Censored songs

TeleCat

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I'm listening to the local classic rock station and The Kinks Apeman is playing. There is a line in there about "the air polution is a ****in' up my eyes". They let it play without censoring it. Same for the Who's Who Are You. Daltry screams "who the **** are you" throughout the song and it's never censored. Yet Tom Petty's You Don't Know How It Feels has the "smoke another joint" line censored. And Pearl Jam's Jeremy has the line "harmless little ****" bleeped out. I want to know, is the FCC oblivious to some songs? Can they get away with it if it's obscured in the tune. Don't get me wrong nothing offends me but there seems to be some inconsistancies here.
 

Music Wench

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Okay, as one who finds the FCC to be an incredible PIA - thank goodness they don't regulate the internet...yet....

The censoring of recorded material isn't FCC policy as much as it's individual radio station policy. At least that's what it was back in the olden days when I was in radio. You know, the 80s. LOL If it's recorded it's considered "art" and doesn't have to be censored. Individual radio stations have different policies. Some censor just to keep the complainers off their backs. Others probably realize most people listening to them don't care if it's censored or not. And of course these days, talking about smoking joints and all that is probably not politically correct.
 

Gearjammer

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I have noticed that too. Another one is Steve Millers Jet Airliner. Actually, I wish the FCC would lighten up. I hate censored songs. I think we all hear and/or use these words on a daily basis, and yes, in fornt of our own, and others kids. I don't think it hurts anyone if sheet or fook slips by every now and then.
 

TeleCat

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Music Wench said:
Okay, as one who finds the FCC to be an incredible PIA - thank goodness they don't regulate the internet...yet....

The censoring of recorded material isn't FCC policy as much as it's individual radio station policy. At least that's what it was back in the olden days when I was in radio. You know, the 80s. LOL If it's recorded it's considered "art" and doesn't have to be censored. Individual radio stations have different policies. Some censor just to keep the complainers off their backs. Others probably realize most people listening to them don't care if it's censored or not. And of course these days, talking about smoking joints and all that is probably not politically correct.

Thanks MW. I had no idea it was an in house policy left up to the station. The Devil Went Down to Georgia is another one that comes to mind. I remember the top 40 stations played the "son of a gun" version and the AOR stations left in the naughty word. :D
 

Music Wench

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Yea, I remember when I was working in radio and it was explained to me that Roger Daltrey could sing "Who the f*ck are you?" But I couldn't. At least not without fines and all that nonsense. I thought...okay....so....that makes no sense. But then I never was fond of most FCC rules - especially in my younger days.
 

Gearjammer

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I din't realize that was the case, as far as what could be said. I find that interesting because of something I heard on the local radio a few years back. I had a local station on on a Sunday night. They used would do a lot of Dead, and other material that wasn't real mainstream. Anyway, this nite I am listening, and not only did they do Zappa's Ta ta's and Beer, they did another song of his, I don't know the name of, but had a woman, in the throws of passion, saying how she was fooking his brief case, she was fooking it just for him. I was kind of blown away to hear this on the radio, and wondered how it ever got on. Ms. Wench's explanation sheds lots o new light.

I am sure though, particularly the larger, corporate stations, get very nervous when they hear anything off color, in the wake of Howard Stern and Janet Jackson, and how the FCC handles those situations. It seems broadcasters are now afraid to fart without worrying about repercusions.
 

Annnnnna

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Ok that is soo wierd i live in New Zealand and nothing is censored here unless it is said at someone directly like f*ck john smith or wateva
 

Zombeels

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As for the Kinks Apeman the lyric sheet says "Foggin up my mind" There is really some debate over as to what he is actually saying. It does sound like he is saying "Fu*kin' up my mind"
 

Magic

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I am against censorship of artists. Whether it be vocal sensorship or visual sensorship. Creative expression should never be sensored. We do have a constitution which is suppose to protect our right to creative expression and freedom of speech. And as far as under age viewers and listeners go, let the parents be the judge of what their children see and hear. I am totally against any governing agency telling people what is decent.
 

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