BBC censors The Pogue’s Fairytale of New York
p2pnet news | Music:- Ever sensitive to its listeners’ sensitivities, the BBC’s Radio 1 has sensitively censored the word “faggot,” excising it from the Pogues’ 1987 Christmas hit Fairytale of New York.
Now that’s sensitive.
Faggot is variously a bundle of twigs, bits of iron to be welded or hammered into bars, a kind of traditional meatball made in parts of the UK, to ‘faggot’ something or someone – ie, tie them or it down, and/or a general insult used with special reference to homosexual men.
“We are playing an edited version because some members of the audience might find it offensive,” says the Beeb.
Faggot, sung by the late Kirsty MacColl as she trades insults with Shane MacGowan, has been dubbed out, says the story, going on:
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.
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, observes the BBC.
In case you’re wondering, “The Pogues are a band of mixed Irish and English background, playing traditional Irish music with influences from the punk rock movement, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan.,” says the Wikipedia.
“They reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s, until McGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems. They continued with first Joe Strummer, then Spider Stacy on vocals before breaking up in 1996. The band began performing together again in 2001, though they have yet to record new music.”
However, “The Pogues have announced that there will be 9 shows in England, Scotland and Ireland in December, 2007,” says their site.
Also See:
BBC – Radio 1 censors Pogues’ Fairytale, December 18, 2007
Want to help p2pnet stay online? Please click here.
Use free p2pnet newsfeeds for your site. It’s really easy!
Subscribe to p2pnet.net | | rss feed: http://p2pnet.net/p2p.rss | | Mobile – http://p2pnet.net/index-wml.php
December 18th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
I find it offensive to play “EDITED” Music.
It’s like watching Die Hard on ABC…….. Just not the same..