Dire Straits Song 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada Over Lyric

These days, music censorship isn't just for young rap artists.

Citing what it deems the inappropriate use of a gay slur in the lyrics of the song "Money for Nothing," the 1985 hit by the band Dire Straits, the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council has officially banned the tune from being played on Canadian radio.

The song, which depicts churlish musings of a fictitious working-class character who is unimpressed with the lifestyle of then popular rock groups such as Dire Straits, contains the following passage, which is delivered in character.

See the little faggot with the earring and the makeup
Yeah, buddy, that's his own hair
That little faggot got his own jet airplane
That little faggot he's a millionaire

The word in question was not deleted when MTV kept the video in heavy rotation nearly three decades ago, and the CBSC said it would allow the song to be played if the portions deemed offensive were deleted or bleeped out, CTV reported.

Twitter users, meanwhile, were a tad incredulous at the thought that a song that might well qualify as an oldie was suddenly running afoul of revisionist censors.

After 25 years, is this timely or completely missing the point?Dire Straits tune too offensive for radio http://t.co/E1kIcgcless than a minute ago via Tweet ButtonMatthew Brooks
UberBrooks

Okay, I see I'm not the only one calling Dire Straits the new Huck Finn...less than a minute ago via webDavid Papineau
misterpaps

1 of my fav. songs of all time, Dire Straits' "Money For Nothing" is now banned in Canada? Thank God it took me 25 years to get sick of it!less than a minute ago via webGeorge Antypas
GeorgeAntypas