# In a world where "Play that Funky Music" is censored... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 8, 2007, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-where-play-that-funky-music-is-censored/403228 "2007-05-08T13:20:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2007, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-where-play-that-funky-music-is-censored/403228/1 "2007-05-08T13:20:55Z")
…can “Brown Sugar” be far behind? I was listening to the oldies station ready to belt out “Play that funky music white boy!” when instead I hear Play that funky music Play that funky music Play that funky music right Play that funky music Play that funky music Play that funky music right :eek: What? And yet later that day they had no problem playing “Honky Cat”. What will it take to whitewash, er, clean up the oldies library? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2007, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-where-play-that-funky-music-is-censored/403228/2 "2007-05-08T13:21:46Z")
Maybe the chourus was too loud and you just didn’t hear it correctly. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2007, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-where-play-that-funky-music-is-censored/403228/3 "2007-05-08T13:35:18Z")
A station near me bleeps out the white boy part as well, which has to be a record for biggest delay between a songs release and its censoring. ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2007, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-where-play-that-funky-music-is-censored/403228/4 "2007-05-08T13:57:33Z")
It really irks me that different stations seem to randomly edit songs with seemingly no understanding of what they’re doing. “Play That Funky Music” edited really sounds dumb. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2007, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-where-play-that-funky-music-is-censored/403228/5 "2007-05-08T14:07:12Z")
[QUOTE=jali] It really irks me that different stations seem to randomly edit songs with seemingly no understanding of what they’re doing. “Play That Funky Music” edited really sounds dumb. [/QUOTE] And it doesn’t sound dumb unedited? :dubious: Evidently, someone somewhere (since the station is probably part of a conglomerate) complained, and they edited the song to avoid trouble. If other songs aren’t bleeped, it’s because no one complained. ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2007, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-where-play-that-funky-music-is-censored/403228/6 "2007-05-08T14:07:51Z")
Something new moves to the top of my “Stupidest Things I Ever Heard” list. “Niggas”, “hos” and “bitches” is okay (or was until a few weeks ago) but “white boy” is bad? No wonder Fox News gets such high ratings. The stupid people have the majority. ---
**Author:** ![Sweetums](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Sweetums](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sweetums)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2007, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-where-play-that-funky-music-is-censored/403228/7 "2007-05-08T14:08:12Z")
Okay, this is just too funny. The band “Wild cherry” is from Steubenville OH, where I live and work, and I work with a reletive of the lead singer. Upon reading this thread, I had to go tell him that his family’s legacy had been despoiled. ---
**Author:** ![Farmwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8dc957/32.png) [@Farmwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmwoman)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2007, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-where-play-that-funky-music-is-censored/403228/8 "2007-05-08T14:17:06Z")
This turns me a less pigmented shade of pale. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2007, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-where-play-that-funky-music-is-censored/403228/9 "2007-05-08T15:06:32Z")
What about my favorite Beatles record; is it it now The \_\_\_\_ Album? ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2007, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-where-play-that-funky-music-is-censored/403228/10 "2007-05-08T15:20:16Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] Evidently, someone somewhere (since the station is probably part of a conglomerate) complained, and they edited the song to avoid trouble. If other songs aren’t bleeped, it’s because no one complained. [/QUOTE] And there is the problem with modern namby-pambyism. If _one person_ complains that they are offended by something, it will be changed to meet their whims, despite the fact that the censored version will offend thousands more people. But if you complain about the censored version, will anything happen? Will it \_\_\_\_\_… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2007, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-where-play-that-funky-music-is-censored/403228/11 "2007-05-08T15:21:39Z")
[QUOTE=Sweetums] Okay, this is just too funny. The band “Wild cherry” is from Steubenville OH, where I live and work, and I work with a reletive of the lead singer. Upon reading this thread, I had to go tell him that his family’s legacy had been despoiled. [/QUOTE] I did not know that. Wild Cherry is from the same place as Dean Martin? I’d call that THE hotbed of American Music. (no, that’s not sarcasm) Cool, I’m jealous. ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2007, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-where-play-that-funky-music-is-censored/403228/12 "2007-05-08T15:25:09Z")
