In a move that's sure to stoke classic rock fans, the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council has lifted the ban on Dire Straits' 1985 hit "Money For Nothing," leaving the decision to play or not to play the song up to individual radio stations.
The council faced opposition from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission and music fans last January when the organization lifted the tune for its use of a homosexual slur. But the CBC now reports that a review the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council released today (August 31) still has the board firmly stating its position that the lyric is offensive, but needs to be taken in context.
While the original, unedited version is now allowed to be back on the air, it's noted that an alternate version omitting the word "faggot" is also available to Canadian broadcasters.
Many felt that the questionable content was delivered satirically and not maliciously, with singer Mark Knopfler's narrator in the song criticizing the music industry, including people like Dire Straits.
The song originally came under fire when a listener of CHOZ-FM in St. John's complained about the slur.
The council faced opposition from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission and music fans last January when the organization lifted the tune for its use of a homosexual slur. But the CBC now reports that a review the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council released today (August 31) still has the board firmly stating its position that the lyric is offensive, but needs to be taken in context.
While the original, unedited version is now allowed to be back on the air, it's noted that an alternate version omitting the word "faggot" is also available to Canadian broadcasters.
Many felt that the questionable content was delivered satirically and not maliciously, with singer Mark Knopfler's narrator in the song criticizing the music industry, including people like Dire Straits.
The song originally came under fire when a listener of CHOZ-FM in St. John's complained about the slur.
