Controversial Lyrics

This thread is abot discussing lyrics that aren't exactly contriversial, but not everyone agrees on.

My mom, for example does not like the lyrics to "LoveGame" by Lady Gaga, or the lyrics to "Don't Trust Me" by 3OH!3.

If you know any more contriversial lyrics, put them here!

Interesting topic.

I think it depends on what audience the music is aimed at. I'm no prude and some of the music I like is littered with four-lettered words or very sexually explicit lyrics. I think that's fine if you're a cult indie band whose target audience is 15+. But it really disturbs me when I see 8-year-olds in public singing songs about being "horny" or "shaking your ****". Basically, I'd prefer it if music that is marketed at a mass, mainstream chart audience were family-friendly.

I'm also not happy about lyrics which are misogynist, homophobic or derogatory of other minority groups, although sometimes an apparently misogynist song can be ironic or trying to raise awareness or provoke debate, so I don't think it's possible to say that people shouldn't write lyrics about violence against women.

If an artist doesn't ruffle a few feathers during their career they're not trying hard enough. (Although those who provoke for provocation's sake tend to be tedious, yes, Lars von Trier, I'm looking at you.)

However, often the most innocuous seeming songs can be controversial Billy Joel's "Only the Good Die Young" was languishing in the charts until it was banned from being played on the radio station of a Catholic university in NJ. Billy Joel wrote a letter to the archdiocese asking them to ban his next record. It was again pulled from Clear Channel Communications playlists after 9/11.

Bruce Springsteen's "American Skin" led the New York Fraternal Order of Police to call for a boycott and overtime bans at his concerts in NY.

Even Rosemary Clooney (http://www.musiclyricsfyi.com/banned-lyrics.html) has been banned for controversial lyrics.

And no subject should be off limits.

Why did bush knock down the towers Jadakiss - Why

This was controversial because some people that Jadakiss should be sued for slander.

There are several lyrics from some rappers that have brought controversy. usually lyrics that are anti-white or anti-police.

I don't listen to rap (which has a rather bad reputation for violent lyrics) but I do listen to metal which has often been the scapegoat for when things go bad (think Marilyn Manson, Rammstein amongst others when there's a school shooting). I really do not think these reputations are deserved. Rammsteins lyrics especially (if you know German or have Googled translations) are very sexual and violent but in none of the songs I know if do they encourage violence. Marilyn Manson looks different, has a history of drug abuse and sings a few touchy songs but is nothing to be concerned with.
The only controversial band I listen to (as in, I feel that their tag as 'controversial' is deserved) is Cannibal Corpse. As far as I Know, for a while the Australian government actually banned them from touring here (same with Eminem) but they were just here so someone must have changed that.

When Disturbed's latest album (Indestructible) came out I had a rather lively argument with someone online about whether it was pro or anti-war (I said it was anti-war as the title song was quite obviously (to me, anyway) ironic)) but that album is hardly widespread enough to be deemed controversial.

When Disturbed's latest album (Indestructible) came out I had a rather lively argument with someone online about whether it was pro or anti-war (I said it was anti-war as the title song was quite obviously (to me, anyway) ironic)) but that album is hardly widespread enough to be deemed controversial.

Political lyrics are always a rich field for controversy and debate. You just have to look at the long-running battle between artists like Bruce Springsteen and the GOP which has, since the mid-80s, attempted to co-opt his songs for their campaigns.

Alot of people I know don't like the lyrics to "Don't Trust Me" by 3OH!3, because they use the term "h*" in the song to describe a girl. Alot of women don't like it because they feel like they're saying all women are like that. Personally, I always thought that they were describing the one particular girl in the song.

Interesting topic.

I think it depends on what audience the music is aimed at. I'm no prude and some of the music I like is littered with four-lettered words or very sexually explicit lyrics. I think that's fine if you're a cult indie band whose target audience is 15+. But it really disturbs me when I see 8-year-olds in public singing songs about being "horny" or "shaking your ****". Basically, I'd prefer it if music that is marketed at a mass, mainstream chart audience were family-friendly.

Thanks! :)

I agree with that statement completely. I always gasp when I hear some of the music young kids are listening to or singing in public. Young kids, in my opinion, should not listen to some of the music that is played on popular music stations today.

^ I think in the grand scheme of things, the 'h' word you're referring to is pretty tame. I've never heard of the band you mentioned but that word seems to be used by rap artists and 'emo' (for lack of better term) bands who are trying to look tough without saying anything all that offensive.

