Comments on: Taboo Tunes - The Gallery of the Forbidden

Taboo Tunes - The Gallery of the Forbidden

anastasiav — Tue, 20 Apr 2004 10:56:21 -0800

:: 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.

By: jonmc

jonmc — Tue, 20 Apr 2004 11:08:42 -0800

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.

By: pieoverdone

pieoverdone — Tue, 20 Apr 2004 11:29:15 -0800

I though her undies were in a bunch over Darlin' Nikki

By: keswick

keswick — Tue, 20 Apr 2004 12:13:03 -0800

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

By: drezdn

drezdn — Tue, 20 Apr 2004 12:18:28 -0800

Keswick, I think you meant Clive Davis was bent out of shape... The tuba solos made that album though.

By: jonmc

jonmc — Tue, 20 Apr 2004 12:22:38 -0800

And after all that carping about obscenity, Tipper unleashes this pornographic display on us. For shame, Madame Gore...

By: mcsweetie

mcsweetie — Tue, 20 Apr 2004 12:30:07 -0800

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

By: orange swan

orange swan — Tue, 20 Apr 2004 13:29:11 -0800

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.

By: amberglow

amberglow — Tue, 20 Apr 2004 13:48:50 -0800

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. ; >

By: Oriole Adams

Oriole Adams — Tue, 20 Apr 2004 13:51:18 -0800

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?

By: amberglow

amberglow — Tue, 20 Apr 2004 13:54:59 -0800

wait, this is better: (quicktime)

By: jonmc

jonmc — Tue, 20 Apr 2004 14:01:28 -0800

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.

By: kablam

kablam — Tue, 20 Apr 2004 14:17:59 -0800

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.

By: PinkStainlessTail

PinkStainlessTail — Tue, 20 Apr 2004 14:38:42 -0800

"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.)

By: thomcatspike

thomcatspike — Tue, 20 Apr 2004 16:58:41 -0800

Maybe I missed seeing them in the link, The Doors.

By: ZenMasterThis

ZenMasterThis — Tue, 20 Apr 2004 18:21:42 -0800

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.

By: kablam

kablam — Tue, 20 Apr 2004 19:52:21 -0800

Here's an interesting link about "Gloomy Sunday." Granted the suicide story is second-hand, but from the violinist himself.

By: John Kenneth Fisher

John Kenneth Fisher — Tue, 20 Apr 2004 20:29:41 -0800

This is good.... though I wish it had a lot more. (First Amendment issues are my bag, baby.)

By: GhostintheMachine

GhostintheMachine — Wed, 21 Apr 2004 12:20:31 -0800

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...