Radio 1 Censors "Fairytale Of New York"

I like it once a year, not necessarily the first time I hear it each christmas, then it "oh there it is again"

I like the song, but I don't like either The Pogues or Kirsty McColl

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

Radio 1 backs down in Pogues row

BBC Radio 1 has said it will allow the Pogues' Fairytale of New York to be played on the station uncut, after criticism of a decision to censor it.
The words "slut" and "faggot" had been dubbed out from the 20-year-old festive hit by station executives.

But after a day of criticism from listeners, the band, and the mother of singer Kirsty MacColl, they changed their minds.

Controller Andy Parfitt said the original decision was "wrong".

The BBC had said that an edited version would be played becase "some members of the audience might find it offensive".

But sister station Radio 2 said it would play the track uncut, and on Thursday evening Mr Parfitt said that after "careful consideration", the ban on the uncut version of the song would be lifted.

"Radio 1 does not play homophobic lyrics or condone bullying of any kind," he said.

"It is not always easy to get this right, mindful of our responsibility to our young audience. The unedited version will be played from now on.

"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."

VOTE RESULTS
Should radio stations censor The Pogues' Fairytale of New York?
Yes 6.09%
No 93.91%
312 Votes Cast

yay!

Victory for ILM!

wtf Radio 1 should only be playing this song ONCE A WEEK anyway and that's just for the shitty Top 40 run down.

Right, this has now got maximum exposure in the news, so I expect it to outpace Maria Carey next week.

BBC1 never learned from Frankie Goes To Hollywood did they?
I just wonder how the commercial stations are reacting. If R1 hadn't relented so quick would they too have ceased playing it or would they then have played it anyway to get one over R1? It might get played even more now due to the publicity.

homophobia is never ok.

sorry.

herman = cheap lousy taggart

Be quiet or i'll do a poll on it!

Homophobia sucks, but this was done in context, and I doubt that Kirsty MacColl was much of a homophobe either. Sadly she isn't around anymore to comment herself.

she is calling to me from the spirit world. she say 'lol geir'

all of radio's 1 teen audience weren't even born when was a hit first time round twenty years ago

http://www.scotdebt.net/images/main/page_images/head_in_hands2.jpg

I don't think that this song is offensive, but I do think that just because things once weren't offensive doesn't mean they aren't now. Old people always say things that freak me out.

If the song came along now I think they'd probably edit it. It's just a bit annoying, both the editing and the whining that it should be exempt because it's old or whatever. As if any sentiments that bother people should have been ironed out by time.

"Faggot" was obviously offensive in 1987 as well. And homophobia probably more existant than today.

see "children shouldn't be allowed to read Mark Twain because he uses the n-word"

I'm trying to figure out why I'm not offended by "Fairytale," but I am by "faggot" (3x?) in Dire Straits' "Money for Nothing."

Context, innit?

I mean, the MacColl/McGowan is in context of an old drunk couple bickering, the Knopfler one is just sneery lol-faggot-with-his-earrings-and-flashy-lifestyle.

"Money For Nothing" was inspired by the ranting of some redneck dude.

Here we get to hear "Fairytale Of New York" on the radio exactly zero times every year. I don't think I've ever heard it in my life.

http://cache2.vuze.com/assets/153/3564351/30357/BBXOYV4HPYAHO337IR7WWSV3AUTQSLVT_image_5.jpg

HOMOPHOBES

this song is totally gay

aaaaaaaaaah do you see?

i see HATE

I've mentioned before that a bartender in a NYC GAY BAR unplugged the jukebox in the middle of "Fairytale Of New York" when I played it. He was ahead of his time.

maybe he just realised it was shit

I was against editing this song until I started reading the HYS idiots blaming (as predicted upthread) political correctness and the Left Wing Bias of the BBC. Now I think they should ban it just to wind them up more.

in the context of the song, it doesn't feel offensive. and it isn't that shit a song -- just a leetle overplayed.

"imo"

penny whistles

They should have censored the title. "FAIRY Tale of New York"? It's disgusting! Peter Tatchell writes

Does he indeed? I saw he was commenting on the news about it but I didn;t hear what he said as I was on the phone.

the MacColl/McGowan is in context of an old drunk couple bickering, the Knopfler one is just sneery lol-faggot-with-his-earrings-and-flashy-lifestyle

these can only be on the same level really

In other news: Jesus Christ, will they stop playing "Jingle Bells"? They play THAT every year! How about some Basement Jaxx?

"Where's your Santa Hat?!"

I mean, the MacColl/McGowan is in context of an old drunk couple bickering, the Knopfler one is just sneery lol-faggot-with-his-earrings-and-flashy-lifestyle.

-- ailsa, Wednesday, 19 December 2007 19:13 (Yesterday) Bookmark Link

^^^wrong

People who prefer The Pogues to Dire Straits shouldn't be allowed to listen to music

People who prefer Chris Huhne to Nick Clegg shouldn't be allowed to vote in elections

Amazingly, Peter Tatchell writes.

Much ado about absolutely nothing.

Right, this has now got maximum exposure in the news, so I expect it to outpace Maria Carey next week.

-- Mark G, Tuesday, 18 December 2007 23:00 (2 days ago) Bookmark Link

It's overtaken her in the last two days.

Bigger question: who could really give a fuck about Mariah Carey in this day an age?

killing joke.zing

How is that a zing? Killing Joke certain don't give a fuck about Mariah Carey.

I think that means that the zing is coming from a repository called killing joke. Then again, no zing seemed to be forthcoming so yeah.

http://photo.net/general-comments/attachment/13518270/blind%20leading.jpg

A good friend of mine who works at a BBC Radio 1 says word around there is that this whole censorship deal was thought up by the various powers that be at Radio 1 in an attempt to give the song a publicity push and potentially have it beat the X-Factor winner to #1. He said that he's worked with editing issues before on the legal side and the timing of this was bizarre, they had lots of PR people around before the announcement was made, and that higher-ups on the staff who are generally very pro-whatever-the-UK-equivalent-of-the-1st-Amendment-is didn't seem particularly bothered by it. They're all a bunch of gossips over there though so there's a good chance all this was wishful thinking by a Rhydian fan.

Well, quite.

It's not going to take out the Leonmonster now is it? Not even if they uncover the version Shane did with Diana.

I'm not too up on the lyrical nuances of Dire Straits, to be honest.

BBC 'censors' it... again!

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/nov/19/fairytale-of-new-york-pogues-censored-radio-1-radio-2

I thought we'd left all this noughties cancel culture stuff behind us.

Radio 1 shouldn't be playing this old man shit anyway

Agreed but they play Wham and Mariah Carey and other Christmas crap for a month straight - this is just another “classic” that is on that playlist

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-54999375
But the 1987 original will still be played on Radio 2, while 6 Music DJs can choose between the two versions.

(great way of finding out which 6 Music DJs are homophobic pieces of shit, BTW)

it's the Last Night of the Proms bollocks all over again, for ever and ever

i'm fine with them bowdlerizing it tbh especially because it works as a cunt alarm alongside the word "snowflakes"

Indeed. Also I don't like the Pogues or Shane McGowan or Kirsty McColl or this song.

Fuck off you little herrenvolk shite https://t.co/znPSuhkSo0

— The Pogues (@poguesofficial) November 19, 2020

I like the Pogues again.

they also retweeted this one, twice

This is all I’m gonna say on it for the whole year: the word itself being in Fairytale Of New York doesn’t bother or offend me, but straight people being so angry & outraged at its removal and literally fighting and arguing for the right to sing it bothers me deeply

— Pete Burns’ Confiscated Coat (@harrisonjbrock) November 19, 2020