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.
@realalbertan: The creators of the Animation moved to Vancouver in the 90s & created the show ReBoot that was on YTV and syndicated globally
@mysterym6757: I don't get it. Isn't the riff supposed to sound good?
@Ryan-sb1uf: This song fโing sucks!!!
@lologin-n4o: Very grateful cool music!๐
@stormygreene3518: ๐ช๐น
@stormygreene3518 replies to @stormygreene3518: Very anti mind control. Tell em SAโs!! ๐น๐๐ช๐ซฐ๐ซต
@Man64Nu: Cette intro !!! ๐คช
@matthewknierim1609: Just a great song
@andrewhall7930: The bass line (isolated) and the guitar line (isolated) don't really sound like they would go together, (but they both are incredible.) But when they are together they fit one another so splendidly. The interplay between the 2 tracks is incredible. If you can: Just focus on the guitar and bass and shut everything else out. It's amazing.
@HAVEAGREATDAYize: A big shout out to Sting
@Chris-f4n5r: I just read the story of how Mark was inspired to write these lyrics as he stood in an appliance store, and tried to hide behind stacked boxes of tvs n stereos as he penned lyrics of what he was witnessing and hearing the delivery men say to 1 another.
I love how Mark loves to take an otherwise mundane everyday event and create a song.
@APoleYouKnow: Me: Hey dad. Did you see who's on the Bud Light can again?
Dad: 1:49
@DuckGold-c2e: Analia
@sanchaysrimf: This song is one of the best rock songs I have ever heard
@GrUmPyPuNcH: Why would a church that married me be fine with me deploying?
@GrUmPyPuNcH: Yee haw 5k a month because publisher clearing said.
@GrUmPyPuNcH: Elephant in room how well do they know my kids.
@GrUmPyPuNcH: By law there is an excuse absence from work or school.? Deploying someone. Where were they?
@GrUmPyPuNcH replies to @GrUmPyPuNcH: And upon returning
@GrUmPyPuNcH: Whatโs with the sharing mattress government?
@GrUmPyPuNcH replies to @GrUmPyPuNcH: Inhumane and harassment
@GrUmPyPuNcH replies to @GrUmPyPuNcH: Bunks are unsafe. Get rid of it.
@GrUmPyPuNcH replies to @GrUmPyPuNcH: Inappropriate. To share bed
@GrUmPyPuNcH replies to @GrUmPyPuNcH: Sexual harassment
@GrUmPyPuNcH: My kids had no censorship online. Idiots. She said.
@GrUmPyPuNcH: Get it Hoyte ๐
@GrUmPyPuNcH replies to @GrUmPyPuNcH: My lord
@GrUmPyPuNcH: So if you donโt feel good. Nobody ask how you going daily. Boy that sure is something.
@GrUmPyPuNcH: Review continues. Talk it over before wide spread panic. Huh? ๐
@GrUmPyPuNcH: No better term for an object a check for an inmate? Called pipes. No other term?
@GrUmPyPuNcH replies to @GrUmPyPuNcH: 6of9 Borg
@PastoClaudeir-j9j: ๐D I R E S T R A I T S๐
@MarkoPizeta-i9c: Now
@biffgate-ii7od: ้ใงๅฝผใฏๆปใฃใฆใใชใๅฝผๅฅณใฏๆปใใพใใ
@biffgate-ii7od: ใพใใใใใใชใใฎใงใใใไปๆนใชใใงใใญ
@VeeSmith-g4h: Finally i would ask people and nobody knew about this video lol
@biffgate-ii7od: ้ณๆฅฝใฏๆฅฝใใใ
@biffgate-ii7od: ๆๅใจใ ใใฃใผใใผๅใใใ๏ผ
@biffgate-ii7od: ใ ใใใในใใฌใคใ
@NJE95: If this song was released today it would talk about streamers
@adamcheck4941: The way this song goes I seriously doubt they use the word f*ggot to refer to homosexuals, it seems to me in the context of the song they are referring to talent-less to sellout whores who much like Bill Hicks complained about are only rich and famous from doing commercials and sealing shit like microwave ovens and newfangled color televisions.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tp4l7eASeOk
@derpysnakemusic3676 replies to @adamcheck4941: It's probably more being jealous of rockstars as a worker
@kayotik: hoover mover
@Gaetano.94: I used to hate this song but my best friend who was murdered 3 years ago loved this song when we were growing up and would play the guitar riff at the beginning so perfectly. Miss and love you Zach.
