Taboo Tunes - The Gallery of the Forbidden

April 20, 2004 10:56 AM

Taboo Tunes :: an interesting exhibit of controversial and banned music recordings (and sometimes cover photographs), which is especially resonant in the interesting times in which we live. Be sure to visit The Gallery of the Forbidden.
posted by anastasiav (18 comments total)

I was glad to see "Louie Louie," there, but was surprised at the omission of "Animal (F**k Like a Beast)." (lyrics) , which got ol' would-be First Lady Tipper Gore so agitated lo those many years ago.
posted by jonmc at 11:08 AM on April 20, 2004

I though her undies were in a bunch over Darlin' Nikki
posted by pieoverdone at 11:29 AM on April 20, 2004

I thought she was bent out of shape over "Let's Run Over Lionel Richie With A Tank" by Deathtongue.
posted by keswick at 12:13 PM on April 20, 2004

Keswick, I think you meant Clive Davis was bent out of shape... The tuba solos made that album though.
posted by drezdn at 12:18 PM on April 20, 2004

And after all that carping about obscenity, Tipper unleashes this pornographic display on us. For shame, Madame Gore...
posted by jonmc at 12:22 PM on April 20, 2004

I thought she was bent out of shape over "Let's Run Over Lionel Richie With A Tank" by Deathtongue.

I forgive you!
posted by mcsweetie at 12:30 PM on April 20, 2004

Very good exhibit.

I remember the uproar about 2 Live Crew, which took place when I was in high school. Their material was obscene, but where are they now? It just isn't worth everyone's time to get upset about music. I can't think of a single song that has changed history.
posted by orange swan at 1:29 PM on April 20, 2004

I can't think of a single song that has changed history.


Well, it's a proven fact that "It's a Heartbeat, It's a Lovebeat" ended the Vietnam War. ; >
posted by amberglow at 1:48 PM on April 20, 2004

The Gallery of the Forbidden missed a lot of the classics.... Two Virgins...Blind Faith...Moby Grape....Golden Earring's "Moontan"....Roxy Music's "Country Life".... while we're at it, what is the point of a controversial cover other than to get banned and garner some press? Did the nude bodies of John and Yoko make the gibberish on "Two Virgins" any more listenable? Did the chainsaw on Blackie Lawless' crotch make "Animal" any less irritating?
posted by Oriole Adams at 1:51 PM on April 20, 2004

wait, this is better: (quicktime)
posted by amberglow at 1:54 PM on April 20, 2004

I actually liked "Animal," but I'm weird.

But I see what you're driving at: witness the grandaddy of all banned album covers: Mom's Apple Pie, an album that was by all accounts unlistenable.
posted by jonmc at 2:01 PM on April 20, 2004

For you ultimate trivia buffs. One of the almost impossible to get banned recordings is an oldie.

"Gloomy Sunday", a Hungarian song for the violin, was believed to propel the despondent into suicide. Ironically, the title "Gloomy Sunday" has been used over and over since, for different songs unrelated to the original, which makes trying to find it even more difficult.

Other artists who have claimed the title include: Billy Holliday, Sarah McLachlan, Bjork, Elvis Costello, Sinead O'Connor, The Smithereens, Woody Herman, etc., even Ricky Nelson!

How depressing.
posted by kablam at 2:17 PM on April 20, 2004

"Gloomy Sunday", a Hungarian song for the violin, was believed to propel the despondent into suicide. Ironically, the title "Gloomy Sunday" has been used over and over since, for different songs unrelated to the original, which makes trying to find it even more difficult.

I think it is actually the same song, though with English lyrics: Snopes makes no mention of a "lost/permanently banned original",and they're willing to say that the suicide rumors are "undetermined".

(Lydia Lunch does a nice'n'creepy version.)
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 2:38 PM on April 20, 2004

Maybe I missed seeing them in the link, The Doors.
posted by thomcatspike at 4:58 PM on April 20, 2004

I remember seeing The Coup's cover art in Wired magazine days before September 11, 2001.

I remember going back to that issue of Wired the day of September 11 and being very freaked-out.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 6:21 PM on April 20, 2004

Here's an interesting link about "Gloomy Sunday." Granted the suicide story is second-hand, but from the violinist himself.
posted by kablam at 7:52 PM on April 20, 2004

This is good.... though I wish it had a lot more.

(First Amendment issues are my bag, baby.)
posted by John Kenneth Fisher at 8:29 PM on April 20, 2004

For everyone bemoaning the omission of some classic "taboo tracks", remember this is an ad for a book. I'm sure that hits on a few of your faves.

Think I'll go looking for that list of songs the BBC had banned at one time... I need something good to listen to. It's almost like these censorship people are trying to get more people listening to this stuff...
posted by GhostintheMachine at 12:20 PM on April 21, 2004