Censoring The Fairytale of New York.

After reading as many articles and opinions as possible, I’m summarising my thoughts on censoring The Fairytale of New York.

Sorry in advance if I’m not the kind of snow(flake) you wished for this Christmas.

Censoring The Fairytale of New York (specifically the word faggot) is not a new debate. And it’s certainly not one without blogs or articles already addressing it. If I’m being honest, the song never bothered me. But in the past weeks, what has bothered me is the dialogue around the debate. Specifically from straight people defending it.

My issue is not with the word faggot appearing in an 80’s Christmas tune. My issue is with those mocking or dismissing members of the LGBT community sharing how it makes them feel.

We don’t need to boycott a classic Christmas anthem. But don’t call yourself an ally to the LGBT community, while simultaneously celebrating a decision to use a word with a toxic and harmful history.

The Back Story

We all know it. It wouldn’t be a Christmas playlist without it. Everyone gets overly excited when it comes on. We relish in the chance to sing a Christmas classic that isn’t about perfect fireplaces or magical wonderlands. Let’s be real, Christmas can be as stressful as it is wonderful, and having a song that expresses that can be great fun.

But the fun stops when the words in that song alienates and hurts those in your company. For many, hearing one of the most aggressive homophobic slurs being sung jubilantly by a group of their peers really ruins the Christmas spirit.

So, before you roll your eyes and call someone a snowflake for the censoring The Fairytale of New York, picture yourself in their shoes. It’s not necessarily the word itself that hurts. But hearing the excitement of those they care about most as they sing it.

Fairytale of New York Context

That being said, let’s talk about the word faggot. During my research, I’ve come across three primary defences for the use of the word in the song.

1. It was written in a different era and should be considered in that context.

You’re right, it was. But the song was written and set in 1987 New York, amidst an AIDs epidemic. In America, by 1995 10% of men aged 25-44 who identified as gay had died. And homophobia and homophobic slurs such as faggot perpetuated the marginalisation of those already suffering the most. To argue that faggot wasn’t a homophobic slur at the time, is to deny the stories of gay men who were persecuted, died or survived that era.

2. The word is old Irish for ‘lazy’

Yes, technically you are also correct. There are two (and many more) definitions of the word across different cultures and countries. But as with any interpretation of language, does it really matter what the initial purpose of a word was? Should we not be more concerned with how it will be interpreted and the impact is has when its heard sung aloud in 2018. And even at the time of writing, faggot was used in Ireland to also dehumanise and insult gay men.

3. The LGBT community reclaimed it

Correct once again, three points, ding, ding, ding! So, here’s my next question… are you a member of the LGBT community? My gay friend told me the song doesn’t offend them and that by the gay community reclaiming the word, it takes the power from those who used it as a slur. We did it with queer and dyke and black people did it with the N word. But using a word with an oppressive and hateful history, when you don’t belong to a community isn’t reclaiming. Its reinforcing the power structure that we’re trying to dismantle.

The History of Music Censorship

I am not well versed in the world of music censorship. And I can’t speak to the intricacies of balancing freedom of expression with protecting the public from offensive language. So, here’s what I’ve found from the experts and the artists themselves.

  • In 2007, The BBC censored the song but after backlash, reversed their decision again.
  • Earlier this week, the Pogues songwriter Shane MacGowan released a statement explaining there was no homophobic intention behind the song at the time of writing. “She is not supposed to be a nice person… she is down on her luck and desperate”. However, he goes on to say that he didn’t want to cause conflict and was therefore “absolutely fine with them bleeping the word.”
  • The singer of the verse, Kirsty MacColl, never recorded an officially censored version before she died. But she did remove it from her live performance on Top of the Pops in 1992.
  • In a recent study, Ofcom (the UK’s communications regulator) surveyed the public and found faggot to be among the most unacceptable of offensive words. Words only ranked as ‘medium’ on the Ofcom scale (mild-medium-strong-strongest)[shit/fuck etc] are commonly edited and beeped without criticism. Therefore, when faggot is ranked at ‘strongest’ we shouldn’t be so quick to mock those who call for the censoring Fairytale of New York.

All in all, I can see why radio stations or artists have chosen to keep the word there. It wasn’t written in malice and since a radio edit isn’t physically possible now, some don’t want to mess with an artist’s work.

And to be honest, that’s not where I have an issue. As I’ve said, what upset me this week was people’s reaction to the debate around censoring The Fairytale of New York. Not the song itself.

Public reactions to the censorship of The Fairytale of New York

If you aren’t hurt by a word, it doesn’t give you the right to tell others they shouldn’t be either.

The issue with censoring The Fairytale of New York is not what version a radio plays. It’s about how you react to their choice.

The problem is not the word itself, but the intent behind it. At the time of writing, the word faggot held hurtful and hateful intentions, but the intent of the song writers was not to be hurtful or hateful to listeners, merely to portray a story line of an arguing couple.

In the same way, I would ask you to consider your intent behind celebrating the radio’s decision against censoring The Fairytale of New York.

Do you genuinely care that deeply about music censorship?

Or are you annoyed that someone has made you uncomfortable by calling out something you never had to think about before?

What gives you the right to decide that a word that was never used to hurt you or your community is no longer offensive?

In the same way I would never use the ‘n’ word as a white person. And in the same way I limit my use of the phrase ‘guys’ because it leaves some women and non-binary people feeling excluded. If you do not identify as LGBTQ+, please respect those of the community when they tell you that it hurts them to hear you scream it. And more specifically, it hurts them to hear you celebrate those not censoring it.

My Conclusion

By all means, continue to enjoy the catchy tune and unique angle on what is generally a family friendly genre of music. But please stop and think before blasting out that one verse at twice the volume of the rest of the song. Who are you benefiting?

In writing this, I’ve tried to read and absorb as many opinions as possible. And on the whole, those defending the song aren’t those who are at risk of being hurt by it. Whether you agree with what I have said or not, I would urge you to read and speak to the LGBT people in your life, before being upset that someone has asked you to avoid singing a homophobic slur.

There are so many Christmas songs out there, can’t you inconvenience yourself by skipping 2 syllables?

For those who choose to edit it out, thank you for being mindful. For those who choose to keep it in, I respect your decision to not edit a late artist’s lyrics.

And for those listening to it, enjoy it for what it is. But don’t call yourself an ally to the LGBT community while simultaneously mocking those asking for censorship and celebrating a decision not to.

Thank you & Merry Christmas to all those who celebrate.

Footnote:

I am only one person with one point of view, I don’t speak on behalf of the whole LGBT community. If you are from the LGBT community and would like to add your thoughts, I will update the blog with those as I receive them. (If you are not directly related to music production, censorship or the LGBT community, please recognise that respectfully your opinion isn’t what counts here.)

Some of the many references that I read to compose this:
My Other LGBT Issues Blogs

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