So it turns out BBC's Radio 1 isn't gonna bleep (or "fade out," whatever) the word "faggot" in the Pogues' "Fairytale Of New York" after all. Gay rights folks are already calling the move hypocritical, however: "I doubt that the BBC would take the same relaxed attitude if this song included the n-word, or abusive language like 'Paki' or 'yid'." [Times Online]









Comments
Odd, the examples they choose of "abusive language": the only song I can think of that includes either "Paki" or "yid" is... well, it's another Pogues song, is what it is- "The Sickbed of CúchulaÃnn," which actually includes both of them.
If Shane had managed to work in the n-word, he'd have hit the trifecta.
Yeah, but: context? Speaking as a card-carrying faggot, I'd rather err on the side of free, drunken, toothless expression, unless the subtitle of the song is "I'm Going to Punch You in the Neck, Faggot" or something.
@nonce: Speaking as a card-carrying faggot
Always wondered what the cards look like, can you provide a scan?
Listening to the BBC World Service on NPR today, I heard them read a letter from a gay British man who said, "Call me any names you like, just don't call me late for dinner." I nearly crashed my car in the realization that SOME PEOPLE REALLY TALK LIKE THAT. I need to move to London.
"I doubt that the BBC would take the same relaxed attitude if this song included the n-word, or abusive language like 'Paki' or 'yid'."
Find a song (aside from, perhaps, the Pogues' own "Sickbed of Cuchuillain" as mentioned in the comment above) with those words in it that's been freely played by the BBC for right at twenty years without being censored, and they very well might...
Wierdly, as (not gay) british man, I can tell you that hardly anyone uses the word faggot over here, it's pretty much an americanism.
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