Back when a ban was a ban, and bad publicity was bad PR, being excluded meant missing out on gigs, losing sponsorships, and being blacklisted from future opportunities. Today, however, being notoriously banned might help a band gain popularity. Since Elvis pioneered the genre, rock ‘n’ roll songs have been censored, banned, or restricted from radio play. Let’s take a look at why some of those songs became known as the music industry’s “black sheep.”
Surprising Reasons These Popular Songs Were Banned
“Imagine” by John Lennon and The Plastic Ono Band
This idealistic homage to peace has the bravery to see everyone living peacefully in a borderless society. It has been outlawed multiple times. In a largely Christian nation where God and country define patriotic nationalism, a song about “no countries,” “no religion,” and “no heaven” is considered blasphemous and anti-American. Much to the anger of the religious right, the idealistic hymn is one of the most popular anthems ever penned. “Imagine” was prohibited during the lead-up to the first Gulf War and again following the 9/11 attacks. It has been deemed too contentious for graduation ceremonies and funerals on both sides of the Atlantic. Songfact: Yoko Ono inspired the song and penned the majority of the lyrics. It was recorded in 1971 as part of an artistic marketing campaign for peace, with the premise that peace must be envisioned before it can be realized.
Imagine By John Lennon And The Plastic Ono Band
“Strange Fruit” by Billie Holiday
This song was supposed to be Billie Holiday’s best-selling single, but radio stations refused to play it and promoters told her not to sing it. “Strange Fruit” was based on a poem condemning racism, particularly lynching, which was a lingering tragedy in the Deep South at the time the song was released in 1939. It’s difficult to fathom anyone criticizing a song that condemns lynching, but it occurred right here in the ‘country of the free.’ The mournful ballad, deemed excessively explicit and brutal, was outlawed in South Africa during apartheid and placed Billie Holiday on the F.B.I.’s “watch list.” Holiday’s record label, Columbia Records, declined to record her protest. Fortunately, her contract allowed the admired singer to collaborate with another, smaller left-leaning label, Commodore Records, to record it. Time magazine eventually selected “Strange Fruit” the “song of the century,” but not until 1999.
Strange Fruit By Billie Holiday
“Take the Power Back” by Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine’s punk/rap/metal/hip-hop music and Zack de la Rocha’s anti-establishment lyrics have been censored extensively. Besides Clear Channel’s outright prohibition after 9/11, SNL permanently banned the group in 1996 for draping upside-down flags on their amps while performing “Bulls on Parade” live. BBC Radio 5 Live faded “Killing in the Name”’s last refrain in 2009. De la Rocha sang, “F*** you, I won’t do what you tell me!” live despite their request. Publicly financed BBC apologized. The 2015 Tucson Unified School District censored “Take the Power Back” from 1992. Local high school teachers received a violation warning for using the song in a Mexican-American history class. The violation? Arizona law prohibits “ethnic solidarity.”
Ake The Power Back By Rage Against The Machine
“Like a Prayer” by Madonna
The shrewdest of provocateurs, a.k.a. The Queen of Pop, hit a high note with “Like a Prayer.” When the music video appeared on MTV in 1989, the criticism over portions of the lyrics was overshadowed by considerable outrage about the portrayal of religious and improper themes. Madonna’s video angered Catholics so badly that Pope John Paul II and PepsiCo condemned it. The Vatican declared it blasphemous and ordered a boycott of a new Pepsi television commercial starring Madonna singing with a church choir. Pepsi panicked and pulled the ad, but not before paying $5 million to the publicity savvy diva. It was the ideal combination of controversy and attention. “Like a Prayer” is still one of the material girl’s most successful songs.
Like A Prayer By Madonna
“God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys
If you have any doubts about the roots of conservatism in the United States of America, please express them. Paul McCartney famously enthused about the Beach Boys’ 1966 love ballad while southern radio stations ignored it. The love song did not invoke the Lord’s name in vain, but a pop song with the word “God” in the title appeared blasphemous enough. Because several stations refused to broadcast it, “God Only Knows” only reached No. 39 on the US charts. However, in the United Kingdom, it soared to No. 2. Another factor is that it was neglected because it was released as a B-side to the band’s huge hit “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.”
