http://www.classicbands.com/banned.html

 

whats your views on censorship?!

banned songs, speak your mind lyricists.

Why dont you free your mind and your ass will follow:

According to the above site not a lot has happened of late.

Has it all gone so horribly weird during the nighties and the noughties?

 

So true. I remember seeing Arsenio Hall interview Little Richard on TV , AND HE ASKED HIM WHAT HE THOUGHT OF 2LIVE CREW'S (Then - Recent) CONTROVERSY. To his credit , Richard did'nt seem very familiarwith the issue , but said  "Don't take your freedoms lightly. You have freedom of speech. If you want to listen to RAP , or if you want to watch PORR - NOG - RO - PHEE . That's your right ! and God gave you that right ! I may not LIKE it , but , I ain't got to BUY it !!!!".       oooh , mysoul ! my ! my ! my!

Mole said:

I guess if 'free speech' is truly free [yeah right!!], then you can't advocate censorship, however distasteful the material may be. Personally I'm not in favour of anything that actively promotes prejudice, but like, I just won't buy it or listen to it. Isn't that the point, that we have a CHOICE? Censorship is someone else's choice, not mine.

I guess if 'free speech' is truly free [yeah right!!], then you can't advocate censorship, however distasteful the material may be. Personally I'm not in favour of anything that actively promotes prejudice, but like, I just won't buy it or listen to it. Isn't that the point, that we have a CHOICE? Censorship is someone else's choice, not mine.

CHRIS , YOU'RE RIGHT , IT COULD BE A WHOLE LOT WORSE.

I think people who complain the most about repression don't know what repression is.

By comparison , neither do I. I've spoken with people who were in Cambodia , under Pol Pot's regime , former US Soldiers , refugees and others. But , most of them did'nt talk about things like this....I'm sure that even getting a hold of a "Banned" record , or simply a record that went under the radar was difficult enough. That's why it's not so odd to come across a Black Market record on an extremely mainstream artist - Say , The Rolling Stones , Elvis , Deep Purple , from the former Soviet Union. I've seen  some that would now be barely 25 years old , crappy graphics , crappy vinyl and probably worse sound.  But , that was the best they could get , at the time.      But , you've opened up something interesting. It's difficult for we , in the states , to comprehend how influential a song can become in Britain , and how quickly it can get around. The upside is , while Punk Rock tanked , here , a lot of great Punk singles made the top 20 and top 10 (However , we all know about the record that hit number one , that's on your list , but , was'nt even listed by name.)..... Of course , if a song was deemed a rallying cry to violence against a specific group , and could reach a lot of people in a short time , it should be put to question....But , the short lived "Death Discs" era that produced songs like "Ebony Eyes" was challenged by the powers that be. Some of these records were derided for "Sick Content" , when young people were'nt out to make themselves depressed (AS deemed by censors , here and abroad) , but , coming to terms with the fact that you're never too young to die....Songs like "Leader of The Pack " and "Last Kiss"usually tried to deal with young person's concerns over the mortality of themselves and their family and friends in a relatively tasteful manner. Maybe , not always , but , we need some bad taste to stir up the pot , hence , songs like "I Want My Baby Back"....BUT "eBONY eYES" , FOR EXAMPLE , IS JUST A STORY SONG , LIKE A FOLK BALLAD.... I saw Charlie Louvin , a few years ago , and he explained that "Knoxville Girl" , the popular and graphic murder ballad , dates back to England , hundreds of years ago.... On the other hand , I also remember hearing a news report , from Scotland , blaming The Ramones , in part , for the rash of glue sniffing and the deaths associated with it. I did'nt even know who the Hell The Ramones were , or what "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue" sounded like. Even then , at the age of 12 or 13 , I thought it merely a strange topic for a Rock song. This was before you could hear The Ramones in a Grocery Store or on a TV commercial . I was'nt even reading about Punk Rock until 1977 , and The Ramones were only getting mention , by then , because they were regarded as the only American BAND THAT COULD HOLD IT'S OWN WITH THE UK PUNK MOVEMENT. I only read , late r, about how much influence they had on the latter. But, most people , I think , understood  that it was Black Humor , much of it going over the average Joe's head , anyway. Nevertheless , The Ramones were unofficially  banned , or discouraged , at least , from radio airplay in many , or most US markets. I only heard them , once , in prime time , in '84 . A friend of mine who was also friends with the band said that was also the record company's doing , in no small part. But , I apologize for rambling , I'd love to see the rest of the list !  

