Bad Words on the Radio

[LKellerIII]

The line "Up against the wall, mother****er" hit the mainstream in the Jefferson Airplane's hit 1969 song We Can Be Together:

"We are forces of chaos and anarchy
Everything they say we are we are
And we are very
Proud of ourselves
Up against the wall
Up against the wall mother****er
Tear down the walls
Tear down the walls"

Obviously a song relating to the hippie era and the protest movement. The phrase was apparently making the rounds for a year or two before the Airplane and MC5 as a revolutionary slogan. But I've always assumed that the phrase originated with riot police, as advice to the hippie protesters they were about to arrest.

The phrase was censored for radio airplay, but I believe stations like KPPC might have run it uncut.

 

[Dick Skinner]

The line "Up against the wall, mother****er" hit the mainstream in the Jefferson Airplane's hit 1969 song We Can Be Together:

"We are forces of chaos and anarchy
Everything they say we are we are
And we are very
Proud of ourselves
Up against the wall
Up against the wall mother****er
Tear down the walls
Tear down the walls"

Obviously a song relating to the hippie era and the protest movement. The phrase was apparently making the rounds for a year or two before the Airplane and MC5 as a revolutionary slogan. But I've always assumed that the phrase originated with riot police, as advice to the hippie protesters they were about to arrest.

The phrase was censored for radio airplay, but I believe stations like KPPC might have run it uncut.

And there was "Up Against the Wall" by David Peel and the Lower East Side released on Elektra in 1968; I want to say I heard it on KYMS-FM in Santa Ana around that time, but don't quote me. You know what they say: "If you remember the '60s, you weren't a part of it."

 

[Dj Woody]

Spanish radio in LA says a lot of Spanish bad words, specially La Que Buena.

 

[musicman3355]

Spanish radio in LA says a lot of Spanish bad words, specially La Que Buena.

Like what?

 

[musicman3355]

I was listening live to Channel 955 in Detroit last night, I heard Buda (their night jock) say the F word and I was surprised that got uncensored. That happened before 10 PM/7 PM. Are they going to get in trouble with the FCC?

 

[musicfan101]

I was listening live to Channel 955 in Detroit last night, I heard Buda (their night jock) say the F word and I was surprised that got uncensored. That happened before 10 PM/7 PM. Are they going to get in trouble with the FCC?

Before I made my on air debut last week, one of the other jocks told me that you could say whatever you want on the air. As long as no one reports what you say to the FCC you're fine.

 

[likeaboss]

I was listening live to Channel 955 in Detroit last night, I heard Buda (their night jock) say the F word and I was surprised that got uncensored. That happened before 10 PM/7 PM. Are they going to get in trouble with the FCC?

Before I made my on air debut last week, one of the other jocks told me that you could say whatever you want on the air. As long as no one reports what you say to the FCC you're fine.

Um, is this a real radio station? With a jock who is on the air? While he is technically correct, and the chances of any FCC action is slim, I would think the Program Director would fire anyone who comes close to airing any questionable content, especially if that jock had little to no experience. I wouldn't think that would fly on commercial or non-commercial radio.

 

[calguy]

I was listening live to Channel 955 in Detroit last night, I heard Buda (their night jock) say the F word and I was surprised that got uncensored. That happened before 10 PM/7 PM. Are they going to get in trouble with the FCC?

Before I made my on air debut last week, one of the other jocks told me that you could say whatever you want on the air. As long as no one reports what you say to the FCC you're fine.

Just one of the many things wrong with radio today. While this "jock" is technically correct as someone has to hear it and report it to the FCC to get into trouble with the feds, it's so wrong as to defy imagination. Your co-worker is full of it and just illustrates again why the licensing process should never have been done away with by the FCC. A jock from the era of licensing would never tell another talent, especially a newbie to say whatever you want. Besides you would be risking your job and the stations license all to sound like some everyday idiot who can't make his point without cursing.

 

[Dick Skinner]

I was listening live to Channel 955 in Detroit last night, I heard Buda (their night jock) say the F word and I was surprised that got uncensored. That happened before 10 PM/7 PM. Are they going to get in trouble with the FCC?

