This Song was So DISTURBING…People PULLED OVER WHENEVER Radio PLAYED it! | Professor of Rock

[@ProfessorofRock]

Poll: What is your pick for the greatest singalong song of the rock era...One you can't resist?

[@David-i1g1r]

Black Water. Doobies

[@TerrickTerran]

Oh lets do a few We Are the Champions, The Saga Begins, Sweet Dreams, Surfing USA and Beat It.

[@christineml1476]

"I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)" The Proclaimers

[@gregwasserman2635]

Black Dog, Led Zeppelin

[@karmab4391]

Rock and Roll All Nite - Kiss Livin' On A Prayer - Bon Jovi Don't Stop Believing - Journey Here I Go Again - Whitesnake

[@nanais007]

As an adult, I'm beyond tired of being musically censored. Radio edits are stupid.

[@jenl-g]

I remember Relax being everywhere when I was a teenager. I would sing along, not understanding the lyrics. I remember thinking "When you wanna come? Come where? Like over to my house?"

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Yeah me too. Same.

[@sneekeruk]

That was my wife.. 5 years ago. at nearly 40 it was on the radio and it finally clicked what it was about.

[@Nobodyreallyatall]

Americans in the mid 70s to the mid 80s just seemed to innocently ignore the meanings of songs that had homosexual references (which were often very obvious) as well as ignoring the level of ugly misogyny against women (which would never be allowed to be portrayed in movies and TV).

[@macmcgee5116]

My sister, like me, is a child of the 80s. Because of her kids, she was active with the youth at her church. One time, they were working on a project in the youth center when an "offensive" song came on. I don't remember what song she said. But then she said one of the girls in the group decided that they needed to change the station because of the song. Taking it upon herself, the girl started changing stations until she came across the 80s station. Relax was playing, and the girl said."Oh, this is much better". My sister said she didn't have the heart to break it to her and let her live in her blissful innocence.

[@CaptApple]

As a TEEN you didn't get that? I mean, it was impossible to derive ANY other meaning from the completely explicit lyrics for me. First heard it in the movie Body Double. That was REALLY explicit so that might be why my experience varied. Merry Christmas : ).

[@veronicagee4335]

I'm an older member of the LGBT community and I never understood the controversy over the Money For Nothing lyrics. Yes, the word is a slur, but I understood the context in which it was written. I didn't know anyone who was offended by it. As for other controversial songs... "Good Girls Don't" by The Knack had the line "Till she's sitting on my face" which was pretty suggestive in the late 70's.

[@Allie-oop]

The whole Get the knack album should be R rated 😂

[@GregBerlinski]

Those that are offended by anything are usually never putting anything in context😊

[@Sacred_Fire]

I always thought that verse was in reference to Boy George and Culture Club.

[@LTurbide]

I'm also an older member of the LGBTQ community I can remember how horrified I was hearing money for nothing being played on the radio for the first time. Every time that song came on MTV or on the radio and I heard those lyrics it stung.

[@kevinmahoney9205]

@@Sacred_Fire Agreed. This is still one of my favorite songs and I have the unedited version on my playlist.

[@MariaBareiss]

I was about 13 when "Money for Nothing" came out, and I knew he was writing _in character_ and not as Mark Knopfler.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Yeah. I have to remind a lot of people that.

[@Whytemonkee]

Absolutely Nothing offended me, when I heard it. If I didn't like it, I turned it off.

[@ProfessorofRock]

That's right!

[@FredGroenke55]

@@Whytemonkee as it should be

[@AnnaTrail-xp8pr]

​@@FredGroenke55yep agree

[@badkitty4922]

That's why we can change channels or use the on/off switch. 😉💖 When did common sense, reason, and to each his own get Leonidas kicked down the well/cistern?

[@charlesballard5251]

My mother used to love a christian song called "Footprints in the Sand" (or maybe it was "One Day at a Time, Sweet Jesus"...I can't recall) by Christy someone, or someone Christy. The first time we heard it on the radio in the car she did something she'd never done in my lifetime. She went out almost immediately and picked up the 45. I got physically ill whenever she played it. I'd have turned it off if I could have gotten away with it.

[@thesussexbunion]

And yet now, a song called "WAP" is judged fine.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Right?

[@stvp68]

Too many songs about sex nowadays-is that all people have to sing about??

[@thesussexbunion]

@stvp68 truthfully, I don't consider that music. 😂 However, look at those "cancelled" lyrics of yesteryear, and now it's apparently acceptable to refer to shooting people, calling women "b"s and "h"s, and everything in between. Thank God for the 80's! (And every time I think of that, I remember my grandmother in the 80's saying, "You call *that* music?😂)

[@glittermama]

@@stvp68 Freud says sex and death make the world go round, and, it turns out, those are the two main topics of literature.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Yeah. That song makes me gag.