@mstozsto4756: chickens for free?
@biffgate-ii7od: digital
@MisterTamohawk: oh wow Jr High aka Mid school for the new gens...1985-1988
@commacommacomma4901: Damn you Ricky Gervais
@matthewsmith5374: 0:35
@920Trading: It's so great to hear the original song!
@bert50: Timeless.
@rocklookalike: The little what the earring and the mink coat?๐
@stantonthorne: Who's here in 2054? This song is AI generated now
@easycooking95: I remember old school days where they would put this song between school intervals ๐
@Otakugamerretro: 0:35 esa parte se me puso la piel de gallina con ese sonido de la guitarra
@appledinger1121: For nothing
@conradvx: Ryan how many views are you responsible for
@leonardolee6947: La mejor intro de bateria de todos los tiempos.
@firage_bzz: This song is the best wake up alarm ever
@MyTV-n3j: Now look at them yo-yos, that's the way you do it
You play the guitar on the MTV
That ain't workin', that's the way you do it
Money for nothin' and your chicks for free
Now that ain't workin', that's the way you do it
Lemme tell ya, them guys ain't dumb
Maybe get a blister on your little finger
Maybe get a blister on your thumb
We got to install microwave ovens, custom kitchen deliveries
We got to move these refrigerators, we got to move these color TVs
See the little faggot with the earring and the make up
Yeah, buddy, that's his own hair
That little faggot got his own jet airplane
That little faggot, he's a millionaire
We got to install microwave ovens, custom kitchen deliveries
We got to move these refrigerators, we gotta move these color TVs
We got to install microwave ovens, custom kitchen deliveries
We got to move these refrigerators, we got to move these color TVs
Looky here, look out
I shoulda learned to play the guitar
I shoulda learned to play them drums
Look at that mama, she got it stickin' in the camera man
We could have some
And he's up there, what's that?
Hawaiian noises?
Bangin' on the bongos like a chimpanzee
That ain't workin', that's the way you do it
Get your money for nothin', get your chicks for free
We got to install microwave ovens, custom kitchen deliveries
We got to move these refrigerators, we gotta move these color TVs
Listen here
Now that ain't workin' that's the way you do it
You play the guitar on the MTV
That ain't workin', that's the way you do it
Money for nothin' and your chicks for free
Money for nothin', chicks for free
Get your money for nothin' and your chicks for free
Ooh, money for nothin', chicks for free
Money for nothin', chicks for free (money, money, money)
Money for nothin', chicks for free
Get your money for nothin', get your chicks for free
Get your money for nothin' and the chicks for free
Get your money for nothin' and the chicks for free
Look at that, look at that
Get your money for nothin' (I want my, I want my)
Chicks for free (I want my MTV)
Money for nothin', chicks for free (I want my, I want my, I want my MTV)
Get your money for nothin' (I want my, I want my)
And the chicks for free (I want my MTV)
Get your money for nothin' (I want my, I want my)
And the chicks for free (I want my MTV)
Easy, easy money for nothin' (I want my, I want my)
Easy, easy chicks for free (I want my MTV)
Easy, easy money for nothin' (I want my, I want my)
Chicks for free (I want my MTV)
That ain't workin'
Money for nothing, chicks for free
Money for nothing, chicks for free
@bubblegumKUSH: Can anyone explain the fucking comments about splooge?
@bubblegumKUSH: This prob is the greatest rock n roll ever got
@bubblegumKUSH: Only as an adult do I realize that my parents are fucking badass for
Playing this banger every fucking night on blast on those speakers that were like 6 feet tallโฆthe second verse is fucking legend
@mattialemma: ๐ฅนโฅ๏ธ
@DJDiggityDubstep: This song is the biggest flex
@LachimbaQuinker: What about open drumming???
