Kelowna

Edited version of censored song OK

A Grammy award winning song has been deemed unacceptable for radio play in Canada after a single person complained about it.



In a ruling released on Wednesday, the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council says the 1980s song Money for Nothing by the British rock band Dire Straits contravenes the human rights clauses of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' Code of Ethics and Equitable Portrayal Code.



The ruling stems from a complaint lodged last year by a radio listener in St. John's, Newfoundland. The listener took offense at the use of the word "faggot" in its lyrics.



The radio station, CHOZ-FM, argued that the song has been played countless times since its release and is an award winning song, but the council concluded that the word, even if once acceptable, has evolved to become unacceptable in most circumstances.



Kelowna's two rock stations, K96.3 and Power 104, have no problem with the council's decision.



K96.3 Program Director David Larson says "We do play the song and it's not a ban on the song. They've just asked radio stations to play the edited version which takes out the offensive word. It was written by Mark Knopfler and the whole song is kind of a parody and it's 'tongue in cheek' and I don't think that offense was intended, but I can see where offense might be taken".



Over at Power 104, Program Director Bob Mills agrees the use of the word can be inflammatory. "In this day and age, and given the climate of the world we live in, with bullying and name calling, we have to be sensitive."



The song has been on Power's play list for a long time, but Mills says they have used the edited version for years. "When we received word of the ruling we found that we haven't played the version with the word in it for quite some time and no one has ever phoned to complain."



While Mills and Larson both agree the decision is unique, they also feel it's not an over reaction by Big Brother.



"I think its part of living in Canada and understanding that where possible, we don't want to offend various groups. I'm comfortable with it, but I can see where some people might take the opposite view that their creativity is challenged." says Larson.



Meanwhile, the Okanagan Rainbow Coalition says they support the decision of the CBSC.



"Though we feel the controversy has been blown a bit out of proportion, the board is simply following its standards of barring other derogatory words and references from commercial airplay." says the Coalition executive in a statement emailed to Castanet.



"When the song was released in 1985 the word 'faggot' was unfortunately acceptable to many people. Highlighting that today these words are not allowed on public airwaves helps remind society in general that they are not acceptable and still hurtful to a community."



The Canadian Broadcast Standards 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.



The panel noted that Money for Nothing would be acceptable for broadcast if suitably edited.

