Banned Music?

Subject: RE: Banned Music?
From: Cobble
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 02:36 PM

Watch it Sables, I only live four miles away. And who borrowed my melodeon for his world tour of the USA and Canada? Cobble.

Subject: RE: Banned Music?
From: GeorgeH
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 02:01 PM

To say "The Royal Navy banned sea shanties" is less than accurate . . but as Susan pointed out, it's difficult to define "banned" here.

The BBC "decined to broadcast" the Hard Cash TV series (about the world of work from the worker's perspective) because they felt Margaret Thatcher wouldn't approve (yes, others would claim that statment was "less than accurate", too) . . however the CD of the never-broadcast programmes is well worth locating.

G.

Subject: RE: Banned Music?
From: Kim C
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 01:21 PM

During the Civil War, both Armies didn't like Home Sweet Home because it promoted homesickness and consequently, desertion. I have read of its being forbidden but I don't know if it was officially "banned."

A few years back, country artist Holly Dunn had a single that went "When I say No I mean Maybe, and maybe I mean Yes." Women's groups got all over this, saying it promoted date rape. I don't know if it did or didn't but all I can say is I knew exactly where Holly was coming from. They used to call it playing hard to get. Anyway several stations stopped playing it.

The latest furor has been over the Dixie Chicks' Goodbye Earl, about a battered woman who kills her husband. Far as I can see it's just another murder ballad, woop-de-doo. The only problem I have with it is that is just ain't a very good song. :)

Subject: RE: Banned Music?
From: Mbo
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 12:49 PM

2 years ago MTV banned 2 Live Crew (2 Dead Shrews) and their ick-rap (Me So Horny, etc.) They got very close to banning Prodigy's "Slap My Bitch Up"...but decided to air it only a few times, and at 2am. The video was even worse than the song. Ugh.

Subject: RE: Banned Music?
From: Morticia
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 12:44 PM

Working Class Hero by John Lennon was also banned as it contained the f-word,as was Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood as it referred to sexual gratification, so was My ding-a-ling by Chuck Berry as it was considered too risque......all banned by the BBC in this country ( U.K) and all resulting in record sales for the records concerned.

Subject: RE: Banned Music?
From: Mbo
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 12:28 PM

HEY! Jeff Lynne wrote "Funky Moped". I've never heard the song, but it's gotta rock if Jeff wrote it. Everytime I see a moped I go "oooh funky moped.."

Subject: RE: Banned Music?
From: Bert
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 11:55 AM

In the Fifties, the BBC banned 'Nobody Loves Like an Irishman' because the reference to the Koran was felt might be offensive. They also banned 'Answer me Lord Above' and accepted the altered version 'Answer me Oh My Love'

The Royal Navy banned sea shanties and used a fiddler to accompany work on board.

Subject: RE: Banned Music?
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 11:40 AM

The Kildare House, my local pub has banned the playing of "The Unicorn Song"... And we musicians who play there are damn thankful for it!!!

{~`

Subject: RE: Banned Music?
From: Gary T
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 11:17 AM

"The Ballad of John and Yoko", by the Beatles, was banned in many communities, particularly in the American South, because of the lyric, "Christ, you know it ain't easy". Many stations that did play the song blanked out the word "Christ".

Subject: RE: Banned Music?
From: SINSULL
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 11:13 AM

According to the PBS Special I saw (at least ten years ago) "Buddy Can You Spare A Dime" was banned nationwide from radio play by presidential request because it was seen as detrimental to the nation's self confidence. By the time it was banned it was popular which is why it attracted attention. The "suicide" rock songs were banned by various radio stations - nothing official.

Subject: RE: Banned Music?
From: paddymac
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 09:02 AM

The Wolfe Tones did a song called "Rock on Rockall" about English efforts to extract oil from a tiny Island which Ireland claimed. I have heard them tell the story from the stage of how the British government banned that particular song from air play because they thought it seditious. The Dubliners had a similar experience with their shortened version of "Seven Drunken Nights". That was banned for twenty-five years in Ireland by church influence as promoting drunkeness and fornication. I would imagine that documentation would be difficult for many bannings, because it can be done so easily in autocratic and aristocratic societies without leaving a paper trail.

Subject: RE: Banned Music?
From: Susan of DT
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 08:42 AM

All these make good stories, but who "banned" these songs? The fact that certain stations wouldn't play them reflects more on the individual stations than on any actual ban. And, despite the popular story, McCafferty was never banned; it's remained quite well-known and quite popular for a couple of centuries. "Eve of Destruction" wasn't banned either; it got lots of airplay. So did "Brother an You Spare a Dime" during the Depression years.

Urban legends? (dick greenhaus--who forgot to change cookies)

Subject: RE: Banned Music?
From: bill\sables
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 08:40 AM

I don't know of any banned songs but I think melodeon players should be banned

Subject: RE: Banned Music?
From: SINSULL
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 08:26 AM

"Buddy Can You Spare A Dime" (written by the same man who write "Over The Rainbow" and whose name escapes me now) was banned during the depression. "Teen Angel" and "Running Bear" were banned (60s?) for promoting teenage suicide. Never figured out how going back for a ring could be interpreted as suicide but...