God Only Knows By The Beach Boys
“Splish Splash” by Bobby Darin
Back in 1958, when “Splish Splash” was a popular pop record, some radio stations thought the song excessively provocative. Being in the bath implies that the vocalist is naked. Furthermore, the specific language of strolling into a house party wearing only a towel was far too evocative. (If only the expurgators knew Lady Gaga was coming!) When he eventually attends the party, he merely mentions putting on his dancing shoes! (Now there is a graphic.) Bobby Darin was barely censored. The 22-year-old Bronx-born singer-songwriter became a teen superstar overnight when “Splish Splash” peaked at No. 3 on the pop singles list.
Splish Splash By Bobby Darin
“Royals” by Lorde
This song was prohibited for the most ridiculous reason. “Royals” was released in 2013. By the 2014 World Series, the 16-year-old Lorde’s No. 1 chart-topping single had become something of an anthem for Kansas City Royals supporters. When the Royals faced off against the San Francisco Giants, fanatical Giants supporters complained about the song playing during the Series. In reaction, Bay Area KFOG banned it, saying, “No offense, Lorde, but for the duration of the World Series, KFOG Radio will be a Royals-free zone.” Other San Francisco stations deleted the song from their playlists as well.
Royals By Lorde
“In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins
Who knows why “In the Air Tonight” was prohibited both during the Gulf War and after 9/11? Nonetheless, the song about suffering from jilted love was deemed too delicate for airplay during the conflict. Perhaps the remark, “It’s all been a pack of lies,” was construed posthumously to refer to the causes of the conflicts. It would be understandable if Bob Dylan’s “Masters of War” had been blacklisted, but it was not. Instead, “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” appeared on the list. The BBC and Clear Channel Communications brought the censorship to our attention.
In The Air Tonight By Phil Collins
“Wake Up Little Susie” by The Everly Brothers
“Wake Up Little Susie” peaked at number one on the charts in 1957, but a Boston radio station banned it anyway. According to the censors, the song implies that the teenage couple had an intimate relationship. The content, in general, of staying out late with a boyfriend, was too delicate for the 1950s. In today’s world, that reaction is virtually incomprehensible. The song became a great smash. While campaigning for president, George W. Bush told Oprah that Buddy Holly’s rendition of “Wake Up Little Susie” was his favorite song. The majority of The Everly Brothers’ songs were written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, a husband and wife duo who also wrote songs for Elvis, Bob Dylan, and Buddy Holly.
Wake Up Little Susie By The Everly Brothers
“Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” by The Shirelles
This song, written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King, was first recorded by The Shirelles, an all-girl quartet. According to rumors, the words “So tell me now, and I won’t ask again, will you still love me tomorrow?” are about a female who is getting ready to be intimate with a boy for the first time. (How, precisely, is beyond our comprehension). However, some US radio stations discovered the line and banned the song. In 1960, a little hint of suggestion was enough to set off the alarms. The restrictions, however, did not prevent the song by the first black all-girl band from topping the US charts and reaching No. 4 in the UK.
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow By The Shirelles
“I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” by Jimmy Boyd
In 1952, the song “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” reached number one on the Billboard charts. Jimmy Boyd, 13 years old, sang the lyrics to the beautiful holiday tune. It sold two million copies throughout the holiday season. However, not everyone was impressed. The Catholic Church attacked the song for equating sensuality and Christmas. Several radio stations have banned it. The line, “She didn’t see me creep/Down the stairs to have a peep,” was also deemed inappropriate. (Wait. Isn’t daddy dressed as Santa Claus?!)
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus By Jimmy Boyd
“Louie Louie” by The Kingsmen
This music was blatantly prohibited for no reason. It all began with a young girl’s father writing a concerned letter to Attorney General Robert Kennedy, blaming the “extreme state of moral degradation” of the country on the “Louie Louie” song. The FBI launched an investigation. According to the F.B.I. investigation, the lyrics appeared to state, “At night at ten / I lay her again / F*** you girl, oh / All the way.” To wit, the song’s single obscenity happened around 50 seconds in, when the drummer loses a drumstick and exclaims, “F***.” Ironically, the F.B.I. did not capture it. Richard Berry composed and recorded the calypso-inspired song with his band in 1957. The Kingsmen covered it after hearing the Wailers’ cover version on local jukeboxes.