[@borisblvd5354]

Since when was Rock & Roll ever supposed to be politically correct?? Rock & Roll is truly dead as soon as it gives a sh!t! about offending..

[@stvp68]

Yes but you gotta be offensive over important topics, otherwise you’re just being crass

[@juliebee61]

amen to that!

[@borisblvd5354]

@@stvp68 That's true. It's one thing to just go around spewing out any random comment or gesture. But it's another, to prioritize what you want to say, without backing down.

[@websurfer5772]

It better not be PC or I'm not gonna like it. 😏

[@missjets98]

3 chords and the truth! I just watched a video by comedian Jimmy Carr talking about being cancelled for one (of many) of his jokes. He said he fantasized about sarcastically apologizing, and when they came back to him saying it wasnt a sincere apology, his response would be "Oh, do you mean it's possible for me to say something and not mean it?!?!" Perfect.

[@danacunningham4239]

As far as money for nothing goes, I’m reminded of what my father used to say, “The world doesn’t come with padded corners.” I think that sums up why covering up how people express themselves does more damage than good.

[@georgeharris6851]

Dire Straits were actually making fun of homophobes with that lyric.

[@drstewart]

I like how people defend ignorant things and it always begins with "My daddy said..."

[@KyleInTexas]

​@@drstewart 😂 You really need to get over yourself.

[@rickfromthecape3135]

@@drstewart Actually his daddy was right....

[@drstewart]

@@rickfromthecape3135 Nah. Defending ignorance is never right. Convenient though, for certain types. Because there are people who choose to conduct themselves poorly doesn't mean that you facilitate them or excuse it.

[@jeffreypiek]

I find myself more offended by ppl who get offended by songs. Those offended seem to have forgotten about satire and the phrase " Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me"

[@jonathanbranum8976]

...and the sad truth about that is, usually those Offended are the ones struggling internally/emotionally to make sense of it...but their unstable reality wont allow them to, so as in HP3: offending a hypocrite may just be the last thing you do with your life!

[@adamx6000]

It’s strange how people can’t perceive that words can be from a character’s perspective and may not be the actual views of the artist.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Yes, exactly!

[@gwc656g]

4:24 They were offended because they wanted to be offended, not because they actually were.

[@ProfessorofRock]

That one is a head scratcher!

[@cinmar720]

I get it and agree!

[@ChelleLlewes]

@@ProfessorofRock Looking to be offended and not concerned about whether or not a thing is actually offensive. And yes, I agree.

[@christhornton8219]

The ones who were “offended” are part of a cult where they try to outdo each other on what obscure things they can be offended by. I tell my son that our lives are so easy now that people have to invent things to be offended about. I’m so glad that era is coming to an end.

[@rickfromthecape3135]

@@ProfessorofRock Some people live to be the victim.

[@DC8091]

“I’m not endorsing Frankie until they tell us who Frankie is” - Bowie 🤘 7:00

[@ProfessorofRock]

Ha ha! Good one with a Bowie quote!

[@DC8091]

@ 🤣 from the great “short film” Dancing With Blue Jean 🤘

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Yessss!

[@johnwinnard5589]

Bloodrock was an incredible band. I was 5 when my mom pulled the car over thinking sirens were on her tail. She was so pissed when she realized it was the song! One of my earliest favorite memories!

[@ProfessorofRock]

THanks John!

[@MichaelGahagan]

I looked for the BloodRock album for years. I finally found it at a garage sale in a small town in western Kansas.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Haha! Wow.

[@laureencriss8220]

There were a couple of morning radio stations that would play a siren sound during part of their bits in the 80s (maybe even 90s). It always fooled me and shook me up.

[@billyholly]

I first heard "D.O.A." in the spring of 1971 in our chemistry class. A fellow classmate had just been killed walking across a street not far from our school. As the song played while we were conducting our typical individual qualitative analysis experiments, it became deathly quiet and all had stopped doing whatever. I still remember that class to this day and hearing this song. To say the least, it was highly impactful. I looked for the song at local record outlets and could never find it.

[@5roundsrapid263]

I’m surprised the station even played it. Most record stores wouldn’t sell the album.

[@billyholly]

I don't remember if it was on the radio or on an LP. I never heard the song again. I remember getting myself to remember the group's name and then looking for it.

