You cheap lousy **BEEP*

Given that in Ireland, the Pogues/Kirsty MacColl's Fairytale of New York is unavoidable around Christmas, this story about BBC Radio 1 censoring the song caught my attention. It brings to mind a documentary I saw about the song on RTE a few years back where Phil Coulter and Ronan Keating collaborated on a cover version that changed the offending lyrics with rather pathetic and soulless end results.


Now, I don't want to jump on the "political correctness gone mad" bandwagon. There are unfortunately two many opportunities to do so nowadays and especially at this time of year (see the crib advertisement debate in Ireland which is actually more ridiculous). But I have to wonder at the thinking of those within the BBC who make these sort of decisions.

They must surely know that they are going to be drowned in criticism and will have to endure a deluge of accusations of "political correctness gone mad". It is especially curious given that recent Wikipedia edits from within the Corporation would indicate that the Beeb is somewhat sensitive to accusations of over zealous political correctness (see this article in the Independent).

But then again, maybe they like the criticism, and much like their old nemesis, Alex Ferguson, are aiming to cultivate somewhat of a siege mentality after what has been a tough year. One never knows with the BBC.