The history of the performing arts is littered with the bloodstained remnants of feuds between artists and critics. Now Sandi Thom has added to the illustrious tradition by penning an expletive-ridden song about a music journalist who dared to criticise the quality of her work.

The Banff-born singer-songwriter was incensed by an article in her local paper in which a critic said he hated her “awful” music. In response she wrote, recorded and posted on her website a musical reposte which uses the f-word 13 times.

The country and western-style clip includes the lines: “F*** you, if you don’t like me/ F*** you if you don’t see things the way I do/Because I have been working all my life to play these songs to you/If you don’t like them, f*** you.”

The song was prompted by a column in the Aberdeen Evening Express by Andrew Learmonth, a comedian and DJ. In the article, headlined My Problem With Sandi Thom, Learmonth, who had been critical of the singer in the past, recalled an embarrassing incident in which he bumped into her at his local supermarket.

“In my column I was incredibly nasty and may have said that Sandi Thom was responsible for killing MySpace and music. She gave me a wee smile as we passed each other in the bakery aisle,” he wrote.

“I felt like a complete hypocrite. I had been nasty about this person who was nice and friendly. I went home and dug out my copy of her latest album that some misguided PR person had sent me.

“Perhaps, I thought, I need to give her another chance . . .

I listened. It was awful. Sorry, but it really was. I feel like a horrible person but as nice as she was in Asda I don’t think I can ever get over my hatred of her music.”

His comments appear to have tipped Thom over the edge. Writing on her website last week, the singer, who also writes a column in the newspaper, said: “[I] came across an article published in February by some dude called Learmonth who rubbishes me in the title and proceeds to waffle on about a few new bands he’s seen at the Tunnels, a venue in Aberdeen, and his now cancelled radio show being a beacon of musical prophecy.

“Not until the very end of his column does he actually attend to topic by rubbishing me and my music some more but never really answering the question of the title which was ‘my problem with Sandi Thom’ and provides no convincing link to what’s previously been written.

“So, I decided to compile a little response to Learmonth in the form of a musical ditty . . . and while I’m at it, this one goes out to all the journalists that use me as a s*** shoe shiner and think my music sucks . . . next time you’re looking for a hook for your drivel mate, take a cheap shot at someone else.”

Thom provides a link to the song, along with a disclaimer warning listeners that they may find the language offensive.

Times Recommends

• Times Christmas appeal: Letter from the Editor
• Conferences — what a waste of money
• Schools supremo learns a painful lesson