4 Classic Songs That Were Banned for Odd Reasons

Songs get banned for many reasons. Artists sometimes take risks that don’t sit well with everyone, leading to censorship by the powers that be. But, there are times when songs get banned for little to no reason at all. The four songs below fall into the latter category.

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4 Classic Songs That Were Banned for Odd Reasons

1. “Atomic” – Blondie

Blondie’s “Atomic” got banned in the early ’90s due to the ongoing war in the Middle East. This track, along with several others that had even the slightest reference to war, was banned on the BBC. The broadcaster felt it pertinent to avoid any negative sentiments while their troops were overseas. Though this Blondie song is not about conflict in the slightest, the title alone was enough to get it scrapped from the rotation.

Oh, your hair is beautiful
Oh, tonight
Atomic

Uh huh, make me tonight
Tonight, tonight

2. “Come Together” – Beatles

“Come Together” is an odd song, no one can deny. It saw John Lennon get experimental in the writer’s room, stringing together strange sentences that leave the listener dumbfounded. Despite that, this song was banned from radio for a time not for its dizzying effects, but because of advertising issues. The lyric that references “Coca-Cola” got this Beatles song cut as to avoid free press for the drink brand.

He wear no shoeshine, he got toe-jam football
He got monkey finger, he shoot Coca-Cola
He say, “I know you, you know me”
One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

[RELATED: The Beatles Lyric That Showed How John Lennon Was Insecure Even While on Top of the World]

3. “Anarchy In The UK”

If someone told you “Anarchy In The UK” was banned on radio, you’d probably reply with a quick, “Yeah, that makes sense.” However, it wasn’t the controversial title and sentiment in this song that got it banned on radio, it was the band’s actions outside of the studio. The Sex Pistols used their time on television well, making a strong case for the punk movement’s rebel rouser reputation. Because the band acting so poorly in public, radio stations opted not to play this track.

I am an Antichrist
I am an anarchist
Don’t know what I want but I know how to get it
I wanna destroy the passersby
‘Cause I, I wanna be anarchy
No dog’s body

4. “Creep”

Imagine writing a song so sad that radio stations decide to not play it for fear of depressing their listeners. Well, Radiohead doesn’t have to imagine that scenario, it happened to them. “Creep,” one of their signature songs, was banned by broadcasters that felt it was far too solemn for mainstay radio play.

I don’t care if it hurts, I wanna have control
I want a perfect body, I want a perfect soul
I want you to notice when I’m not around
You’re so f***in’ special, I wish I was special

(Photo by John Rodgers/Redferns)