Radio stations have been banning or censoring songs ever since they first started to play records on the air. When the rock ‘n’ roll scene flourished in the ‘50s, they started to ban more songs than ever! You will be shocked to hear that many classic songs have been banned at some point in history. Trust us, you are not going to believe the reasons they were deemed inappropriate for the ears of the average radio listener! Keep reading to see why these songs were thought unfit for the airwaves back then. Is your favorite song on the list?
Imagine – John Lennon
In reality, John Lennon had been a controversial figure when he was alive and even after that. He was an easy target when it came to censorship thanks to his songwriting and activism. “Imagine” was banned after 9/11 happened in 2001. The same thing happened during the First Gulf War in 1991. What makes it so ironic that it is all about peace. Religious folks were said to be up in arms over a specific line: “Imagine there’s no heaven.”
Imagine – John Lennon
Louie, Louie – The Kingsmen
The United States radio waves banned the Kingsmen version of this song. In fact, an FBI investigation went on for 31 months after the band allegedly covered up its sexual content through slurring. In the end, it was inconclusive since they could not interpret the real lyrics. Louie, Louie made headlines once more in 2005. This happened because a high school superintendent did not allow a marching band to play the song.
Louie, Louie – The Kingsmen
