Use of the "F" word in a song: has Cee Lo gone a little too far?

The radio version is “Forget You”. The only time you hear the “Fuck You” version is on line, and it’s used in a non-sexual context, so who cares?

I don’t think age has anything to do with it, It’s just personal taste. Usually I would hate something like this, not because of the language, but because of it being bland and commercial pop stuff, but I actually like this, it’s a nice song with a good rythm, I can see how at least some kind talent would be needed to make this song.

There have been songs in the past with much more vulgar language, GG allin comes to mind.

EDIT: George Carlin was 71 when he died, to me thats old, and he used to use language like this all the time. On the other hand, one of my grandmothers who is not much older considers “bloody” a vulgar word, along with “damn” and “hell”.

There are many more songs that use more swear words in them and worse words at that; this song is hardly an extreme example. Plus, the version heard on the radio is always going to be the censored version that does not contain “fuck” or any of the other bad words in it.

Personally, I love this song. :) I love the neo-soul style of the music and I love the in-your-face style of the lyrics.

@kenmc I heard it on the radio on the way home from work at 8ish pm. But then, I’m in Israel.

That fucker went way over the fuckin’ line. Fuck him! And fuck fuckin’ Lily Allen too.

@ratboy Fuck the fucking fuckers.

@ratboy Lily Allen’s singing is way over the fuckin’ line. Cee Lo on the other hand…

I don’t know about Israelistan, but here in ‘Merika we don’t take kindly to dem dirty fornicatin’ words on the radio~

I’m waiting for the accoustic, fiddle version.

I’ve given up on swear words. My daughter-in-law uses them so often my 1 year old and 3 year old grandsons think they are normal words.

@YARNLADY, you mean they’re not?

Yes there’s really no need for vulgarity. I believe this xmas ditty shows how it can be done with panache & decorum.

@zenvelo I think they are now that people see them for what they are, four letters in a row, I still don’t see what the big deal about swear words

Tame…..Frank Zappa took that Word to a whole other level…

Shit yeah!~

@Cruiser, thanks—truly a magnificent inspiration.

@ratboy just doing my job! :)

@zenvelo Not at all. Swear words are specifically designed and uttered to be apart from and instead of normal words. If they were normal words, they would not exist.

@YARNLADY That make no sense, swear words have been made “bad” by society, all through history different “swear words” have come and gone. Nobody actually is a swear word “designer”. flugrath is a new swear word.

@anothermember OK – first you say they are made bad then you say nobody actually designs them. Yes, as you yourself said, society designates/designs them. BAD is the operative word here. If they weren’t ooooooooOOooo bad no one would bother with them. A loud OH, NO or OUCH would do.

@YARNLADY I don’t really think it’s anything to do with them being “bad”, it’s more of a reflex, like a yes please when somebody asks if you want something, sure just a yes would have done but because yes please has been ingrained into you from a young age you say it automatically. I then said “all through history different “swear words” have come and gone”
these swear words are simply now thought of as normal words by most of society. Damn used to be really bad and so did Jesus or Christ now they are used all the time and only old folk and highly religious people care.

I’m gonna have to agree with @YARNLADY somewhat here – and disagree with @anothermember – her definition and explanation seem right, and your examples, well, incorrect. Damn is, and always has been a word. Jesus and Christ are simply his name, and one can either take his name in vain, or not. I wouldn’t compare the etymological history of the slang words Fuck, Cunt and Shit with your examples of Jesus and Christ; but rather, understand and use them as @YARNLADY wrote. IMHO.

@seazen I have not study into this at all I am just going off my observations and conversations with others. To me almost all of the people under 30 use fuck, shit, bitch, arse and crap in everyday normal conversations, I still think cunt is thought of as a bad word. When I say “almost everybody” I am talking about people I talk to, like doctors, teachers, sales reps, musicians, road workers, etc. This is in the workplace and out. It is so abundant in conversation today I don’t think I could go an hour without hearing them unless I went deaf.
That is how I have opinion that they are simply just words today. Language evolves, including slang.