I don't think I've ever heard a 'controversial' song on mainstream radio (maybe after 11pm on certain shows but you only listen to those if you like the music). The closest (recently) would be 'Love Game' by Lady Gaga and even that isn't all that controversial IMO. I thought it was funny, and just quite bad.

^ I think in the grand scheme of things, the 'h' word you're referring to is pretty tame. I've never heard of the band you mentioned but that word seems to be used by rap artists and 'emo' (for lack of better term) bands who are trying to look tough without saying anything all that offensive.

I don't think I've ever heard a 'controversial' song on mainstream radio (maybe after 11pm on certain shows but you only listen to those if you like the music). The closest (recently) would be 'Love Game' by Lady Gaga and even that isn't all that controversial IMO. I thought it was funny, and just quite bad.

I agree, I always thought the 'h' word was tame compared to other words artists can say.

Yes, "LoveGame", "Don't Trust Me", and "Right Round" are pretty much the most controversial songs on mainstream radio as of now.

I for one am mostly against censorship in music, the only exception being 3 or 4 curse words which, while I find everyday, I understand are still extremely derogatory in the mind of others.

One of the most controversial that comes to mind for me is The Cure's - Killing An Arab. While I feel this a great, emotionally chilling song, others find it simply unnecessary and it's managed to be the subject of heavy debate over a 30 year period. It's based off the book 'The Stranger' by Albert Camus.

I for one am mostly against censorship in music, the only exception being 3 or 4 curse words which, while I find everyday, I understand are still extremely derogatory in the mind of others.

I think the most ridic is when it comes to the censoring on country radio stations. They try to keep a clean image and it's just silly at times

2 Examples-


1. Looking for a Good Time- Lady A

Original Lyrics- Would you get the wrong impression if I called us a cab right now

Radio Edit- Would you get the wrong impression if I asked you to dance right now

Apparently they say the orginal lyrics have more implication of a one night stand :err:


2. All Summer Long- Kid Rock

Original Lyrics- And we were smoking funny things

Radio Edit- And we were ____ funny things (it's not really "bleeped out", but it is inaudible, like he's saying it with his lips closed :lol:)

It's incredibly stupid considering the songs on other stations- like Something In Your Mouth (we all know what's implied here) by Nickelback

That's one song however, I am ashamed to admit I like. Another being Crazy ***** by Buckcherry, which obviously has controversial lyrics :lol:

Alot of people I know don't like the lyrics to "Don't Trust Me" by 3OH!3, because they use the term "h*" in the song to describe a girl. Alot of women don't like it because they feel like they're saying all women are like that.

Yeah, hence why I'm ashamed to listen to those couple TRUE controversial songs I mentioned above. As for the song you mentioned...I don't care for it. :td: I think it sounds stupid...and yeah, degrading towards women. I typically don't listen to songs like this, with a few exceptions


On another note, fyi one of the most controversial songs of all time doesn't even have vulgar lyrics...people just thought it did. The FBI investigated it even! I'm talking of course about "Louie Louie" by the Kingsmen. A song believed to be obscene in the US in the 60's :rotfl:

The most controversial I can think of now is Kate Bush's The Kick Inside - about a girl who was raped by her brother and falls pregnant.

Another one of hers, Heads We're Dancing, is about a woman dancing with a mysterious charmer, who turns out to have been Hitler.

I like innuendo in lyrics though, I like it very much - like in World In My Eyes by Depeche Mode for example. I also don't mind sexually explicit lyrics if they're good - as is the case with Cocoon by Bjork.

But I think there's a difference between controversial and simply obscene for the sake of it.

I for one am mostly against censorship in music, the only exception being 3 or 4 curse words which, while I find everyday, I understand are still extremely derogatory in the mind of others.

I don't know. If I had young children, I think I would rather they listened to songs that had the occasional curse word (used as an expression of real anger or disgust, about something that is disgusting) than listen to (and watch the videos to) music that promotes the idea that women are merely sex objects - the latter seems to be routinely served up as family friendly these days.

I'm not advocating censorship, but I think that radio and TV shows that are specifically targeting the under-12s and bands who are aggressively targeting that demographic as part of a conscious marketing strategy have a responsibility to monitor their content more than they do.

If children happen to hear sexually suggestive songs on a daytime show that is aimed at adults, though, I think it's the parents' responsibility, not the broadcaster's.

