Lines in the classic Christmas anthem Fairytale of New York have long been the subject of criticism for including slurs and insults which are widely considered to be…
The original version of Fairytale of New York by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl will not be played on BBC Radio 1 this Christmas, over concerns that the classic seasonal tune could offend some listeners. According to the station, young listeners could be uniquely sensitive to the derogatory language used to describe gender and sexuality in the song. Instead, an edited version with different lyrics sung by MacColl will be played. Radio 2 will continue to play the 1987 original and 6 Music DJs will have the option of choosing between two versions. While the song has become a staple of the UK’s Christmas soundtrack – reaching the national top 20 every year since 2005 – Radio 1 said unfamiliar younger audiences might not approve of the song’s homophobic language. The modern version changes two lines including one where MacColl sings “You’re cheap and you’re haggard” instead of the original F-word slur.
