Writing songs for the Canadian market? Mind your language!
It is important not to cause offense these days, particularly when in some jurisdictions it is the person who is being offended who decides whether or not an offense has been caused.
Words can offend, there is no doubt of that, and most of us wouldn't dream of using certain words that are widely held as being offensive.
But words can change in their meanings, and the threshold of offensiveness changes over time.
So certain words that could have been used at one time may not be permissible now. Whether it is their meaning or their degree of offensiveness that has changed would be open for debate in individual cases.
So here's the song...
Cover your ears around 1.48, 1.56 and 2.00.
Well I'm not going to repeat the word here and get banned in Canada too, but I can tell you from a close and detailed reading of Wikipedia that it means a bundle of sticks and that no-one really knows why it has become a word that could cause offense.
However that isn't the point. If it is used as an offensive word, then it is offensive. I think that is reasonable to say.
What is unreasonable though is the banning of this song, or at least this verse, from the airwaves.
This song is unusual in that the lyrics are written in first person. And it is not the singer Mark Knopfler who is telling the story, it is a character he has invented.
So if the character is the person who is prone to the use of offensive language, then it is a feature of the art that is this song.
But according to the logic of the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council, you can't create fictional characters who use offensive language and incorporate their words into a song. Well you can, but it won't be broadcast.
Oh by the way, here's another song on the same topic. Once again the performers are singing in character. Cover your ears at 2.12...
Legend has it that when Shane MacGowan and Kirsty MacColl performed the song on Top of the Pops, as shown above, in December 1987, the BBC insisted that the word 'arse' should be replaced by 'ass', which in the UK means nothing other than a donkey. The other word remained. How times change...
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David Mellor
David Mellor is CEO and Course Director of Audio Masterclass. David has designed courses in audio education and training since 1986 and is the publisher and principal writer of Adventures In Audio.
@ec1516: That guitar riff at the beginning... FIRE!
@Multiranger88: I could listen to this on repeat for hours 😛
@janua09: ❤❤❤❤😊
@chipwhitley9407: 4D Sports Boxing
@grayclaw1391: A classic song
@tiborkis4617: 1.50mp Elsõ Emelet klippje Magyarországról❤
@ArnaudSpitz: Bonjour aujourd'hui 175 178 249 vues le 10 août 2026 et vive les femmes surtout ma Caroline ❤❤❤ et il faut absolument inviter Alexandre pasteur de France Télévisions et Paul seixas Jean Luc Reichmann pour un dîner de cons ils sont champions du monde 😅😅😅 hier anniversaire Whitney Houston 😢❤❤❤😢 bisous 😘😘😘
@BlackOutFireWall: Első Emelet a klipben!🤘🇭🇺🇭🇺🇭🇺
@МихаилАмосов-д6л: Modern crap from modern “musicians” gets more likes than this video has views..... I’m ashamed of people....
@garagehonor: 창의력 향상은 될 듯 ㅋㅋㅋ
@tomtommerson6320: "That little what?"😳
@MacCready_: Contender for best song ever.
@harrychattaway1556: 😂😂😂😂😂 yall heard it too and im surprised the song is still so popular today 😂
@HamzaOmar-z6g: This number is just on its own
@Maria-j5o7n: 😉😊🤩😘
@peterpumpkineatr69: lol he wants his mtv
@raytracer2651: Lemme tell ya, them guys ain't dumb.
@mount_Matterhorn: 1:50 THE LITTLE WHAT???
@Ziggysgarden: In between clean up song at the Carlton celebrity room in Bloomington Mn!! Brings back great memories!!
@josorr: I shoulda learned to play the guitar...
@RaquelSiles-c2n6e: Facto de sabado
@michelangelope830: TO END RELIGION. Atheism is a logical fallacy that assumes God is the religious idea of the creator of the creation to conclude wrongly no creator exists because a particular idea of God doesn’t exist. If religion is false doesn’t make atheism true. Emergency!!!!!
@EnochHorus replies to @michelangelope830: Get a life.
@GLO-NAUTTP: MTV Entertainment Studios (2021-2025; 2026-present)
@michaelgranville1733: Whos here in 2026 after the goodyear commercial?
@albamarquesfores6290: So cool
@m2consensus802: Who else Still listening in Aug, 2026 ?
@EricBrandt-r7p: Anthem for my generation! Great time to be alive in the 1980’s….fall of the Berlin Wall….We had opportunities and FREEDOM!
@EnochHorus replies to @EricBrandt-r7p: Yeah look how the fall of communism went? ETERNAL DICTATORSHIP IN RUSSIA PUTIN!
@gatinpeladinmiau: Funny and satisfy we got😂
@John_colander: No that's a new word I haven't heard on the radio version😅
@twindaddy05: I'm here for the original lyrics because that's how the song was written. Tired of hearing the cut version.
