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.
@internetquickie: Coming here from the rabbit hole that LTT/Reboot:ReWind opened about the animators behind the CG work. I've heard that guitar riff and seen clips of this video thousands of times growing up with MTV in the background but not really stopping to watch the whole thing until now. Knowing how limited the machines they had were and the complications they had... (a lightning struck their building during part of rendering!) Just blows my mind all over again!
@DanaMárquezLucio: Esto es una joya, este video marcó mi infancia. Te amo Dire Straits.❤
@MCELVAINE6996: I Still Want My MTV
@aussiek67: The drums & guitar riff at the beginning are legendary!! Absolute beast of a song!! Defined alot of music after it!!
@MicaelGrover: TO ALL: KYLIE AND I WILL BE TAKING 100 NEW HOUNDS FOR THEEEE LOW PRICE OF ONE 1️⃣ BILLION EUROS 💶!!!!
JESUS
@MicaelGrover replies to @MicaelGrover: TO MY NEW FAM? ANYMORE QUESTIONS? LOVE ❤️ YOU ALL, TOO!!!!
JESUS
@MicaelGrover replies to @MicaelGrover: TO ALL POTENTIAL NEW HOUNDS: YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO LEAVE A 100 MILLION EURO 💵 NON REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT. I WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR FAILURE, SO PLEASE DO NOT WASTE MY TIME! THE FIRST ONE HUNDRED TO SEND KYLIE 100 MILLION WILL BE PUT ON THEEEE LIST!!!
JESUS
@etacrif: cool fact the dude who is singing the chorus is sting ;)
@atabatobatagaming: 3:30 and 3:40🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣💀💀💀💀💀💀
@IBeezeIChurgerI: The intro is the best part. Why is it cut short?
@PSLcrawlers: Dave was WAAAY BETTER THAN WHATS HIS FACE .
@Paradoxial-Cortex74124hf: every time I hear a marine in halo go "thats the way to do it!" I always get reminded of this song. Its THAT good.
@IXSerif: look at them yo-yos
@danschool7969: Anyone ever notice that this video was made at he height of cathode ray tube tv's which were huge in size but small in screen but that is a large flat screen?
@josemauriciooliveiraoliveira: Juntos em2026paz eluz em nossos corações ❤
@新田弘子-f9b: よく歌いました❤
@Morgan-h2t: Oh man
@viniciusuchoas8385: perhaps this generation will never know what this music video meant at the time, especially graphically; back then, turning on the TV and seeing that was something out of this world
@nwk2VGtxbs26_eiXlo2wnQ: whoa, closed captioning changed this one for me. oh my.
@leonelvillagra560: Baby quiero queso roñoso
@thomasbelow: Minecraft😅😊
@jordanverbeek5121: You're witnessing the ripest guitar and drum combo in rock history from 0:34 onwards.
@gloriacole4241: Best video Trailblazers I ⭐️⭐️🎥🎹🎹🔊🔊🎸🥁♦️♦️💫🥰🔥💠💠💠💠💠💠
Dire Straits 🥰💯💯💯🇬🇧🌙🌙⭐️🌿♦️🌺🌺🌺🌺💧💠💠💠♦️
@IkerSkibidi: Okay but no one talks about Sting's background voices
@fabiangirola9183: El tema con que MTV se tendría que haber retirado, con el primero
@Goinpostal1982: almost nothing can beat that 80s pop synth sound
@EmmaKeen-r1l6d: Cowley helop playessning monday 2th march cu veaurreaning ceaurreaning playment 23th march emma keen
@EmmaKeen-r1l6d: Dippleareany cippleareany worrking eauteany car emma keen
@marcelovalenzuela5174: 1:28 baby quiero queso roñoso
@cmilfurlani3605: I'm South American. When I was 11 years old there was an upload from a Chilean tv show taking about subliminal messages in songs. I felt curious for most songs featured and i searched them up on Youtube. This song was among them because the line "Maybe get a blister on your thumb", allegedly, the "subliminal" message in spanish was "baby quiero queso roñoso" (Baby I want filthy/smelly cheese). Little did I know I would find this masterpiece of a song that I still listen to this day.
@AnonymousSquirrel123: Screw Ukraine. They are an actual Fascist state. No opposition parties. No elections - after all, nobody can run against the current dictator. No freedoms whatsoever. Institutional promulgation of "Might Makes Right" as both an internal and external operational party. Ukraine can go directly to h3ll.
