Canada censors Dire Strait song over one word

Seriously? Censorship in Canada of a song because of the lyrics? What kind of stupid BS is that?

What's next?

Censor Dire Straits song: broadcast panel

The 1980s song Money for Nothing by the British rock band Dire Straits has been deemed unacceptable for play on Canadian radio.

In a ruling released Wednesday, the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council says the song contravenes the human rights clauses of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' Code of Ethics and Equitable Portrayal Code.

The council is an independent, non-governmental group created to administer standards established by its members, Canada's private broadcasters. Its membership includes more than 700 private radio and TV stations across the country.

How can they even censor a song? This ain't constitutional. What kind of uptight bunch of scumbag start censoring songs because of a word? Seriously? Political correctness should go back where it comes from... Soviet Russia.

Here in the States, I don't' remember the last time I've heard the song say the words "That little f----- has his own jet airplane. That little f----- is a millionaire."

So they took out those entire sentences. It must be years, or decades since I've heard it on air with those lyrics.

But Dire Straights isn't alone

Nirvana's Rape Me was censored into Hate Me for radio.

I'm not going to make a big list, but it does happen a lot.

reply to post by Vitchilo


For the most part Canadians more and more are tolerant and excepting of our citizens. Insighting hate with derogatory comments such as "faggot" are not necessary. I hear people use "fag" to express frustration so much that now it pretty much amuses me. We call ourselves civilized yet still act like bigots from the 60's.

"In the modern West, according to major studies, 2% to 13% of the population are homosexual. A 2006 study suggested that 20% of the population anonymously reported some homosexual feelings, although relatively few participants in the study identified themselves as homosexual."

en.wikipedia.org...

That's a lot of people that would be offended by the phrase, so why have it? just live and let live.

reply to post by PsychNurse


What about they just let live the song? People need to stop being so serious about everything and think everything is aimed at them.

It's a freaking song, man up and stop crying.

Censorship is only for the fascists countries.

This is the kind of stupidity that goverments are famous for.
All it boils down to is one douche bag was offended and had to power to impose this at the time.
Its the type of petty bull crap we canadians have come to expect from our arse lickin goverment appointees who really run the show just below cabinet level, with assistant ministers who have too much power and too little constructive to do.
When this is regularly coiced on the television, the wriiten word, and live on stage.
Why on earth they decide to ban it from the air is rather moot point.
Why dont they get off their fat butts and tackle something usefull?

reply to post by Vitchilo


Guess you have to be Canadian then ehh? Can't you see it hurts people, causing useless animosity!? What is the point? I guess for the homophobics it makes them feel better about themselves. but hey maybe it's like getting defensive when you get caught doing something wrong. Maybe people just like to speak trash to mask their own homosexual thoughts.

reply to post by PsychNurse

Guess you have to be Canadian then ehh? Can't you see it hurts people, causing useless animosity!?

I bet it also made Hitler rise to power and kill all the jews uh?

Seriously are you kidding? A song is causing animosity? It hurts people? Are you for real? You've GOT to be joking.

Its funny you did this thread, as I was just checking vthe songs banned by bbc radio 1 here in the uk the other day.

en.wikipedia.org...

I was surprised how many songs were banned during the first gulf war. was pre internet though and radio had more impact in them days, so maybe thats why.

reply to post by Vitchilo


Not the song... the word. But if it doesn't effect you, you don't care, right. Where in the heck did you get Hitler from all of this? Way off topic...

Really nothing more to say than to listen to Dire Straits in the privacy of my home, content that the government is out there fighting the good fight.

i love dire straits- knopfler is incredible. i have their greatest hits album and the entire verse with
'faggot" is deleted.
but yet pink floyds "lost for words" from the division bell they don't sensor. "they tell me to please go f**k myself-you know you just can't win"
they even play that on the radio
and the who's "who are you?" he drops the f bomb at least 3xs in that song but it's not censored.
kind of hypocritical if you ask me.
there are many songs that don't get censored for "vulgar" words but many that do

Isn't great to live is a SCOCIALIST country where the Gummit knows better and does everything to keep you safe...Wow....Thank you Mr Big Brother for making sure my ears evert such words and assuring me tat you know best for me. The constitution and bill of rights that you so joyfully trample and spit on is only words and phrases written to empower me against oppression from a higher power. It's a good thing that we are on the same side Mr- Big Brother because I swear, the more you take care of me the more I feel punished and sent to my room, the more I feel like my god given rights are taken away. But noooo...I'm sure that can not be it, I mean...We elected you, we made sure that our democratic system survived and enabled us to vote for the lesser evil or vote for the other guy, we are so fortunate, we get to vote against who we don't want and end up with the only choice left....Imagine if you were working together in a plot to achieve just that ???....LOL...I know...I know...Impossible...I'm delusional....I'm so happy my Gummit is always there, always ready to make sure I'm safe....

