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Title: 6 Banned Rock and Roll Hit Songs
Source:
Entertainment Cheat Sheet
URL Source: http://www.cheatsheet.com/entertain ... -and-roll-hits.html/?a=viewall
Published: May 15, 2015
Author: Jacqueline Sahagian
Post Date: 2015-05-15 11:14:29 by Orwellian Nightmare
Keywords: None
Views: 11368
Comments: 31
The following is a list of some of the most famous examples in rock and roll history of songs that have been widely banned by radio stations and record stores for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it’s the typical offensive content or political messages, sometimes it’s for reasons less expected, but musicians throughout the relatively recent history of rock and roll music have been punished with bans for boundary-pushing music. Larry Ellis/Hulton Archive/Getty Images The Stones were never any strangers to controversy from the beginning of their career. 1967’s “Let’s Spend the Night Together” was one of their early songs to draw the most rage from the powers that be, getting banned by the BBC for encouraging promiscuity. When the Stones appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show planning to play the song, Sullivan requested that they change the lyric from “let’s spend the night together” to “let’s spend some time together.” While Mick Jagger superficially agreed, when it came time to sing it he ostentatiously rolled his eyes and mumbled the line, letting listeners mentally put in the correct lyric. Sullivan was reportedly furious and banned the group from ever returning to the program, a promise he didn’t end up keeping. The song was again banned along with four other songs in 2006 due to its “suggestive lyrics” when the group gave its first-ever performance in China. “I’m pleased that the Ministry of Culture is protecting the morals of the expat bankers and their girlfriends that are going to be coming,” Jagger sarcastically told the BBC of the Chinese government’s decision, although he added that they fully expected some censorship would be involved with the China show. Hulton Archive/Getty Images Many different Beatles songs were banned by various groups and radio stations at different times in the band’s career, particularly after John Lennon’s infamous “we’re more popular than Jesus” comments. While those comments and various aspects of the group’s image resulted in widespread bans and boycotts of the group’s music as a whole, particular songs drew ire for their supposed references to drugs. “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds” and “A Day in the Life” are two Beatles songs that were banned from radio stations for their alleged references to drugs. The title of “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds” was thought by some to be an acronym for the hallucinogenic drug LSD, while John Lennon says it came from a drawing his young son Julian did of a classmate named Lucy with that title. He also pointed to the Lewis Carroll book Alice in Wonderland as an inspiration for the song. Lennon and McCartney both adamantly denied that the song was about LSD. The closing track from the same album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, was also banned by the BBC for the lyrics “I’d love to turn you on” and “found my way upstairs and had a smoke,” both of which the puritanical radio station decided were references to drugs. Lennon and McCartney also denied these accusations. Hulton Archive/Getty Images The country queen might seem quite benign now, but popular contemporary country music is not the rebellious, raw music that country was when people like Lynn and Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash were in their prime. Lynn’s 1975 song “The Pill” is really an early feminist punk song, celebrating how her life would be different now that she could have access to contraception and not be relegated to being a baby-making machine. It’s considered to be one of the first songs about the birth control pill and was banned from many radio stations due to its controversial subject matter. The song reflected elements of Lynn’s personal life, as she’d been a teenage bride and already had six children by the time she wrote the song. While the ban prevented the song from becoming as big a hit as it should’ve been given the magnitude of Lynn’s popularity, it’s now considered one of her biggest contributions to music history. Graham Wood/Hulton Archive/Getty Images U.K. punks the Sex Pistols perfectly timed the release of their single “God Save the Queen” to coincide with the Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebration in May of 1977. While many mindlessly celebrated the monarchy’s milestone, the working class of England was being ignored and falling into poverty. The punks protested these social conditions with seething, riotous music that scared the establishment. When “God Save the Queen” was released, the BBC refused to play the song even though it skyrocketed to No. 1 on the Billboard charts. With lyrics like “God save the Queen / She ain’t no human being / She made you a moron,” Billboard even blanked out the name of the song and the band on the charts for that week, making