the differences in censoring songs on television / radio...

this topic has always had me wondering

why do different music outlets censor songs differently???

have you ever experienced this

if so, please share some information (what song it was / what parts were censored / etc)...

it seems to me that words that referring to guns / ammunition / drugs are not censored as much on radio stations / television that air mainly rap (as opposed to other stations / programs that may censor them completely)...

why is this???

one example that i can think of is the song "come around," from artist "collie buddz" (wikipedia)...

the chorus of the song is "finally the herbs come around"

here are the lyrics:

linky...

as you can probably tell, this song is all about drugs (but this is not what we are discussing here)...

i have heard this song on "black entertainment television" (wikipedia)...

in their censored version, the chorus is changed to "finally them things come around"...

on the radio ("hot 97" / "power 105") the chorus is not altered (it remains "finally the herbs come around")...

i am fascinated as to why certain songs are censored in different ways...

if an ATSer could answer this social issue question, i would be very pleased...

thanks...

Don't know if I can answer, but I have some input.

On the radio or TV, most of the time, the word "bitch" is censored out in rap songs. Yet, when that one white female singer (have no idea what her name is) came out with the song that goes "I'm a bitch, I'm a liar, blah blah blah", radio AND TV let the "bitch" go uncensored.

OK. Now, I have noticed that TV censors more than the radio, in general (speaking for rap, as that's all I listen to/watch these days). For example, in "Zoom," Yung Joc says "And if they have a problem, tell em jump like Kris Kross." This is a nice simile referencing the 90s hip hop group Kris Kross, but for some reason, BET censors out the group's name; the radio doesn't.

Apparently, TV believes that it's ok to torture people (24, Threat Matrix), show dead bodies (Law and Order, Cops, The Practice, CSI whatever, etc.), show fake murders (The Shield, various soap operas, 24, Law and Order, etc), real murders (Cops, the news, Forensic Files, America's Most Wanted, etc)...BUT it's not right to have songs talk about these things. Though, as humans, what we SEE is more influential than what we HEAR, this is the standard.

I forgot movies, but that's another subject. Somehow, hearing about these type of things in music like rap is worse than seeing these things on TV/in movies. Makes sense to you?

NOT ME...

If you call yourself something. "I'm a Bleep.." would have killed the song. But I have noticed that they pretty much bleep out or just have empty air most of the rap songs. I remember getting an old Cypress Hill CD at walmart and throwing it away because they took so much out.

[edit on 21-2-2007 by Royal76]

I feel very strongly against censorship, and I feel it is insulting to the author, artist, etc., who spent their time trying to create the product. Look to parrhesia's signature and you will find one of the greatest quotes ever.

"Censorship is like telling a man he can't have a steak, because a baby can't chew it"
-Mark Twain

If you don't want to hear the lyrical content of certain songs, or different sexually explicit content on television, then change the damn channel. Oh the children, somebody think of the children! Technology has made it quite easy to block out certain channels on the television, so that is a weak excuse at best. Prime time television seems to be getting more lenient with what they will permit, and frankly, I rejoice over it. The Showcase network is "television without borders". Hell, after midnight they have all out porn airing over their waves. Not that it interests me, but I fail to see why we need to censor it.

Is it necessary to curse or show naked bodies to make a good product? No. But should we air a product over the waves in any form other than it was originally created? No.

I refuse to watch movies on cable television. If I see that it has been edited in any way, I will not watch it. If they curse in it, I want to see it. If they show a naked body, I want to see it. Why? Because that is how the creators intended it. I respect their work, and their efforts, to appreciate the product in the manner it was intended to be.

This nonsense they put Eminem through in the late 90's and shortly after 2000 was absolutely ridiculous. Were his lyrics over the top? Certainly. But if you don't like it, don't listen to it! Man it frustrates me when I hear of people speaking out against a product that they do not like, and spewing this crap that it should not be given a spot on television or radio. Really, who are we to determine what others are permitted to watch or listen to?

Certain movies and music are given standards where children of certain ages can not legally purchase it on their own. This is going to prevent an 8 year old child from walking into HMV and buying an Eminem CD. What is the problem then? The problem is that mommy and daddy are to lazy to watch what little Johnny is doing while on the computer. Little Johnny can run off to a P2P file sharing program and download whatever he chooses. Once mommy and daddy come across what Johnny has done, they are outraged at the artist for putting out this content.

I hope that we completely abolish all censorship in the future. If ABC wants to show a movie during Prime Time, pick one that is appropriate. Do not take one that you deem "inappropriate" and try to change it to suit what you feel the audience wants. It is disrespectful to the artist.


[edit on 21-2-2007 by chissler]

Originally posted by truthseeka
Don't know if I can answer, but I have some input.

i enjoyed your input

Originally posted by Royal76
I remember getting an old Cypress Hill CD at walmart and throwing it away because they took so much out.

why would you buy an edited cd

Originally posted by chissler
I feel very strongly against censorship, and I feel it is insulting to the author, artist, etc., who spent their time trying to create the product. Look to parrhesia's signature and you will find one of the greatest quotes ever.

"Censorship is like telling a man he can't have a steak, because a baby can't chew it"
-Mark Twain

i have seen that quote in her signature in the past...

i really like it