Louie Louie By The Kingsmen
“If U Seek Amy” by Britney Spears
The way Britney Spears sings “If U Seek Amy” seeks an obscenity ban using wordplay. With an accent on “IF U See K,” a pun creates a double meaning for the refrain. Take a listen and decide for yourself. In case it appears unintentional, a short look at her music video reveals her objectives. A raucous party is giving way to a staid domestic scenario, reminiscent of a risqué version of “Mrs. Robinson.”
If U Seek Amy By Britney Spears
“(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” by The Rolling Stones
When this song was first published in the United Kingdom, only pirate radio stations broadcast it. In the United States, “Satisfaction” remained at number one for four weeks. However, its harsh words were muted on television, in part because Mick Jagger’s onstage gyrations were deemed vulgar. The phrase “I’m trying to make some girl,” were zapped. Following the 1965 ban in the United Kingdom for lyrics deemed too provocative, the song also reached No. 1 on the U.K. charts. However, it was criticised for having “tasteless themes.” Critics discovered anti-establishment sentiments in lyrics such as, “When I’m watchin’ my TV, and a man comes on and tells me / How white my shirts can be / But, he can’t be a man ’cause he doesn’t smoke / The same cigarettes as me.” Despite criticism, Rolling Stone magazine ranks it as the second greatest song of all time. Devo, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Britney Spears, and Vanilla Ice have all released cover songs.
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction By The Rolling Stones
“Rolling in the Deep” by Adele
The dispute seems to concentrate around why Adele’s song was restricted by radio stations. Broadcasters were concerned that the phrase might mean, “I’ll lay your sh*t bare,” so they bleeped it out. To clarify, Adele substituted the word in question with “stuff” during a television performance. What is clear is that the ballad “Rolling in the Deep” caused a huge sensation. The No. 1 hit single remained at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks straight.
Rolling In The Deep By Adele
“The Real Slim Shady” by Eminem
Colorado Springs radio station KKMG was fined $7,000 for playing Eminem’s “The Real Slim Shady” in 2000 after a listener complained to the FCC. Never mind that it was a radio edit and one of the rapper’s tamest songs on his just released album. According to updated FCC guidelines issued just two months ago, innuendo without expletives might be considered obscenity under the law. The agency claimed “unmistakable offensive references,” which included the lyrics above and several other lines. Later, the FCC restored the fine, noting that the song was “not patently offensive under contemporary community standards.” A Wisconsin radio station was also fined for airing an unedited version of “Slim Shady.” They paid the fine without filing an appeal.
The Real Slim Shady By Eminem
“Cop Killer” by Body Count
In response to the condemnation, Ice-T said, “I’ve become the hero of the people, and the more they attack me, the stronger I’ll get.” However, in response to the condemnation, Ice-T removed the song from the album. Reflecting, he found free speech means we can say what we want, “but you have to be prepared for the ramifications of what you say.” Song fact: Ice-T was inspired to write “Cop Killer” while singing the Talking Heads’ song “Psycho Killer.”
Cop Killer By Body Count
“Light My Fire” by The Doors
The Doors were permanently barred from performing on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1967 because of a single phrase. Before the live performance, a producer warned the band that the term “higher” implied illegal substance use, and the lyric needed to be modified to a more appropriate word, such as “better.” As the door shut, Jim Morrison, outraged by the absurd suggestion to self-censor, stated, “We’re not changing a word.” During the live performance, guitarist Robby Krieger smiled at Morrison’s defiance while singing it precisely as the single, but CBS executives were furious. They approached Morrison, telling him he would never appear on the show again. Morrison commented, “Hey, bro. “We just did the Sullivan show.”
Light My Fire By The Doors
“Juicy” by The Notorious B.I.G.
When “Juicy” plays on the radio today, there is an uneasy silence in lieu of the line, “Blow up like the World Trade.” This is despite the fact that the song was published some years before the 9/11 attacks. The Notorious B.I.G. was referring to the 1993 World Trade Center disaster in the underground parking lot, which killed six people, but his metaphor “blow up” refers to enormous personal success and financial gain. Only after 9/11 was the song prohibited for radio play. Despite the fact that some believe his lyrics were prophetic, the Notorious B.I.G. would be unaware of his song’s suppression or the catastrophic incident. Tragically, Biggie died in 1997.
