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Lisa Derrick

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Lady Gaga "Born This Way" LGBT Lyrics Omitted on GMA, Glee

Posted: 05/29/11 05:58 PM ET

2011-05-28-Screenshot20110528at10.20.43AM.png
In both Lady Gaga's live appearance on ABC's Good Morning America and in the version sung on Glee the following lyrics to "Born This Way" are omitted:

No matter gay, straight, or bi,
Lesbian, transgendered life
I'm on the right track baby
I was born to survive

You can watch the versions with the omitted lyrics here.

One could argue time restraints on GMA caused the singer to shorten the tune. But Glee? Really?! Glee certainly has plenty of gay, lesbian and bi-sexual story lines, and infamously used the pejorative term "tranny" in the Rocky Horror Picture Show episode, so it's not like the program is unfamiliar with transgenders. Or unwilling to acknowledge they exist, even though it's with a slur.

Both Malaysian and the Philippine radio station snipped the LGBT lyrics from "Born This Way;" the Malaysian edit was government mandated. In the United States, a song released to radio could have several different versions, including a shorter radio edit ( the album cut of "Born This Way" clocks in at 4 minutes 20 seconds); a "clean" version which could omit the F and S bombs and/or explicit references to sex and/or drugs; and the regular album version. Radio stations can also edit tracks themselves to suit their playlists and listener profile.


So was Lady GaGa's shortened GMA performance of "Born This Way" simply to fit into the amount of time allotted? And what about the Glee cast's version?
2011-05-28-Screenshot20110528at10.21.39AM.png
And are there shortened versions, omitting LGBT references being played on your local radio stations? Do you think this edits dilutes the song message, or is it better ot cut the references in order to reach a larger audience who may then buy the original and potentially get illuminated?

[photos: video screenshots]

 

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In both Lady Gaga's live appearance on ABC's Good Morning America and in the version sung on Glee the following lyrics to "Born This Way" are omitted: No matter gay, straight, or bi, Lesbian...
In both Lady Gaga's live appearance on ABC's Good Morning America and in the version sung on Glee the following lyrics to "Born This Way" are omitted: No matter gay, straight, or bi, Lesbian...
 
 
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dblueII
My micro bio is unprintable in this publication.
02:35 PM on 06/03/2011
A tempest in a teapot. At least it's out there, Glee gets it's share of controversy. Most songs on Glee are edited down. Yes, they could have chosen other lyrics to cut, if it were just about time, but I have a hard time getting upset about this. The meaning of the song is clear.

Besides, the networks do still have censors, this may not have been the producers choice at all.
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OGigi
It is NOT only about the Economy
12:18 PM on 06/01/2011
Due to time constraints: Liken citing the colors in a rainbow and omitting yellow; citing the letters to the alphabet and omitting B; citing the body parts and omitting hands; citing numbers on the clock and omitting 3; citing car parts and omitting the tires; citing parts to a lamp omitting the bulb; citing all the major networks and omitting ABC.
09:09 AM on 06/01/2011
I am not sure if Glee is realistic at all as a show but if a real Glee club was performing that song at a shcool talent show they would probably have to omit any kind of lyrics that somene would bitch and complain about be it anything that references sexuality,religous or politics issues. Doesn't this show have gay charecters and I am guessing probably a sizeable fanbase of gay viewers? Seems like a case of trying to create controversy where it does not exist.
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European1919
I am the PigmⒶn
07:47 AM on 06/01/2011
Either sing the whole song or not sing it at all. But playing censor does not become an artist.

As for radio stations or emteevee bleeping words from songs ... come on ... act your age, not your shoe size.
10:38 PM on 05/31/2011
Listen to the song, if "time constraints" were really an issue, then there is plenty of chorus to be cut. The omitted part only takes a few seconds of time, there is plenty of "born this way" that could be cut.
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robert horwitz
08:23 PM on 05/31/2011
I'm an old guy now and not that when I was a kid I payed that much attention to pop culture but I have seen Lady Gaga preform a few times on TV and I would like to say that I really think she is pretty good. Also her supporting cast is good. I enjoy the tunes and the choreography. To be completely honest though even though I don't understand them I really don't care. I just like them.
04:40 PM on 05/31/2011
Its unfortunate that these shows decided to delete the verse in question, but in the end the "message" of the song is the same.

The song is about "acceptance" of all, not just LGBT persons! The world would be such a better place if we could all just get along!