Chris Henniker said:

It could be worse, we could be in Cambodia under Pol Pot. Ros Sereysothea and Sinn Sissamouth were murdered just because they were musicians. My views are that I'm against it but, in some cases, it's a neccessary evil. For example, the song incites anything illegal, like violence against travellers or even a rival football team, or creates a susbtantial risk of serious prejudice in a court case. I studied media law and they've got to be judged on its merits.  However, the artistic merit is often more important when deciding.  

 

Here's a list of songs banned by the BBC, with some really unlikely candidates (I even wonder whether som of it is due to over sensitivity):

B

• "Baby, Let Me Follow You Down" - Bob Dylan (1962)^[2]
• "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" - Cher (1966) (banned during Gulf War)^[13]
• "Baubles, Bangles and Beads" from the musical Kismet (1953)^[2]
• "Boom Bang-a-Bang" - Lulu (1969) (banned during Gulf War)^[1]

[edit] C

• "Charlie Brown" – The Coasters (1959)^[10]

[edit] D

• "A Day in the Life" - The Beatles (1967)^[8]
• "Diggin' My Potatoes" - Lonnie Donegan (1954)^[9]
• "Don't Let's Be Beastly to the Germans" - Noël Coward (1943)^[9]

[edit] E

• "Ebeneezer Goode" - The Shamen (1992)^[14]
• "Ebony Eyes" - The Everly Brothers (1961)^[15]

[edit] F

• "Fairytale of New York" - The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl (1987)^[12]

[edit] G

• "Give Ireland Back to the Irish" - Wings (1972)^[16]
• "Glad to Be Gay" - Tom Robinson Band (1978)^[17][18]
• "Gloomy Sunday" - Billie Holiday (1941)^[1]
• "God Save the Queen" - Sex Pistols (1977)^[6]
• "Green Jeans" - The Flee-Rekkers (1960)^[2]

[edit] H

It could be worse, we could be in Cambodia under Pol Pot. Ros Sereysothea and Sinn Sissamouth were murdered just because they were musicians. My views are that I'm against it but, in some cases, it's a neccessary evil. For example, the song incites anything illegal, like violence against travellers or even a rival football team, or creates a susbtantial risk of serious prejudice in a court case. I studied media law and they've got to be judged on its merits.  However, the artistic merit is often more important when deciding.  

 

Here's a list of songs banned by the BBC, with some really unlikely candidates (I even wonder whether som of it is due to over sensitivity):

B

• "Baby, Let Me Follow You Down" - Bob Dylan (1962)^[2]
• "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" - Cher (1966) (banned during Gulf War)^[13]
• "Baubles, Bangles and Beads" from the musical Kismet (1953)^[2]
• "Boom Bang-a-Bang" - Lulu (1969) (banned during Gulf War)^[1]

[edit] C

• "Charlie Brown" – The Coasters (1959)^[10]

[edit] D

• "A Day in the Life" - The Beatles (1967)^[8]
• "Diggin' My Potatoes" - Lonnie Donegan (1954)^[9]
• "Don't Let's Be Beastly to the Germans" - Noël Coward (1943)^[9]

[edit] E

• "Ebeneezer Goode" - The Shamen (1992)^[14]
• "Ebony Eyes" - The Everly Brothers (1961)^[15]

[edit] F

• "Fairytale of New York" - The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl (1987)^[12]