Juicy By The Notorious B.I.G.
“Lola” by The Kinks
Surprisingly, it wasn’t the phrase “Well I’m not the world’s most masculine man / But I know what I am and I’m glad I’m a man / and so is Lola,” that sparked outrage. The BBC’s ban prohibiting product placement caused the Kinks to rewrite a portion of their popular 1970 chart-topping song, “Lola.” The phrase “cherry cola” was used instead of the brand name “Coca-Cola” in the radio version. Ray Davies, the lead singer, had to fly from New York to London to sing the radio edit so that the song could be broadcast. Davies penned this song in jest when his band manager went to a party and danced with a transvestite. He was so plastered that he didn’t see “her” stubble sprouting back in the late hours of the night.
Lola By The Kinks
“Physical” by Olivia Newton-John
In Utah, radio stations in Salt Lake City and Provo have banned Olivia Newton-John’s chart-topping hit “Physical.” In 1981, at the start of the conservative “Reagan Revolution,” the phrase “Unless it’s horizontally” was seen as an intimate suggestion. The music video for “Physical,” which was published the same month as MTV’s premiere, was also prohibited. The video ended with a gay theme. MTV restricted it by cutting it short, while several Canadian and British broadcasters banned it entirely. The song received a Grammy for Video of the Year and was Newton-John’s most popular single.
Physica By Olivia Newton John
“Greased Lightning” by John Travolta
From the Broadway musical to the film, “Grease” has been extensively adopted as family entertainment, which is surprising given that it is about rowdy youths and illegal street racing. The word “sh*t” in John Travolta’s 1978 version of “Greased Lightning” was censored on the radio with a bleep. However, the statement, “You are supreme, the chicks’ll cream for grease lightning,” stayed unchanged. Aside from that, it’s a virtual car repair school about customizing wheels with overhead lifters, four-barrel quads, dual-muffler twins, and chrome-plated rods.
Greased Lightning By John Travolta
“Baby, It’s Cold Outside” by Frank Loesser
During its day, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” was a perfectly acceptable song. In 1944, Frank Loesser penned and recorded a duet with his wife. It received an Oscar for Best Original Song in “Neptune’s Daughter” after Loesser sold it to MGM for the 1949 picture. Today, in 2018, the song has been washed up in the #MeToo movement and has been censored on radio due to its controversial nature.
Baby, It’s Cold Outside By Frank Loesser
“Love Game” by Lady Gaga
With a refrain like that, “LoveGame” elevates gamers to a new level. Many nations banned Lady Gaga’s third album, “The Fame”. Australia took offense at the suggestive music video, but the United States took “LoveGame” seriously. However, in the United States, MTV deleted portions in which Lady Gaga appeared to be wearing only her birthday suit. The video was also removed from MTV Arabia. The diva stated that the song was inspired by her experience being attracted to a stranger in a nightclub.
Love Game By Lady Gaga
“Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead” by The Wizard of Oz
This high-energy Munchkin song from 1939, which welcomes Dorothy to the beautiful Land of Oz, was never censored, until British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher died in 2013. Detractors of the former Prime Minister launched a campaign to propel “Ding-Dong! The Witch is Dead” to the top of the charts during the week following the unpopular leader’s death. The plan nearly succeeded, as the holiday music rose to No. 2, but BBC Radio 1 put out the fire by refusing to run it on their charts. The BBC deemed it a repulsive campaign and prohibited it for symbolizing “a celebration of death.”
Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead By The Wizard Of Oz
“Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison
This song was released in the 1960s, during the legendary Summer of Love. “Brown Eyed Girl” sounded like the ideal companion song, but Van Morrison wasn’t having it with the hippy association. Radio stations objected to the line “making love in the green grass,” therefore “Brown Eyed Girl” was either prohibited or censored for being too inflammatory. Morrison originally titled the song “Brown Skinned Girl,” an interracial innuendo that would have undoubtedly prompted even more banning. Interracial marriage was still illegal in 17 states at the time, so he reworked the song into the more radio-friendly version that is now regarded as a great rock ‘n’ roll classic.
