BBC Banned Music Top Singles Banned By the BBC
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BBC Banned Music: Top Singles Banned by the BBC
Summary
Explore some of the most notable singles banned by the BBC, often referred to as Auntie Beeb.Article
The British Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as the BBC, is a public broadcaster that upholds certain standards of decency. Over the years, several singles have been banned by the BBC for being too explicit, distasteful, or potentially offensive to the British public. Here, we delve into some of these controversial tracks.
In 1977, during England's celebration of the Queen's Jubilee, the Sex Pistols released their provocative single "God Save the Queen." The song featured lyrics that controversially rhymed the national anthem’s title with "fascist regime," and the record cover depicted the Queen with a safety pin through her nose. The BBC found the single too offensive to air, yet it climbed to number two on the official singles chart. There's a popular myth that claims it was actually the top-selling single in the UK but was kept at number two to avoid controversy.
The scandalous duet "Je T’Aime ... Moi Non Plus," by Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin, was the first-ever number one hit to be banned by the BBC. Released in 1969, during the era of the sexual revolution, the explicit lyrics and Birkin's moans were too much for British radio. Despite the BBC ban and denunciations from the Vatican, the single became a best-seller in the UK and worldwide, achieving number one on the BBC singles chart and reaching number 69 on the US chart.
"Je T’Aime ... Moi Non Plus" influenced another banned single, Donna Summer's disco pioneer, "Love to Love You Baby," released in 1976. The BBC banned the song after counting 23 simulated orgasms by Summer. Nevertheless, it became a massive hit, reaching number four on the UK charts and number two on the Billboard pop chart.
Frankie Goes to Hollywood's "Relax" is one of the most controversial and successful singles in history. The BBC's ban didn't stop Radio 1 DJ Mike Read from publicly condemning the song’s explicit lyrics. In 1984, "Relax" stayed on the UK charts for 42 weeks and held the number one spot for five weeks. By the year's end, the embarrassed BBC lifted the ban. The song remains an iconic symbol of the era, with ongoing debates about whether the ban helped or hindered its success.
Paul McCartney and Wings’ response to the 1972 Bloody Sunday events, "Give Ireland Back to the Irish," was banned across all UK media platforms, including the BBC, Radio Luxembourg, and the Independent Television Authority. The title was even banned from being spoken on air. When it appeared on the BBC Radio 1 chart show, it was merely presented as a record by Wings. Despite this, "Give Ireland Back to the Irish" topped the charts in Ireland.
Each of these singles has cemented its place in music history, partly due to the controversy surrounding their bans. Whether the bans hindered or propelled their success remains a topic of discussion.
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