Though the song is a Christmas classic, the lyrics may offend some listeners, said a BBC spokesman.
BBC Radio 1 announced that they would play an edited version of Fairytale of New York due to modern audiences. The song has lately been a subject of immense criticism for its controversial lyrics. Kirsty MacColl and Shane MacGowan were the singers of the original version, which was released in 1987.
Radio 2 will continue to play the same version in 2020, while Radio 1 will play a new version sung by MacColl. However, 6 Music DJs said they would play both the versions and the listeners can choose according to their taste.
The young and modern individuals have raised a lot of questions on the homophobic language of song.
They deplored the defamatory lyrics describing sexuality. Radio 1 respected the sentiments of critics and decided to change it. The song had become a staple of the Christmas soundtrack, and it always ends up in ‘National Top 20’ since 2005.
Earlier in 2007, the lines narrating the exchange of insult between a heroin addict and a drunkard were censored by Radio 1.
The decision was reversed because the listeners didn’t support the censorship. Andy Parfitt was the then controller of Radio 1, and he defended the reversal of the decision by giving the edge of creative freedom. He said the audience is smart enough to understand that there is no malicious intent behind it.
MacColl has sung the censored version of the original track in 1992. She died eight years later in a boat accident at the age of 41. MacColl replaced the F-word slur with, “You’re cheap, and you’re haggard.”
The new version also does not have one of the lines in the second verse sung by Shane MacGowan.
We’ve seen some tremendous classic UK songs rephrased or banned this year due to the modern audience’s disapproval.
Songs like ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ and ‘Rule Britannia’ were dropped from the list in September. However, some people didn’t cherish the decision, and they condemned banning a long-valued tradition; thus, the song eventually returned.