Brown Eyed Girl By Van Morrison
“Happiness Is a Warm Gun” by The Beatles
“Happiness Is a Warm Gun” is one of the Beatles’ four favorite songs on the “White Album,” but it was not the censors’ favorite. The song, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, was featured on the epic 1968 double album “The Beatles.” It was immediately prohibited by the BBC. The media gatekeeper rejected it because it revealed personal symbolism inherent in the gun metaphor. Okay, fair enough. In the United States, radio stations similarly refused to play the contentious song. Lennon based the song’s title on an article titled “Happiness Is a Warm Gun” in “The American Rifleman.” He elaborated: “I thought it was so crazy that I made a song out of it.”
Happiness Is A Warm Gun By The Beatles
“Puff the Magic Dragon” by Peter, Paul and Mary
In 1970, the Nixon White House launched a ferocious anti-illegal drug campaign. Vice President Spiro Agnew led the charge, addressing Republicans in a speech carried on radio and television. He picked out 1960s singers who he thought promoted substance abuse by paraphrasing their lyrics. By December, the Illinois Crime Commission had released a list of “substance-oriented” rock tunes. “Puff the Magic Dragon” appeared on the list. The terms “puff” and “papers” purportedly related to smoking, while “dragon” referred to using a drug. Meanwhile, Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul, and Mary claims that the 1963 song never addressed those issues. He claimed it was about the loss of innocence and the end of childhood.
Puff The Magic Dragon By Peter, Paul And Mary
“My Generation” by The Who
Songs were prohibited by the busload during the radical 1960s. The elders viewed the change negatively. The Who’s debut album, “My Generation,” featured the song that characterized it, the titular single. It was offensive! Roger Daltrey sings that he would rather die than grow old (like his censors). BBC executives were irritated by the stutter in “Why don’t you all f-f-fade away,” which appeared to imply an oncoming “f-word”. However, because the word does not develop, the broadcasting corporation said it offends those who stutter or stammer. Pirate radio stations continued to play “My Generation,” and it eventually peaked at No. 2 on the UK charts. The stammering in the song actually began when Daltrey attempted to read Pete Townshend’s lyrics for the first time. It had a cool sound, so the band maintained it.
My Generation By The Who
“Love to Love You Baby” by Donna Summer
Before disco music became prominent on the pop charts, it was popular in homosexual dance clubs where DJs replaced bands. Donna Summer’s 1975 single “Love to Love You Baby” was one of the first to make that leap. It reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1976. A more difficult transfer occurred from clubs to radio. Critics criticized her sexual audio material rather than her literary content. The BBC identified 23 climaxes characterized by “intimate moans,” while Time magazine described the 17-minute tune as “a marathon of 22 peaks.” The sensual sounds of breathes and moans on the song sparked further controversy, as she was alleged to have recorded the music while lying on the floor in a dark studio. The BBC quickly banned it. When the Guardian asked her about the controversy, she stated that “everyone’s asking” if she touched herself. She said, “Yes, well, actually, I had my hand on my knee.”
Love To Love You Baby By Donna Summer
“Atomic” by Blondie
During the first Gulf War in the early 1990s, the BBC freaked out and banned 67 songs that they deemed too (possibly) sensitive for conflict. We don’t understand why Blondie’s 1979 song “Atomic” was problematic. Apparently, it was because of the term “atomic.” Don’t mind that it’s a love song. Clear Channel Communications did not even consider removing “Atomic” from radio play under their arbitrary military embargo.
Atomic By Blondie
“Anarchy in the U.K.” by The Sex Pistols
By the time the English punk band disbanded in 1978, the Sex Pistols had been banned from radio, television, and live performances, as well as rejected by two different record labels. EMI dropped them for using obscenity during a live TV broadcast, while A&M dropped them after only six days. Too hot to handle and with nowhere else to go, renowned punks Sid Vicious and Johnny Rotten of the Pistols carried their show to the United States. It unraveled in San Francisco. They made only one studio album, “Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols,” which was released in 1977. Its debut release was “Anarchy in the U.K.” The violent, anti-government character of the song compelled the band to postpone the release of the rest of the album for a year. “God Save the Queen” was also prohibited from radio, yet it still reached No. 1 in the British charts.
