By Helen Tarver, Wise Old Owl | This list is unimaginable – now. But (I) remember when Louie Louie was banned! Although I never could understand the lyrics, who cared??? And I can see a couple of the others being banned as the lyrics were pretty “suggestive.” Open to interpretation, so to say. Enjoy!
1. “Louie Louie” – The Kingsmen
This wild track by The Kingsmen was banned by several radio stations in 1963 due to concerns about the song’s explicit lyrics. The song, a cover of Richard Berry’s original, was misheard as being full of obscenities, which led to widespread controversy. Despite the accusations, no one could actually prove that the lyrics were offensive. The FBI even launched an investigation into the song, but after months of scrutiny, they concluded there was no real reason to ban it says American Songwriter.
What’s interesting is that the song became even more iconic because of the ban. The buzz surrounding its censorship made it an anthem of rebellion. People started listening even more closely to the lyrics, trying to decipher what was actually being said. Ultimately, the mystery only added to the song’s mystique, and it became one of the most famous songs of the ’60s.
2. “I Am the Walrus” – The Beatles
3. “Sympathy for the Devil” – The Rolling Stones
4. “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” – The Temptations
5. “The Weight” – The Band
6. “A Whiter Shade of Pale” – Procol Harum
7. “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” – The Beatles
8. “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” – Vicki Lawrence
9. “God Save the Queen” – Sex Pistols
10. “Let’s Spend the Night Together” – The Rolling Stones
11. “Roxanne” – The Police
12. “Killing in the Name” – Rage Against the Machine
13. “The Real Slim Shady” – Eminem
https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/13-classic-rock-songs-that-were-surprisingly-banned-from-radio/