the top spot for that week technically blank; as if there were no No. 1 song. In addition to the censorship from the BBC, other radio stations also refused to play the song and many major chains refused to sell the record. The Guardian has called it “the most heavily censored record in British history.” Warner Bros./Hulton Archive/Getty Images This is one of the stranger examples on the list. While the famous Kinks song gained controversy for being about the love between a man and a transvestite, it was banned by the BBC for product placement regarding a reference in the lyrics to Coca-Cola. Kinks frontman and songwriter Ray Davies responded by recording a different version of the song that changed the line “where you drink champagne and it tastes like Coca Cola” to “cherry cola” so that the government-run station, which at the time could not be seen as endorsing any product, could play the song. Frank Micelotta/Hulton Archive/Getty Images The very title of this track from 1993’s In Utero was enough to get it pulled from the shelves of Walmart and Kmart. While Kurt Cobain was known for his strict adherence to his punk ethos, he relented to pressure by changing the title to “Waif Me” for sales at those stores that demanded it, because he recognized that some of his fans didn’t have access to other resources for buying music in the pre-Internet age. “I just feel bad for all the kids who are forced to buy their music from big chain stores and have to have the edited music,” Cobain said, according to Mental Floss. The release of In Utero wasn’t the first time the band encountered issues with the song, as they wanted to perform it at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1992, but were told “no” by MTV execs. They agreed to play “Lithium” instead, but just to give the MTV people a good scare Cobain started playing the intro to “Rape Me” before starting “Lithium.” This was also the famous performance in which Krist Novoselic accidentally dropped his bass on his head and the group taunted their sworn enemy Axl Rose a lot. I couldn’t include all the great songs from rock and roll history that have been banned in this post! If I missed one of your favorites, tweet it to me @Jacqui_WSCS
1. The Rolling Stones, “Let’s Spend the Night Together”
2. The Beatles, “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds,” “A Day in the Life”
3. Loretta Lynn, “The Pill”
4. The Sex Pistols, “God Save the Queen”
5. The Kinks, “Lola”
6. Nirvana, “Rape Me”
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#1. To: Orwellian Nightmare (#0)
Two of my favorite Beatles songs, the bass line in "A Day In The Life" is understated brilliance. "Sgt. Pepper" was one of the first albums I ever bought. It never gets old.
They seem to exclude the one that first came to mind. It was getting to be pretty popular in the charts and you heard it played and then suddenly it just disappeared off the radio. Due to complaints that the song was degrading to mental patients who often listened to radio in mental hospitals, this song got pulled off the air for decades, until they released most public psychiatric patients and closed the big psychiatric hospitals a few decades back.
And I thought political correctness was a recent phenomenon.
The public airing of "fueds" (in many cases probably fake fueds egged on by music promoters I am guessing) is one of the sad aspects of American pop music culture from which it has not recovered. Contrast that to the respect the 60s rock acts showed for each other - at least publically. Or the fact that music was so open then that Jimi Hendrix could open for The Monkees and no one thought that mixing those two styles was odd. Now, all music is ghettoized. I also think rock music died at the second Woodstock. That was an ugly episode that must have turned people off. Modern country acts - if you look closely - would have been rock acts if not for the fact that rock is dead.
It never gets old. I had bought a lot of albums before Sgt Pepper,but it's one of the ones I remember best. It had a huge impact on the music industry worldwide. I think it is hilarious that after Paul McCartney was seen doing a duet with Kanye West that the airheads that are fams of Mr Kardashian bragged about how good-hearted Kanye was to help the musical career of some unknown old man.
Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
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Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
I remember some states passing laws that made it illegal to show Elvis from the waist down while he were performing because of his "sexual gyrations". IIRC,Frank Sinatra had some censor trouble too,back in the 40's. And let's not even get started on Blues music. That was being censored back in the 30's,with songs like "Cathouse Blues" and "Tom Cat and Pussy Blues" in 1932.
Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
Is Kanyae the guy who started up the paid music subscription service which features predominantly rap and hip hop and is struggling to get paid subscribers? I doubt anyone will remember West's music (or any of the soul-less mind numbing pap which passes for music nowdays) in 50+ years.