[edit] G

• "Give Ireland Back to the Irish" - Wings (1972)^[16]
• "Glad to Be Gay" - Tom Robinson Band (1978)^[17][18]
• "Gloomy Sunday" - Billie Holiday (1941)^[1]
• "God Save the Queen" - Sex Pistols (1977)^[6]
• "Green Jeans" - The Flee-Rekkers (1960)^[2]

[edit] H

swt , Keep up the good work. I'M SURE HIS ROLE MODELS , HITLER , STALIN , KHOMEINI , FRANCO , ETC. , would think he's on the SIDE THAT'S RIGHT , AND THE SIDE THAT'S WINNING. HA! Even J. Edgar Hoover had to pay for defaming the likes of The Kingsmen , in time.  

swt said:

A couple of weeks ago on my COUNTRY show on our local public radio (I also do a more garagepunk-oriented freeform show there too) I got a call from this dildo bitching about the fact that one of the songs I'd played (Road Bound by Bob Wayne) said "fuck" three times.

I thought it was a friend of mine just goofing on me, so I told him, "Sorry. My Fuckometer is broke."  But he was not a friend and he was serious. I politely told him that the FCC only enforces obscenity rules between the hours of 6 am and 10 pm. That's true. It's to "protect the children." (MY show starts at 10 pm) But the douche bag still threatened to write the FCC.

 

I figure if I can offend just one asshole a night, I'm doing my job.

It's really at the Parent's discretion , whether they want their kids to hear something or not. My Mom let us listen to Cheech and Chong , because A) You'd have to wait 10 minutes to hear "Fuck " or "Shit" , and B) She thought they were funny , too , the parts she understood. Rap and Hip Hop , well , you know ,  at least people like Grandmaster Flash were trying to use that medium to SAY something , WAAAAAAAAY back when. I was'nt crazy about it , but , I found it tolerable , in small doses. But , when someone combines NO musical instruments , just  headache - inducing drum machines , and someone going "FUCKA MUTHAFUCKA MUTHAFUCKFUCK FUCK" , IT'S MORE ANNOYING THAN OFFENSIVE.   Rudy Ray Moore cussed a lot , and described some truly filthy situations , but , when he said those words , they had an impact. Plus , when he rapped , there was an actual rhythmic pattern to it , like Beat Poetry and street corner jive, and , the cat could sing , too , when he wanted to. But , as he said , "When it comes down to rappin' , I was THROUGH with it before they learned what to DO with it.".    Sometimes , I feel I've become so desensitized , I have to hear something TRULY filty , like LaWanda Page , before I can really start laughing. But , I don't MAKE people listen to that , or to Garage Rock  , or anything I like , but , If I only have two Rap SONGS FORCED ON ME IN A DAY , it's been a slow day......

swt said:

As for the children, I have two grown kids and I let them listen to anything they wanted. Both turned out to be fine citizens.

 

Here's the one act of "censorship" I engaged in. Back in the '90s my daughter, then a teen, wanted a copy of the Liz Phair album Exile on Guyville or whatever it was called.  (Didn't think much of it then -- still don't) I told her no. If she wanted to go out and buy her own copy, I wouldn't stop her. I just didn't think it was proper to a father to give his daughter a record with lyrics like "I want to be your blowjob queen."

 

So call me a prude.

 

When my son was in high school he'd play these crappy rap songs on his ipod in my car. I'd make sarcastic comments like, "My, he certainly seems angry about something" or, after the 3rd or 4th "motherfucker" I'd say "Why does he always feel compelled to resort to profanity?"

 

Drove the kid nuts.

Probably the funniest rock 'n' roll book I ever read is Dave Marsh's history of the song "Louie Louie." Among the subjects he covers is censorship, the L.A. R&B scene of the '50s and the Pacific Northwest rock 'n' roll scene of the early '60s:

http://www.amazon.com/Louie-Mythology-Including-Persecution-Introducing/dp/047203023X/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1320508335&sr=1-6

 

 

if a song is or was banned it almost automatically sparks my interest.

As for the children, I have two grown kids and I let them listen to anything they wanted. Both turned out to be fine citizens.

