Nowadays, explicit lyrics don’t even raise eyebrows anymore but rewind a few years back and you will find popular songs getting banned left and right for being too… well, anything and everything.
Image by Broadimage/Shutterstock (1301904k)
Find out why some of the most classic songs ever to have written had to change lyrics, remove entire choruses or just straight up got banned by countries. Some of the reasons for such drastic measures we understand but most of them are just plain bizarre.
1. Imagine – John Lennon
Thanks to the British pop band The Beatles, John Lennon became one of the most famous and revered artists of all time. And he cemented status further for all with his much-loved solo single, “Imagine”.
Image by Scandore Shayne/Wikipedia
“Imagine” became an instant classic, with its bright and idyllic themes of a peaceful future. So, imagine our surprise when we found out that the song was actually banned several times over the years? Why? Religious groups took issue with the line “Imagine there’s no heaven”.
2. If U Seek Amy – Britney Spears
Pop princess Britney Spears struck all the right notes in her hit song If U Seek Amy and at the time of release it was seen to be a tamer version of her usually, controversial and racy lyrics. So, why was it banned?
Image by Broadimage/Shutterstock (1301904k)
Well, give the song a listen and you will know. The lyrics of “If U Seek Amy” are a double entendre which reveal their true meaning when the title and main chorus are sung aloud, it sounds like you are spelling out a rather rude word. While super subtle, it gave many radios and t.v channels to ban the song.
3. Like A Prayer – Madonna
Long-reigning queen of pop, Madonna is no stranger to controversy. Her racy lyrics and saucy dance moves have often got her in hot water since the start of her career, especially with the more conservative American listeners and music fans over the years.
Image by Globe Photos/Mediapunch/Shutterstock (10365690a)
But her 1989 hit “Like a Prayer” gathered attention and criticism more than most thanks to its religious imagery. The song was criticized by thousands of fans and even the Vatican but of course, only made it more popular!
4. Rolling In The Deep – Adele
Recovering from heartbreak or not, Adele’s soulful lyrics and powerful voice are loved by millions. The British singer music is often regarded as timeless and transcending all genres, and she’s certainly not the first singer that comes to mind when thinking of controversial lyrics and yet, one of her songs got banned.
Image via @adele/IG
“Rolling in the Deep” was banned from several stations thanks to the word “ship” in the chorus. Still, confused? Well, the word sounded very much like a different, much ruder word in the track. Adele has neither confirmed nor denied if it was done intentionally.
5. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones
One of the most popular songs of all time, The Rolling Stones’ smash hit “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” is an icon with many modern artists trying to recreate the same success and vibe of the original yet never even coming close to it.
Image by Alan Messer/Shutterstock (27943a)
But initially, when it first came out, the song wasn’t revered as it is today, in fact, it was banned from many radio channels thanks to what censors deemed its racy lyrics. This initially controversial actually propelled the song into popular culture and was fully cemented when they saw Mick Jagger’s accompanying saucy moves.
6. The Real Slim Shady – Eminem
Known for his explicit lyrics and sometimes violent or aggressive imagery, Detroit rapper Eminem and audiences are no stranger to his songs being censored or banned outright from TV and radio stations.
Image by Kristina Bumphrey/StarPix/REX/Shutterstock (5626465am)
But his 2001 hit “The Real Slim Shady” was under fire for being even more controversial than his other songs and yes, that included the clean, radio-friendly version. The FCC felt that the song’s racy themes were inappropriate, even with the explicit language removed from the track. When Colorado Springs Radio station decided to play it anyway, it was heavily fined setting an example of no tolerance.
7. Lola – The Kinks
For anyone who has heard the super catchy “Lola” by The Kinks, you might assume that you can guess why this song would be banned from several stations but despite the racy and explicit nature of the song’s story, that’s actually not what got it banned.
Image by W. Veenman/Wikipedia
In fact, for most radio stations the issue was more the fact that one of the tracks referenced the drink Coca-Cola. This was an issue with many advertising laws at the time and stations, not air the song on non-commercial stations.
8. Physical – Olivia Newton-John
The 80s track got dragged back into the news when Miley Cryus and Dua Lipa new song, Prisoner was criticised for stealing Olivia Netwon’s song Physical distinct beat and rhythm but decades before that, the song had its not battles to find and things got very ugly.
Image by Lynne McAfee/Shutterstock (77216a)
The official video for the song featured many of the male dancers walking off holding hands, suggesting that they were gay couples. At the time this was not received well and for that reason, it was censored across many TV channels.
9. Greased Lightning – John Travolta
Up next we have Newton-John’s one-time paramour, John Travolta playing the iconic role of Danny Zuco in Grease. The movie is well-known for its legendary soundtrack, and “Greased Lightning” is one of the most popular of all its songs.
Image by Paramount/Rso/Kobal/Shutterstock (5886160bv)
For such a glossy and family-friendly musical, we were surprised when we found out that the track was banned across several radio stations when it was originally released. All because of a few words found in the lyrics.
10. Baby, It’s Cold Outside – Frank Loesser
One of the greatest songs of all time, this classic was awarded the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1949 and has been covered countless times over the years since. What was once considered a song that was perfect for late-night dances, when it was released is now being banned in many progressive countries.
