  It's a perfect little self-contained gem of flawed pure affection.  Hands off, gutless Bowdlerizing BBC, or Santa will send his ninja elves after you!

(Seriously, Beeb execs (I know you read this): We're British.  Stern stuff.  Not spineless fundies.  Don't give us our own Boobgate.  Please.)

Comments

[katebush.livejournal.com]

And weirdly it is only Radio 1. Radio 2 are continuing to play the unedited version. Radio 1 have had a lot of complaints already, from every corner of society, and I pray they see sense soon!

[andygates.livejournal.com]

Everyone seems to be cross about it. Here's hoping for a jokey withdrawal later today.

[jonnycowbells.livejournal.com]

I'd have some respect for the middle management of Radio 1 if they just said "Yup, we screwed up, you can have your song back." but they just seem to be digging their heels in and saying "Ooh, it might offend someone." even though all but one of the comments on their website called them soft, PC, twats.

The one comment that supported the censorship looked like it could've been put there by some BBC editor who was looking for something to do before Blue Peter's next competition. Certainly all the gay people were scratching their heads as well.

[n-decisive.livejournal.com]

I'm appalled. Fairytale of New York is my favorite Christmas song. I love it to the point where I wouldn't have sung it for yesterday's post because I would have killed it.

If they replace faggot with the word, "braggart," then I've already heard it done. I was listening to the radio the other day and it came on, and I was waiting for "faggot," but didn't get it. I was confused! This would explain it, because I wouldn't doubt that the extremely cautious US radio stations would balk at the use of the word.

[katebush.livejournal.com]

No, they replaced it with one of those musical gaps, BUT in breaking news!
They've rescinded and it is now back in it's full Faggot containing glory on Radio 1 due to all the complaints :)

[andygates.livejournal.com]

Bow before the will of the People, comrade Controller!

(And yay that he did, sharpish, too)

[alacerus.livejournal.com]

I couldn't find where you swimming on my g-maps, it came up with location unidentifiable. Was it chilly? In my environmental magazing someone actually broke the record for swimming at the North pole recently, he swam 1km in 18 mins and 50 secs in a temperature of minus 1.8C. See more at northpoleswim.com .;-)Nutter.

[jonnycowbells.livejournal.com]

Jolly good, I now have some respect for them, although not a lot.

[andygates.livejournal.com]

Wrong thread? ;)