Dire Straits' 'Money for Nothing' Ruled Too Offensive in Canada

[JamesG]

Dire Straits' "Money for Nothing" Ruled Too Offensive In Canada
Jan 13, 2011
by Gina DiNunno


Dire Straits' "Money for Nothing" can no longer be played in Canada in its original form since the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council has deemed the song offensive.

The decision stems from a listener's complaint last year calling the lyrics — which contain the word "f----t" — extremely offensive to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.



The song, which has been a classic rock staple for 25 years, earned the band a Grammy for best rock performance. The then state-of-the-art computer-animation video was also the first music video to air on MTV Europe.




"Money for Nothing" -- co-written by Mark Knopfler and Sting — will have to be edited or cannot air, the council ruled.

The council said: "The societal values at issue a quarter-century later have shifted and the broadcast of the song in 2010 must reflect those values, rather than those of 1985."

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Dire-Str...y-1027642.aspx

[Zoneboy]

Took them long enough, that song has long been edited for radio airplay in the U.S.

[AKA]

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

Took them long enough, that song has long been edited for radio airplay in the U.S.

Many stations still play the unedited version, though, complete with epithet.

Maybe they can replace the word with "slave."

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by AKA

Many stations still play the unedited version, though, complete with epithet.

I obviously can't listen to every station but I certainly don't doubt this at all. The stations I listen to in this area skip the verse entirely. They also seen to think that "Money for Nothing", "Walk of Life" and "Sultans of Swing" are the only 3 songs the band ever recorded.

[AKA]

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

I obviously can't listen to every station but I certainly don't doubt this at all. The stations I listen to in this area skip the verse entirely.

Yeah. It probably depends on the corporate ownership of the station. A lot of the same stations will also play songs like Pink Floyd's "Money" or Steve Miller Band's "Jet Airliner" uncensored.

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by AKA

Yeah. It probably depends on the corporate ownership of the station. A lot of the same stations will also play songs like Pink Floyd's "Money" or Steve Miller Band's "Jet Airliner" uncensored.

You're right, both are edited on one station I listen to and unedited on another.

[MrCleveland]

The 80's seem to be more laid-back than now! ****** is basically another word for *******, and the song is supposed to be a knock-off of MTV.

Ironically...Knopfler of Dire Straits played guitar on the Weird Al parody "Beverly Hillbillies" which is in the film "UHF".

[catlover79]

I was just going to say, hasn't "Money For Nothing" ruffled feathers since it was first released in 1985??

[AKA]

Originally Posted by catlover79

I was just going to say, hasn't "Money For Nothing" ruffled feathers since it was first released in 1985??

It has! And because of that, Knopfler altered the lyrics during live performances as early as 1985, such as this one from Live Aid.



In defense of Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits: while I don't condone the use of that word, the song is sung "in character" from the point-of-view of a working class guy who... well, has to install microwave ovens.

[LUNCH]

It did not ruffle that many feathers in the mid 80s because MTV(back when they actually showed music videos and no commercials)usually played the song un-edited.

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by AKA

It has! And because of that, Knopfler altered the lyrics during live performances as early as 1985, such as this one from Live Aid.



In defense of Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits: while I don't condone the use of that word, the song is sung "in character" from the point-of-view of a working class guy who... well, has to install microwave ovens.

Thanks for clarifying, Brad!!

[D-Dey]

Originally Posted by AKA

Yeah. It probably depends on the corporate ownership of the station. A lot of the same stations will also play songs like Pink Floyd's "Money" or Steve Miller Band's "Jet Airliner" uncensored.

More accuratley it's the format of the station rather than the corporate ownership. Album Oriented Rock stations are more willing to allow uncensored versions of songs, but not as much as college radio.

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by D-Dey

More accuratley it's the format of the station rather than the corporate ownership.

Sorry but that's incorrect, Corporate ownership has alot to do with it. I listen to 2 classic rock stations in my area, one plays the uncensored versions of the following songs:

Life in the Fast Lane
Jet Airliner
Money
Who Are You

Etc...

The other station airs the censored versions. In fact, any song that has been censored is usually played in it's original intended form on the the first.

[dakert]

I live in Hicksville aka Altoona PA so naturally they play the uncensored version

I have heard these songs for years but I never knew they were offensive? What am I missing?

Life in the Fast Lane
Jet Airliner
Money
Who Are You

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by dakert

I live in Hicksville aka Altoona PA so naturally they play the uncensored version

I have heard these songs for years but I never knew they were offensive? What am I missing?

Life in the Fast Lane
Jet Airliner
Money
Who Are You

Life in the Fast Lane (We've been up and down this highway, haven't seen a goddamn thing)

Jet Airliner (Funky **** going down in the city)

Money (Don't give me that do goody good bull****)

Who are you (Who the **** are you?)