@aconnelly9534: The Best
@williamsantana7848: 2026
@JonHopkinscolieder: Hier haste Marks Glas mit den Pennies fuer deinen Dr. HOHVIELE
@JonHopkinscolieder: Äh najafeuerleiter hasste ja jetzt auch auf mass
@JJBonesInc: Strait 4 Dire on February 28th 2026... Who's out there?! 🌐🎶
@macdmacd7896: artist have da rights to critic and scream at man made ideals n systems. and at evil chosen ppl da fa99ots
@DolceDolceMusica: $$$ for nothin' & my Dudes for Free😜Imagine that🤔🤣🤔🤣😛🤘🎶
@DarkFractalGaming-1: Just watched an american chopper kill Isis to this song. 2026. Was absolutely badass video.
@heathenbreathinfire: I also loved the little details ~ like how they have "heavy" rotation on the microwave for his head...
@SemiIocon: I'm not at all offended at the use of the f-slur, it's perfect, actually.
@JackHenry-l7g: I ❤Mtv!!!!
@JackHenry-l7g: This is Tanya btw
@NevenVengdasalam-y3b: Remember this...❤❤❤
@CrimsonJudger567: Gracias al primo de Chuck berry le hizo conocer el estilo de calvin klein cuando tocó en un baile en hill valey
@nachoakajrod: Man people that weren’t there truly can’t understand how fucking cool this was the first time you saw it. Like we are in the future cool. It’s laughable now but at the time man that was the pinnacle of computers
@NovaNova-w4e: Love ths video
@Vladkar1984: first it was my father's song, now it's my song)
@MicaelGrover: TO THE CAST OF HARRY POTTER: EMMA HAS ORDERED ME TO EAT YOU ALL. IT WILL BE JUST YOU AND I. ALL ON ONE ON ONE LESSONS! EMMA WILL NOT BE PRESENT. I WILL HAVE CAMERAS SET UP FOR HER VIEWING PLEASURE!!!!!
JESUS
@ManuelaGomesdasilva-mf3bs: 2026🎉🎉🎉
@Truthaddict42: To they who hid it right in front of us, I found the “MTV”…
I AM GOOD
@JCMetal92: Grand Theft Auto 6 please 🙏🙏🙌🙌🤟🤟
@09BRX: MAGELLAN CIRCUMNAVIGATED THE ENTIRE PLANET WITH ONE SHIP AND THEY WANT YOU TO TALK ABOUT JUSTIN BIEEEEEBLERRRRRRRRRR
@jqwadfesjawad8894: Real legend
@Georgejamieshaw: Someone 2026 ? :)
@triko03: Everyone Gangsater until USS Ford joins the battle
@Jota_Rock: Lindo maravilhoso
@davidzof: Minecraft !
@jhonnalessandrobernalviera5653: Baby, quiero queso roñoso 🗿
@SmartE11: Lyrics if anyone wants em:
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 f****t with the earring and the make up
Yeah, buddy, that's his own hair
That little f****t got his own jet airplane
That little f****t, 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
@dsalchr: I thought even though it was true, I THOUGHT IT WAS A STRAIGHT UP RANK OF THOSE THAT LINED THEIR POCKETS AND WENT TO OVERPRICED ARENA SHOWS. A hale and hardy 3rd digit salute to all of us that were not born talented, and LUCKY. Thanks Markie, I put you right down there with Sir Alec Guinness.
@T-if3hv: BAD....ASS. To the bone, bor.
@PeggyKesler-t5n: It is soo good it's painfull
@codyscorner2.082: 0:15
@johneygd: Casino =
Getting money for (almost) nothing🤣
@nathansilvers: 1:48
@MarksArk3: Ironically MTV is no more like it was. MTV screwed the pooch.
@WoodyStrokerCat: Told the truth.
@liamfunnyman6965: That second verse didn't age quite so well.
@VanessaMagick replies to @liamfunnyman6965: Eh. It wouldn't fly today but it didn't really fly back then either. The song is written from the perspective of a bigot, which is good enough for some people but not for others.
@liamfunnyman6965 replies to @liamfunnyman6965: @VanessaMagick Either way, I always replace that word with "weirdo" when I get to that part. It's a catch-all term for anyone who might be considered unpleasantly unusual that circumvents the issue of blatant bigotry that the original lyrics displayed. Although now that I think about it, "gamer" is a funny substitute.
