80s Throwback Party Radio: April 2018

DIRE STRAITS MONEY FOR NUTHIN'

Dire Straights song Money For Nothing ain't doing much working in Canada

Money for nothing was a huge hit for Dire Straits in the 80s, but, the lyrics are very controversial in today's day - the song has the f-word!

In January 2011, the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC) ruled that the unedited version of the song was unacceptable for air play on private Canadian radio stations, as it breached the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' (CAB) Code of Ethics and their Equitable Portrayal Code.^[14]^[15]^[16] The CBSC concluded that "like other racially driven words in the English language, 'faggot' is one that, even if entirely or marginally acceptable in earlier days, is no longer so.

Up here in Canada, the land of inclusiveness and compassion, we have decided to sacrifice the original version of this 80s gem for the greater good of society.
I know there are great arguments about artistic freedom, the context of the word, and especially the era when the word was used.

I get it.

From the point of view of a working class 80s guy, calling a guy with flock-of-seagulls-hair sporting an earring an [insert f-word] was nothing out of the ordinary. But, in today's world it's not okay. So, 80sthrowbackparty plays a modified version of Money For Nothing (aka the clean version).

I'm of the camp to clean up the song and have found a clean edit of Money For Nothing by Dire Straits, but, I will admit it is not the same...not the same at all.
If you want the original it is on the Brothers In Arms album, only $6 on amazon ($2 for a used CD).

Yes, unlike Millennials who just don't work, Dire Straits got money and chicks

Couldn't help with the Star Trek / Dire Straits meme

I did find some other interesting vids of Dire Straits while researching this post. One vid shows Guy and Alan (band members) windsurfing - it's so dated that it is hilarious.

Dire Straits is being inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame this year!

On a more serious note, Dire Straits is headed to the Rock N Roll Hall of FAME this year! Huge achievement. They are planning on performing a song at the induction ceremony, no not Money For Nothing (the unclean version)...actually there is some controversy over the performance though. According to cleveland.com:

"There's a lot of conjecture on forums about whether the band is performing at the Hall of Fame, and if not why not and who in the band are going to the ceremony," Clark wrote. "Well, here it is and it's official: Myself, Guy Fletcher and John Illsley will attend the ceremony, where we'll be be performing an unplugged version of 'Telegraph Road' with me on harmonium, Guy on ukulele, John on banjo, and the vocal performed by the three of us as a three part harmony."

So, a Dire Straits song is being performed with a harmonium, ukulele, banjo and three part harmony singing...sound very Rock N Roll!

If you don't know, a harmonium is like an accordion but 007-suitcase-style.