Radio stations in Malaysia opted to self-censor the lyrics in Lady Gaga‘s “Born This Way” as to not piss off government regulators, so gone is the line “No matter gay, straight or bi, lesbian, transgendered life, I’m on the right track, baby.” Add the Philippines to what’s sure to be a growing list of countries too scared to broadcast the G-word. The music network Channel V Philippines has stripped the line from its version of the song, the web magazine Outrage relays.
Matt
There’s a problem with censoring the song in this country as well. The vast majority of straighteys covering “Born This Way” on YouTube have taken out the line also. Do a quick YouTube search to see what I mean. It’s really disheartening.
Adonis-of-Fire
I find it so ironic, considering filipinos’ music and entertaintment is like that of cheap drag queens…their shows consist on women chosen in “belting contests” (who can hit the highest note) karaokeing and imitating American singers. They are profoundly stupid, they all think they are Whitney/Mariah/Celine, it’s like they don’t have a culture of their own so they just imitate.
DJ
@Matt: OMG your right! WTF?! We’re the reason she made that damn song.
merkin
I dont pretend to know much about Malaysia or the Philipines, but I do know about a million gay Filipinos. That country has a rich queer heritage—from gay guys to drag queens to ladyboys to full on trannies. Why would they get so upset about that line in the song? And yet the don’t cut the un-pc “orient” line? So stupid!
Iamsinned
Before everyone hates on the Philippine government unduly (hate it when it’s due… which may not be that hard to select other reasons from), here’s something that may explain this more clearly… “In a phone interview, channel head JM Rodriguez explained that Channel V’s international music videos, such as Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way,” are all feeds from Hong Kong.”
This means that the foreign videos showing in that Philippine channel seems to be all coming from the HongKong office and the Philippine V channel has no control with what’s given to them by the HK Office.
That actually makes sense because Philippines is a very gay-tolerant country (up to a point) and, also, just the word “gay” is too benign to be “censored” in the Philippines. Most tv shows and movies in the Philippines have tons of gay characters (of all stereotypes and non-stereotypes). It just doesn’t compute for that word to be censored in a song.
John
There’s currently a very popular Filipino drag queen television series on a public broadcast channel which showcased this song, all lines. Actually, there are several openly gay Filipino actors with their own shows, widely supported and love lives followed. However, the Philippines is still a highly traditional Catholic background. The gay culture is evolving forward, yes, but don’t compare it to American values.
carsen tyler
@Adonis-of-Fire: How about you back off on saying the Philippines has no culture? There are some really brilliant plays and books that come from the people of the Philippines. Also don’t insult the people, insult the act of censorship itself.
Yeah… plus my grandmother is a opera singer in the Philippines. And if my family members are not in politics, they are in the arts. But Catholic values are instilled deep into them from the Spaniards and being taken over by America didn’t help, and it is quite obvious in my family. Yeah… I’m still glad my parents decided to raise me in San Francisco, because I don’t think I would be out if I was born in the Philippines.
WilliamG
It’s a twisted payback for all those “NO GAM’S” splashed across Grindr
James Reyes
@merkin:
I dont pretend to know much about Malaysia or the Philipines
Then keep you opinons on matters unfamiliar to yourself. I find it offensive that you would just make sweeping generalizations of Filipinos like that. Are you not aware of how pervasive American culture is around the world? Secondly, why not attack the media officials who made this decision instead of the gay Filipinos.
James Reyes
@merkin@merkin:
NM, I responded to the wrong comment.
Jade
You stupid imbecile! Read this from “Iamsinned”…
Before everyone hates on the Philippine government unduly (hate it when it’s due… which may not be that hard to select other reasons from), here’s something that may explain this more clearly… “In a phone interview, channel head JM Rodriguez explained that Channel V’s international music videos, such as Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way,” are all feeds from Hong Kong.”
This means that the foreign videos showing in that Philippine channel seems to be all coming from the HongKong office and the Philippine V channel has no control with what’s given to them by the HK Office.
That actually makes sense because Philippines is a very gay-tolerant country (up to a point) and, also, just the word “gay” is too benign to be “censored” in the Philippines. Most tv shows and movies in the Philippines have tons of gay characters (of all stereotypes and non-stereotypes). It just doesn’t compute for that word to be censored in a song.
Jade
@Jade: @Jade: That message by the way goes to this moron “Iamsinned”
Jade
@Jade: That message by the way goes to this moron “Adonis-of-Fire” via “Iamsinned”.
Mike
The Hong Kong comment makes a lot of sense, especially when you consider the President of the Philippines has a younger sister (KRISTINA BERNADETTE!) who is basically the biggest fag hag in the country.