Money For Nothing banned. Bet the US wont be far behind

[CoolBreeze]

Money For Nothing banned 25 years after release

Canadian broadcasters stop playing original version of Dire Straits classic after just one complaint


Classic Dire Straits track Money for Nothing has been banned from public broadcast in Canada – after receiving just one complaint 25 years after its release.

The global hit single came out on the band’s iconic fifth album, Brothers in Arms, in May 1985 and won a Grammy for best rock performance the following year.

But the original version included the word “faggot” referring to homosexuals, and although a cleaned-up edition was made available, Oz-FM in Newfoundland played the first edition in February last year.

The result was a single complaint – but the self-regulating Canadian Broadcast Standards Council has upheld it, and no outlet in the nation can now play Money for Nothing the way Dire Straits intended it to be heard.

The complaint said: “Money for Nothing was aired and included the word ‘faggot’ a total of three times. I am aware of other versions of the song and yet Oz-FM chose to play and not censor the version I am complaining about. As a member of the LGBT community I feel there is no reason for such discriminatory remarks to be played on air.”

Dire Straits mainman Mark Knopfler has fielded angry reaction to the lyrics since the song first came out. He has pointed out the song is written from the viewpoint of a stupid character who thinks musicians make their “money for nothing” and his stupidity is what leads him to make ignorant statements.

Speaking in 1985 he said: “Apart from the fact that there are stupid gay people as well as stupid other people, it suggests that maybe you have to be direct. I’m in two minds as to whether it’s a good idea to take on characters and write songs that aren’t in the first person.”

Alan Cross of Canadian service ExploreMusic comments: “The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council is run by Canada’s private broadcasters. In exchange for the government not meddling, broadcasters have long promised to regulate themselves.

More....
http://www.rockaaa.com/news/money-for-n ... lease-1821

[Scott Reppert]

Why do I not remember that word being in there? We obviously had both the LP and the 12" back at TCS, but I do not remember that! 12" must have been edited...

[CoolBreeze]

It was never edited on radio stations here as far as I know.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACGUasFW ... re=related

[Jay Nunley]

None of the 731 rock station I worked for ever edited it. Of course, most mainstream rock and classic rock stations stopped playing it altogether years ago. It transitioned to classic hits formats for the most part.

[just saying]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZOHY7Z5eaQ

[just saying]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACGUasFWVsI

[just saying]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZxVC0GB ... re=related

[just saying]

could this be next ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cnRXmMn2Ag

[CoolBreeze]

Uhhh... maybe you want to place all those links into one post? There's an edit option there.

[Lester]

I seem to recall top 40 playing an edit. I think the entire line was chopped out.

[Bob Campbell]

The single release of the song was a shorter version that didn't contain that entire verse, so it rarely appeared on CHR. Not sure it was edited for the word or just the time. The album version is something over 5 minutes long I think.

[The People's DJ]

I seem to recall top 40 playing an edit. I think the entire line was chopped out.

Guitar hero chopped it right out. Messed me all up.

[amayo]

Actually WFGM (The Great 98) did play the unedited version. Even when it came up in later years as a gold or recurrent, we used the unedited version. In fact I don't recall it ever being an issue. I had more trouble with Prince lyrics than I ever did with "Money For Nothing".

[AmpedNow]

Dire Straits mainman Mark Knopfler has fielded angry reaction to the lyrics since the song first came out. He has pointed out the song is written from the viewpoint of a stupid character who thinks musicians make their “money for nothing” and his stupidity is what leads him to make ignorant statements.

Gosh, I had this figured out 25 years ago...

People just don't understand, nor do they care about context anymore. This is how we wind up with the N-word being censored out of literary classics.

I predict that in 10 years, that "F" word will be just as horrific and unforgivable to say as the N-word has become.

Anyway, the video for this song was incredible for its time... Top of the line CG in 1985.