Image by Everett Collection/Shutterstock (10283898a)
Why are these countries banning this song? Some believe that it shows too much pressure from men onto women to meet certain “expectations” and if you have given the song a listen, you can clearly see the “playful pressure” resulting in it getting banned from several radio stations.
11. Love Game – Lady Gaga
In the last couple of years, Lady Gaga has completely changed her once larger than life persona but that doesn’t mean she still doesn’t get bogged down with controversy. From her wild dance moves to turning up to awards ceremonies in a dress made of meat, she certainly made a mark during the start of her career.
Image by David Rowland/Shutterstock (924153a)
But her song “Love Game” was regarded by many as having pushed the boundaries of acceptability a little too far. The super-saucy nature of the song led to many radio stations censoring it heavily, and others simply not playing it altogether.
12. Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
This summery anthem is loved by fans around the world and is pretty much thought of as a relaxed and wholesome tune. But when “Brown Eyed Girl” was released by Van Morrison in 1967, it actually was met with a large deal of controversy.
Image by Ian Dickson/Shutterstock (750595h)
While it pales in compares to other 60s tunes which didn’t hold anything back, many conservative radio stations found the line “making love in the green grass” was deemed too suggestive and many dubbed this over with a different line.
13. Royals – Lorde
This pop-rock anthem was banned for a very interesting reason. It wasn’t because of naughty lyrics or a controversial message—but rather because of some overzealous sports fans! Who knew Lorde had a hold over not just teens but also sports fans?
Image by Norrie Montgomery/Shutterstock (3409284g)
Fans of the Kansas City Royals baseball team took it as their unofficial anthem, to the point that it became so associated with that team, that during the run-up to a key match between the Royals and the San Francisco Giants. Kansas City fans used the song to antagonise the other team, resulting in officials banning the song to be played at the games.
14. You Don’t Know How It Feels – Tom Petty
Rocker Tom Petty’s 1994 single “You Don’t Know How It Feels” saw him reach new levels of popularity. Taken from his Wildflowers album, the single made it onto the Billboard Hot 100 chart, as well as hitting number one of the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks.
Image by Davidwbaker/Wikipedia
But of course, some people didn’t like the mischievous nature of the song’s lyrics, and many radio stations played the more risqué words backwards to cover up their meaning and some refused to play the song altogether despite its success.
15. Creep – Radiohead
Another song that was not banned due to any risque lyrics or questionable messaging. BBC actually refused to play this classic indie anthem because it was simply too depressing in 1992.
Image by Hayley Madden/Shutterstock (237052e)
It also does contain the F-word which is a sure way of getting your songs off the radio stations but even after the band recorded a new version without profanity, the BBC still wouldn’t play it.
16. Wham! Bam! Thank You, Ma’am! – Dean Martin
If you can’t already tell, it is pretty clear that in the olden days’ people were a lot more sensitive to anything even hinting towards lovemaking or any sort of amorous encounters. A lot has changed today, ahem ahem looking at you WAP by Cardi B.
Image via Wikipedia
The lyrics to “Wham Bam Thank You Ma’Am” were considered far too risqué to be played on the radio in those times. This was the 50s, so we aren’t that surprised especially since the song is referring to a casual sexual encounter.
17. Four or Five Times – Dottie O’Brien
The song “Four or Five Times” had already been a long-successful song since its original release in 1927 but it wasn’t until 1951 that it became regarded as inappropriate due to its sexy lyrics.
Image via Imgur
No, it’s not that the lyrics had got any saucier—it’s just that this time it was being sung by a woman, Dottie O’Brien. That’s right a heavy dose of double standards was what got this song banned!
18. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow – The Shirelles
The lovely and romantic 1960 hit “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” by The Shirelles is a beautiful and soulful song at its core. It also was the first-ever song by a black female singing group to reach the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100.
Image by Associated Newspapers /Shutterstock (1800027a)
However, the song was regarded as a bit too saucy in those times and was banned by several radio stations. Many believe that it wasn’t just the lyrics that caused a stir but racists undercurrents also stopped the song from getting the recognition it deserved.
19. Jackie – Scott Walker
Scott Walker’s 1967 “Jackie” was a refreshing tune that became an instant hit, loved by fans the world over. However, there was one country where it was not received quite so happily—over in the United Kingdom.
Image via Wikipedia
The sensitive Brits found Walkers’ lyrics, which hinted towards wild lifestyles and scandalous affairs, too controversial for tastes at the time, and the song was banned by radio stations across the country. Fun Fact: It even has the honour of being the first song ever to be banned by the BBC’s Radio One.
20. Glad to Be Gay – Tom Robinson
Popular singer Tom Robinson wrote this hit song to celebrate being out and proud, and it became an anthem for the gay community in England during the 70s. It is said to be one of the first songs written for a gay pride parade.
Image by Ilpo Musto/Shutterstock (1276355an)
The world wasn’t as thrilled about its lyrics and despite thousands of people requesting stations to play the song, many banned it for what was regarded as inappropriate content. Thankfully, nowadays a song like this would be celebrated rather than scorned.