BBC Radio 1 has decided to bleep the word "faggot" out of one of my favourite xmas songs ever! "Fairytale of New York" by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl. This decision has led to a huge amount of complaints, i have to say i am tempted to complain too, This song is a classic and has been played all over the world for the last 20 years. The context of the word being used is in a drunken fight between a heterosexual couple on xmas eve.

I have said before on this blog that the word "faggot" is my least favourite derogatory word for gay people but i think this story has just made the BBC look stupid yet again. They decide that Jeremy Clarkson and Chris Moyles using the word "Gay" to describe something that is rubbish is totally acceptable but bleep out the word "faggot" in a song that they have played uncensored since 1987. The amount of times i have drunkenly sung along to this song is probably another story but the point is the words use in this particular song does not offend me.

Last night i met up with Tom, Mal and Paul and headed to one of my local gentlemen's wine bars, The George and Dragon in Shoreditch for their last ever "Retro Chart Rundown" playing tracks from the late 80's and early 90's - there were come classics being played, Good Life by Inner City, Suddenly by Angry Anderson, Starting Together by Su Pollard - ah they were all there. I just wish it hadn't been on a monday, i woke up this morning feeling way too fragile.

Rumours are starting that Michael Jackson is going to be doing a series of concerts next year at the o2 arena in London. 20 years ago i would have been so excited about this and i guess if i looked the way i did 20 years ago and went to the concert this year - Michael Jackson would be very excited! However, the last time i saw MJ performing it was a few years ago at the MTV awards, he did a surprise appearance at the end of Nsync's performance of their single "Pop - he was just dancing but he was totally out of time and looked like he was actually staggering due to someone nicking his zimmer frame. I think his concerts will be stupidly expensive mainly to pay off his massive debts (how has one of the world's most successful performing artists ended up owing so much cash??) I reckon his show will be a car crash of global proportions, how will he not literally melt under the lights?




I used to be such a huge fan and the man is a musical genius but he has not done a good song for many years and relying on 20 year old hits is not my kinda thing. He has so many fans that are extraordinarily loyal that i am sure the shows will be a sell out but i think i will stick to artists that are fresh and exciting and keep coming back with new sounds and great images - who could that be i wonder?

xx