Music Trivia -> Songs That Are Banned -> T
Can you think of a song that was specifically banned by a radio station, tv station, or government?
"Talking John Birch Paranoid Blues," Bob Dylan
In February 1963 Bob Dylan refuses to perform on "The Ed Sullivan Show" when the show's producers don't allow Dylan to perform the tune. Bob Dylan would not be invited back to the show.
Peter
"Tell Laura I Love Her," Ray Peterson
In October 1960 many radio stations refused to play the tune with dj's calling it the "Death Disk".
Peter
"There Stands The Glass," Webb Pierce
This song is banned from radio because the lyrics are thought to condone heavy drinking.
Peter
"These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You)," Tony Bennett
In 1953, when Tony Bennett records this song (and makes a hit out of it) originally written in 1936 by Jack Strachey and Harry Link, the phrase "gardenia perfume linger on a pillow" is alterted to "a seaplane rising from an ocean billow."
Peter
"They Don't Really Care About Us," Michael Jackson
MTV banned this video because they felt that it was anti-semetic in particular the line "j*w me, sue me, don't you ever do me. Kick me, k*ke me, don't you black or white me."
Celeste
"They're Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!," Napoleon XIV
A recording engineer named Jerry Samuels, who billed himself as Napoleon XIV, hits #3 on the Billboard HOT 100 singles charts with this novelty song (It had one of the fastest rises to that high on the charts with only three weeks to reach to #3). In it's third week of national release, the song is banned by many U.S. radio stations because it seemed to make fun of the insane. (After the radio stations do this, the song has the fastest known plunge on the Billboard HOT 100 charts: It moves from #3 all the way out of the charts on it's fourth week of national release).
Peter
"The Thunder Rolls," Garth Brooks
In 1991, Country Music Television and its parent company The Nashville Network both ban Garth Brooks' video for "The Thunder Rolls" because it graphically depicts domestic violence.
Peter
"Tonight's The Night," Rod Stewart
Back in 1976, this song was removed from RKO's radio stations playlist until the line, "spread your wings and let me come inside" was edited out.
Peter
"Too Drunk to Fuck," The Dead Kennedys
First top 40 hit in the UK to have the F word in the title. Not surprisingly, Radio 1 and Top of the Pops refused to have anything to do with it. Many chart listings just called it "Too Drunk To" and Top 40 presenter Tony Blackburn called it "A record by the Dead Kennedys"
Ra'akone
"Transfusion," Dot & Diamond
In 1956, ABC, CBS and NBC radio networks band this novelty hit. According to one NBC executive, "There is nothing funny about a blood transfusion."
Peter
"Truly Yours," Kool G. & D.J. Polo
After protests from the gay community, in September 1989, Los Angeles radio station KDAY pulls from rotation this song.
Peter
"Try It," The Standells
In 1969, this song by The Standells was banned by Texan radio chain mogul, Gordon McLendon, a Christian fundamentalist, who considered the song's lyrics to be obscene. Even though the record was the number one seller in many markets, including in Los Angeles, most of the radio stations followed McLendon's lead and refused to play it. The Standells even debated the Texan on Art Linkletter's "Let's Talk" television show, and by most accounts defeated him handily by pointing out his hypocrisy. But it was to no avail. The song died and so did the group's popularity and hopes of another hit record.
Peter
"Tubthumping," Chumbawumba
Some commercial radio stations in the UK banned this shortly after the death of Princess Diana due to the line 'I get knocked down...'
pickle
"The Twist," Chubby Checker
In 1962, Catholic school students in New York are forbidden to Chubby Checker's version of "The Twist", by Bishop Burke, who considers it and other dance craze songs to be "un-Christian".
Peter
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