US post-hardcore band Senses Fail have taken to social media to announce plans to re-record their old songs in an effort to remove problematic language.
First forming back in 2002, Senses Fail began as the musical project of its teenage members, with frontman James ‘Buddy’ Nielsen remaining the only constant member.
However, 16 years after the release of their debut EP, it seems that the band members have begun to feel uneasy about some of the language their songs featured during this era.
As Alt Press reports, Senses Fail took to Twitter recently to float the idea of changing lyrics to some of their earlier songs as part of some new re-recordings.
“Thinking of changing the lyrics to ‘Hand Guns [& Second Chances]’ as not to include the word “whore” what are the general thoughts about that?” the band noted, later adding “also in re-recording ‘Bastard Son’ we’re going to take the word “bitch” out of the chorus.”
Thinking of changing the lyrics to Hand Guns as not to include the word “whore” what are the general thoughts about that?
— Senses Fail (@SensesFail) December 10, 2018
Also in re-recording Bastard Son we’re going to take the word “bitch” out of the chorus.
— Senses Fail (@SensesFail) December 10, 2018
As expected though, fans soon chimed in to offer their opinions on the decision, with some calling it a step in the right direction, and others downright insulting the band.
Responding to a fan who noted that “it’s just a word”, Buddy Nielsen was quick to respond that his choice to do so was inspired by a decision to “be considerate to my daughter and women”, and his own growth as a person.
“Words carry weight, so if I wouldn’t want my daughter to use it than why would I want to perpetuate its use?” Nielsen asked. “Changing things that I wouldn’t want to show my daughter. If you want to listen to the original than you can always do that.”
“No one told me to not say “whore” in a song but as a 34 year old adult, using the word “whore” in a song makes me feel like a loser and I don’t want to physically have to do it. It’s not preserving anything other than prolonging the fact I was a 17 year old loser for writing it.”
So is Faggot, and words carry weight, so if I wouldn’t want my daughter to use it than why would I want to perpetuate its use? https://t.co/T3pcgBLOcu
— Senses Fail (@SensesFail) December 10, 2018
Yeah but it doesn’t cause defending the use of stupid words to solidify the artistic expression of a 17 year old is stupid. What makes art real is emotion. The word bitch and whore is not an intelligent way to convey emotion. It’s cheap at any age. https://t.co/EpXoFRl5gw
— Senses Fail (@SensesFail) December 10, 2018
I can’t erase the original version so there yah go. I would t call the original version intention but not mindfulness. https://t.co/6ILnqWnLt5
— Senses Fail (@SensesFail) December 10, 2018
I mean the literal only changes are two words, so if people don’t want to hear the record or hear us play the record live over the exclusion of the words “bitch” and “whore” than kindly as they say S a D https://t.co/hPwepPeqA8
— Senses Fail (@SensesFail) December 10, 2018
Im doing it to be considerate to my daughter and women sooo if that makes me soft to some boy on the internet than so be it. https://t.co/FuY4jClwzt
— Senses Fail (@SensesFail) December 10, 2018
Cause it’s my music and I can do whatever I want. https://t.co/CkP2SlWsp0
— Senses Fail (@SensesFail) December 10, 2018
no one told me to not say “whore” in a song but as a 34 year old adult, using the word “whore” in a song makes me feel like a loser and I don’t want to physically have to do it. It’s not preserving anything other than prolonging the fact I was a 17 year old loser for writing it. https://t.co/c4F5zfDZlq
— Senses Fail (@SensesFail) December 11, 2018
The timing of Senses Fail’s decision to omit certain language happens to come just days after there was a renewed controversy over The Pogues’ famed Christmas song, ‘Fairytale Of New York’.
While this isn’t the first time the track has come under fire for its lyrics (including the use of the word ‘faggot’), it prompted frontman Shane MacGown to respond to critics of the track.
“The word was used by the character because it fitted with the way she would speak and with her character,” MacGowan explained in a statement to The Irish Times. “She is not supposed to be a nice person, or even a wholesome person. She is a woman of a certain generation at a certain time in history and she is down on her luck and desperate.”
“She is just supposed to be an authentic character and not all characters in songs and stories are angels or even decent and respectable, sometimes characters in songs and stories have to be evil or nasty in order to tell the story effectively.”
“If people don’t understand that I was trying to accurately portray the character as authentically as possible then I am absolutely fine with them bleeping the word but I don’t want to get into an argument,” he concluded.
Despite Senses Fail’s decision to re-record their old songs, it appears clear that their fanbase is rather clearly divided between two camps; social justice gone mad, or an appropriate way to acknowledge personal growth and respect.