Michael
02:26 PM on 05/31/2011
Before asking for a comment to be removed, please ask for a clarification of the comment, especially when it is dealing with a philosophical fallacy, such as the "naturalistic fallacy" or the "is/ought fallacy," that is readily apparent in "Born This Way".
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Jason N
Proud Firebagger Lefty
04:46 PM on 05/31/2011
You'd do well to take your own advice vis-a-vis the "naturalistic fallacy" (which I don't think you quite fully comprehend, it doesn't just mean appeal to nature fallacy). And aren't YOU the one so fond of quoting Darwin to promote your twisted Social Darwinism?
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practiceempathy
Tolerance need not yield to willful ignorance.
05:53 PM on 05/31/2011
No clarification is needed when you try to pull your con. It is clear that many people "get you."
11:43 AM on 06/01/2011
No need to apologize. Sometimes I read something and comment and then later realize I needed a clarification before I made my comment.
02:02 PM on 05/31/2011
That verse was also cut on American Idol.
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Lisa Derrick
11:21 PM on 05/31/2011
Only full verse on Idol was the opening verse, the rest was chorus; the entire number which was mixed with "Born to be Wild" clocked in at 2:44 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EO5uEDb1OE
GraceNotes
We live for books.
11:22 AM on 05/31/2011
Glee cuts songs for time quite a bit. On the documentary of the creation of the show, the director tries to cut Lea Michelle's audition piece, and she insists that the emotionality of the song is best expressed when she is allowed to sing the whole thing. That says so much about her, and her character on this show. She should do that every time they cut a song.
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Nosybear
Liar, damned liar and statistician
10:14 AM on 05/31/2011
It's a TV show. The writers do have to "pander" to an audience! I give Glee very high marks for taking on social issues most won't touch. Omitting four lines of bad verse from a song didn't change its meaning, particularly when you divorce your hyper-sensitive sense of slight, look at it in context and see that, even without those four lines of bad verse, it keeps its meaning. The writers likely needed those few seconds to expand some other plot element and so cut the length of the song through cutting this verse. This is faux outrage.
10:11 AM on 05/31/2011
I testified for gay rights, lost 28 people to AIDS as a volunteer and co-founder of an AIDS Center before
HIV discovered. I think we should just keep doing our thing and stop giving homophobes attention.
So herewith is another gay sonnet ,unprofessional but to illustrate some of us.

"Checkmate"
I've had my pawns in early stage of life,
And Castles threw me down in dungeons deep.
The Bishops pratt'ling words cut sharp as knife,
And Beauteous Knights have given cause to weep.

Yea, even once a time I loved a Queen,
And offered her my heart in moment bold.
But ice was she, and coldly to me mean,
"Too young was I, in ways of love untold.

Yet now I meet my King, and Heart falls down,
We two alone are met on lovers field.
And though I owe allegience to his crown,
This love I willingly in no way yield.

"Dear King, your mine and I'll not longer wait,
I've checked you now, and passions time grows late."
08:22 AM on 05/31/2011
OK - Lady GaGa is doing the same thing that many others have before her. Yes she does if for publicity - but this woman believes in GLBT rights to the core. She has marched and fought for this before she was a singer. So stop the she doesn't believe it hype - you are fooling yourself there.

There should be no edit to this song as it does not swear (I don't think we should censor swearing either).

Just this weekend I hear the F bomb big time during the NASCAR race - toward the end - they were letting someone's radio on the air without a delay. Do you think the FCC will step in? And this from the sport that is supposed to be the standard for the world.

Censorship is wrong when it comes to words.
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FloridaLAW
This Day, This Moment, Right Now!
01:17 PM on 05/31/2011
Glee shortens songs all the time, so does GMA. This is nothing more than a contrived, hyper sensitive reaction. This idea that everyone is a homophobe because they either disagree with or could care less about the gay agenda is laughable.
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AdamWest1313
Hardcore Agnostic
02:06 AM on 06/01/2011
The question is that if they were simply shortening the song, then why did they not cut some of the monotonous chorus, instead of the part about LGBT's?
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PMJ79
Gloria in excelsis Deo
07:28 AM on 06/01/2011
"Censorship is wrong when it comes to words."

Are you sure about that? There are probably a few words you'd rather not read or hear.
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dblueII
My micro bio is unprintable in this publication.
02:45 PM on 06/03/2011
Weather one would "rather" hear certain words or not does not come into question. If you don't like what is being said, don't listen. Or better yet, listen, one might learn something.
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mapleaforever
"Exit, stage left..."
06:29 AM on 05/31/2011
The woman is phonier than a $3 bill. Her Letterman appearance didn`t disappoint in that regard. She came off as crass and extremely self absorbed.
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Vintage59
Reading is still the warp drive of IT
11:35 AM on 05/31/2011
That's why she is so popular. Her audience identifies with her.
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Luke McIntosh
06:06 AM on 05/31/2011
1.) glee has time constraints too

2.) There is no message in the song when the person is disingenuous. Lady Gaga isn't doing it because she believes in LGBT rights, she's doing it for publicity and gratification purposes, which is the worst kind of malicious fraud. She doesn't actually believe in the cause, she's using it as a platform for her own fame.
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Vintage59
Reading is still the warp drive of IT
11:38 AM on 05/31/2011
You might be right if the world were only black and white. I see shades of gray everywhere so I think she can believe in a cause and still use it to help herself professionally.

She knows her generation and they respond to her ruthlessness positively. Watch out.
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MMMMarilyn
01:21 AM on 06/01/2011
So, she like has you on speed dial?