Censorship is often counter-productive, though - e.g. when "Relax" by Frankie Goes To Hollywood was banned from airplay by the BBC in the 80s (on account of its sexual content) it was already sliding down the singles chart. After it was banned, it shot right up again and was No. 1 for several weeks.

One of the most controversial that comes to mind for me is The Cure's - Killing An Arab. While I feel this a great, emotionally chilling song, others find it simply unnecessary and it's managed to be the subject of heavy debate over a 30 year period. It's based off the book 'The Stranger' by Albert Camus.

Yes, I believe that, after signing The Cure, Hansa Records dropped them before they'd released anything, because they couldn't handle material like that. But that's one piece of "censorship" I'm quite pleased about, as Japan (one of my favourite bands) ended up getting their first recording contract a result - Hansa signed them in The Cure's place.

The problem with any art form is that sophisticated work is open to misinterpretation. There were people who avoided The Cure because they thought it was a racist song. Even worse, there were people who got into The Cure because they thought it was a racist song. But you can't legislate on the basis of idiots, which is why I generally disapprove of censorship.

Posted by Yoana
The most controversial I can think of now is Kate Bush's The Kick Inside - about a girl who was raped by her brother and falls pregnant.

I wonder how Paddy felt about that one :lol:

But I think there's a difference between controversial and simply obscene for the sake of it.

Definitely.

Why did bush knock down the towers Jadakiss - Why

This was controversial because some people that Jadakiss should be sued for slander.

There are several lyrics from some rappers that have brought controversy. usually lyrics that are anti-white or anti-police.

Trust me, there have been far worse things said about bush...

What Was the Filthy Fifteen?

In 1985, led by Tipper Gore, the Parents Music Resource Center compiled a list of offensive rock songs - the so-called “filthy fifteen." The PMRC then sent the list to music industry execs, demanding both a rating system for lyrics and the application of warning labels - deemed “Tipper Stickers” by some - on albums. The filthy fifteen contained everything from Top 40 hits by Cyndi Lauper to Venom’s subterranean metal, and the PMRC provided its own key to each song’s offensive content. Before long, everyone was asking, “Could Junior be corrupted by the Mary Jane Girls?”

1. Prince - "Darling Nikki" (1984)

2. Sheena Easton - "Sugar Walls" (1984)

3. Judas Priest - "Eat Me Alive" (1984)

4. Vanity - "Strap On Robby Baby" (1984)

5. Motely Crue - "*******" (1983)

6. AC/DC - "Let Me Put My Love Into You" (1983)

7. Twisted Sister - "We're Not Gonna Take It" (1984)

8. Madonna - "Dress You Up" (1984)

9. W.A.S.P. - "Animal/F**k Like A Beast" (1984)

10. Def Leppard - "High 'N Dry" (1981)

11. Mercyful Fate - "Into the Coven" (1983)

12. Black Sabbath - "Trashed" (1983)

13. The Mary Jane Girls - "In my House" (1985)

14. Venom - "Possessed" (1985)

15. Cyndi Lauper - "She-Bop" (1983)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Songs for Swinging Censors

There were chuckles when the PMRC delivered the titles of its filthy 15 back in the mid-80s. Some of the tunes were by utterly obscure artists, and others weren’t overly provocative at all. But rock has had its hips thrusting and tongue cursing from the early days. Since Little Richard declared that Miss Molly sure "likes to ball," the music has found ways to express mankind’s baser instincts and political opinions - and of course it’s gotten into hot water for doing so. We present our own overview of records that made parents, priests and politicians hot under the collar.

1. Ray Peterson - "Tell Laura I Love Her" (1960)


2. The Kingsmen - "Louie, Louie" (1963)


3. The Byrds - "Eight Miles High" (1966)

4. Janis Ian - "Society’s Child (Baby I’ve Been Thinking)" (1967)


5. The Rolling Stones - "Let's Spend the Night Together" (1967)


6. The Velvet Underground & Nico - "Heroin" (1967)


7. The MC5 - "Kick Out the Jams" (1969)


8. The Sex Pistols - "God Save the Queen" (1977)


9. N.W.A. - "F**k Tha Police" (1988)


10. Body Count - "Cop Killer" (1992)



11. Guns 'N Roses - "One in a Million" (1989)


12. 2 Live Crew - "As Nasty As They Wanna Be" (1989)


