BBC says it did not cut CMAT's Irish-language intro from first play of her new single Euro-Country

Irish Independent

5 days ago

The British public broadcaster said it broadcast the radio edit of the song that was supplied by the Irish star's record label.
The Irish-language intro in CMAT's newest single, Euro-Country, was played during its radio debut on BBC Radio 1 yesterday, leading the singer to post on social media that it was 'not my decision' and that the BBC had gotten in contact to say they would play the full version today.
A spokesperson for the BBC said this afternoon: 'BBC Radio 1 did not edit the Irish language from this single; we broadcast the radio edit of CMAT's new song Euro-Country that was supplied by the record label.'
'BBC Radio 1 will play the full version that includes the Irish language intro today on 'Rickie Melvin and Charlie', 'Going Home', and Radio 1's New Music Show with Jack Saunders,' a spokesperson added.
CMAT released her new song on Tuesday – one of the lead singles on her upcoming album of the same title.
Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, originally from Dunboyne, Co Meath, announced on her social media yesterday that the song would be played for the first time on BBC Radio 1 at 6pm.
'Explorers! We are off to the Euro-Country! Tune into BBC Radio 1 to hear my song Euro-Country in full for the first time, where little Jackie Saunders will be playing it as his hottest record in the world. From 6pm,' she wrote on her Instagram.
However, the version that was broadcast was without a 40-second intro in the Irish language.
CMAT later posted on Instagram: "It was not my decision to have the Irish language edited out of the first-ever play of Euro-Country on radio.'
'I don't know if it was a mistake or what happened,' she said on her Instagram story.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Irish star confirmed that the UK's radio station told her they would play a full version of her song today.
'However, they have just gotten in contact and said that they are gonna play the Irish-language intro, full version of Euro-Country tomorrow to make up for it,' she wrote.
The intro in the single reads: 'Cad is gá dom a dhéanamh mura bhfuil mé ag bualadh leat? (What am I to do if I'm not meeting you?)
"Tá ceann folamh agam, yah, agus pearsantacht nua (I have an empty head, yah, and a new personality)
'Eirím níos dofheicthe, is tú imithe, ó mo shaol (I become more invisible, you are gone, from my life)
'Níl aon rud fágtha sa scátháin (There's nothing left in the mirror)
'An mbeidh mé álainn mhaol? (Will I be beautiful bald?).'
In the same song, Euro-Country, CMAT takes an aim at former Taoiseach Bernie Ahern and the architects of Ireland's recession.
The lyrics – "All the big boys, all the Berties, all the envelopes, yeah, they hurt me, I was 12 when the das started killing themselves all around me' – are understood to reference high suicide rates following the collapse of the Celtic Tiger in 2008.
CMAT recently played at Glastonbury and is now getting ready to hit the stage at All Together Now in Curraghmore Estate in Co Waterford during the August Bank Holiday Weekend.
The album Euro-Country is out on August 29.