Before I made my on air debut last week, one of the other jocks told me that you could say whatever you want on the air. As long as no one reports what you say to the FCC you're fine.

Just one of the many things wrong with radio today. While this "jock" is technically correct as someone has to hear it and report it to the FCC to get into trouble with the feds, it's so wrong as to defy imagination. Your co-worker is full of it and just illustrates again why the licensing process should never have been done away with by the FCC. A jock from the era of licensing would never tell another talent, especially a newbie to say whatever you want. Besides you would be risking your job and the stations license all to sound like some everyday idiot who can't make his point without cursing.

Awesome post, Calguy.

 

[musicfan101]

I was listening live to Channel 955 in Detroit last night, I heard Buda (their night jock) say the F word and I was surprised that got uncensored. That happened before 10 PM/7 PM. Are they going to get in trouble with the FCC?

Before I made my on air debut last week, one of the other jocks told me that you could say whatever you want on the air. As long as no one reports what you say to the FCC you're fine.

Um, is this a real radio station? With a jock who is on the air? While he is technically correct, and the chances of any FCC action is slim, I would think the Program Director would fire anyone who comes close to airing any questionable content, especially if that jock had little to no experience. I wouldn't think that would fly on commercial or non-commercial radio.

No it is not a real radio station...it's a college station in Monroe, Louisiana. The program director here, doesn't even listen to our station, he cares more about the NPR affliate which is just upstairs. So there is really no one really involved in the station, from upper management. The jock who told me that, admits he is only interested in what going on behind the scenes and not on the air. To sum up what I said, it most likely could fly on a non-comm. But, I of course will not just go on the air and say a bunch of swear words...

 

[likeaboss]

No it is not a real radio station...it's a college station in Monroe, Louisiana. The program director here, doesn't even listen to our station, he cares more about the NPR affliate which is just upstairs. So there is really no one really involved in the station, from upper management. The jock who told me that, admits he is only interested in what going on behind the scenes and not on the air. To sum up what I said, it most likely could fly on a non-comm. But, I of course will not just go on the air and say a bunch of swear words...

Well, it sure sounds like a real radio station. Non-Commercial radio stations have the same FCC standards as Commercial radio stations. Indecent material could still subject you to a $325,000 fine, or get the station's license revoked. If it's internet only, cable radio, or some other delivery method, then you aren't subject to FCC standards.

 

[Richard Pryor]

How can you guys even talk about something being offensive or obscene? You don't even know what that means because its meaning changes.


Back in the 50's in small towns, places that sold chicken would sell it as "dark meat" and "white meat" because breast thigh and leg were a little too edgy for the time period. Go to any small town in the south and I promise you that those dark meat and white meat signs are still up. Are people in general offended by people who order "thighs" and "breasts" and "legs"? No because what we consider as profane changes over time.

By the way, to whoever said it....obscene language IS protected by the first amendment. Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech.

 

[almaniac27]

How can you guys even talk about something being offensive or obscene? You don't even know what that means because its meaning changes.


Back in the 50's in small towns, places that sold chicken would sell it as "dark meat" and "white meat" because breast thigh and leg were a little too edgy for the time period. Go to any small town in the south and I promise you that those dark meat and white meat signs are still up. Are people in general offended by people who order "thighs" and "breasts" and "legs"? No because what we consider as profane changes over time.

I read somewhere that the word "golly" used to be considered offensive because it was short for "God's body". Now the word is laughably innocent.

By the way, to whoever said it....obscene language IS protected by the first amendment. Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech.

I thought the Supreme Court decision that George Carlin was involved in set the precedent for censoring "obscene" speech.

 

[nmoore6676]

Here in Iowa, two of the local country stations cut the word ass out of the Zack Brown Song "Toes" (Got my toes in the water, ass in the sand). One of them just cuts the audio at ass leaving a blank spot. The other one plays a version apparently without just the word but the music still goes on. I don't even think that ass is considered not to be air-able anymore. I've heard it used frequently on talk shows recently.