13. Prodigy - "Smack My ***** Up" (1997)


14. Eminem - "My Name Is" (1999)


15. Shaggy - "It Wasn't Me" (2001)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The song "Voldemort Can't Stop the Rock!" released on the 2004 album of the same name by Harry and the Potters contains the lyrics "And we won't let the Dark Lord ruin our party/ Just like Tipper Gore tried with the PMRC."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Even John Denver couldn't get away from it! unfortunately, this is the only article i could find which had the information.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Mountain_High
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

and for me, personally, nothing offends me. really, nothing offends me. music is meant for entertainment. and as Wab said before "If an artist doesn't ruffle a few feathers during their career they're not trying hard enough.".

There was this song I hated that was played on the radio a lot two summers ago by Saving Abel called "Addicted." If you look up the lyrics you'll see why it's controversial. It was really awkward when it would come on and other people were in the car...

or the lyrics to "Don't Trust Me" by 3OH!3.

A lot of people get offended by the band but they're so satirical and shouldn't be taken seriously. That song in particular seems to be a bit mocking of the girl in the song. Not really that offensive, IMO.

It gets ridiculous sometimes.

The song "Guilty Conscience" by Eminem and Dr Dre for example.

The radio edit is SO censored, it makes me wonder why MTV and radio even bothers playing it since so much of the song is censored, moreso than the lyrics which are not.

well, i listen to marilyn manson, and some of his lyrics are very deep and sometimes uplifting if you look into them enough, which obviously most people don't :p

^ I think Marilyn Manson is controversial because they're reasonably popular for a 'non mainstream' band. They look different and sing about some questionable things but in the grand scheme of things I don't find them all that controversial.

I think it's a bit odd, that 'Lovegame' and 'Don't Stop the Music' by Rihanna are nearly saying the same thing, with more sexual refrences in the former, and yet no one cares about the latter.

I can't say that I know of any truly controversial lyrics, considering people get into an uproar about any and everything these days.

I hate the censorship in "Don't Stop the Music" on my little sister's Kids Bop CD:

Original lyrics: "We're on the dance floor acting naughty"
Censored lyrics: "We're on the dance floor acting crazy"

I understand why it's censored, seeing as it's an album geared towards children, but if you're going to ruin the whole song by censoring it like that, I don't think it should be put on the album.

I really don't like 3OH!3's latest song, "Starstrukk". (Really stupid song and spelling!) It makes women look like they are these people going out and dressing a certain way just to get attention from men. I know it's a very stupid and immature band, but I don't understand why the have to keep making women look the way they do in the song. :shrug:

There was this song I hated that was played on the radio a lot two summers ago by Saving Abel called "Addicted." If you look up the lyrics you'll see why it's controversial. It was really awkward when it would come on and other people were in the car...

That song is AWESOME! :cool:

I just heard it while scanning the radio the other day (I thnk for the first time since I've mainly listened to country radio the past few years)

But yeah, I can see why it's kinda controversial. And apparently their original music vid for the song had shots of topless women in it. :err:

I was surprised the song wasn't censored but glad because the radio edit isn't as good, IMO. According to the wiki article for the song-

The original lyrics of the song are "I'm so addicted to all the things you do / When you're going down on me in between the sheets", whereas the radio edit lyrics are "I'm so addicted to all the things you do / When you're rollin' 'round with me in between the sheets".


BTW, I dunno about lyric wise...but check this music video out-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHuzRuFQFo0

Gotta be one of the most controversial I've ever seen, but I find it highly amusing. :lol: It's really shocking for country music especially. :wow:

Hey, guys, I realize that the nature of this thread lends itself toward the more un-family-friendly songs out there, but if we could keep the quoting of such lyrics to a minimum so that our younger members can be spared the crass before their time, it would be much appreciated. :D

Also, be careful when linking to youtube videos that might not be family-friendly or have comments that are not family-friendly as they are against the forum rules.

The Sean Kingston song "Beautiful" sort of caused some controversy amongst some people who took offense at the part 'they'll have you suicidal". But I don't think it's such a big deal.

I hate the censorship in "Don't Stop the Music" on my little sister's Kids Bop CD:

Original lyrics: "We're on the dance floor acting naughty"
Censored lyrics: "We're on the dance floor acting crazy"

I understand why it's censored, seeing as it's an album geared towards children, but if you're going to ruin the whole song by censoring it like that, I don't think it should be put on the all

They should just bleep off the word, like Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend" clean edit.