@EnochHorus replies to @twindaddy05: Wtf are you talking about?
@twindaddy05 replies to @twindaddy05: @EnochHorus How could you be so clueless to not know WTF I'm talking about? I'll 'splain it for you. Most radio stations play a censored version that excludes the second verse because this offensive masterpiece contains what they consider to be a derogatory slang term for a gay person.
@abzzy1010: One of the best rock intros of all time
@EnochHorus replies to @abzzy1010: Master musicians
@abzzy1010 replies to @abzzy1010: @EnochHorusI don’t know what that means
@abzzy1010 replies to @abzzy1010: @EnochHorusI was referencing a 24 year old radio show
@StevenM-o7q9z: Gets me right in the mood to go out and buy a new TV
@rodrigojaramillo367: 40 years ago
@EnochHorus replies to @rodrigojaramillo367: 40 yrs ago it was better than today.
@Steve-i4f5f: Best eq track off All time . Maaan the sound Is ooooffff
@glasssawsslipperstraws7410: As a CGI nerd I love this music video so much. It's a great example of styling CGI characters how that ages alot better than trying to be realistic. People still make low poly characters in 3d animation because it's just really charming.
@EnochHorus replies to @glasssawsslipperstraws7410: You do realize its actually real hand made anime
@carlosernestoaguirreruiz7319: ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
@LJ_nowandalways: You play the guitar on the MTV.
@MajorGarlic: 1:49 James Charles
@kevinricardolopez-i5q: August 2026 someone?
@RobertCates-fl9hc replies to @kevinricardolopez-i5q: My all time favorite musician. College roommate and I listened to this song before was out. When that slamming guitar riff hot at the beginning we knew we would no longer be the only Dire Staits fans on Lubbock Texas.
@jeepmilitia2361 replies to @kevinricardolopez-i5q: Freakin Rocks! Saw it on MTV way back then. Played it a zillion times with different bands, never gets old!
@joaquinvargas6711 replies to @kevinricardolopez-i5q: 😎
@ТеодорЕфремов-д4ъ replies to @kevinricardolopez-i5q: ❤
@JH14FAN replies to @kevinricardolopez-i5q: Me
@chasemorello8969: 🍿🥤📺🍜🧟♂️🧟♀️🧟🗽💳🧾
@BloodyKnives66: The guys that made the computer animation of this video made "Reboot" a show I watched as a kid.
@bribrigogon6906: Baby quiero queso roñoso🗣🗣🗣
@RamTam-xy5en: C64 & atari time...
@Hoopfan83: They had roblox and mine craft back then too
@Lightingwolf6585: I want my I want my m16!!!!!
@МаринаЧижова-о7я: The story behind this composition is that the musicians overheard a conversation between ordinary working-class men, and it became the basis for the song.
@simonebei5492: Open guitar riff is outstanding
@ApulSuxx: 2:47 PCM
@carlomattacchioni4594: Fatta da Sting per i dire straits
@patriciacropley4204: Look at them yoyos .😂😂😂😂😂❤🎉🎉🎉 Legendary song wooosh loveiti 🎉❤🎉❤
@Praetorian-ps9st: Still one of the best intros ever...
@479ShootingStars: I'd let my kitties end me... That's not a good survival instinct.
@ScottKrueger-r1l: If you can get past being offended by everything this song has amazing social commentary. Also second fave video from the Golden Age after Sabotage
@KingoftheProfane: everyone talks about the guitar riff and drums, but they never mention the dog noises.
@davefruge7064: Mark Knopfler was in an appliance store watching a guy staring at a bunch of TVs all showing MTV when the man scoffed and said, That ain’t working. That’s the way you do it. Money for nothing and your chicks for free. They’re getting paid to play guitars. Mark asked for a pad and paper, wrote the man’s words down exactly and turned it into this monster hit, set to one of the first videos to feature computer animation. It was issued on their masterpiece, Brothers In Arms, the first album in history recorded in digital for the brand new medium, CD. Salespeople were using the CD to demonstrate the crystal clear sound to customers.
@PatrickWebb-c5w: Ironically working in a machine shop whilst this plays out! Hyfr perfect song
@Christian-p4p6e: 38k downvotes' probably Trump idiots
@Arkaine197 replies to @Christian-p4p6e: Ehm, you listened to the second verse right? It's not Trump guys downvoting this.
@BloodyKnives66 replies to @Christian-p4p6e: Bro, you serious? You got Trump living in your head, grabbing your brain by the 🐈 Get off the internet and touch grass, turn the TV off, ditch the phone. Your TDS isn't healthy
@BloodyKnives66 replies to @Christian-p4p6e: @Arkaine197 right 1:51 the chronically offended are the ones disliking
@Christian-p4p6e replies to @Christian-p4p6e: @BloodyKnives66 Tsd isn't a thing, it's just normal are you?