 

[almaniac27]

Here in Iowa, two of the local country stations cut the word ass out of the Zack Brown Song "Toes" (Got my toes in the water, ass in the sand). One of them just cuts the audio at ass leaving a blank spot. The other one plays a version apparently without just the word but the music still goes on. I don't even think that ass is considered not to be air-able anymore. I've heard it used frequently on talk shows recently.

And censoring that word in this instance will probably lead listeners to assume a more offensive word was actually the lyric. I can think of several, but I won't repeat them here. ;D

 

[calguy]

How can you guys even talk about something being offensive or obscene? You don't even know what that means because its meaning changes.


Back in the 50's in small towns, places that sold chicken would sell it as "dark meat" and "white meat" because breast thigh and leg were a little too edgy for the time period. Go to any small town in the south and I promise you that those dark meat and white meat signs are still up. Are people in general offended by people who order "thighs" and "breasts" and "legs"? No because what we consider as profane changes over time.

By the way, to whoever said it....obscene language IS protected by the first amendment. Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech.

Re-read this, perhaps it will help you understand. We're talking about obscene language being BROADCAST. While it may be protected outside of broadcast it is not when it comes to over the air radio.

Obscene material is not protected by the First Amendment and can't be broadcast at any time. To be obscene, material must meet these standards. The material, as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest or depict or describe, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined by applicable law; and, taken as a whole, must lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. Indecency is different from obscenity. It would be “language or material that, depicts or describes, in terms patently offensive as measured by contemporary community standards for the broadcast medium, sexual or excretory organs or activities.”

Indecent programming contains patently offensive sexual or excretory material that does not rise to the level of obscenity.


True, what would be considered indecent or even obscene 50 years ago may not be now, but the FCC still has set forth some definition and it is the law of the land. Freedom of speech doesn't extend to the public airwaves in this respect.

 

[justpassingthough]

Perhaps someone at a radio station somewhere in this country is getting ready to test the FCC under Obama, figuring that much like his direction to the DEA to not go after medical marijuana users, Obama will be much softer on obscencity than his predecessor.

I tend to lean towards the libertarian viewpoint on this matter. I know the airwaves are a public good, but I wish we would leave it to the marketplace to sort out, rather than resort to government regulation. If listeners don't want to hear obscene language, they will turn the channel, organize protests, boycott advertisers, etc. and the marketplace would largely determine what is and is not acceptable to air as content.

 

[nmoore6676]

Perhaps someone at a radio station somewhere in this country is getting ready to test the FCC under Obama, figuring that much like his direction to the DEA to not go after medical marijuana users, Obama will be much softer on obscencity than his predecessor.

I tend to lean towards the libertarian viewpoint on this matter. I know the airwaves are a public good, but I wish we would leave it to the marketplace to sort out, rather than resort to government regulation. If listeners don't want to hear obscene language, they will turn the channel, organize protests, boycott advertisers, etc. and the marketplace would largely determine what is and is not acceptable to air as content.

I myself subscribe to the Libertarian view and I think the attacks on Howard Stern and others were unfounded. Also if an occasional objectionable word or wardrobe malfunction occurs there should be no penalty if the thing were just an accident or slip of the tongue and not planned by the broadcaster to get attention. However the Obama administration is more interested in promoting diversity (read minority ownership) than either tightening or loosening obscenity standards.

So if Clear Channel, CBS, or any other corporate owner were to decide to say put back Howard on radio, or TV, and make him more edgy they might get fined and find themselves subject to license forfeiture. With certain exceptions the decision of what to air should be left to the discretion of broadcasters and their sponsors. The listeners can also have a say by tuning out of what they find offensive. By and large government should not be involved in broadcast content. On the other hand the granting of licenses to operate on the public airwaves is within their purview and there they do have authority.

That being said the seizing of assets by any means to transfer broadcast licenses to favored groups is not in the best interests of the public or the economy. Many would say that the present concentration of broadcast properties in a relatively few companies was not a good thing, but the market forces and the economy seem to be sorting that out already. Let market forces decide how many stations should be owned by any one entity.

 

[radiocph]

I read somewhere that the word "golly" used to be considered offensive because it was short for "God's body". Now the word is laughably innocent.

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/minced-oath.html

 

[Richard Pryor]

Post removed by me.


I don't want to get banned for participating in an adult conversation.