The UK’s BBC is still banning lyrics that should not be banned. Apparently, someone at the BBC has a stick up their butt about the word “faggot” in a Pogues song. Radio 1 disc jockeys were ordered to censor a line in the hit song “Fairytale of New York” sung by the Pogues late great Kirsty MacColl.

The Pogues song has been an annual Christmas favorite among fans. These same fans were outraged with the bleeping of the theoretically offensive word, so much so, that the BBC has finally reversed its decision.

The BBC has a long history of bleeping out lyrics for questionable reasons. It has been recently revealed that some of the George Formby lyrics, which are quite yawners by today’s standards, were also banned by the BBC.

While some may think that the BBC has only censored lyrics in the past that deal with sex, drugs and violence, the scope of banning goes much wider than this. Songs that may include advertisements for soft drink companies, positive messages for people with disabilities and references to generalized uncivilized behavior have also been censored.

The unintended consequence of the BBC censoring songs, however is this: they make the songs much more popular. Anytime you tell people they can’t have something they want it all the more. Perhaps “taunting the censors” should be a new game that musicians learn to play in order to see their recordings fly up the charts.

Filed under: Censorship