( note the sarcasm please! )

I don't think some of you know what you are talking about. It is not very often that they actually censor a song because of lyrical content. Most of the time they just tell radio stations they have to play the edited version during the day, or when children might hear it. That is the same version all US stations play (excluding satellite), because of the FCC. There is a radio station I listen to out of Edmonton, 100.3 The Bear, quite often the F word pops up along with any other word that the original recording had.

Canada is not the US, we have quite different rules when it comes to what is on TV or radio. Hell, the CBC is largest purveyor of porn up here. Our stations have no problem showing people naked after 10PM, and the only time stuff is blurred or barred out is when it has been sent up from the States, because your government has decided that naked people is just too much for you.

Originally posted by satron
Here in the States, I don't' remember the last time I've heard the song say the words "That little f----- has his own jet airplane. That little f----- is a millionaire."

So they took out those entire sentences. It must be years, or decades since I've heard it on air with those lyrics.

But Dire Straights isn't alone

Nirvana's Rape Me was censored into Hate Me for radio.

I'm not going to make a big list, but it does happen a lot.

edit on 13-1-2011 by satron because: extra points

I have never heard the song when they did censor it. In the market I listen to though the rock songs are rarely censored, the pop stations will censor songs though. I have never thought about the reasoning though, perhaps the main demographic of the station comes into consideration.

Censorship or not, Mark Knopfler plays one mean guitar.
I've always loved that song, with Sting singing the intro 'I want my MTV' to the tune of the Police song 'Don't Stand So Close to Me.'

This tune is a classic! Why Canada? Why?

Originally posted by youdidntseeme

Originally posted by satron
Here in the States, I don't' remember the last time I've heard the song say the words "That little f----- has his own jet airplane. That little f----- is a millionaire."

So they took out those entire sentences. It must be years, or decades since I've heard it on air with those lyrics.

But Dire Straights isn't alone

Nirvana's Rape Me was censored into Hate Me for radio.

I'm not going to make a big list, but it does happen a lot.

edit on 13-1-2011 by satron because: extra points

I have never heard the song when they did censor it. In the market I listen to though the rock songs are rarely censored, the pop stations will censor songs though. I have never thought about the reasoning though, perhaps the main demographic of the station comes into consideration.

Censorship or not, Mark Knopfler plays one mean guitar.
I've always loved that song, with Sting singing the intro 'I want my MTV' to the tune of the Police song 'Don't Stand So Close to Me.'

I haven't heard swear words since the Janet Jackson/Justin Timberlake fiasco during the Super Bowl, and the FCC took a stronger stance towards indecency. I thought this was nationwide.

reply to post by Vitchilo


I'm guessing they don't play "Teen Wolf" by their superstar Michael J. Fox on the tele either?

Scott Howard (Fox): "I've got something to tell you"

Styles: "You're not fa* are you?"

Howard (Fox): "No, I'm not a fa*.

And I'm most definately sure that "Blazing Saddles" is out of the question with every other word being ni**er too.

Canadians sure are going to miss out on a lot just because of some offensive words.

reply to post by satron


The Philly market, mainly WMMR and WYSP rarely censor unless the word is very overt.

Perhaps they do more so than before and I'm just not noticing, but I'm pretty sure I heard Eddie Vedder mumble the lines "seemed a harmless little f***' only yesterday.

But then again, who really knows whet Eddir is singing about...
Great live though!

reply to post by Vitchilo


They could have just shortened the word by removing the "got" and then it could be interpreted as a cigarette - at least in Britain, eh?

Hmmm Apparently it's not just Canada. (I take that back, I guess Canada isn't playing the edited version either?? Confusing.)

I had the album (Brothers in Arms on tape, woohoo!) and of course the lyrics were there back then. However, I haven't heard that version in a loooong time. Hell, even limewire had the edited version. I'm sure it's available somewhere for download, but it isn't the common version of the song anymore.