Categories: Polls

What do you think of the CBSC decision to change the lyrics of Dire Straits' "Money for Nothing"?

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by macleans.ca on Friday, January 14, 2011 11:07am - 109 Comments
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  • Linda

    This type of censorship is utterly ridiculous. This is a talented and intelligent group of musicians. There are so
    many other songs that `they`could criticize but if you don`t like it don`t listen!

  • Trudeau lover

    Not only do we have to suffer under the dictates of the Trudeauvian culture police, the CRTC, now we have the CBSC dictating what's tasteful or offensive and therefore verboten to all. The irony of a 25 year old song being banished from the airwaves to pacify the complaint of one person 25 years after this song was a hit is comically deranged. A classic case of the State ramming it's self imposed political correctness doctrine down our throats, while putting forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.

    • lenny

      "A classic case of the State ramming it's self imposed political correctness doctrine down our throats…"

      This topic has provided classic demonstration of wingnuts' failure to comprehend the world around them.

  • politically correct

    Hey! Now there finally is a way to get that Rap Crap off the air. Where do I write to lodge my whiny complaint? I'm sure I can find offensive lyrics in every Rap song that is written. Then "Country" is next on my hit list. I'll be able to ban a few of "them thar red neck songs" as well. Then the "90's rock" – then the "80's rock" – songs that promote drugs and a carefree lifestyle are corrupting our youth of today. I hate "Heavy Metal" and the druggie lifestyle it promotes too. . . . then that "Classical" stuff too – 'cause its all too old.

    "We don't need no education" (Pink Floyd) – well that's a lie. Lets get rid of songs that lie and lead our children away from the "proper" upbringing. Oh, of course "Christmas" songs. There are far too many of those songs played at Christmas that I'm sure offend non Christians – get rid of them too. ( Oops, I accidentally said the offensive "C" word that is close to being banned from our Canadian Dictionary)

    I'm sure if I work on it, I can get the "Acceptable Playlist" down to two or three songs from John Denver. Then the whole world will be a better place to live. No longer will I have to switch stations to get away from the songs that I don't wish to hear.

    Now where do I write to complain about the CBSC so I can have them banned as well? Then the federal government . . . then . . . .

    • truenorth

      Just don't let them mess with the ''Sound of Music '' O.K ?

  • FLAPPINGUMS

    I REALY DONT KNOW WHAT THE WORLD IS COMMIN TO ! WE HAVE SO MUCH CRAP GOIN ON IN THE WORLD AND HERE WE ARE CHANGIN A 25 YEAR OLD SONG , THAT DOES NOT GET PLAYED THAT MUCH ANYMORE , BECAUSE OF ONE WORD ! I RESPECT THE GAY COMUNITY, BUT THIS TIME , GONE TO FAR ! YOU HAVE YOUR SAME SEX MARIAGE , LET US HAVE OUR MUSIC !

  • Don

    I agree Judy why pick on this one song. Have they not listened to our "rap" songs

  • Rich

    Okay so even McLeans censors the f word, I just wrote a post using the word in question and it immediately got deleted, so why are they complaining about he CBSC doing it too?

  • Rich

    I'm a gay man myself and I have no problem with how the F word (can't mention the actual word or McLeans will delete the post) was used in that song. true sometimes it can be used as an insult but sometimes its also a term of endearment, one I often use among my friends but in a positive context. Personally I find the expression "that's so gay" when used in negative context to be much more offensive even though its words are much more polite. Context is everything in language and artists and academics should have licence to go beyond social norms for the potential benefit of all society. However I do support the work of the CBSC and think they have made some very good decisions to reduce the spreading of hatred for gays and lesbians, most recently when they sanctioned Charles McVety for claiming gays and lesbians are inherently pedophiles in one of his broadcasts. That sanction I fully supported because I believe McVety's comments were hate speech designed specifically to spread hatred of gays and lesbians, besides being just plain wrong and ignorant. Stopping the spread of hatred is a worthwhile goal of the CBSC and I applaud them for it, however in this case they missed the mark in my opinion, mind you when you look closer at how they made the decision its clear that there are procedural issues at hand that lead to this poor decision, for one thing the station itself is supposed to make a defense which they didn't do in this case while the complaintant laid out a good case by pointing out all the other songs with potentially insulting words that that station does play censored versions of while refusing to play a censored version of a song including a word offensive to some gays and lesbians. The actual list of songs that that station will play censored versions of and the words they censor are ridiculous. That radio station is hardly a defender of free speech or artistic licence judging by all they do censor, except for the F word. I believe in this case the problem is more with the radio station in question than the particular song, keep in mind that the CBSC sanctioned the radio station itself and not the song as is being suggested in the media. Anyways if you want to read what other LGBT folks are saying about this, both for and against, check out xtra.ca coverage, some very complelling arguments are made on both sides.

