Songs Banned By The BBC

[Tedzed1]

I must say, I found this interesting, and there are a few that surprised me,
Did not expect to see "When I'm Cleaning Windows" – George Formby on the banned list.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_son...by_the_BBC

[Steve_P]

It's interesting to see what's banned and what isn't.

First, from 1969...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3Fa4lOQfbA

Interesting fact - Relax by Frankie Goes To Hollywood was banned on BBC radio, but not on TV.

During the first gulf war, this was but on the Banned list...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96MqgsGy-lk

Noel Coward's 'Don't Let's Be Beastly To The Germans' was banned and technically it still is. As is this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ao6ASltFrY

An interesting fact from 1970. The Kinks released a song called 'Lola' and had to change the lyrics, not because of the rather dodgy subject matter but the BBC couldn't advertise Coke on the air, so it was changed to 'Cherry Cola'.

Cheers,

Steve P.

[pwdrive]

I think they banned Wet Dream by Max Romeo as well.

Lawrence.

[Joe]

The other odd thing is the inconsistency of censorship. Shirley Bassey is allowed to sing "I'll be burning rubber you'll be kissing my arse" in Get this Party Started but the Pink version is changed to "Kissing my ends" and the same word was removed from Scouting for Girls "Heartbeat."

There's the famous case of Walk on the Wild Side slipping through yet the same word in the same context is cut from Lily Allen's Not Fair, along with most of the second verse.

Oddest of all was their treatment of Scissor Sisters' She's My Man. Before it was released as a single they were happy to play it as recorded but then, and ever since, switched to a version with the "Bastard" removed.

It's not just the BBC: Absolute Radio edit out the words "Drug-dealer" from Nickleback's Rockstar despite other questionable content therein.

- Joe

[Aerodyne]

The BBC banned Frankie Laine's version of 'Answer Me' circa 1953, I believe - Frankie sang 'Answer me, lord above' but other versions with the lyric changed to 'Answer me, O my love' were subsequently allowed.
Picky or what?
-Tony

[Steve_P]

And the internet has got that wrong. The version that was banned was by David Whitfield.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhr94uOdElU

Enjoy it all the same. It's a lovely song. On the B side of the 78 was a song called Dance Gypsy Dance.

Cheers,

Steve P.

[Skywave]

Re that list as in Post #1. There are a lot of songs in that list that for the life of me I cannot see why they were banned. Two examples: "Tell Laura I Love Her". What, exactly, could be considered offensive in that song? "Baby Let Me Follow You Down" (Bob Dylan): again, why? And why ban certain songs just because the Gulf War was on? Doesn't the BBC like reality? Regrettable as it is, wars do happen. (And they keeps BBC journalists employed ). Mind you, I don't have much time for the BBC and it's broadcasting policies anyway.

Al.

[Joe]

'Tell Laura I Love Her' was considered too maudlin. Desmond Carrington often plays records which still bear the "Not for Broadcast" labels.

As for the First Gulf War they just seemed desperate not to cause offence and went way too far. They weren't alone as the pop group Bomb the Bass temporarily renamed themselves The Bass.

- Joe

[Tedzed1]

Talking about songs that were banned or played during the war, who remembers this from
the time of the Falklands war, says it all really.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNG6anfVJbk

[Skywave]

'Tell Laura I Love Her' was considered too maudlin.
- Joe

I see; thanks Joe, I didn't know that.
So the BBC banned it from public broadcast because they considered it to be "too maudlin". Oh dear, oh dear: where is the validity in that criteria? My Chambers Concise Dictionary defines 'maudlin' as follows: foolishly lachrymose (shedding tears; tearful, giving to weeping; lugubrious - Chambers again), especially when in a fuddled, half-drunk state; weakly sentimental.
Now something that has strong - or even blatant - overtones of sexuality, violence, racism, extreme political views etc. I can understand the banning of. But "Oh my! This song is a bit maudlin, isn't it? We can't have our listeners becoming a bit depressed and maudlin, can we? Who knows what the country will come to if the masses hear this! Right - that's another one for the blue pencil!"
Talk about going way OTT; ridiculous.

Al.