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Author Topic: Curse words list / Clean versions  (Read 26245 times)

e-cue

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Curse words list / Clean versions
« on: April 14, 2005, 08:07:57 AM »

Is there a definitive list of words you cannot use for broadcast somewhere?

I did a 'clean' version of a song and wiped out the word "ass" (I use Mystical's "Shake Your Ass"/"Shake It Fast" as a guiding point) and the label wanted me to put it back in.  I've heard it censored several times on the radio, and then last night I had the TV on while I was scarfin' down my dinner and they used the terms "ass" and"dumbass" several times on "That 70's Show".  What gives?  Are standards different for tv than radio?

I'm not looking for a 'freedom of speech'/'censorship' argument, just a line drawn in the sand so I know what's acceptable to the F.C.C. and what's not.  "Ass", "blunts", "hoe", and "drunk" seem to be the questionable ones that come up.


Thanks in advance.
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bblackwood

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Re: Curse words list / Clean versions
« Reply #1 on: April 14, 2005, 08:31:09 AM »

I don't think there is a list, but rather a general guideline that the 'offending material' has to be put up against to see if it's deemed offensive or not. From the fcc.gov website:

Quote:

Obscene Broadcasts Prohibited at All Times

Obscene speech is not protected by the First Amendment and cannot be broadcast at any time. To be obscene, material must meet a three-prong test: (1) an average person, applying contemporary community standards, must find that the material, as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest; (2) the material must depict or describe, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined by applicable law; and (3) the material, taken as a whole, must lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. See Miller v. California, 413 U.S. 15 (1973).


IOW, I think it's up to the individual broadcasters to decide if they wish to 'walk the line' or not, and only after the fact will they know if they crossed it or not.

Kinda stupid way to do it, imo...
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Brad Blackwood
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ted nightshade

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Re: Curse words list / Clean versions
« Reply #2 on: April 14, 2005, 08:43:10 AM »

We're going to play live on this little radio show in Davis soon. The guidelines read that cuss words are OK in the songs, but not in anything spoken. Curious.
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rnicklaus

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Re: Curse words list / Clean versions
« Reply #3 on: April 14, 2005, 10:33:24 AM »

Walmart may allow "Life's a bitch" but never "she's a bitch".

So as Brad says it's going to be up to the broacatsr or retailer.
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R.N.

MT Groove

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Re: Curse words list / Clean versions
« Reply #4 on: April 14, 2005, 03:20:54 PM »

It seems that each station walk the line differently.  I heard the same song edited very differently on different stations.  One station allowed more "semi-explicit" lyrics go through.  

Also, it seems that TV is less strict than radio?  You can say "bitch" on TV but not on the radio?  This is all messed up.

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bobkatz

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Re: Curse words list / Clean versions
« Reply #5 on: April 14, 2005, 04:25:24 PM »

Funny you should mention "ass". I just told a client he didn't have to pull it out of a pop hit he's trying to me. We made two versions anyway.

You'll never get the straight poop on this from the FCC. Rules have a way of changing and sliding depending on who they're trying to get. ClearChannel may have different rules than others. I personally think it's safe to leave "ass" in and fuck Clear Channel if they can't take it!  Smile

BK
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Level

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Re: Curse words list / Clean versions
« Reply #6 on: April 14, 2005, 07:39:05 PM »

Examples:

(Excuse expletives for the tender brained)

I have heard G-d Damn on PBS.

Also on PBS:

"You got to be shitting me"

"It was a rather fucked up situation"

Radio FM:

I have heard totally unedited rap on WBLX FM after 10 PM.

Anything and everything. Makes "2 Live Crew" seem like Mr. Rogers. Florida Banned the sale of "me so horney" dirty version over a decade ago.

"Holy Shit" on live ABC sports. Nobody cared.

It is wide open. If someone wants to take it to the top and face the mustard...then that is the "free publicity risk"

What I don't understand is you can show blood and guts on TV..but show a tit.. I don't get that.
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e-cue

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Re: Curse words list / Clean versions
« Reply #7 on: April 15, 2005, 09:33:12 AM »

Apparently, U.S. Congress is considering legislation that would increase artist fines to $500,000 for broadcasted content that could be considered indecent.  Just seems like, at the very least, a list of definite no-no's shouldn't be that hard to define and supplied on their end.  Kinda makes you want to abandon public radio altogether.  Frustrating.  They can suck my "ass" (Can you say that on the internet?).

I called a couple program directors and get the same thing on the "ass" issue.  Some are cool playing it, some are not, and some only play it after 10pm.
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MT Groove

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Re: Curse words list / Clean versions
« Reply #8 on: April 15, 2005, 12:41:36 PM »

I think it's difficult to establish a set of defined explicit lyrics to set as a standard.  New terms are always being introduced, especially in the rap/hip hop genre.  I have heard songs being played on the radio on the same station that has gotten more and more edits over time.  It seems that they caught on to new terms that was considered explicit after the fact.

I still don't get why you can't say "ASS" on some radio stations!!!   Mad
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Tim Halligan

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Re: Curse words list / Clean versions
« Reply #9 on: April 15, 2005, 07:24:43 PM »

F-word...
C-word...
etc...

Seems like they will all get airplay (in my country, at least) on the commercial networks...but usually late at night. Triple J (national govt "youth" network) will run them at any time with a language warning beforehand - except during school holidays - when they leave them for after 9pm.

The slightly perplexing example is the word "gun". I've never heard any of the commercial networks run the un-bleeped version of Teenage Dirtbag day or night...

"Her boyfriend's a dick
He brings a gun to school..."


Being a product of its time, this may be in deference to Columbine...

Certainly a confusing issue...especially when the censorship guidelines are so vague.


Cheers,
Tim
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dcollins

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Re: Curse words list / Clean versions
« Reply #10 on: April 15, 2005, 09:11:42 PM »

This was in the 90's, but I have seen a list from a local station that said what you could say and at what time of day.

It used to be a growth industry creating the "clean" versions without just making it sound like Morse code.

"Don't call my bitch a ho."

Word.

DC

jackthebear

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Re: Curse words list / Clean versions
« Reply #11 on: April 15, 2005, 09:19:37 PM »

dcollins wrote on Sat, 16 April 2005 11:11



"Don't call my bitch a ho."


DC


OK.....then how about girl dog???....or Mrs Ho???

Nice to see you've been dating Asian women DC Very Happy

Cheers,
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maxim

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Re: Curse words list / Clean versions
« Reply #12 on: April 16, 2005, 05:51:21 AM »

what's the story with "drug references"

are they kosher?

or have to be coded
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zetterstroem

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Re: Curse words list / Clean versions
« Reply #13 on: April 16, 2005, 12:01:06 PM »

land of the free ????  Rolling Eyes  Rolling Eyes
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bblackwood

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Re: Curse words list / Clean versions
« Reply #14 on: April 16, 2005, 02:06:10 PM »

ZETTERSTROEM wrote on Sat, 16 April 2005 11:01

land of the free ????  Rolling Eyes  Rolling Eyes


ecue originally stated

I'm not looking for a 'freedom of speech'/'censorship' argument, just a line drawn in the sand so I know what's acceptable to the F.C.C. and what's not.

Ahem...

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Brad Blackwood
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