Like many forms of art, music can be extremely subjective – what one person finds therapeutic and soothing, someone else might find boring and lacking substance. It brings to mind the adage, “Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder,” which illustrates how each of us may have different views on what is beautiful and allows us to interpret art forms in our own way.
For decades, music has proven that not everyone finds the same melodies beautiful, and in fact, consider some selections downright awful. Parents often don’t like the selections their children listen to, and vice-versa, with tastes varying between generations. Today’s music is often expected to be over-the-top and controversial, whether in lyrics or with the accompanying video, like the hit song “Wrecking Ball” by former Disney superstar Miley Cyrus, and some don’t even intend it to be but share similar results, as with Taylor Swift’s song, “I Hate It Here” off her new album, “The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology”.
However, other artists go above and beyond the standard with their lyrics, causing ire in society and instigating societal and perceptual changes through the use of scandalous imagery and ideas, and while some songs listed here might seem rather tame compared to certain lyrics of today (certain hits by artists like Cardi B. and Eminem), others are more than deserving of their appearance.
To compile a list of the most controversial songs ever recorded, 24/7 Tempo consulted a range of music and entertainment sites including UDiscoverMusic, Loudwire, and American Songwriter. Next, we selected songs with the biggest controversy and cultural impact. After that, we consulted sites like Biography to confirm specific details. (For music of a more patriotic nature, discover the most popular songs about America.)
Sex Pistols – “God Save the Queen”
Though it seems cheeky in the modern day, it’s hard to grasp just how scandalous “God Save the Queen” was when first released. The year was 1977, and with the British Queen’s Silver Jubilee forthcoming, the Sex Pistols and their manager Malcolm McLaren seized the opportunity. The release of the song quickly got their new contract with A&M Records dissolved with most of the single pressings destroyed.
Billionaire Richard Branson stepped in, signing the band to his Virgin Records and timing the re-release of the song with the Queen’s anniversary. With lyrics criticizing her “fascist regime” and how she “ain’t no human being,” the BBC quickly banned the song, but that didn’t stop it from becoming a hit, selling around 200,000 copies in its first week. It didn’t reach number one though and the Sex Pistols crew felt slighted. In response, McLaren organized a wild gig with the Sex Pistols playing on a boat headed down the Thames River past the House of Parliament.
The Kinks – “Lola”
“Lola” is a song about a man falling in love with a trans woman or crossdresser but this narrative was not what made the song initially controversial. It was the line “Where they drink champagne and it tastes just like Coca-Cola,” that caused the BBC to ban it immediately, due to the station’s strict product placement rules. When The Kinks found out about the ban, they were on tour in the United States.
Lead singer Ray Davies was keen to get the song on British radio and flew back home to England to re-record the offending lyric but when he failed, he had to return to his American tour before returning to England again to finally lock down the overdub. It was a wise move to rework the lyrics. As soon as “Coca-Cola” was changed to the more general “Cherry Cola” the song was allowed back on the airwaves, and “Lola” became one of the Kink’s biggest songs, lingering on the charts for quite some time.
The Kingsmen – “Louie, Louie”
Originally written by Richard Berry in 1955, this song entered the public imagination when a cover version was released by the Kingsmen in 1963. With its unique-for-the-time sound, heralding the later garage rock genre, the song purportedly tells the story of a sailor’s lament, homesick for the love of his wife. These lyrics weren’t easy to understand though because of lead singer Jack Ely’s style of singing voice. At once manic and snarling, the lyrics were practically incomprehensible to the ear. The mystery of the words soon fed rumors that the lyrics were quite vulgar.
Everyone from the Indiana Governor to Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy got involved, calling for the song to be banned because they could hear the offensive lyrics themselves. The song was even investigated by the FBI who interviewed record executives and band members. All of this extra publicity resulted in “Louie, Louie” sailing straight to the top of the charts. As for the offending lyrics in question, even a 31-month FBI investigation couldn’t decipher what words were sung.
(For other classic hits, discover the song that defined every summer since the 1950s.)
NWA – “F__k Tha Police”
American hip hop group NWA (American rapper MC Ren, American rapper Eazy-E (1964-1995), American rapper DJ Yella, and American rapper Dr Dre) attend 8th Annual MTV Video Music Awards, held at the Universal Ampitheater in Universal City, California, 5th September 1991. (Photo by Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images)
In 1988 the perception of police activity in Los Angeles was at an all-time low, with Operation Hammer, which saw over 50,000 people arrested for gang activity, or just the overall vibe of race relations in the city, things were tense. Then along comes NWA with their blunt criticism of the police in “F__k Tha Police.” Full of insults and, arguably, direct threats, the song also provided a sharp look at how African American men in Los Angeles were feeling about those tasked to serve and protect.