 

Here's the one act of "censorship" I engaged in. Back in the '90s my daughter, then a teen, wanted a copy of the Liz Phair album Exile on Guyville or whatever it was called.  (Didn't think much of it then -- still don't) I told her no. If she wanted to go out and buy her own copy, I wouldn't stop her. I just didn't think it was proper to a father to give his daughter a record with lyrics like "I want to be your blowjob queen."

 

So call me a prude.

 

When my son was in high school he'd play these crappy rap songs on his ipod in my car. I'd make sarcastic comments like, "My, he certainly seems angry about something" or, after the 3rd or 4th "motherfucker" I'd say "Why does he always feel compelled to resort to profanity?"

 

Drove the kid nuts.

A couple of weeks ago on my COUNTRY show on our local public radio (I also do a more garagepunk-oriented freeform show there too) I got a call from this dildo bitching about the fact that one of the songs I'd played (Road Bound by Bob Wayne) said "fuck" three times.

I thought it was a friend of mine just goofing on me, so I told him, "Sorry. My Fuckometer is broke."  But he was not a friend and he was serious. I politely told him that the FCC only enforces obscenity rules between the hours of 6 am and 10 pm. That's true. It's to "protect the children." (MY show starts at 10 pm) But the douche bag still threatened to write the FCC.

 

I figure if I can offend just one asshole a night, I'm doing my job.

Your profil says you are from the Netherlands, and I believe they are even more liberal than Germany, which is where I currently live. Garage punk is generally far too tame to be censored here, I mean they are releasing pop songs in all their mucky glory here and because they are in English a lot of parents just pass on the swearing. In Britain nothing gets past the censors and I think it might be similar in America.

 

At the moment all over town are adverts for an Erotik Messe (porn convention) with a couple of stars on the poster with their nipples blacked out. I can't imagine a porn convention being so blatently advertised in Britain and as for blacking out the nipples, I think that was done more for effect seeing as a photo exhibition poster earlier showed full frontal male and female nudity.

 

I have heard though that there is a 'black list' that songs and music can be put on. I think Bushido has songs on it (violence and mysoginy) and Böse Önkels (racism). I don't know if that means that the bands just can't play the listed songs on air or if it has any other effects.

 

Mina said:

Censorship where? I don't know any banned songs. Usually musicians change the lyrics, cuz they're too much of a coward and they like the money.

  It seems like record labels would post a warning for radio stations if any songs were of an "Offensive" nature , way back when.The most recent BIG controversy I remember was that of 2 Live Crew in The 90's. Personally , I did'nt care. We were still talking six , maybe seven digit returns at the end of the day. But , at the same time , you had people who knew their music was more than likely to offend , like GG Allin , and David Allan Coe's X- Rated LPs (He at least had the good sense to sell them privately.) before that.  

The late , great Cub Koda told me he saw a cassette tape in a truck stop with a song listed as "My Wife Ran Off With a N *****". He said he did'nt buy it , but , he could'nt believe how outrageous that sounded. "Hell" , I said , "I heard that on the RADIO , in Texas , when it came out.". (That's not the title , the title was a woman's name , and yes , there was an ironic , sorta -kinda - anti racist twist ending.). With the internet , now , there's so much material , I don't know who has the time to deal with all this , but , it WAS a big deal , from The FBI's unsuccessful attempt to prove "Louie , Louie" obscene to The MC5's (Clean version of)  "Kick Out The Jams" being pulled from the radio playlists as it climbed up the charts , because it was suddenly discovered the LP version had an "F - Bomb" , and John Sinclair's liner notes had several.  The Isley Bros.' "Fight The Power " contained the most annoying "BLEEEEEEEEP" EVER , IN PLACE OF THE WORD "Bullshit", on the radio version. So did Charlie Daniel's "Uneasy Rider" , Johnny Cash's "A Boy Named Sue", and others . I think , thoughwith the popularity of REM , Nirvana , etc. , at least in Rock music , the trend was going toward unintelligible lyrical delivery , so , some songs could have contained all manner of "Dirty words" and still sold millions without any backlash. But , I don't know. Radio's so awful. 

