There is one organisation in the UK that seeks to emulate Nanny's fussy, interfering manner; and does it rather well too.
The name of that organ?
None other than Auntie (the BBC).
This time round, Auntie has excelled herself and out Nannyed Nanny.
The dear old bureaucratic gits who run Radio 1 have had something of a dilemma this year, over that old Christmas favourite Kirsty MacColl's "Fairytale in New York".
They got themselves very worked up over the word "faggot":
"you scumbag, you maggot, you cheap lousy faggot"
Being a bunch of tossers, the BBC decided to censor the word.
A second line where MacGowan calls MacColl "an old slut on junk" had also been edited.
Her mum, Jean MacColl, called the ban "ridiculous" and listeners bombarded the station with complaints.
The result?
Auntie backed down and has allowed the word "faggot" to be used.
A Radio 1 spokeswoman said station management had met to discuss the lyrics and decided to dub them out to avoid offence. This evening the station's controller said after "careful consideration" the ban had been lifted.
What a bunch of complete pricks!
The song reached number two in the charts in 1987, re-entering last year on the strength of recent downloads.
Now here's why the ban was bollocks:
1 The song has been around for 20 years
2 The BBC has played it repeatedly in the past
3 Banning the word merely drew attention to it
4 People need to get over themselves
5 Out of 60 million people you are never going to please everyone
6 Radios have an "off" switch
7 The BBC is not there to act as moral guardian
8 This is the killer fact, the ban did not extend across the whole of the BBC - Radio 2 was playing the full version of the track.
In short, BBC are a bunch of tossers and don't deserve our money.
here is the video and soundtrack:
The BBC has always "banned" music tracks they didn't like, this was why I always thought Auntie was a strange name for the BBC, I always thought Nanny would have been more apt.
ReplyDeleteWill they start banning all the old songs that use the word gay in it's original context and meaning?
I rarely hear the wireless these days and always avoid Radio One if I have the choice.
ReplyDeleteI have seen it reported that many others are doing the same and therefore their listening numbers are below 'target'.
Perhaps this explains the press release.
Edgy stuff and far more newsworthy in the context of Xmas than it would be in, say, July.
Yawn.
I think mince pies should be banned cos puffs mince and they might get offended.ho ho fukin ho
ReplyDelete" mitch said...
ReplyDeleteI think mince pies should be banned cos puffs mince and they might get offended.ho ho fukin ho"
Good point and very suitable culinary references considering the time of year.
However I'm not sure you can realistically lump cheese puffs, creams puffs and lemon puffs, to take just three examples of the genre, into the same bag and not be accused of insensitivity to their very different needs.
Then of course we have non-culinary powder puffs - but we had best not 'go there'.
So, grant,
ReplyDeleteCan I take it that we won't be hearing much from Puff Daddy in future?
grumpy said...
ReplyDelete" So, grant,
Can I take it that we won't be hearing much from Puff Daddy in future?"
Well, not that I know anything whatsoever about such things, did he not decide to call himself P Diddy some years ago?
In which case I would imagine he and his 'people' will be keen to ensure the Puffy thing is behind him. Er, if you see what I mean.
One is inclined to the view that both names are remarkably stupid (are they names or brands?) but, clearly, quite memorable. Take it from me - my memory is very selective!