Anarchy In The U.K. By The Sex Pistols
“Johnny Remember Me” by John Leyton
John Leyton’s song “Johnny Remember Me” was released in 1961. The song fit into the popular genre of the time known as “death ditties.” These death-pop songs, as popular as the bell-bottom craze of the 1960s, incorporated horrific love-and-loss storylines in pop music, which youths enjoyed. The phenomenon concerned the expurgators. (Would those critics have also outlawed Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”?) The BBC has banned “Johnny Remember Me.” Nonetheless, it peaked at No. 1 on the UK singles chart and sold more than 500,000 copies. Artist — one; censors — zero.
Johnny Remember Me By John Leyton
“I Want Your Sex” by George Michael
The title of George Michael’s 1987 song was enough to warrant a ban, and not because it was excessively provocative. It is quite evident. In fact, “I Want Your Sex” was the first pop song to have the word “sex” in the title. The song from the former Wham! Superstar is from “Faith,” his debut solo album. It was prohibited during the daytime on radio stations in the United Kingdom and the United States. The single became platinum. Despite Michael’s emphasis on monogamy in the song video, MTV prohibited it during daylight hours to avoid propagating problematic subjects. It ranked third on MTV’s 2002 list of the Most Controversial Videos Ever Aired.
I Want Your Sex By George Michael
“Glad to Be Gay” by Tom Robinson Band
Tom Robinson composed “Glad to Be Gay” for a 1976 gay pride parade in London. In 1967, homosexuality was decriminalized in the United Kingdom, although society took little attention. The song, sung by the punk/new wave Tom Robinson Band, critiques attitudes in Margaret Thatcher’s England, particularly those of the British police, who raid gay pubs for no cause other than prejudice. It was published in 1978 on the band’s live “Rising Free” EP. Radio stations found it too sensitive to play. BBC Radio 1 refused to carry it on its Top 40 Chart, but John Peel, the evening DJ, disobeyed the prohibition and played it. Today, the protest song inspired by the Sex Pistols has become an LGBT anthem in the United Kingdom.
Glad To Be Gay By Tom Robinson Band
“I Love a Man in a Uniform” by Gang of Four
The post-punk band Gang of Four’s 1982 single “I Love a Man in a Uniform” was banned for a ludicrous and inappropriate reason. The song, which peaked at number one on the charts and was popular in homosexual bars, was banned for a variety of reasons. “I Love a Man in a Uniform,” from the post-ironically titled studio album “Songs of the Free,” was removed from U.K. radio stations. According to the band’s guitarist, Andy Gill, a note from the BBC circulated warning, “Do not play this song. We expect to have to report casualties tonight. “This song will no longer be played, period.” The next day, British troops entered the Falklands War.
I Love A Man In A Uniform By Gang Of Four
“Burn My Candle” by Shirley Bassey
Shirley Bassey’s song “Burn My Candle” was a no-brainer for the censors in the 1950s, when songs with unclear lyrics were banned just in case they were expressing something inappropriate. It was the Welsh singer’s debut single, recorded in 1956 when she was only 19 years old. The BBC prohibited it due to its risqué suggestion. Bassey being so young and naive at the time, she claimed that following the ban, she was utterly astonished. She had no idea what the song, composed by Ross Parker, was about. It proved to be a small blemish in an otherwise successful career.
Burn My Candle By Shirley Bassey
“Jackie” by Scott Walker
“Jackie” was released in 1967, the same year when homosexuality between two males over the age of 21 (in private) became legal in England. It wasn’t just the remark about “authentic queers” top bosses at “Auntie” that the BBC considered too offensive to air. The prohibition was also prompted by references to illegal substances and immoral language. “Jackie” was the first song banned from the then-new Radio 1. Scott Walker recorded Jacques Brel’s song as his debut solo single after translating it from French.
Jackie By Scott Walker
“You Don’t Know How It Feels” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were barred from using certain derogatory terms in their song “You Don’t Know How It Feels.” Radio stations, MTV, and VH1 all edited the recording to omit certain words. In the end, “You Don’t Know How It Feels” won Best Male Video at the MTV Video Music Awards. Petty described himself as “elated” when the song was banned. The only exception was David Letterman’s show, which aired it in its entirety. The number-one hit song was published in 1994 on the studio album “Wildflowers.” However, the song was banned during the Heartbreakers’ Lollapalooza performance in 2007. Tom Petty is no longer with us.
You Don’t Know How It Feels By Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers