BBC - Christmas song edit - PC madness?

[wayne@vacationdreams.org]

Interesting argument... interpreting something written 20,
30, or 300 years ago through glasses shaded with the 2007
tint.

How foolish this age of hypersensitism is! Schools ban
Shakespeare, movies made in the 40's & 50's, radio shows
recorded on cylinders, all because our foolishness today
wasn't imposed on the art of a past era.

I say let 'em play, foibles and all, and at least allow the
inherited integrity (or lack thereof) to stand on its own...

But of course, I live in Florida now... no snow, no ice,
southern politics... :^)

and very melba toast radio....

Wayne


----- Original Message Follows -----
From: "Chuck Igo" <chuckigo@maine.rr.com>
To: <mike@miscon.net>, "BRI"
<boston-radio-interest@rolinin.bostonradio.org>
Subject: Re: BBC - Christmas song edit - PC madness?
Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:38:07 -0500

>Mike attempted to write (and i've attempted to interpret
>his pesky program  with some cleared up typing)
>
>> There's an interesting debate going on today at the Beeb
>> Apparently, BBC's Radio 1 program has cut out the word
>> "faggot" from the  song "Fairytale of New York," by the
>> Irish band The Pogues and singer  Kirsty MacColl.
>> In the track, released 20 years ago, MacColl sings "You
>> scumbag, you  maggot. You cheap lousy faggot;" as her
>> character in the song argues with  a character
>> counter-sung by Shane MacGowan. The song is a perennial
>> Christmastime favorite in  England; and arguably  even
>> here in the on rock stations. At least 90% of its
>> listeners are criticizing the BBC for editing the song 
>(according to its own online data, while one BBC online
>> news editor claims  the figure is "virtually 100%"),
>> saying, "it's PC madness gone wrong." BBC 1, however, is
>> standing by its decision to edit the song. What say you,
>> esteemed members of this list? Play it - unedited, edited
>>, or simply don't play it at all? 
>> Has it even been a concern here?
>>
>
>Mike,
>
> not sure about that particular song here in the states -
>but on the opinion  to air it, edit it, or leave it out: 
>what you don't say, can't hurt you.  so on the side of
>caution, depending upon your station's target, leave it 
>out.  i'd opt for the "don't play it"
>
>Then again - many songs that were hits came available with
>"edits" or  "remixes."  some of the edits changed the
>offensive word, such as the  revised Steve Miller Band "Jet
>Airliner" which opted in some cases for  "...funky
>KICKS..." instead of "...funky s**t..."
>
>Pink Floyd's "Money" implored us to ".....don't give me
>that good good bull  (silence)..." instead of   "...bull
>s**t..."
>
>In regards to seasonal songs, some stations have actually,
>30 years down the  road, been hit with calls and letters of
>protestation over The Kinks "Father  Christmas."  some of
>these stations are rock stations; some are pop  stations;
>some are classic rock/oldies stations.  one of them is the
>one at  which i work.  our station has opted for omission
>on the side of caution.  the decision is a wise one in this
>era of new-age sensitivity.
>
>the sudden realization or discovery of some potentially
>offensive nature of  the Kinks' song, which i have and will
>again admit - baffles me.  30  frickin' years that song has
>been aired - NOW it's a problem?  likewise the 
>above-mentioned dilemma faced by the BBC.
>
>what about Deck The Halls!  OMG!  talk about the extreme
>(revisionist)  references in that one.  as a proud
>Irish-American, i should be extremely  and profoundly upset
>over the repeated calls to induce physical harm to any 
>person refered to in the "derogatory" sense of such
>hertigage or ancestry.  "Strike The Harp!"  even Johnny
>Mathis says so.  i won't even get into the  suggested
>attire for the entire decorating process - talk about your 
>old-school stereo-types! yikes!
>
>just remember: if it's offensive to anyone, just say
>
>"... as Don Imus says..."
>
>then say it.  it's covered and protected as "reporting," or
>else they  wouldn't print it or air it repeatedly in the
>mainstream media.
>
>- -Chuck Igo
>(knee deep in Christmas music since 12/22/07) 
>

________________________________________________________
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(1 Cor 9:24)
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