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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

fairytale new york homophobia disguised christmas cheer

347 replies

Ontheboardwalk · 16/12/2019 22:57

This is my Christmas song, Christmas starts when I hear this song. Kirsty MacColl sounds fabulous.

It’s all over the newspapers again about the outrage.

Shane MacGowan has explained a million times what the word faggot means in his life and this song. There’s no harm in the song

AIBU that outrage at this word finishes and everyone should all sing along together to a great tune

OP posts:

DowntownAbby · 17/12/2019 09:12

I absolutely fucking hate that song.

I have no doubt that the 'faggot' bit isn't meant to be offensive, but I'd be happy if it was considered as such so that it gets the song banned from...well...the planet!

DoesntLeftoverTurkeySoupDragOn · 17/12/2019 09:12

I haven't heard the non sanitised version for years.

Really? They play it on Radio 1 all the time.

MistletoeSteveMcDonald · 17/12/2019 09:14

I've never heard a sanitised version of it!

bookmum08 · 17/12/2019 09:20

There is already a 'clean' version that you sometimes hear on the radio. I love this song. I used to work in Woollies where we played the cds. When Kirsty Macoll died I put on her Greatest Hits album which includes Fairytale of New York. Despite it being no where near xmas we had loads of customers humming or singing along. Lots of comments about "I love this sing" or "isn't it sad about Kirsty".
Not one single complaint.

isabellerossignol · 17/12/2019 09:23

Really? They play it on Radio 1 all the time

I'm old though, so I never listen to Radio 1

When I hear it it's usually in shops or public places and it always has the word blanked out.

Hobbesmanc · 17/12/2019 09:23

I love the song - but then again no ones ever called me a faggot as a slur or a term of abuse. I roll my eyes when women and gay apologists defend a homophobic insult so vehemently just because it doesn't offend them personally. And stop the snowflake shit-it's boring now. Sure lots of gays won't mid it- but lots will and why should they have to endure boozed up work colleagues and fellow pub goers shouting a term of abuse loudly at every Christmas party- trust me they all shout that word.

And all this nonsense about it having different meanings in Ireland and Liverpool- or being a fucking meatball. Seriously? Its been the main abusive term for gay men in American for decades. And this song is set in New York. Anyone doubting the bigotry and overt hostility in the word faggot should be made to listen to some Eddie Murphy stand ups from the eighties.

Roselilly36 · 17/12/2019 09:24

I have never liked this song, it’s awful, why it remains popular I have no idea.

peachescariad · 17/12/2019 09:25

Fab song - we all know the words in my family and my DCs have known the lyrics since they could talk and we all belt them out whenever it comes on the playlist

lovesmarties · 17/12/2019 09:27

Strongly dislike the song. I will turn over the radio rather than listen to a drunken argument.

ArnoldWhatshisknickers · 17/12/2019 09:29

Its been the main abusive term for gay men in American for decades.

This isn't America.

Stop expecting the rest of the world to pander to American sensibilities.

DoesntLeftoverTurkeySoupDragOn · 17/12/2019 09:29

I'm old though, so I never listen to Radio 1

I'm old too. I still listen to Radio 1.

DoesntLeftoverTurkeySoupDragOn · 17/12/2019 09:30

Its been the main abusive term for gay men in American for decades.

Americans are happy to use the word "spastic" when it is offensive over here 🤷🏻‍♀️

isabellerossignol · 17/12/2019 09:32

Its been the main abusive term for gay men in American for decades. And this song is set in New York.

Set in New York but the protagonists are Irish. So not quite the same.

I have never used the word faggot as an insult in my life so I'm not saying it's a harmless word, but it is a very common theme on mumsnet to tell Irish posters that their language is 'wrong'. If the word means something different (or meant something different when the song was written) in Ireland then it means something different.

Babdoc · 17/12/2019 09:34

Surely it's only the Americans who use "faggot" as a term of abuse for gay men? I can't recall it ever being used in that sense here in Britain and I'm in my sixties.
I think it's an excellent song- raw, gritty, heartfelt, deeply emotional - and such an antidote to the saccharine shit of most seasonal songs.
Many people have negative emotions at Christmas - they may be bereaved, depressed, left out, stressed, anxious, alone - and that song speaks to them. I find it deeply moving. Yes of course it's uncomfortable, but so is life.

JoeGrundyWasMyRoleModel · 17/12/2019 09:59

I have lived in London all my life and it has been an abusive term for gay men for the 73 years I have been on this planet.

I'm no great fan of the song but dislike the modern revisionist tendency; as others have posted, the snowflakes could be more usefully employed inspecting hip-hop and (c)rap lyrics.

TheLittleBrownFox · 17/12/2019 10:01

'Fag' or 'faggot' has commonly been used in the UK as an insult implying somebody is gay for as long as I can remember, and I thought this was common knowledge.

Sometimes things in popular culture don't age well - Enid Blyton books, for example.
Like others, I object more to the woman in the song being called a slut than a straight married man being called gay as an insult, but I think neither are great in this day and age.

It's a catchy song that I like, in spite of seeing the problems with the lyrics. I feel the same about Blurred Lines; love the tune, hate that it's rapey.

rhubarbcrumbles · 17/12/2019 10:02

Next thing you know they'll complain about the word fairy in the title.
It is a great song, and I suspect many gay people are fine with it.

^ This.

My gay brother always has a laugh about it but then he does also joke about shoving the tree up the arse of the fairy so perhaps he's not the best person to hold up as an example

Sparklesocks · 17/12/2019 10:34

I don’t have an issue with it personally but if a gay person was offended by it I would understand, and not dismiss them as a ‘snowflake’ (ugh, hate that term vehemently). I’m a straight person so it’s not really up to me to say what they can and can’t be upset by because I don’t have that experience - historically LGBT people have faced a lot of abuse and discrimination. And the fact is despite that word’s other meanings, it is also used as slur against gay people and carries weight whether that was the intention or not. So I can understand why it’s bleeped or replaced with blaggard or Taggart (which is very creative!!).

peachescariad · 17/12/2019 10:58

Capital London have just played the original version.

HideYourBabiesAndYourBeadwork · 17/12/2019 11:04

@MrsBertBibby

We do it to loads of songs- it’s a piss take. “Last Christmas I gave you my heart and the very next day you sold it on eBay” is my DD’s fave 🤷‍♀️ We’re easily amused in this house.

Old slut on drunk doesn’t offend me either btw but other people have the right to be offended by whatever they want, as I said already.

PhilSwagielka · 17/12/2019 11:05

I'm bisexual and it doesn't bother me at all. I've kind of grown up with the song and I like it for sentimental reasons - it reminds me of my dad.

Hobbesmanc · 17/12/2019 11:05

Capital London have just played the original version.

Heart Christmas do too.

Frothybothie · 17/12/2019 11:08

Taggart? seriously? Therrres been a murrrrrderrrrr.

Progress2019 · 17/12/2019 11:27

Its a beautiful song.

Santa Baby, on the other hand sends out a far worse message

rhubarbcrumbles · 17/12/2019 11:29

I'd prefer FTONY to Barbie Girl any day, those lyrics are terrible.

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