John Battles said:

Mina , I can't think of any songs that were officially banned or censored , lately , but 20 years ago , and then some , it was still a big deal. I remember the Sound Warehouse chain , where I lived , removing ANY record thought to contain "Satanic content". Which meant anything from early Black Metal or Speedmetal to , yes , "Aloha From Hell" by The Cramps.

kopper said:

It used to happen a lot in the '50s & '60s, but not so much since then. I find it funny that Link Wray's "Rumble" was banned simply because people feared it would lead to increased street violence and gang wars, even though it's an instrumental!

Mina said:

Censorship where? I don't know any banned songs. Usually musicians change the lyrics, cuz they're too much of a coward and they like the money.

Mina , I can't think of any songs that were officially banned or censored , lately , but 20 years ago , and then some , it was still a big deal. I remember the Sound Warehouse chain , where I lived , removing ANY record thought to contain "Satanic content". Which meant anything from early Black Metal or Speedmetal to , yes , "Aloha From Hell" by The Cramps.

kopper said:

It used to happen a lot in the '50s & '60s, but not so much since then. I find it funny that Link Wray's "Rumble" was banned simply because people feared it would lead to increased street violence and gang wars, even though it's an instrumental!

Mina said:

Censorship where? I don't know any banned songs. Usually musicians change the lyrics, cuz they're too much of a coward and they like the money.

oh and plenty of songs get censored by labels before they even reach the public.

no song should be banned. that's my opinion.

It used to happen a lot in the '50s & '60s, but not so much since then. I find it funny that Link Wray's "Rumble" was banned simply because people feared it would lead to increased street violence and gang wars, even though it's an instrumental!

Mina said:

Censorship where? I don't know any banned songs. Usually musicians change the lyrics, cuz they're too much of a coward and they like the money.

I could'nt read all of that site , but , it's fascinating the things that did get censored , and why ....It's interesting , too , to realize what songs were NOT censored ....There was an article about that in Buddy Magazine out of Dallas /Ft. Worth.  Of course , it's hard to believe "Walk on The Wildside" did'nt get banned (Yes , there was a cleaned up version , but , I seldom heard it on the radio !) , but , I had no idea why the popular yawnathon "Miracles" by Jefferson Starship was considered risque. I had to try to stay awake thru it , several times , when I realized he's saying something like "Do you remember when I went down on you". That's the only thing to recommend about the damn song ! By the 70's and 80's , you had songs like "Money" by "Pink Floyd" , "Life in The Fast Lane" by the Fleagles  , or "Tough Guys" by REO Slowdraggin' that did say "Shit" or "Goddamn" . or other things , but were produced in such a way , it was easy to miss , the first time.

My views of censorship? Negative. But , there are certain things I would'nt want my kids to have access to , if I had kids.   But , when the PMRC arrived , they did NOT advocate parents discussing with their kids why they might find certain materials objectionable  (Uhhh...Because Tipper SAID they were objectionable?), and , God forbid , giving kids a chance to make informed choices of their own......I remember a "Sample list " of songs they disapproved of.  One was "Bastard" by Motley Crue. Now , I don't like Motley Crue , but the song is about encouraging a rape survivor to defend herself. THAT's objectionable?!

I DJ'ed at a public radio station in the 80's. Like we did'nt have enough problems , the local "Christian" station was trying to bump us off our frequency , and take it from us. They had their own Secret Police , listening to us 24/7 , hoping to catch someone in the act of playing a record with a dirty word on it , so they could turn us in to the F.C.C. and have us banned. Yes , a public radio station had to fear these modern day Stalinists , who ,incidentally , had a LOT more money than the hovel in drugtown we worked out of ,  to carry out their unamerican and even anti - Xian scheme , and win.

My Station Manager told me , look , if you want to play a song that has the word "Fuck " or "Shit" in it , or whatever , as long as you think you can get away with it , do it. If it's too obvious , don't take a chance.  I only played 2 or 3 songs that'd fit the bill , because these people were not %$#@!! around.