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Music Trivia -> Songs That Are Banned -> M
Can you think of a song that was specifically banned by a radio station, tv station, or government?
Entries Beginning with M
"Mack The Knife," Bobby Darin
In fall 1959, following the stabbing deaths of two teenagers by a 17-year old and other similar incidents of violence in New York City, WCBS bans Bobby Darin's #1 hit rendition of "Mack The Knife".
Peter
"Madhouse," Anthrax
The song's video was banned from MTV because somebody thought it was "detrimental to mental patients"
Jeremy
"Mambo Italiano," Rosemary Clooney
In 1954, ABC network bans this Rosemary Clooney hit, saying it did not meet the network's "standards for good taste."
Peter
"Maybe I Mean Yes," Holly Dunn
Holly wrote radio stations and asked them to pull the song from airplay after realizing the lyrics could be misinterpreted as date rape.
JohnFedorchak
"Me So Horny," 2 Live Crew
This song was banned in Broward County Florida because of it's lyrical content. It was sold under the counter and record store owners who sold it were arrested.
Members of 2LiveCrew were arrested after a concert because they sang the song but the case was thrown out and Broward County's anti-obsenity laws were struck down because music and parody were protected as free speech.
Members of 2LiveCrew were arrested after a concert because they sang the song but the case was thrown out and Broward County's anti-obsenity laws were struck down because music and parody were protected as free speech.
Celeste
"Me So Horny," 2 Live Crew
2 Live Crew was a main focus of the PMRC's witch hunt, and their album "As Nasty As They Wanna Be" was ruled obscene by a judge and subsequently banned in Broward County, Florida, making it illegal to even sell the album. In the end, the controversy actually ended up helping sales.
The Dormouse
"The Meditation," TNT Band
Although this R&B song made number one on New York City's Latin chart in the late 1960s, the tune by Tito Ramos and Tony Rojas was banned from mainstream radio because of the lyric, "You make me cream."
Jack Ortizano
"Mississippi Goddam," Nina Simone
Banned in several Southern states that still maintained the old Jim Crow laws, especially the one in the title. With all her scathing criticism of the oppression that went with segregation, she briefly assumed we thought she was kidding, when it's far too obvious she meant every word of it.
The Skuz
"Money," Frank Zappa
Someone named Peter said that there's a Zappa song named Money from 1965. It doesn't exist and he was probably confusing it with "We're Only In it For The Money", which is not a song, but an album, and it was in fact heavily censored
PompadurSwamp
"Money," Pink Floyd
The original version of this song has the "BS" word on it (it rhymes with "hit", see?). American record label exes discovered this "mistake" on the 45 and so the morals of this were saved in the nick of time. A second issuing of the single was released (the "bull-blank" variety) with a desperate plea to throw the original copy away. Whew!
Ain't That America? Home Of the Free
"Money," Frank Zappa
In 1965 MGM records alters the lyrics of this song because it contains a sexual reference.
Peter
"Money," Pink Floyd
After years + years + years of this song being played with the 'BS' word intact, whether from a studio album OR a live album, NOW radio stations in my home city are playing ONLY the stupid 'bull - ' version as if we were little children. And even little kids can figure the rhyming with the word 'hit'. The FCC are a bunch of IDIOTS!
Diese Ist KuhscheiBe!
"Money For Nothing," Dire Straits
In Canada, talks of this song being banned were common due to certain words within the song being seen as a crude homosexual slur.
Darryl
"Money For Nothing," Dire Straits
Rather than specifically censor the three instances of "f**g*t" in the second verse, some radio stations (at least two in my listening area) have played this song with that verse completely omitted, skipping right to the next chorus.
Jonathan S.
"Money For Nothing," Dire Straits
The unedited version was banned by the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council on Canadian radio for the lyric "that little faggot with the earring and the make-up."
Glenn Worthman
"Mongoloid," Devo
Even though the song's meaning could be interpreted as quite positive, the title is controversal and considered offensive, so some stations are afraid to air it
PompadurSwamp
"Monkey Wrench," Foo Fighters
During the rapid fire shout of, 'One last thing before I quit I never wanted any more than I could fit into my head I still remember every single word you said And all the shit that somehow came along with it Still, there's one thing that comforts me Since I was always caged and now I'm free...' that special S-word was unedited for many years on radio (and video) broadcasts and all of a sudden radio HAD to use a short silence to replace the word and yesterday I heard a version with the word 'shit' replaced with 'quit'. 'Quit' is not a noun, folks. DJs are morons.
Phooey On Radio Programmers!
"Monster Mash," Bobby "Boris" Pickett & the Crypt Kickers
In 1962, BBC banned Bobby "Boris" Pickett's Halloween themed tune from playing on it's radio stations.
Peter
"Moontan Album," Golden Earring
The original cover art by this Dutch band featured a nude woman. The American release showed an ear pierced at the lobe by a ... ; )
Radar Lover
"Most songs," Eminem
Banned and censored by the USA and himself for anti-Bush lyrics, making fun of homosexuals, and referring to the Columbine school shootings.
dxman
"Mr. Happy Go Lucky (album)," John Mellencamp
Stupidity strikes again! Some stores (like Wal-Mart) would sell only copies of this album where the Jesus and Satan images were airbrushed off on the cover art. Mellencamp was getting more outspoken about his disputes with his record label execs. The next year a hits compilation was released and John's contract was fulfilled. Then he was free to find a new label.
Naked Dancer
"My Ding-a-Ling," Chuck Berry
The song had a double entendre where a gift from his grandmother was also used to represent a certain part of the anatomy in a lewd manner.
Barry Disbrow
"My Ding-a-ling," Chuck Berry
Banned by almost every radio station in the U.S. for its obvious reference to a certain part of the male anatomy
Barry Disbrow
"My Generation," The Who
The BBC refused to play the song at first because they did not want to offend people with stutters.
dxman
"My Way," Frank Sinatra
Banned in many karaoke bars in Manila after complaints regarding off-key renditions resulted in fights and deaths. Some have even been reported to practice self-censorship by refraining from singing it.
Sally Shine
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