Originally Posted by Sister Mercedes

It seems the Canadians don't object to the other line in the song that refers to "banging on the bongos like a chimpanzee".

Personally I think it's a slippery slope of censorship that should be avoided. If you don't like the lyrics on a song on the radio, then switch to another channel.

Do you think the Chimpanzee ref is untoward?

Originally Posted by meriwether

I was about to mention that book.

Another example is the film 'Dambusters' (1953-ish). One of the pilot has a dog called 'n1gger'.

Its a bit odd to watch, TBH.

Which they have changed in the remake to "Digger".

Originally Posted by meriwether

That sort of argument is wildly simplistic.

So you could understand it then.

Plenty of songs, particularly in the Rap genre, make repeated use of the N word. So far as I know those songs aren't banned in Canada. I don't care for that sort of music or lyrics, and I would probably change the channel if one of them came on the radio.

More PC nonsense. I think that some people go out of their way to be offended, if the listener is offended by a song that's over 30 years old, he's in a for more few shocks if he listens to any more music. Anyhow you should not be judging "history" by the standards of today. As far as I can remember the context of the song was That little faggot got his own jet airplane/That little faggot he’s a millionaire.” meaning something like that annoying twerp., or something similar. I do not remember it as being any way anti-gay

Originally Posted by Munnkeyman

Which they have changed in the remake to "Digger".

If it's a remake - I'd be less inclined to worry about the change - but tweaking the original sounds certain alarm bells for me

Originally Posted by controller

More PC nonsense. I think that some people go out of their way to be offended, if the listener is offended by a song that's over 30 years old, he's in a for more few shocks if he listens to any more music. Anyhow you should not be judging "history" by the standards of today. As far as I can remember the context of the song was That little faggot got his own jet airplane/That little faggot he’s a millionaire.” meaning something like that annoying twerp., or something similar. I do not remember it as being any way anti-gay

I'm confident there'd be plenty of people who would have felt it was anti-gay

One of the pilot has a dog called 'n1gger'.

A very common name for a black dog in those days.

Originally Posted by Happytolearn

Do you think the Chimpanzee ref is untoward?

I don't think anything in the song is that untoward, actually. It's a well written song.

On the F word controversy, Knopler had this to say back in 1984:

I got an objection from the editor of a gay newspaper in London - he actually said it was below the belt. Apart from the fact that there are stupid gay people as well as stupid other people, it suggests that maybe you can't let it have so many meanings - you have to be direct. In fact, I'm still in two minds as to whether it's a good idea to write songs that aren't in the first person, to take on other characters. The singer in "Money for Nothing" is a real ignoramus, hard hat mentality - somebody who sees everything in financial terms. I mean, this guy has a grudging respect for rock stars. He sees it in terms of, well, that's not working and yet the guy's rich: that's a good scam. He isn't sneering.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Money_for_Nothing_(song)

Originally Posted by Happytolearn

If it's a remake - I'd be less inclined to worry about the change - but tweaking the original sounds certain alarm bells for me

They actually did tweak the original too, on ITV a few years back.

ITV has been attacked by an anti-censorship group for removing all references to a dog called "************************************" from the film the Dam Busters.

ITV attacked over Dam Busters censorship | Media | MediaGuardian

Originally Posted by Sister Mercedes

I don't think anything in the song is that untoward, actually. It's a well written song.

On the F word controversy, Knopler had this to say back in 1984:



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Money_for_Nothing_(song)

Context is everything I suppose