@VanessaMagick replies to @liamfunnyman6965: @liamfunnyman6965 Knopfler would sometimes self-censor to "queenie" which feels a bit less anachronistic and suits the character more
@liamfunnyman6965 replies to @liamfunnyman6965: @VanessaMagick Ah, yes, I remember reading about that somewhere, though I've yet to hear a version of the song that does that. It works, I'll admit.
@МухамедКадыров-е7ш: A wish anyone good mood❤
@saragriselda5668: M.T.V wow I am old
@gachapierredelune3617: Who is here 2026 ❤😍☺️
@victorssimoes: Genius
@martinabuckley6037: And then we have Sting in the background. Classic.
@MicaelGrover: BOB: I WILL GIVE YOU GABE AND I WILL TAKE ADOPF FOR VENUS. YOU WILL NOT LOSE AS BAD ON OUR NEXT PLANET 🌎!!!!
TITAN #2
@Fmgangbanger: Mark is god
Out to my dad an ogwt
I owe you alot
Sincerely a 90s kid
@BrainByteAITransformations: Love me some Dire Straits
@RobertoBologna-h6o: Check the Guitar ....your checks for free.. Money
@psychedelikchameleon: I never realised it was Sting singing the opening line and harmonies
@cathyv51: The graphics might be primitive, but they are also retro-cool.
@cristopherortega556: 0:35 The best riff ever🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
@narthvader6298: Lyrics are wild in this song.
@alexmats5499: USA 🏅 Canada
@Neldot: This is what rock is for, dissing the powerful ones and give speaking rights to the working class people.
@ironicallystupidusername4964: I love the animation so much
@JoannaRoth-i9k: Me.❤
@maniakk3563: Everyone talks about the music video but no one talks about how the characters were brutally killed off in the show Reboot
@darienkane1514: "You can't summon an entire generation by playing one song.".....Hold my beer.
@SlashGTX10: Best song for delivery companies
@tinabritton3576: When MTV was nothing but good music...this was their theme song..I want my MTV .old school..MTV went to shit .
@eliastk356: Brasil feveiro 2026
@MicaelGrover: KERI PRINGLE: WE DO NOT TOLERATE HOMO BEHAVIOR, WHETHER WE GREW UP WITH THE FILTHY SISTERS OR NOT. IF THE HUFFTAIL GIRLS DO NOT CHANGE, YOU AND SCOTT WILL EAT THEIR WHOLE LOTE. LAST I REMEMBER, THAT WAS A BIG LOT!!!!
MICHAEL
@MicaelGrover replies to @MicaelGrover: KEEI: HONESTY IS THEEE BEST POLICY. YOU MAY OR MAY NOT EAT JEWS ON THIS WALK. I LET IT BE A SURPRISE!!!
MICHAEL
@DDRBabe21: I love Chromeo - Bonafied Loving paid homage to this
@MicaelGrover: JOE ROGAN: YOU HAVE ONE OR TWO FRIENDS THAT ARE GAY AND HIDING IN THE CLOSET. IF THEY DO NOT FIX THEMSELVES, YOU AND YOUR WIFE WILL BE EATING THEM. FAMILY: CHOOSE BETTER COMPANY!!!!
MICHAEL
@Rilxy3: This song automatically makes you tap your foot and nod your head. Once that outstanding guitar riff starts, you can't stop. Best song there is to exist.
@jamyers1971: So. Many. Levels. Of. Irony. In. One. Song.
@sandropizarro5041: 🇪🇨🇪🇨🔥🔥🔥🔥😶🌫️😶🌫️🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽🙏🙏🙏👍🏽🫶🏽👍🏽🫶🏽👍🏽
@theblackstar3393: MTV is using first 3 seconds till today
@BeauMarkham-m9s: I love this song the 70s 80s and 90s music is the best I am only 15 and Thea's songs are a lot better than wot most people my age list to ❤
@SofiaAraya-k2q: Mtv valia la pena cuando era solo videos musicales noooo esos programas como acapulco shore y los demmaaaas puedo llorar 😢😢😢😢😢😢por musica como esta en la tv
@critcalreader4160: Sure. I had to play this for a man of Gen Z.