# Music on radio now being censored **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 18, 2001, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-on-radio-now-being-censored/82390 "2001-09-18T15:00:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Chas.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Chas.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chas.E)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-on-radio-now-being-censored/82390/41 "2001-09-20T04:46:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RealityChuck \* > **Isn’t it simply a matter of good taste to refrain from playing songs that remind people of such terrible pain?** Sure, up to the point where you start banning antiwar songs like “Imagine” and “Peace Train.” Then it becomes a political propaganda activity. ---
**Author:** ![frock75](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ad7895/32.png) [@frock75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frock75)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-on-radio-now-being-censored/82390/42 "2001-09-20T05:03:23Z")
I think “Killing An Arab” by The Cure would be apropriate to censor, at the moment. Poor Robert, he must be killing himself for ever writing that song. It will be the mantra for these ass-hole racists that seem to be coming out of the woodwork lately. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-on-radio-now-being-censored/82390/43 "2001-09-20T05:23:03Z")
Look, isn’t it kind of silly to talk about “censorship” and “banning”? A radio station can play whatever the hell they want to. They could play nothing but Creedence Clearwater Revival, all day, every day, except for “Born On A Bayou” because the station manager once ate a bad scone and got sick while that song was playing and now he hates it. This company feels that their listeners would rather not hear songs about war, death, destruction, egyptians, airplanes, and God knows what else. Maybe they are right, maybe they are wrong, but so what? I mean, the stations are spoon feeding America crappy songs all day every day. That’s not censorship, that’s just poor taste. ---
**Author:** ![Junior\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Junior\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Junior_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-on-radio-now-being-censored/82390/44 "2001-09-20T05:26:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by frock75 \* > \*\*I think “Killing An Arab” by The Cure would be apropriate to censor, at the moment. Poor Robert, he must be killing himself for ever writing that song. It will be the mantra for these ass-hole racists that seem to be coming out of the woodwork lately. \*\* Especially seeing as it has absolutely nothing to do with the sort of nonsense people might think it does. Just because people don’t read anymore, does that mean songwriters have to only write in language that is completely clear, and doesn’t refer to any other work of art/book/movie/…? ---
**Author:** ![frock75](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ad7895/32.png) [@frock75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frock75)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-on-radio-now-being-censored/82390/45 "2001-09-20T05:34:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by HenrySpencer \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by frock75 \* > > \*\*I think “Killing An Arab” by The Cure would be apropriate to censor, at the moment. Poor Robert, he must be killing himself for ever writing that song. It will be the mantra for these ass-hole racists that seem to be coming out of the woodwork lately. \*\* > > Especially seeing as it has absolutely nothing to do with the sort of nonsense people might think it does. Just because people don’t read anymore, does that mean songwriters have to only write in language that is completely clear, and doesn’t refer to any other work of art/book/movie/…? \*\* Hmmmm…ok. Wasn’t implying that it WAS about what people might think it’s about. IIRC, a politician once tried to use Springsteen’s “Born In The USA” as his slogan. He obviously was preoccupied by the title. Just put the Cure song up there as a little aside from the OP. Please forgive any miscomunication…or don’t. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-on-radio-now-being-censored/82390/46 "2001-09-20T05:42:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by frock75 \* > \*\*I think “Killing An Arab” by The Cure would be apropriate to censor, at the moment. Poor Robert, he must be killing himself for ever writing that song. It will be the mantra for these ass-hole racists that seem to be coming out of the woodwork lately. \*\* Umm…do you think that means we can get the ass-holes to read Camus? ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-on-radio-now-being-censored/82390/47 "2001-09-20T12:28:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chas.E \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by RealityChuck \* > > **Isn’t it simply a matter of good taste to refrain from playing songs that remind people of such terrible pain?** > > Sure, up to the point where you start banning antiwar songs like “Imagine” and “Peace Train.” Then it becomes a political propaganda activity. \*\* 1. So what? Are private entities not allowed to engage in political propaganda? You certainly are exercising your right to over in GD. Why is Clear Channel not allowed to do the same – with their own radio stations, no less? 2. I would venture to guess that “Peace Train” is on the list because every time it is played, airplay royalties go to Yusef Islam. The same reason that 10,000 Maniacs (who I don’t think any reasoning person would categorize as either right-wing or pro-war) took it off of pressings of the _In My Tribe_ CD. 3. If any really wants so badly to hear these songs, I’m sure they can find them at their local music store. ---
**Author:** ![KellyM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@KellyM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyM)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-on-radio-now-being-censored/82390/48 "2001-09-20T12:40:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pldennison \* > **2. I would venture to guess that “Peace Train” is on the list because every time it is played, airplay royalties go to Yusef Islam.** So what? It’s not like everyone who becomes Muslim is an evil being. Do you have any credible evidence that Yusuf Islam supports terrorism? Or are you just tarring him with the same broad brush that [Frank Roque](http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/19/national/19HATE.html) used? ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-on-radio-now-being-censored/82390/49 "2001-09-20T12:59:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KellyM \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by pldennison \* > > **2. I would venture to guess that “Peace Train” is on the list because every time it is played, airplay royalties go to Yusef Islam.** > > So what? It’s not like everyone who becomes Muslim is an evil being. \*\* Wow, it’s a good thing I didn’t say that, then, huh? And that I was explaining Clear Channel’s reasoning and not my own, huh? Now, did you have a question for me, or were you just being contentious? ---
**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:** [September 20, 2001, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-on-radio-now-being-censored/82390/50 "2001-09-20T13:16:27Z")
> [@](#): > > Sure, up to the point where you start banning antiwar songs like “Imagine” and “Peace Train.” Then it becomes a political propaganda activity. By whose definition? Yours? Are you the sole arbiter of these things? I must have missed that memo. Any list of songs that might offend people is going to vary from person to person. I wouldn’t agree with all the songs on the list, but you wouldn’t agree with songs on my list. But they key is that this is just a temporary cessation, not an outright ban. “Peace Train,” as pointed out, has nothing to do with the subject of the song, and everything to do with the perception of the artist. (Somewhat incorrect – Stephens/Islam did call for the death of Rushbie, but has since recanted, saying he was too new to Islam to understand the ramifications. You may not believe that – it does seem to me that he realized he made a mistake and is rationalizing it – but the false perception is that he’s fully in agreement with the terrorists and that he shouldn’t receieve royalties or have his songs played). ---
**Author:** ![frock75](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ad7895/32.png) [@frock75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frock75)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-on-radio-now-being-censored/82390/51 "2001-09-20T15:27:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by betenoir \* > \*\* > Umm…do you think that means we can get the ass-holes to read Camus? \*\* I’m not sure what you are getting at. Is this because you think it absurd that people would warp something to their views. It happens. In fact there was a disclaimer on a Cure CD (forget which one) expressing the groups displeasure with certain misperceptions about the song. Call me dense, but I’m just not sure what you are talking about. The little I know of Camus (I asume you are speaking of Albert Camus) is that he is an existentialist; or by his own admission, an absurdist. Please explain. ---
**Author:** ![Amok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f17d59/32.png) [@Amok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amok)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-on-radio-now-being-censored/82390/52 "2001-09-20T20:46:39Z")
> [@](#): > > The little I know of Camus (I asume you are speaking of Albert Camus) is that he is an existentialist; or by his own admission, an absurdist. Please explain. I’ve never heard The Cure song being discussed, but I assume the title “Killing An Arab” is a literary allusion to Camus’s _The Stranger_ where the protagonist does, in fact, kill an Arab (though he does not kill the man specifically because the man is an Arab, that part of it is just happenstance). ---
**Author:** ![ReservoirDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@ReservoirDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReservoirDog)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-on-radio-now-being-censored/82390/53 "2001-09-20T21:53:49Z")
Who the hell listens to the radio anymore? ---
**Author:** ![frock75](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ad7895/32.png) [@frock75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frock75)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2001, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-on-radio-now-being-censored/82390/54 "2001-09-21T02:07:10Z")
Thanks Amok. ---
**Author:** ![Tanaqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Tanaqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanaqui)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2001, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-on-radio-now-being-censored/82390/55 "2001-09-24T05:31:09Z")
I’m not sure if I should feel insulted or pleased that almost every band I have ever loved has a song on that list. I would classify around 70% of them as songs I personally would say I enjoy. Thank God that whether that list is real or fake, I don’t have to worry about it. All the stations owned by Clearchannel here wouldn’t be caught dead playing a song like Intolerance by Tool, and my favorite radio station is independent. I have to wonder though - is this real or not? Even newspapers like the Christian Science Monitor which I would expect to have higher accuracy are reporting it as proven fact… I _hope_ it’s not, but given the incredibly PC-paranoid mood I’ve seen in the USA since the tragedy, I wouldn’t doubt it in the least. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2001, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-on-radio-now-being-censored/82390/56 "2001-09-24T07:27:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chas.E \* > \*\*Why yes, I have read the Salon articles. Appalling. > The song running through my head lately is “This Is Not America” by Bowie. \*\* Heh, I’m afraid of Americans would be appropriate as well. Erek ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2001, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-on-radio-now-being-censored/82390/57 "2001-09-24T07:30:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jane D’oh! \* > \*\*I am listening to an independent station out of Boston and I know they have played at least some of the songs on that list. Thank goodness! I really don’t agree with this over the top political correctness. > > While they have the right not to play certain songs, we have the right (now more than ever with live internet feeds from just about anywhere) to listen to something else. > Sheesh! what’s next, are they gonna ban “Johnny Got His Gun” from high school libraries? \*\* I’m surprised that “One” By Metallica wasn"t banned which is a song based upon johnny got his gun erek [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-on-radio-now-being-censored/82390.md?page=2)