"Money For Nothing" Banned ... Really?

One person can make a difference.

In the case of the Dire Strait's song "Money For Nothing," one person was all it took. Radio station CHOZ-FM in St. John's, Newfoundland played the album version of the song. Contained in the second verse are three uses of the word "faggot," and this offended one listener that happened to be a member of the LGBT community. After complaining to the radio station and receiving an unsatisfactory response, an additional complaint was registered with the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC). The CBSC is an organization comprised of broadcast industry professionals that monitor the standards of radio and television broadcasting in Canada. They look for the seven words you can never say on television and radio.

After careful consideration, the CBSC ruled "Money For Nothing" could not be broadcast over the Canadian airwaves. And predictably, the Canadian public went nuts. Cries of censorship went up almost immediately. The CBSC was inundated with emails and phone calls. At least two radio stations played "Money For Nothing" continuously for an hour in protest. It was the end of civilization as we know it.

At first glance, it would seem the CBSC decision was censorship and if not, at least bordering on censorship. In fact, the CBSC has no real power over what is broadcast in Canada. It can label things "not fit for Canadian airwaves," but it has no regulatory or legislative power. That hammer belongs to the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). The CBSC can recommend but it cannot enforce.

Plus, after reading the decision it is clear the CBSC neglected certain salient aspects of popular music. The first being context, which the Board claims does not apply to "Money For Nothing." The second is intent, and while the Board agrees that the use of the word "faggot" was not malicious or particularly nasty, it overlooks the circumstance in which the word is used. To smooth out the rough edges, the Board notes that "Money For Nothing" can be played in its edited version -- the version that was played on the radio when the song was initially released in 1987, the version most people have heard since then, and the same version included on Sultans of Swing, the Dire Straits greatest hits album released in 1998. 

So, while on the surface it appears the CBSC is censoring popular music in general and many arguments point to the use of other so-called objectionable words in other forms of popular music, and aside from the ridicule the decision has garnered from other parts of the world, there is no real damage done to Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler (the songwriter), "Money For Nothing," or popular music. Radio stations will continue to play the song, albeit in its edited version which was the one played initially, then the outrage will subside and the world will get back to what it was doing.

Chalk it up to bureaucracy trying to do the right thing.

And that is frightening.

The decision: http://www.cbsc.ca/english/decisions/2011/110112.php

Cross-posted at VideoJug: http://pages.videojug.com/pages/18118--Money-For-Nothing-Banned-Really-

The Best of 2010

A new year is upon us. Out with the old and a time for reflection. 2010 had its moments, although for me to pick, say, a top ten of anything would be difficult.

So, with that in mind and in no particular order, here's my list of ten things from 2010 that I think were memorable:

1. Kelly Sutherland wins his 11th Calgary Stampede chuckwagon race championship.
Kelly proves he really is the King.

2. Rosanne Cash, The List and John Fogerty, The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again.
Two albums of cover songs by two of my favourite artists. Once again the old ones do it best.

3. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo trilogy.
It has been a long time since a book or books captured my attention like Steig Larsson's trilogy. The second one in particular, The Girl Who Played With Fire, I found impossible to put down.

4. Halo: Reach and Call of Duty: Black Ops.
Two of the most anticipated video games of the year. Halo: Reach is a prequel to the Halo series. It's a good story on top of an exciting shooter game and finishes the series quite satisfactorily. Call of Duty: Black Ops also serves up a satisfying story. Setting these two games apart -- their online experience.

5. The United States of America.
Nothing is quite as entertaining as the U.S. Polarized to the extreme, American politics and the U.S. attitude toward religion made for some awe inspiring moments. John Boehner, Republican senator and newly elected Speaker of the House, thinks the U.S. has the best health care system in the world, advocates for tax cuts for the rich, and then cries about it. Sarah Palin makes up words and claims that because Shakespeare coined words and phrases then she should be able to as well. Senator John McCain remains wildly homophobic and opposes the repeal of the U.S. military's "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy regarding gays in the military, despite having a gay daughter. Crackpot christian ministers brand Islam evil and threaten to burn the Qu'ran along with protesting the building of a mosque in New York City at "Ground Zero," even though it is nowhere near "Ground Zero." Creationists build an amusement park in Kentucky based on Noah's ark in an effort to legitimize creationism and debunk evolution. Dancing With The Stars, 'nuff said. There's more but this is a short list.

6. The Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
This environmental disaster exposed British Petroleum, or BP as they now like to be called, as the charlatans they are. In interviews, former CEO Tony Hayward and current CEO Bob Dudley come across as out of touch and sociopathic, concerned more about their shareholders than the 29 people BP killed at its facilities and the millions of litres of oil that spewed into the Gulf of Mexico from the Deepwater Horizon drilling disaster.

7. The Beatles on iTunes.
Apple vs. Apple. Finally after years of legal wrangling over brand names, royalties, and cost, Apple Records and Apple Computers reach an agreement and Beatles' music is available for download. Praise the Fab Four and pass the iPad.

8. The Vancouver Winter Olympics.
Despite an ominous start brought on by the death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, the 2010 Winter Olympics is lauded as one of the most successful. Canada pulls off an amazing show gathering more gold medals in these games than ever before and proving the dominance of Canadian hockey.

9. The discovery of new life and the possibility of extra-terrestrial life.
Scientists discover bacteria that processes arsenic and a planet is discovered in the so-called "Goldilocks zone" of a distant star. The "Goldilocks zone" is the region of orbital space around a sun where it's not too cold and not too hot, in other words, just right for harbouring life. Maybe.

10. The election of Naheed Nenshi as mayor in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Nenshi is the first Indian and Muslim politician to be elected in ultra-conservative Alberta. Even surprising himself, Nenshi struck a chord with many people in Calgary handily beating rivals former city alderman Rick McIvor, "Dr. No" as he is known because of his predilection to vote no to new legislation and policy, and former news anchor Barb Higgins, whose only positive attribute was a nice smile. Nenshi's election made global headlines.

So, that is my list of memorable things in 2010. Now, with the onset of 2011, we can start all over again and hopefully not repeat the mistakes of the past. Personally, I'm looking forward to 2012. Don't forget the world will be ending then according to the Mayan calendar and everyone knows how accurate the Mayan calendar is. Plus, amazingly, it can predict the future. Where's Marty McFly when you need him?

Happy New Year and best wishes to everyone in 2011.

Cross-posted at VideoJug: http://pages.videojug.com/pages/17349-The-Best-of-2010