As for the song’s origin, NWA member Ice Cube said “Our music was our only weapon. Nonviolent protest.” It came as no surprise that the song was instantly banned from the airwaves, but this only added to its notoriety. Copies of the song’s lyrics were faxed to police forces in cities NWA was stopping in on tour, increasing tension and making security at the gigs hard to come by. Even the FBI got involved, sending a letter to the group’s record company disapproving of the lyrics.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood – “Relax”
When it hit the Top 40 charts, “Relax” was played by DJ Mike Read on BBC Radio 1 as part of his regular chart rundown but about halfway through the song, Read quickly pulled the song after realizing the intense innuendo of the lyrics. Though Read later claimed he had simply run out of time for the song, the band’s manager sensed an opportunity and spread the rumor that the establishment had banned the song. This proved to be a success as the song quickly propelled to the number one spot on the charts where it sat for weeks.
Ian Dury & The Blockheads – “Spasticus Autisticus”
The United Nations declared that 1981 would be the International Year Of Disabled Persons, which prompted Ian Drury, who felt patronized, to pen “Spasticus Autisticus”. Although he had a legitimate reason for doing so. At seven years old, Drury had contracted the Polio virus which left him disabled for life and at the mercy of cruel schoolchildren for most of his childhood. As such, “Spasticus Autisticus” was an unflinching, unpleasant look at the real experience of being disabled.
This resulted in both the BBC and local radio stations banning the song from the airwaves, deeming the lyrics to be offensive. Over the years, the song came to be seen for the stark but poignant piece of art it was and eventually it was performed at the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Paralympic Games.
2 Live Crew – “Me So Horny”
2 Live Crew had already gained a reputation for their raucous songs, but they far exceeded expectations with the release of “Me So Horny.” Even with its heavily sexual lyrics, the song was an instant success, topping not just the Rap music charts, but quickly reaching number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100. Its success led to millions of albums being sold.
However, many people were still unhappy with the song and in June 1990, Broward County Prosecutor Jack Thompson charged the group with obscenity, even going so far as to persuade a Federal District Judge to declare it obscene. This resulted in the group being prosecuted and record store clerks who sold the album were arrested. During the trial, famed historian and academic Henry Louis Gates Jr. testified on behalf of 2 Live Crew, helping to overturn the ruling on appeal.
Billie Holiday – “Strange Fruit”
Initially written and composed by Abel Meeropol, the best-known version of this song was recorded by Billie Holiday in 1939, with lyrics that were drawn from a poem Meeropol had written. The song compares lynchings of African Americans to strange fruit hanging on trees which led to Holiday initially fearing performing the song. Still, she persisted, usually placing it as the show’s final song and singing with all the venue lights down.
The controversy began when she took it to her recording label. Columbia Records and affiliate CBS refused to record the song for fear of upsetting southern retailers. Holiday then sang it for the Commodore Record label head, who was moved to tears. Once the song was released, it became a sensation, selling millions of copies. It also became one of Holiday’s best-known songs, and some even credit “Strange Fruit” with kickstarting the burgeoning Civil Rights Movement in America.
Slayer – “Angel of Death”
The opening track to the band’s album “Reign in Blood,” the song details the life and crimes of Nazi doctor Josef Mengele at the Auschwitz Concentration Camp. Written by guitarist Jeff Hanneman, the song speaks in detail about the gruesome human experiments Mengele conducted during World War II. Even before its release, “Angel of Death” caused controversy. Slayer’s label Columbia Records refused to release it, so Geffen Records did instead.
Once it aired, the song was criticized by Holocaust survivors, and its perspective earned the band accusations of fascism, racism, and nazism. Band members dismissed the accusations, claiming that the evil of Dr. Mengele should be obvious and a simple retelling of what happened shouldn’t be cause for concern. Today, “Angel of Death” is considered highly influential in the creation of the Thrash and Speed Metal genres of music.
Loretta Lynn – “The Pill”
Already a mainstream pop and country success, Loretta Lynn co-penned a song about contraceptives, with the lyrics describing a woman who finds freedom in using birth control after having born children year after year. This was a break from character for the normally socially conservative Lynn and the song, sung from a relatively comic perspective, became embroiled in controversy.
Upon its release, many country music stations refused to play it, citing its questionable content, but those stations that would play it helped the song reach number 70 on the Billboard Hot 100. Besides reaching the Billboard Hot 100, the song reached number one in Canada. Ultimately, Lynn said in an interview that several rural doctors approached her, thanking her for bringing awareness to birth control methods. (For other popular tracks, discover the biggest one-hit wonders of the 21st century.)