Any Eminem song can be considered offensive/controversial. I, personally, like to listen to his songs but I can completely understand why other people hate his music: even his 'tame' songs contain very offensive lyrics.

I'm sure there are maaaany others that can at least agree with that.

They should just bleep off the word, like Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend" clean edit.

That would make it soo much better! :lol: Even my little sister hated it, and she's the one that bought the CD!

I love the fact the Kids Bop tries to make albums for kids, but they always ruin the songs when they put them on the CD and they're sung by children.

Beautiful by Sean Kingston definately caused controversy with me, I didn't get it all, and still don't get how it could be a HIT!

I don't know, in a weird, way, I liked Beautiful! It was quite catchy :p

That would make it soo much better! :lol: Even my little sister hated it, and she's the one that bought the CD!

I love the fact the Kids Bop tries to make albums for kids, but they always ruin the songs when they put them on the CD and they're sung by children.

I would have liked that when I was a kid! :lol: The closest thing I had when I was very little was the Tarzan and Jane Toybox CD. My mom got me the music video version, so I could see the behind the scenes and stuff like that.

All Lady GaGa's song are controversial I suppose. Never liked them. :shrug:

All Lady GaGa's song are controversial I suppose. Never liked them. :shrug:

Not really. :shrug: The only one that pops into my mind is "LoveGame", for ovbious reasons.

I haven't actually listened to every single song she's made, but "Just Dance", "Poker Face", and "Paprazzi" definitely weren't controversial at all. Maybe the "Paparazzi" music video, or her performance at the VMA's because she used people in wheelchairs who weren't actually handicapped, and I know a few people who were upset about that because they said she shouldn't have used it, saying that it was "degrading" to handicapped people.

Sexual doesn't automatically mean it's controversial. I think these days we have tougher standards of what is and what isn't controversial. Lady Gaga merely scrapes the surface IMO.

^I agree. It can be completely-mundane sexual, and it can be ban-worthy sexual depending on lyric content and/or video. But I don't think that adds to or takes from a song's worth.

Well, the first one that comes to mind is the song Judas by Lady Gaga.

i can remember when Frankie Goes To Hollywood released Relax and it was banned by the BBC.....

And some years later it featured on a suncream commercial.... so what is considered offensive has obviously changed..

@ yorkiedoodle: :agree: Definitely.

On a side note, I'm not sure if this song would be considered controversial, but Sweet Dreams (are made of this) by the Eurythmics is rather risqué lyrics wise.

I'm surprised that it got past the radio censors. Yes it doesn't have any swearing in it, but some of the themes are rather adult...

Heck I liked the song when I was younger, didn't even noticed the adultness of the song itself... don't think the radio people did either :whistle:.

Sweet Dreams seems pretty tame to be honest.

"Its your duty" by Lene is a pretty controversial one. No swearing or any explicit words but the adult theme is pretty obvious if you follow the lyrics for a bit. I actually like the song but I would turn down the volume if my parents were anywhere near when I was a kid. There was a time when it would be played every now and then on the russian radio. My parents would pay more attention to the english songs because they didn't know russian much.

Sweet Dreams seems pretty tame to be honest.

"Its your duty" by Lene is a pretty controversial one. No swearing or any explicit words but the adult theme is pretty obvious if you follow the lyrics for a bit. I actually like the song but I would turn down the volume if my parents were anywhere near when I was a kid. There was a time when it would be played every now and then on the russian radio. My parents would pay more attention to the english songs because they didn't know russian much.
Yea it is, but still, I'm kind of surprised that it slipped by them though.

I guess it's in part that the song itself is implied rather than overt.

:wow: That song definitely is adult. No implying by any stretch of the imagination.

I'm surprised there isn't more metal lyrics on here. Every conservative and politician are always complaining about those, especially Al Gore's wife who came up with the "Filthy 15".

I've always been disturbed by Katy Perry's song ET, especially the version with Kanye West (some radio stations play the sans Kanye version). For the most part the song doesn't bother me, the radio-edit version without Kanye is kind of fun. The part the freaks me out is the end of the middle Kanye refrain from "I'm gon' disrobe you..." and on... no. That's just wrong. Gives me the heeby-jeebies.

Eminem's "The Way I am" has some pretty controversial lyrics, especially the part when he references Marilyn Manson's non-existent connection with the shootings at Columbine.