Banned or Censored Music Trivia

1. Tipper Gore was the most prominent of the four "Washington Wives" who founded the committee known for short as PMRC. A few years later, her husband Al achieved which important political office?

From Quiz The Band Was Banned

Answer: Vice President

The four ladies who founded the committee known as Parents' Music Resource Center were Mary Elizabeth "Tipper" Gore, wife of Senator Al Gore (who became Bill Clinton's Vice President after the 1992 election); Susan Baker, wife of James Baker (Treasury Secretary in the Reagan administration); Pam Howar, wife of Raymond Howar, a Washington realtor; and Sally Nevius, wife of John Nevious, former Chairman of Washington City Council. The group was helped financially by Joseph Coors (owner of the Coors Beer Company) and Mike Love, co-founder of The Beach Boys - both of them supporters of President Ronald Reagan. The group's main intent was to denounce what they perceived to be the growing obscenity and violence in rock music, and its contribution to a spate of societal ills. As their name implies, they also aimed to provide guidance to parents who wanted to prevent their children's exposure to such objectionable content. Though the group's activity fizzled out in the mid-1990s, and their agenda - which aimed at setting up a ratings system for album and concerts, and eventually denying recording contracts to offending bands - was never implemented, the infamous "Parental Advisory" label (PAL) survives to this day.

From Quiz They Banned My Band!

Answer: Radio Radio

Within seconds of starting 'Less Than Zero', a song about British fascist Oswald Mosley, Costello ordered the band to stop playing and said to the audience, "I'm sorry, ladies and gentlemen, there's no reason to do this song here." The band then played 'Radio Radio' instead, to the shock of both the record company and the 'Saturday Night Live' producers. 'Radio Radio' was originally known as 'Radio Soul', but Costello revamped it as a dig at the commercialisation of British radio, in response to the BBC attempting to censor the Sex Pistols' 'G-d Save the Queen'. Costello said afterwards that he was inspired to suddenly change tack by Jimi Hendrix, who had stopped midway through a 1969 TV performance of 'Hey Joe', denounced it as 'rubbish' and played Cream's 'Sunshine of Your Love' instead. Producer Lorne Michaels allegedly flipped the band off all the way through the song, though Costello refused to say either way if it was true. Costello was banned from the show until 1989. Ten years later, he referenced the original moment by invading the Beastie Boys' performance of 'Sabotage' and singing 'Radio Radio' with them backing him.

From Quiz Do Stop The Music

Answer: Monster Mash

Perennial Halloween favourite "Monster Mash" too morbid? Yep. that's what the BBC said, although when the track was re-released in 1973, attitudes had changed and the song reached number three in UK charts. Although Bobby "Boris" Pickett released several parody records, this was his only UK hit although it wasn't the only record to be banned by the Beeb for being too morbid. In 1961, they banned "Night of the Vampire" by The Moontrekkers, as the eerie sounds of a creaking door and spooky laughter might scare somebody.

From Quiz Songs Banned or Censored in the 50s and 60s

Answer: The Battle of New Orleans

The offending word in "The Battle of New Orleans" occured in the opening verse of the song which read (in part) - "We took a little bacon and we took a little beans and we caught the 'BLOODY' British in the town of New Orleans". So to comply with proper protocol the word was deleted for air-play in the UK and Australia, to name just a couple of areas.

From Quiz Them Fightin' Words!

Answer: Louie Louie

The Kingsmen recorded and released "Louie, Louie" in 1963. The song was banned in Indiana because many people thought the lyrics contained obscenities. The FBI investigated the unintelligible lyrics, but ended the inspection without persecution.

From Quiz You Can't Say That on the Radio!

Answer: Jet Airliner

"Jet Airliner" was a Billboard Top 10 hit in 1977. Steve had a number of songs that pushed the envelope of the censors, mostly through song content and innuendo.

From Quiz Banned In The USA: Songs They Wouldn't Play

Answer: The Rolling Stones

In June of 1965 "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" was banned because of of its "sexually suggestive" theme. The song still became the Stones' first US number one hit. By August of 2008, they had seven more. The Beatles had 20 number one hits on the Billboard charts. In 1967, the Stones changed a line in "Let's Spend The Night Together" to "Let's Spend Some Time Together" for an appearance on 'The Ed Sullivan Show'. Sources for all questions: 'Music Censorship in the USA' on the John Mark Ministries website, www.jmm.aaa.net.au and 'A Brief History of Banned Music in the United States' by Eric Nuzum, www.ericnuzum.com

From Quiz Banned By The Beeb: Songs They Wouldn't Play

Answer: God Save The Queen

The Sex Pistols song was too much for the BBC in 1976, but was a massive seller nevertheless. Indeed, some argue that being banned by the BBC was tantamount to generating more sales of a record. It has also been claimed that the British Market Research Bureau (which compiled the UK's 'official' charts at the time) kept 'GSTQ' at number two, even though it had sold more than the Number 1, Rod Stewart's "I Don't Want To Talk About It". This quiz was suggested by 'We Can't Let You Broadcast That...', an article by Bob Stanley in 'The Times', London, August 2008. (see www.timesonline.co.uk).

From Quiz Music Controversy

Answer: 2 Live Crew

2 Live Crew "As Nasty as They Wanna Be" contained the signature song "Me So Horny." Judges were disgusted by the profanity and sexual references. Vendors got arrested for selling the album and the group had to go to court. Ironically, the album became more popular. 2 Live Crew won an appeal case and the ban was lifted.

From Quiz They Banned My Band!

Answer: Bjork

Proclaiming support for Tibet and/or interacting with the Dalai Lama is one way to get yourself banned from China, as many musicians have found out the hard way. One of these was Björk, who played Shanghai in 2008 and was subsequently banned from playing in China after she chanted 'Tibet! Tibet!' during 'Declare Independence'. The song was originally written about Greenland and the Faroe Islands, both of whom are subjects of Denmark like Björk's homeland of Iceland once was, but Björk has also dedicated it to other places and people, such as Catalonia and indigenous Australians. When she performed the song, fans left the venue quickly and the Chinese government subsequently announced that any foreign musicians who 'threatened national sovereignty' would be banned. Other musicians banned in China include Oasis, due to Noel Gallagher performing at a 'Free Tibet' concert; Lady Gaga, after posting a photo of her meeting the Dalai Lama; and Maroon 5 had Chinese gigs pulled when keyboard player Jesse Carmichael wished the Dalai Lama a happy birthday on Twitter.

From Quiz Do Stop The Music

Answer: Bing Crosby

Bing Crosby banned by the BBC doesn't seem possible today, but before we get to the reason behind it, let's start be remembering this was wartime UK. As it was wartime, the BBC was concerned that productivity would drop if they played the song during working hours as factory workers would neglect their tools while they clapped in time with the song's melody. As a point of interest, Bing's recording of "I'll Be Home For Christmas" in 1943 was also banned by the BBC as they felt that playing it might lower morale among British troops.

From Quiz Songs Banned or Censored in the 50s and 60s

Answer: Big Bad John

Incredibly, the final stanza of "Big Bad John" said - "At the bottom of this mine lies one hell of a man" which, in Australia at least, was altered to "At the bottom of this mine lies a big, big man.

From Quiz Them Fightin' Words!

Answer: It was about a man killing a woman he used to love.

This upbeat song offended many woman with lyrics like: "I used to love her But I had to kill her I used to love her, Mm, yeah But I had to kill her I had to put her six feet under And I can still hear her complain" Guns N' Roses said the song was supposed to be a joke, but many woman didn't see it that way.

From Quiz Banned Rock and Roll Through the Years

Answer: Come Together

In 1969 the reference in "Come Together" to "Shooting Coca-Cola" was thought to be a reference to cocaine. Because there was drug controversy surrounding the lyrics to "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds", the song was also officially banned by the BBC when it was released. Other Beatles tunes to be banned at one time by the BBC were "I Am the Walrus" and "A Day In The Life". John Lennon's "Imagine" was on the BBC's Gulf War blacklist. Surprisingly Ringo could "Get high with a little help from my friends" without a problem at the BBC. The Rolling Stones were not spared from the censor's wrath at the BBC. "Let's Spend the Night Together" was banned in 1967. Cocaine was even controversial in 1956, when ABC Radio was successful in their attempt to have Cole Porter change his lyrics in "I Get a Kick Our of You" from "I get no kick from cocaine" to "I get perfume from Spain".

From Quiz Banned In The USA: Songs They Wouldn't Play

Answer: The Roman Catholic church

'Danny Boy' and other secular songs were banned by the Diocese of Providence for use during funeral masses. Set to the melody 'The Londonderry Air', the words were written by an English lyricist, but you'll find it in the jukebox in just about any Irish pub anywhere. In 1962, meanwhile, one New York Bishop forbade Catholic school students from dancing to 'The Twist',

From Quiz The Band Was Banned

Answer: Van Halen

The fourth and final single from Van Halen's very successful "1984" album, "Hot for Teacher" (whose title is quite self-explanatory) was accompanied by a very funny video featuring a nerdy-looking boy named Waldo on his first day of school, the younger versions of the four band members, and a couple of sexy teachers. Though Tipper Gore claimed to have been "frightened" by the video, the song - rather surprisingly - was not included in the "Filthy Fifteen" list. "Hot for Teacher" was also the last single released by Van Halen before the departure of their larger-than-life lead singer, David Lee Roth - who co-produced the video, in which he stars as the school bus driver. Guitarist Edward van Halen, who co-founded the band bearing his family name in 1972, succumbed to cancer on 6 October, 2020. At the time of writing, the guitarists of the three remaining bands are still very much alive.

From Quiz Do Stop The Music

Answer: The Wizard Of Oz

In a powerful showing of public opinion, the song reached number two in UK charts and number one in the Scottish charts following the death of former prime minister Margaret Thatcher. In 2017, the BBC banned a song that was critical of Prime Minister Theresa May. The track, "Liar Liar GE2017" by Captain Ska, reached number four in UK charts without receiving any airplay at all and all profits from the song went to supporting UK food banks.

