Earlier, I wondered at the thinking of those at BBC Radio One who decided to censor some of the more provocative and colorful lyrics in Fairytale of New York
After the reversal of that decision, I feel like theorizing/speculating.
Perhaps the person(s) in question had money on the Pogues classic being this years Christmas number one and correctly reasoned that their decision to censor the song would provoke a flurry of criticism and publicity. This attention would instigate a popular movement with sufficient momentum to propel the single to number one, ahead of the X-Factor person (thereby getting one over on ITV) or at least bring the odds down so that they could close out the bet in profit (if they used betfair).
But thats mere speculation on my part.
Got on a lucky one
Came in eighteen to one
Ive got a feeling
This years for me and you
Showing posts with label The Pogues. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Pogues. Show all posts
Tuesday, 18 December 2007
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.
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.
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