Subject: RE: Banned Music?
From: sian, west wales
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 04:55 AM

My sister told me that Black Day in July (Lightfoot) was banned - I suppose that was in the late 60s? She told me a lot of porky-pies, including that mohair sweaters were made from the hair of mo-s and I being gullible believed everything. Still, I can't think why she'd make the BDIJ up. But then, why would she have made up the bit about mohair?

Oh, and BBC Wales has banned songs by Dafydd Iwan before now. Dafydd isn't / wasn't known as Margaret Thatcher's biggest fan ... I understand that the ban did wonders for sales ...

sian

Subject: RE: Banned Music?
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 04:55 AM

I believe the mystery success of Jasper Carrot's record: "Funky moped" was because the other side was a wicked and funny parody of children's cartoon "Magic Roundabout" including words that mainstream radio stations wouldn't broadcast so the other side was the one that got played on "Top of the Pops" or "Pick of the Pops" type programmes. The success of the unplayed side was by word of mouth, live performances and probably pirate radio stations, and was a favourite of students. Strangely, this one isn't in my collection!
RtS ["Time for bed" said Zebedee]

Subject: RE: Banned Music?
From: Lady McMoo
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 04:42 AM

The song McCafferty (or McCaffery in some versions) used to be banned by the British Army (and may still be for all I know) for its lyrics concerning injustice towards the lower ranks from the officer class.

Peace

mcmoo

Subject: RE: Banned Music?
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 03:27 AM

That was me above....

dang cookie crumbled!

{~`

Subject: RE: Banned Music?
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 03:19 AM

Didn't Dougie McLean have the same problem somewhere with "Caledonia"??? That some stupid soccer fans who were bent on violence picked it up as their theme or that it was picked up by a beer add that soccer fans didn't take to well or something??

I seem to recall that there was some trouble over Caledonia at some point, but can't recall the details.. it may not have been banned outright...

Donno...

{~`

Subject: RE: Banned Music?
From: MudGuard
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 02:01 AM

Some years ago I bought a double cd in Dublin which had a sticker on it with some text similar to "This item is illegal in the UK. Do not bring this item to the UK". It was "The Fighting Men From Crossmaglen: 50 Complete Irish Rebel Songs".
Last year I was in the same shop and saw this same CD, but that time there was no sticker attached.

MudGuard

Subject: RE: Banned Music?
From: Quincy
Date: 08 Oct 00 - 07:33 PM

I believe that the Paul McCartney and Wings song...Give Ireland back to the Irish was banned for a while.

Yvonne

Subject: RE: Banned Music?
From: Mbo
Date: 08 Oct 00 - 06:23 PM

"Lola" by the Kinks, because it mentions a brand name "Coca-Cola."

Subject: RE: Banned Music?
From: Rich(bodhránai gan ciall)
Date: 07 Oct 00 - 11:19 PM

Going a little further back, the whole practice of lilting aka mouth music in Ireland and Scotland, and the Appalachian play party game, were sprung for various times when the fiddle was banned as "a tool of the divil"

Rich

Subject: RE: Banned Music?
From: Oversoul
Date: 07 Oct 00 - 10:36 PM

"Poor Ellen Smith"...there was a time when you could be fined $50 for singing it. I have the lyrics somewhere, and, of course, a recording by the New Lost City Ramblers.

Subject: RE: Banned Music?
From: catspaw49
Date: 07 Oct 00 - 10:05 PM

Just refreshed an older thread for you...titled "banned songs".......Try it too.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Banned Music?
From: Sorcha
Date: 07 Oct 00 - 10:01 PM

Is she interested in as far back as the '50's? Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger; lots of others were sucked into the McCarthy/Communisim business. From what Little Hawk says, Buffy St. Marie was (for all practical purposes) banned because of her involvement with the American Indian Movement.

Subject: RE: Banned Music?
From: bbelle
Date: 07 Oct 00 - 09:52 PM

Janis Ian's "Society's Child" was banned from most radio stations around the country, because it was about the relationship between a white girl and an African-American boy. Mid-1960's.

moonjen

Subject: Banned Music?
From: Victoria H.
Date: 07 Oct 00 - 09:49 PM

I have a friend who wants to incorporate a topic into her University class regarding banned music, and I am trying to aid her in a little research. I recalled a story regarding P.F. Sloan's "Eve of Destruction" (recorded by Barry McGuire) but am looking for other songs that have been banned in the history of our country and other countries as well, or writers/singers that were blacklisted as a result of songs they wrote or recorded. Can anyone help? The unit she is teaching is on banned books, but she would like to expand that topic to include other art forms as well. She is interested not only in contemporary, but in traditional songs as well. Any help would be appreciated, if anyone can suggest anything, I can send it on to her. Thanks! -Victoria