Wait till someone misinterprets the word “funky”. “Play that really good music \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.”… ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2007, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-where-play-that-funky-music-is-censored/403228/13 "2007-05-08T16:04:22Z")
What’s next? > [@](#): > > Woah, African-American Betty > bam-ba-lam > Woah, African-American Betty > bam-ba-lam ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2007, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-where-play-that-funky-music-is-censored/403228/14 "2007-05-08T16:08:44Z")
**jali** , what misinterpretation is going to be needed for ‘funky’ to get it to upset someone from the Offenderati? Isn’t it a word with serious racial connotations of it’s own? My understanding has been that it started as a derogatory description of “negro music.” Given that, the people who could be upset by the word are legion, I think. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2007, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-where-play-that-funky-music-is-censored/403228/15 "2007-05-08T16:10:29Z")
[QUOTE=Colophon] And there is the problem with modern namby-pambyism. If _one person_ complains that they are offended by something, it will be changed to meet their whims, despite the fact that the censored version will offend thousands more people. [/QUOTE] In radio, it has to do with the fact that the FCC can levy some pretty big fines if they decide you shouldn’t have played the song. It the nutcase complains to them, and they agree (and they’ve been pretty restrictive lately), you’re out so much money that it’s best to play it cautiously. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2007, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-where-play-that-funky-music-is-censored/403228/16 "2007-05-08T16:11:26Z")
Just another reason I have completely abandoned the radio as an option for my listening pleasure. All Hail the mp3 player ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2007, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-where-play-that-funky-music-is-censored/403228/17 "2007-05-08T16:22:41Z")
Jesus, this is just too fookie for words. ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2007, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-where-play-that-funky-music-is-censored/403228/18 "2007-05-08T16:26:35Z")
Soon we will hear James Brown singing, “Say it out loud! I’m \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ and I’m proud!” ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2007, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-where-play-that-funky-music-is-censored/403228/19 "2007-05-08T16:34:37Z")
[QUOTE=OtakuLoki] **jali** , what misinterpretation is going to be needed for ‘funky’ to get it to upset someone from the Offenderati? Isn’t it a word with serious racial connotations of it’s own? My understanding has been that it started as a derogatory description of “negro music.” Given that, the people who could be upset by the word are legion, I think. [/QUOTE] Wow. I didn’t know there were actual negative racial connotations. I remember James Brown, “..and it’s gots to be funky”. I remember “Do the Funky Chicken”. I remember Parliament Funkadelic and a host of bands playing “funk music”. I missed the whole negative vibe. I learn something here everyday, I meant hearing the work "fu\*\* instead of funk. ---
**Author:** ![Monstera\_deliciosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monstera_deliciosa/32/109_2.png) [@Monstera\_deliciosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstera_deliciosa)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2007, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-where-play-that-funky-music-is-censored/403228/20 "2007-05-08T16:38:58Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] …can “Brown Sugar” be far behind? I was listening to the oldies station ready to belt out “Play that funky music white boy!” when instead I hear Play that funky music Play that funky music Play that funky music right Play that funky music Play that funky music Play that funky music right :eek: What? And yet later that day they had no problem playing “Honky Cat”. What will it take to whitewash, er, clean up the oldies library? [/QUOTE] Actually, I am pretty sure that this is not new censorship. I think that the bowdlerized version of “Play that Funky Music” has been around for as long as the original. I’m pretty sure I heard it back when I was a teenager. [Cite](http://www.crapfromthepast.com/favorites/compilations/silvereagle/index.htm) Relevant quote from cite: > [@](#): > > This is DA BOMB. The first disco collection ever. It has a terrific version of Amii Stewart’s “Knock On Wood”, with a longer (and un-truncated) intro than any other CD copy I’ve run across. Plus, it has the censored version of Wild Cherry’s “Play That Funky Music”: there were promo copies of the 45 that went out, with the words “white boy” removed! The only places you can find the censored version on CD are here and on one of the Priority “Mega Hits Dance Classics” CDs - both of which are way out of print. I agree that it sucks, though. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-where-play-that-funky-music-is-censored/403228.md?page=2)