The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) also known as the Beeb is a public broadcasting corporation. Therefore, it chooses to ban materials that depart from certain standards set, course, by itself. During the years, many singles that were seen as too explicit, distasteful or it considered would offend the British public were banned from BBC airplay. Here I’ve compiled five of the most controversial and successful chart-buster-hits that Auntie Beeb banned. Enjoy.
Je TAime … Moi Non Plus, sung by Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin banned in 1969.
Translated: I love you… me neither. Je Taime, was the first ever number one hit to be banned by the BBC. Although at the time of its release, in 1969, the sexual revolution was celebrated, the British radio still was not able to cope with such explicit lyrics, not to mention Birkins moans and groans.
Give Ireland Back to the Irish, by Paul McCartney and Wings banned in1972.
Give Ireland Back to the Irish was recorded Wings in response to the 1972 Bloody Sunday murders of peaceful Irish demonstrators by British troops occupying the Northern section of Ireland. It was banned by every media resource in the UK, including the BBC, Radio Luxembourg and the Independent Television Authority. The media morons wouldn’t even allow the song title to be pronounced on air despite being in the BBC radio charts.
Love to Love You Baby, banned in 1976 after the BBC counted Donna Summer’s 23 fake orgasms.
After counting 23 faked orgasms, Love to Love You Baby performed by Donna Summer, joined the touchy BBC’s banned list in 1976. However, it did not stop it from becoming a massive hit. Love to Love You Baby reached number four on the UK single charts but peaked to number two on the Billboard pop chart. One of my favourite romantic songs.
God Save the Queen, by the Sex Pistols was banned in 1977 the year of the Queen’s Jubilee.
The Sex Pistols released their second single titled God Save the Queen in 1977 the year England was celebrating the Queens Jubilee. The single includes the contentious rhyming lyrics “fascist regime”. Furthermore, the record cover displayed a picture of the Queen with a safety pin stuck in her nose. I was never a fan of the Sex Pistols or their music but I can agree with the sentiments expressed in this song.
Relax, by Frankie Goes to Hollywood stayed in the UK charts for 42 weeks in1984.
Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood is one of the most controversial singles and commercially successful singles in history. BBC Radio 1 DJ Mike Read publicly expressed his feelings of disgust at the single’s explicit lyrics. The public didn’t agree, in 1984, Relax stayed in the UK singles charts for 42 weeks, five of them in number one. By the end of 1984, embarrassed Auntie Beeb removed the ban and presumably Mike Read hid himself away at a monastery.
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