Welcome back to Parsons Playlists — a special Banned Books Week edition! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Amy (class of 2025) and features tracks that have been censored over the years.
Music Censorship
For decades, musicians’ artistic liberties have been censored, whether it be because of references to sex, violence, drugs, politics, or religion, it is all a restriction of one’s freedom of speech. In honor of Banned Books Week, here is a list of songs that might be on your playlists that were banned or censored in one way or another.
Billie Holiday – “Strange Fruit”
Billie Holiday’s protest song “Strange Fruit” which was a direct call out of American racism, especially Southern lynchings, was too controversial for most radio stations. The song, originally a poem by Abel Meeropol inspired by the 1930 lynchings of Thomas Ship and Abraham Smith, was performed by Meeropol before Holiday made it her closing act in 1938. Time magazine named it “Song of the Century” in 1999. (1)
Christian groups in Lebanon and the Philippines called for a ban on Lady Gaga’s concerts and her album as a whole. Christian and Muslim groups in 2012 worked hard to try to ban Gaga’s shows, calling them the “work of Satan.” (2)
Loretta Lynn’s song about sexual freedom and birth control, “The Pill” shocked the world in 1975 because of its lyrics discussing birth control, something that was only made legal three years before the song’s release. When the song was released, three years after its initial recording, over 60 radio stations banned the song. Modern country artists like Miranda Lambert and The Chicks were heavily influenced by Lynn’s strength to stray from the norm and talk about important topics not everyone wants to sing about. (3)
The Notorious B.I.G. – “Juicy”
In 1993, a bomb exploded under the North Tower of the World Trade Center, killing six people. Some historians see this attack by Islamic radicals as the start of a two-decade conflict with the West. The Notorious B.I.G., nearby at the time, referenced the event in his 1994 single “Juicy” with the line “blow up like the World Trade,” symbolizing his desire for rapid success. After his 1997 death, his music became iconic in 1990s rap culture. Following 9/11, the lyric was removed from media, and the edited version of the song is still played today. (4)
Britney Spears – “If U Seek Amy”
In 2009, the Parents Television Council urged radio stations across the country not to play Britney Spears’s newest song, “If U Seek Amy,” because of the lyrics’ double meaning. If the title of the song is said quickly, it sounds like one is spelling out F-U-C-K me. (5)
Olivia Newton-John – “Physical”
Olivia Newton-John’s most successful song of her career, “Physical” was banned from many radio and TV stations for being too sexual. However, this didn’t stop the song from its roaring success. Over 40 years later the song’s release, her song is now sampled by modern music artists like Dua Lipa and Doja Cat. (6)
DJ Vadim & Sarah Jones – “Your Revolution”
Sarah Jones’ lyrical poem, “Your Revolution” was a direct call out of the treatment and portrayal of women in hip-hop music. The FCC called out a radio station and Jones for playing the song, and when Jones sued them, the case was dismissed, but many stations didn’t play the song while the case was ongoing. (7)
Eminem – “The Real Slim Shady”
Following up on a listener complaint, the FCC fined a radio station $7000 for airing the radio edit of Eminem’s “The Real Slim Shady.” The FCC complained that the song contained offensive sexual references that were intended to shock audiences. (8)
The Rolling Stones – “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”
The Rolling Stones’ song “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” was initially played only on pirate radio stations in the UK due to its sexually suggestive lyrics. (9)
Madonna’s 1989 hit was censored for its provocative mix of religious imagery and sexual themes. The accompanying music video, which featured depictions of burning crosses and Madonna receiving stigmata, caused outrage among religious groups and led to boycotts and bans. (10)
The Beatles – “Lucy in The Sky With Diamonds”
Though the band denied it, many believed this 1967 track was a reference to LSD due to its initials and psychedelic lyrics. As a result, the song faced bans from radio stations, particularly in the more conservative U.S. and U.K. (11)
Queen – “I Want to Break Free”
The 1984 song was banned by MTV in the U.S. due to its music video, which featured the band members dressed in drag, parodying soap operas. While it was intended humorously, it was deemed inappropriate and sparked controversy in more conservative regions. (12)
This 1988 protest song against police brutality faced heavy censorship due to its explicit language and perceived incitement of violence against law enforcement. The FBI even sent a warning letter to the group’s record label, leading to bans from mainstream radio. (13)
The Chicks – “Travelin’ Soldier”
Released in 2002, this anti-war ballad was censored after the band spoke out against President George W. Bush and the Iraq War. Country radio stations pulled the song in response to public outrage, severely impacting its airplay. (14)
The Chicks – “Not Ready to Make Nice”
This 2006 track was the band’s response to the backlash they received for their anti-Bush comments. The song’s defiant tone led to continued boycotts from country radio, reflecting the politically charged climate at the time.(14)
Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57Zez6tcIiiPxQ2h-Y7-caO4Al&si=SeQtFDtS3hLMuMLA
If you want more information on the censorship of music, join us for a new Arachnophonia post later this week!