From Quiz Songs Banned or Censored in the 50s and 60s

Answer: Transfusion

The song "Transfusion" concerns a serial motor accident perpetrator who constantly ends up in hospital on the drip and vows never ever to speed again. Some of the utterings by this character are - "Shoot the juice to me Bruce", "Pass the claret to me Barrett" and "Slip the blood to me Bud".

From Quiz Them Fightin' Words!

Answer: Kim

"Kim" was recorded on The Marshall Mathers LP released in 2000. The hate filled song depicts the story of Eminem killing his wife, her husband, and her stepson. "Kim" is a prelude to "97' Bonnie & Clyde," which appears on Eminem's debut album, "The Slim Shady LP" released in 1999.

From Quiz Banned Rock and Roll Through the Years

Answer: The lyrics violated advertising laws.

"Lola" was a single release from the 1970 Kinks album, "Lola versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One". The original version contained the lyrics, "Coca-Cola", and the BBC removed it from their play list because it violated their rule against promoting commercial products in a song. Composer Ray Davies had to hastily reissue another version inserting the words "Cherry Cola". When the lyrics were changed the song was returned to rotation. The song became a Kinks classic and allowed them to negotiate another record contract after previous record sales had been declining. Several artists have covered "Lola" including Don Fardon, The Raincoats and Bad Manners. "Weird Al" Yankovic recorded a parody of the song substituting the word "Yoda" for "Lola".

From Quiz Banned In The USA: Songs They Wouldn't Play

Answer: Mambo Italiano

In 1954, the ABC network said it did not meet their "standards of good taste". 'Mambo Italiano' was a traditional Italian song that had been around for generations before Bob Merrill arranged it in the 1950s for the modern age. 'Half As Much' and 'Hey There' were both Billboard number 1 hits for Clooney, in 1952 and 1954 respectively.

From Quiz Banned By The Beeb: Songs They Wouldn't Play

Answer: Eight Miles High

Gene Clark, the songwriter, claimed it was about his fear of flying rather than about drugs. Despite this, it was still banned by the BBC and by many US radio stations. It reached No 14 in the US Billboard charts.

From Quiz They Banned My Band!

Answer: Iran

After the Islamic Revolution of 1979, female singers were banned from performing in Iran. Among these was singer and actress Faegheh Atashin, aka Googoosh, who became iconic for her short skirts and hairdos which were emulated by young Iranian women in the '70s. At the time of the revolution, Googoosh had returned to Iran from the USA, saying she missed her homeland. Although her song 'My Dear, Lovable Sir' became an anthem for the revolution, with some interpreting it as a song of support for Ayatollah Khomeini, the Ayatollah himself was not impressed and banned her from performing, while all her music and merchandise was destroyed, though some people managed to smuggle in tapes. Googoosh moved to Canada in 2000 and toured that same year, with her final date in Dubai to mark Nowruz, the Iranian New Year; the majority of her audience there consisted of Iranians who had travelled across the border to see her.

From Quiz Do Stop The Music

Answer: Knickers

"Boy, you've been a naughty girl. You let your knickers down" was just too much for the BBC, and the track was banned from airplay. Luckily it was released as a double 'A' side single with "Hello, Goodbye" which was OK to play on the BBC. The Beatles clashed with the BBC a few times; other banned songs included "Come Together" (1969) for blatant advertising with the line "he shout Coca Cola", "A Day In The Life" (1967) for the line "I'd love to turn you on", which, according to Beeb could "encourage a permissive attitude to drug-taking" and "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" (1967) which was banned for drug references.

From Quiz Songs Banned or Censored in the 50s and 60s

Answer: Beep Beep

The advertising names "Cadillac" and "Nash Rambler" in the song "Beep Beep" were unacceptable to the BBC in Britain and so the names of the cars were changed to "Limousine" and "Bubble Car" to comply.

From Quiz Banned Rock and Roll Through the Years

Answer: White Christmas

The year 1957 was the same year that Elvis was only shown from the waist up on "The Ed Sullivan Show". His live acts generated controversy and many radio station managers believed that he didn't represent proper Christian values. Elvis released the first of his two Christmas albums in 1957 and the album immediately became the object of controversy. Some stations, such as WCFL of Chicago, banned any recordings by Elvis. On December 12, 1957, Al Priddy joined the unemployment line for playing "White Christmas". The manager of the station was quoted as saying "it's not in the spirit we associate with Christmas", even though "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" and "It Is No Secret (What God Can Do)" were also included on Elvis' 1957 Christmas album.

From Quiz Banned By The Beeb: Songs They Wouldn't Play

Answer: Answer Me

The line 'answer me, Lord above' caused the problems. The BBC's head of religious broadcasting described it as "a sentimental mockery of a Christian prayer". Despite the lack of play time, and in 1953 there were few outlets in the UK other than the BBC, it reached Number one in the charts, as did a cover by David Whitfield (with changed lyrics).

From Quiz Music Controversy

Answer: RCA

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Last Updated Nov 16 2024 5:50 AM

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