  • Cathy Groves

    Personally, this action is totally wrong as we live in a free country where we don't have to listen to anything if we don't want to plus music is the one thing that is wonderful for many reasons and the above song I listened to many times while working, raising our children and growing older happily. Whatever reason would anyone have for thinking this song could change anyone's attitude into a negative note for all society… Only an idiot would feel this way!!!

  • LindaLou

    If you really want to get a song played, just ban it! Kids who have never heard of it are busily downloading and playing this great song. Way to go! Unintended consequences obviously an alien con cept to these morons….

  • Ray MacNeil

    This is government control gone mad. Someone wants a song to be barred from play because they don't like one of the words used in the song should be ignored and not accepted as a legitimate action. Nonsense! What a waste of tax dollars.

    • lenny

      No government and tax money involved, Ray.
      How about making a minimal effort to understand an issue before commenting on it?

    • http://my.opera.com/ZakMichigan/blog/ Jean Chicoine

      "The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC) is an independent, non-governmental organization created by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) to administer standards established by its members, Canada's private broadcasters. The Council's membership includes more than 730 private sector radio and television stations, specialty services and networks from across Canada, programming in English, French and third languages." http://www.cbsc.ca/english/index.php
      So, basically, the CBSC is a self-regulating body put in place by the Canadian private broadcasters to get the CRTC off their back.
      This being said, the decision regarding Money For Nothing is dumb, to say the least.

  • tundrabarone

    Disappointing …. that I must be told what I like or don't like. To be informed that I am supposed to be offended by this material is also way past the pale.

  • Poker Face

    I think the fact that a Dire Straits song has become a focal point of a rights debate is evidence enough that our society has done a good enough job already of protecting its basic human rights.

  • theintellectual

    not that i am necessarily disagreeing, but the CBSC isn't the government.

  • Tommie

    You have no idea what actually happened here, do you?

    Try being angry at the right people. Send some mail to the CBSC and tell them ysou,ll take it out on their advertisers. Then call your local station andtell them to quit the CBSC or you,ll call their sponsors directly.

  • theintellectual

    just a slight correction, the CBSC is privately owned and operated. no government involved, although i'm not saying i disagree with you.

  • West Newf

    3.8% of respondents have no taste in music!

  • Offended

    I find the CBSC and similar censorship bodies offensive.

    There…I've said it, now can we ban them?

  • Ed Gruberman

    I have been sending emails to the CBSC for the last week demanding that the N word be removed from all songs that use it. I don't really care if they do or not, but, it is to make a point. How can they possibly censor one song for one word spoken 2 times, when rap songs can say the N word throughout almost constantly?
    The change in Money for Nothing was in response to a complaint from one individual and they made the ruling on that one persons complaint. I am one person also, but so far I have heard NOTHING from them.
    WHAT BULLCRAP!

    • truenorth

      Ed…Go to Macleans ''Need to know '' Jan. 21, 2011….You will be pleased….

  • Dean

    it's ashame that 1 person can start such a fuss over a song .. and get the country in an uproar .. but yet we mention drunk driver up again on yet another charge making it his 15th .. we get no reaction.. just us at home watching the news saying shocking he should be locked up. or like when they took smoking out of clubs and smoking out of public places… i'm a smoker and i say take them off the shelf if we are being told where to smoke them… or my thoughts would blow all your minds so i will stop here… i was just saying.. if you don't like the thing you hear you have the option to change the station on the tv or radio ..

  • maribu

    I don't know what are you talking about. However, national anthem of Canada, I think it is the most boring song! a HAPPIER TUNE AND SOME MODERN LANGUAGE WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PERCEPTION.

  • Jack

    What does the CBSC have to say about the real, mortal threat to the rights of Gay Canadians and Canadian women, namely Muslim Immigration? Nothing? Oh, that's right, the immigration lobby has the right to stifle any serious discussion about this, sorry, I forgot.

  • MostlyCivil

    The immigration lobby? Why would they be harassing a bunch of private broadcasters?

    Oh, hold on, it's just come to me. You have no idea what you're talking about, do you? Now it makes sense.

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