@facundoschlotthauer7555: Bro, dont put the intro in 0.25% if you dont want to get traumatized
@bugz7149: Electrifying goosebumps everytime
@coldstonestunners: Socialists theme song
@jeremydlc4004: 0:35
@opalpersonal: everyone in the comments apparently talking about a northernlion bit when i was brought here by vinesauce. ๐
still so genius to write a song about how jealous some "working-class" people get of rockstar types. laugh at yourself first, that way you'll never be caught off-guard being the butt of the joke.
@ultimateo621: Just busted to this so I can be more like my favorite streamer
@TonysMusic2009: Thank you for The Song , That Shows that "Money" is "Not Valuable for everything". I'm Tony From BKK-Thailand@30-6-2025
@comandantecavt1201: Baby quiero queso roรฑoso. 1:28
@EdDeeb: If you're an Egyptian millennial, there is NO CHANCE you won't recognize this guitar opening.
ู ูุงูู ูุทุฑุงุฆู ุฌูุงู ุนูุงู
@NadiraDutt-w2f7p: I WANT MY MTV
@Redando-j8z: ๐คฉ๐ฌ๐ง๐ธ๐น๐
@kofgrep: The music amazing, but lyrics a little odd ๐
@CarlosSanchez-l2y: Carlos Javier from Honduras C.A.
@DuckGold-c2e: Me bench
@ninolather: Baby quiero queso roรฑoso
@MagnoFelipe_MauMau: MTV โค
@EfthemiaNicolaou: We gotta listen to Dire Straights.๐
@CrystalClearWith8BE: Who is celebrating 40 years of this unofficial MTV anthem? Despicable Me 3 brought me here because of Balthazar Bratt's defeat as Gru stole his weapon during the "Into the Groove" dance fight and did the "Money for Nothing" guitar riff towards him.
@bigboy4006: I want my MTV!
@LiamRavencaller-n9r: Beavis and butthead intro
@Sharpester-m4o: It is quite interesting how this helped lead to the ReBoot concept.
@josephvalles1353: All hail the working man
@KatalinEffetti: Geil
@ryguy37gd: Best guitar riff ever?
@joaquinlabarthe2544: Vertigo teledoce
@simonray9999: The computer graphics were cutting edge at the time
@SuaveG310: probably Dire Straights Biggest 80โs hit sincerely i think this is bigger than โWalk of lifeโ which incorporated to much Pop and new Wave๐ค๐ป
@irekkur3210: Pieprzona wtyczka od wzmacniacza ,,,,
@mastrofnone8025: With just 2 notes in and you know what's coming.
@mastrofnone8025: I've listened to a LOT of guitar riffs in 70+ years and this one is the most unique of them all. Millions of them could be leads for a lot of songs. But not this riff. It OWNS the song. Neither could be separated from the other
@neilbriffa7211: Sting Vocals awesome
@salehalshukri7422: ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ rock and roll baby
@markw3598: When i listen to this song, so do my neighbors, and they LOVE it!!!!!!!!!
@Anjoya777: The real lyrics to this song is not on Spotify. Booooo!!!!
@EricBouge-g8n: Retour vers le futur 2025 vers 1980 โค๐๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ 1:43
@LuzaAgudelo: Money
@tomasm2128: best song, worst video
@apexpredator2404: Looks like the middle east found oil again ๐๐๐๐
@midasaizen3720: The graphics are so real ๐๐๐
@peterpede6601: hard censorship right here .... was it the commies? ... or the nazies? ... no ... ...............................it was that there is right now
@EricBouge-g8n replies to @peterpede6601: Parle moi ou explique moi si tu veux en franรงais ou en allemand je ne comprends pas pourquoi tu me dis que je suis pas lร pour toi. โค๐ข๐๐โค๐
@EricBouge-g8n replies to @peterpede6601: Money for nothinh๐
@EricBouge-g8n replies to @peterpede6601: Gelf fur niemand. De l argent pour personne. ๐ข๐ฎ๐
@peterpede6601: AAAAAYYYYY ... what the fuck is going on?
@peterpede6601: NIBBA NIBBA... PLEASE AI MY SHIT JOB, BACK TO YOU