Dire Straits - Money for Nothing ruled "too offensive" for Canadian radio

[cbdo2007]

Dire Straits -- Classic Song Ruled Offensive in Canada
1/13/2011 9:00 AM PST by TMZ Staff

26 years after the Dire Straits classic hit "Money for Nothing" first hit the airwaves ... the song has been ruled "too offensive" to be broadcast on Canadian radio ... because of a homophobic lyric.

The issue first arose last year, after someone filed a complaint explaining that the song contained the homophobic F-word ... three different times.

The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council ruled that the word is indeed offensive -- and ordered radio stations to use an edited version of the song.

The CBSC explained that societal values have "shifted" since the song debuted ... and "the broadcast of the song in 2010 must reflect those values, rather than those of 1985."

http://www.tmz.com/2011/01/13/dire-straits-money-for-nothing-offensive-canada-banned/

[Posteritatis]

1. I heard it on the radio a little bit ago here. (nt)

(Ed. - CBSC, not CRTC. Whole different kettle of dolts, admittedly.)

[littlewolf]

2. that is really gonna cut into the revenue stream lol ....

[RockaFowler]

3. Ahh they have a version of that song without that in it

I remember the version that was played on the radio many years ago and that line was not a part of it. As a matter of fact MTV even edited the video to not include it (someone who looked like George Michael)

[Canuckistanian]

4. Thank God! Just in time!

Besides, Dire Straits was MOCKING a certain class of ignorant people who go around calling people F*****s.

[av8rdave]

5. While I find the "f" word used in the song offensive, it helps to know the context

The song was making fun of a total ignoramus that one of the band members overheard in an appliance store. The lyric merely repeated what the idiot in question really said, which helped show exactly what kind of a moron he was.

[Posteritatis]

8. It depresses me how many "we must ban X" things make a point of ignoring context

Of course, I've also learned not to underestimate how stupid radio edits can get after the blanking used in Treble Charger's "American Psycho."

[SidDithers]

6. Copy of the complaint and decision here...

http://www.cbsc.ca/english/decisions/2011/110112.php

Sid

[CraftyGal]

7. I sit shaking my head....

Have we gotten to the point that we need to censor everything that is offensive or could be offensive? Are we not thinking people? First there is a rewriting of the classic story "Huckleberry Finn" where the "n" word is replaced with "slave". While yes it was offensive it needs to be there in the context of the story. It isn't acknowledging the history that transpired. I don't agree with all this censure. How do we as a society learn from the past if we censure it? Whoopi 9sp?) Goldberg said pretty much the same thing on the View in regard to the rewriting of Huckleberry Finn. Whoopi also mentioned that she has "Negroid" and World War II memorabilia, We need to acknowledge where we have come from in order to see where we need to go.

CraftyGal

[FLPanhandle]

9. The phrase "throwing the baby out with the bathwater" comes to mind.

Common sense is gone.

[CraftyGal]

12. I do agree on this....n/t

[SidDithers]

10. "I an't saying she's a gold digger, but she ain't messin' wit no broke, broke"...nt

Sid

[gratuitous]

11. Finally!

Fake dog howls just pierce my ears. Next to be banned: Werewolves of London, and the airwaves will once again be safe to listen to.

[-..__...]

13. Download and save it while you still can.

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/218984/882082

Won't be long before the thought police demand that it be removed.