[@lfd_eng9219]

Took me several years to find the album in the early 1980s. Was only 7 years old when I first heard it...having a big fascination with air travel in general and all of the disaster movies...it was just great timing. Never thought it was controversial...but I guess it kind of was and still is. Thanks for bringing this one back up! FYI: Loverboy did a song with the same title...but it was an anti-suicide song. Queen also had an anti-suicide song...flip side of their Another One Bites the Dust single...kind of strange when you think about those two on the same 45.

[@kimnach]

I say the DOA is either pleasingly morbid or morbidly pleasing. It's one that I have to play numerous times when it comes up randomly on the thumb drive in my vehicles. Relax is just a catchy tune, regardless of the inspiration.

[@bonhamclackey574]

I had to order a cassette through a record store just to get DOA. The tape was called "Heavy Metal Memories". These days, even that album is hard to find.

[@catbutte4770]

"Jeremy" is such a tragic song. The video, even with its edits, was brilliant. Seeing Jeremy's classmates all frozen in horror, I didn't have to see the boy's action to know that something horrible happened. It's truly sad that Trevor Wilson (the actor who played Jeremy) drowned while vacationing in Puerto Rico. 🥺

[@martadavies6435]

Agreed. Jeremy came out while I was in high school in CA. A few years later I was attending Oregon State, not too far from where Kip Kinkel killed his parents and then went to school, and not long before Columbine. I always thought the song was a sort of premonition of school shootings in later years. I did not know the true influence of the song until now. So horribly sad.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

It’s a really chilling video.

[@donaldwilson2620]

As a 90s teen myself, the video was on heavy rotation on MTV during that time and it was haunting because of the realization of how some teens can be truly troubled and need help.

[@TheBassTroll]

I think Money for Nothing was written about two guys ragging on Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic by The Police. Sting can be seen wearing earrings in both ears right from the start, and there are "bongos" (octobans) and "Hawaiian noises" (steel drums) in the video. This would also explain Sting singing "I want my MTV" to the tune of Don't Stand So Close To Me; hinting at the identity of "yo-yos."

[@joshuakanapkey6570]

I do believe you're right, and have thought so for exactly that reason!

[@GrumpyMeow-Meow]

I always thought the Hawaiian Noises was a dig at Duran Duran.

[@stevenhess5528]

I like your deduction

[@skycladraven1248]

Steel drums is a Caribbean thing, not Hawaiian.

[@skanderfish3641]

But Sting isn't little, and his hair has always been unremarkable, outside of while he was acting in a movie.

[@FontMesa]

There was another song that was banned by some radio stations in 1978, the song is "Kiss You All Over" from the group Exile

[@stevestackman2623]

I recall hearing my parents talking about "Mack The Knife" being banned, before my time but I recall they thought it was a big deal.

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

Two songs by George Formby were also banned: "When I'm Cleaning Windows" and "My Little Stick of Blavkpool Rock".

[@LazyIRanch]

I learned to sing the original German version of "Mack the Knife", which is "Mackie Messer" back in high school when I took two years of German. The German lyrics are a bit scarier than the English ones, and funnier (IMO). It starts off comparing "Mackie" to a shark. Loosely translated, it's "The shark has teeth that he wears in his face, but Macheath has a knife, but the knife you do not see." "Mackie Messer" was based upon the story of an eighteenth-century highwayman named Captain Macheath. Not a nice fella at all, yet they made a banging, cheerful tune about him! I've learned that I can remember a foreign language better if it's a song. I could no longer carry on a simple conversation in German, as I could 40+ years ago, but I can still remember and sing the songs I learned back when!

[@Cat_Rescuer]

Back when i was in 5th grade i had music class. Our teacher encouraged us to bring in music we liked so a fella in my class brought in his '45 of Squeeze Box by The Who. Our 11 year old litttle selves giggled at the lyrics and our teacher quickly stopped the song with a scowl. I shared that memory with my friend & he said "sounds like something I'd do" 🤭✌️🤘

[@ProfessorofRock]

Ha ha! Great song!

[@LaManteca76]

Lol my Dad played the squeeze box so I naturally assumed the mom was playing an accordion until I really listened to the lyrics. 😂

[@soulscanner66]

@@LaManteca76 Me too. That's the point of songs that have double meanings. You can sing them without the kids knowing what they're really about.

[@jthesh14]

My 7th grade teachers brother was a roadie for The Police. Our school was poor. We didn’t have AC and pizza day was hamburger buns turned over with a spoonful of tomato sauce and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. She was dead set on getting a music program going though and she did. We ended up with Playschool instruments. You know, plastic and cheap. She had us entered into competitions with other schools. Schools with real instruments of wood and brass. It was embarrassing.