@fernandoa.rojasf.4554: 0:34
@GFromTheLou_502: Vito's joke brought me here.
@Arkaine197 replies to @GFromTheLou_502: Isn't Vito that Cho-mo from the Juju the cow podcast?
@shrimpfry880: this guitar riff is how i could best describe what thc does to your nervous system
@geremypelleran8487: Sting singing the “I want my MTV”
@maxkarlsson-lh6hk: You play your guitar on the MTV 🎸🎶
@stevekem1347: Did mark ever give credit to the future MAGA's name
@Clarableu: That’s the way you do it, you play the guitar on the MTV 😜
@rainman4835: im i the only one who going to point-out the fact that there saying "the word "faggot" alot? i still like the song
@Strykerx31 replies to @rainman4835: hey ,and hes a millionaire with his own jet air plane.
@BloodyKnives66 replies to @rainman4835: Who cares? This song is almost 16 years old
@rainman4835 replies to @rainman4835: @BloodyKnives66 this song is from the 80s
@DravenLeeWarlock: That drum riff is up there with "Hot for Teacher"
@nightrider7567: Every time I listen to this song, I get a testosterone boost
@ElaineDavis-t6d: Love this makes me feel young again
@merabkemularia1205: 02.08.26
@Nulomir: Still better animation than most of today's CGI slop
@thealchemistofshambala: Fun fact.
The first voice you hear is Sting.
@LangLogan: Green eyes were weird af 😅love it
@mevenstien: 🎼🎶✨️🙂✨️🎶🎼
@Smiley1973-r2c: Party time back in 80’s!! The band in my hometown was called ‘ Straight Shot’. They were awesome ❤❤❤ miss you guys.
@futbolstar10: Super song ❤
@tonycarson4162: God Bless Darrell !!
@danreder8985: This song reminds me of GRAND THEFT AUTO VICE CITY. I loved you could work the radio when you were in cars or switch to the tape deck which was the music on your Xbox
@giakos: Mtv europe.
@CHIPNDEATH: 2020 - 2026 music Suck Balls,,, nothing beat the 1980's..
@MonicaLlaurado-x4u: Mi cancion para limpieza a fondo💪🤘😂
@BlackCoat999: Learned today that the creators of Reboot animated this music video
@StathisMist: Cant beat that riff man
@bj1991-k1q: 45 years since those famous words: #IWantMyMTV
@SongbirdCarolV: Happy 45th to the launch of MTV — August 1, 1981! 🎶📼👩🏻🎤🤘🏻🎸 #IWantMyMTV
@jklassrb8: August 1 1981 the debut of M-TV🎸
@la-1982: It is so old, but new comments keep coming everyday! Amazing! 🤩
@onmoog-xycs: 2:24 MOOVA MOOVA...
@rossmennie4903: I love this old MuchMusic version. It’s from a time before everything got too fancy! It is also the original lyrics, not the censored lyrics that I’ve seen from other Knebworth! Videos!
@elena_soloveva: 😛
@DanielDalhoff-r2g: Sting también está ahí
@kristinehatkinson7323: Maybe the best video ever-- I didn't have a microwave until '81! But this video, not until later than '78? Looks like taken from the later "Brothers in Arms" album...
Fantabulous!
@joaquinvera4945: Pensar que la vocalización al principio es sting!!!
@Ramiz112: The fact that this songs lyrics are just a conversation Mark Knopfler overheard in an appliance store in NY between some hating, pissed off, jealous employees watching MTV is HILARIOUS.
@Аллада444: ❤❤❤
@israelbautista2291: I miss my MTV!!😢
@maxplayz-t7c: My dad knows. The best songs in the world
@maxplayz-t7c: 😅 best. Guitarist ever
@brentwilson2264: Same people who did the CGI on this did it for the fake moon landing 😂😂
@black-sun-enterprises: Come to think of it, we've been stealing Terry's plutonium a lot lately.....
Cause I just used more from the flourine plasma prism hand enrichment
In northeastern siberia
And it was DEFINITELY Terry's again
It seems he's involved with a lot more plutonium, than I had initially thought
He seems to have found copious natural deposits of it
As have I
And its somehow Gymnastics themed
:)
@ScottNowlin-s2m7i replies to @black-sun-enterprises: WOW TIM DID YOU PUT PLUTONIUM IN HOWELL FOWLERVILLES FRESH WATER AQUIFER
@ScottNowlin-s2m7i replies to @black-sun-enterprises: WOW TIM DID YOU CONTAMINATE THE FRESH WATER AQUIFER WITH PLUTONIUM