I guess I meant PC in reference to a particular group being offended so that the song is not played. Kinda like the Steve Earle song "Guitar Town" where the lyrics were changed from Everybody told me you can't get far On thirty-seven dollars and a cheap guitar And don't get me started on Sawyer Brown changing the lyrics to Six Days on The Road
Is Kanyae the guy who started up the paid music subscription service which features predominantly rap and hip hop and is struggling to get paid subscribers? Those tweets were mostly jokes.
Well - If we're going to talk about Rock & Roll censorship -
Surprisingly, that song got a lot of airplay when it was released. It was ranked as the #15 hit song by Billboard in 1972 and was Chuck Berry's only only song that charted at the top spot. A shame really because there were so many others that were head and shoulders above "My Ding-a-ling".
Those tweets were mostly jokes. I wouldn't be so sure about that, seems to me that most folks who lisetn to the "musical stylings" of Mr. Kardashian have no sense of musical history.
Beats me,but I doubt it since he is as dumb as a bag of hammers. Not saying one of his financial advisers didn't invest in his name,though. I doubt anyone will remember West's music (or any of the soul-less mind numbing pap which passes for music nowdays) in 50+ years. To be honest I am certain I have heard some of his music while watching music award shows,but it was so meaningless that I can't even remember if it sucked or not. It was just noise.
Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
Mr Kardashian is mostly a joke. Take away record company promotion and black racism and their addiction to being "cool",and he would be singing in the park for quarters.
Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
Or even any history at all. I would say "compare him to Ray Charles or Louis Armstrong",but I think anyone that tried that comparison should be severely beaten.
Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
It really defies all logic that song would be his biggest selling record. Screw Elvis. He was just a pretty boy pretender with a good voice. The REAL Kings of Rock and Roll where Chuck Berry,Jerry Lee Lewis, and Buddy Holley.
Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
IMHO,Zappa invented "rock and roll that sucks". He was a drama major,not a musician.
Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
A shame really because there were so many others that were head and shoulders above "My Ding-a-ling". The first time I saw The Eagles,they opened up their second encore with Memphis. The sold out auditorium went absolutely freaking nuts. People were dancing all over the place that had no business at all dancing anywhere.
Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
Here's the original:
I wouldn't be so sure about that, seems to me that most folks who lisetn to the "musical stylings" of Mr. Kardashian have no sense of musical history. Look up the praises for David Hasselhoff in Amazon for his CDs. Lot's of funny fawing reviews (done for jokes).
I was never a fan of Zappa, too esoteric for my taste. He was more of a jazz/avante garde artist than an actual "rock" artist IMHO. Like him or not, he was a heckuva musician. And yes, his songs were censored from mainstream radio, but a most if not all of the "progressive FM" stations in the late 60's - early 70's featured a lot of his stuff.
When I lived in Minnesota around '92 or '93, I worked for a company that did sound and video for conferences, events, that sort of thing. We did the sound and lights for Hasselhoff when he performed (lip-synced) at the recently constructed Mall of America. I got to meet him. What a douchebag. The way he acted you would have thought he was Mick Jagger or something.
The 5 star reviews are written as jokes. So the Kanye tweets might be like that also.
Back in the early 90s I had a boss who idolized the guy.
Not sure if you have listened to enough Zappa then. If anyone can listen to Joes Garage and not like it, then, ya, it's a matter of taste. I really love his guitar work in 'Dickies such an Asshole' on 'You can't do that on Stage Anymore' 3. Usually, he has a person play lead guitar. I gave a book signed by him, Dweezil, and Steve Vai to a cousin. He was a big Zappa fan. Gotta worth a penny or two.
I saw him in concert once. He was the opening act for someone else that I wanted to see,and IMHO he sucked all the air right out of the hall. Bunch of artsy-fartsy shit that reminded me of a 8 year old farting to get attention. With all the good acts that were touring and making LP's back then,it was a total mystery to me why anyone bothered to listen to him.
Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
I hate his early stuff, IMO, his best stuff came from very late 70s, early eighties. His '82 band was an incredible assemblage of talent.
I'll take your word for it.
Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
I'll take your word for it. Frank Zappa surrounded himself with some of the top musicians from just about every genre of music. Some of the notable names who have appeared on Zappa albums include Eric Clapton, guitarist Adrian Belew (King Crimson), drummer Terry Bozzio, drummer Aynsley Dunbar (worked with John Mayall, Ian Hunter, Lou Reed, Jeff Beck, David Bowie, Whitesnake, Sammy Hagar, Journey). Lowell George (Little Feat). John Lennon, violinist Jean-Luc Ponty (Mahavishnu Orchestra), Linda Ronstadt, Sting, Tina Turner and guitarist Steve Vai.
The Beatles, “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds,” “A Day in the Life”
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
Paul Craig Roberts
#2. To: Orwellian Nightmare, sneakypete (#0)
#3. To: TooConservative (#2)
Due to complaints that the song was degrading to mental patients who often listened to radio in mental hospitals, this song got pulled off the air for decades,
#4. To: Orwellian Nightmare, TooConservative (#0)
and the group taunted their sworn enemy Axl Rose a lot.
#5. To: Deckard (#1)
"Sgt. Pepper" was one of the first albums I ever bought.
#6. To: TooConservative, *Music* (#2)
#7. To: Orwellian Nightmare (#3)
And I thought political correctness was a recent phenomenon.
#8. To: sneakypete (#5)
I think it is hilarious that after Paul McCartney was seen doing a duet with Kanye West that the airheads that are fams of Mr Kardashian bragged about how good-hearted Kanye was to help the musical career of some unknown old man.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
Paul Craig Roberts
#9. To: sneakypete, TooConservative, Deckard (#7)
(Edited)
I remember some states passing laws that made it illegal to show Elvis from the waist down while he were performing because of his "sexual gyrations".
On thirty-seven dollars and a jap guitar to
#10. To: Deckard, sneakypete (#8)
I think it is hilarious that after Paul McCartney was seen doing a duet with Kanye West that the airheads that are fams of Mr Kardashian bragged about how good-hearted Kanye was to help the musical career of some unknown old man.
#11. To: sneakypete (#7)
#12. To: Orwellian Nightmare (#0)
then we have to move way back to Frank Zappa, IMO...
#13. To: Willie Green, sneakypete, (#11)
#14. To: Pericles, sneakypete (#10)
the airheads that are fams of Mr Kardashian bragged about how good-hearted Kanye was to help the musical career of some unknown old man.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
Paul Craig Roberts
#15. To: Deckard (#8)
Is Kanyae the guy who started up the paid music subscription service which features predominantly rap and hip hop and is struggling to get paid subscribers?
#16. To: Pericles (#10)
Those tweets were mostly jokes.
#17. To: Deckard (#14)
(Edited)
I wouldn't be so sure about that, seems to me that most folks who lisetn to the "musical stylings" of Mr. Kardashian have no sense of musical history.
#18. To: Willie Green (#11)
#19. To: Chuck_Wagon (#12)
#20. To: Orwellian Nightmare (#13)
#21. To: sneakypete (#18)
#22. To: Deckard, sneakypete (#14)
Those tweets were mostly jokes.
#23. To: sneakypete, Chuck_Wagon (#19)
IMHO,Zappa invented "rock and roll that sucks". He was a drama major,not a musician.
#24. To: Pericles, sneakypete (#22)
Look up the praises for David Hasselhoff in Amazon for his CDs
#25. To: Orwellian Nightmare, sneakypete (#24)
http://www.amazon.com/Very-Best-David-Hasselhoff/dp/B00005Q8UG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1431723994&sr=8-1&keywords=david+hasselhoff
#26. To: Orwellian Nightmare (#23)
Like him or not, he was a heckuva musician.
I had never paid any attention to him before then.
#27. To: sneakypete (#19)
#28. To: Dead Culture Watch (#27)
Not sure if you have listened to enough Zappa then.
#29. To: sneakypete (#28)
#30. To: Dead Culture Watch (#29)
His '82 band was an incredible assemblage of talent.
#31. To: sneakypete, Dead Culture Watch, Deckard (#30)
His '82 band was an incredible assemblage of talent.
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