[@starrywizdom]

I'm not convinced that FGtH's Relax is any smuttier than the Who's Squeeze Box. Both are fun little bits of innuendo.

[@cameraman655]

4:45 The real question is, why do we allow these keyboard cowards dictate as to what we are allowed to enjoy in life…? Hopefully the tide is turning back to common sense and reason.

[@ProfessorofRock]

David Bowie would be appalled.

[@JStryker47]

@@ProfessorofRock And I wouldn't blame him one bit.

[@IheartDogs55]

Are you kidding? Here in NJ, our legislature just passed a bill aimed at protecting librarians who put books on the shelves that others are trying to ban. The law bars civil or criminal sanctions against the librarians. Our governor signed it into law. This era is even worse than 1985, when Tipper Gore started the anti-First Amendment organization called "The Parents Music Resource Center." That movement is how we got the "explicit warning" labels on albums. 😡

[@FreddyKurganNimmo]

@@IheartDogs55 - And all that accomplished was *_increasing_* sales for releases with those stickers!😆

[@loboblanco4426]

@@IheartDogs55 ironically it must not have been noticed by these people that when you label something "forbidden" kids want it more.

[@eleni1968]

If anything, people who criticize the song "China Girl" as "xenophobic", "cultural appropriation" and "racist" CLEARLY NEVER LISTENED to the lyrics. I think all those who believe they're "holier than thou" need to RELAX when they want to come at David Bowie.

[@Susie_Floozie]

I always think that a Shocking Songs list will contain "Timothy" by The Buoys.

[@ProfessorofRock]

By the guy wrote Escape the Pina Colada song!

[@caryriggs6000]

That's pretty crazy that Rupert Holmes wrote Timothy.​@@ProfessorofRock

[@Susie_Floozie]

@@ProfessorofRock Har, yeah! When I first heard that, I was stunned--Rupert Holmes recorded pablum that I'd hated stripping to. I spent the '80s stripping, and that milieu colored the way I felt about popular music.

[@SheilaRiley-ug9pb]

That song scared the shit outta me and I was 16 or so when it came out

[@manwithanaccent4315]

Talking about the absurdity of censorship in old songs while continuing being censored by KZbin. We live in dark times, and the owners of KZbin should read 1984.

[@theclearsounds3911]

Absolutely! But KZbin is MUCH worse. Old songs are just music. KZbin has the power to sway people's opinions about anything, which is very dangerous, and has no place in countries that value freedom.

[@ronaldscofield1666]

Money for nothing is an example of how certain groups of people will get offended by anything and will try everything to make everyone else listen to what they want.

[@drstewart]

Right because actual slurs are non-offensive and how dare people want to be respected, right? You sound like someone who has never encountered any type of slur because his life is the default in every aspect.

[@KyleInTexas]

​@@drstewart😂 You really need to get over yourself!

[@drstewart]

@@KyleInTexas Another guy who has lived life on default defending something ignorant. From TX, what a surprise. 🙄

[@surlechapeau]

Yet, these 5 were played!!?? 1. Spread your wings and let me come inside - “Tonight’s The Night” Rod Stewart. 2. Watch your honey drip, I can't keep away “Black Dog” Led Zep. 3. Went down on you/ pluck your body like a string/when I start dancing inside you “Miracles” Jefferson Starship. 4. Running down the length of my thighs, Sharona/I always get it up for the touch of the younger kind “My Sharona” The Knack. 5. Who the f are you - “Who Are You” The Who.

[@ProfessorofRock]

A top 5!

[@gregwasserman2635]

Um, the lyric for you #2 came from "Black Dog", not "Rock and Roll".

[@MisterMasterShake]

Isn't #2 on your list "Black Dog" (not "Rock and Roll")?

[@michaelrochester48]

The thing about honey dripping comes all the way back to old blues songs. There’s nothing new about that. In fact, I think didn’t Robert Plant front a band called The Honeydrippers in the early 80s.

[@surlechapeau]

@@gregwasserman2635 thank you

[@onlyrevolutions2010]

I forgot there were any "controversial" lyrics in Money for Nothin' because I always sing the Weird Al version in my head. I was like, "Since when is cement pond considered a hateful phrase?". :P

[@badkitty4922]

😂😂😂. Nice!❤ I usually roll my eyes, tell whoever is whingeing to get over themselves, and just don't listen to the song they're crying like a bish about. You know, like we used to do when we knew how to change the station on the radio. 😅😉👍

[@frostypop934]

Ten Years After “I’d love to change the World” might not have made it to radio without a change of the first paragraph!

[@trinaq]

I never listened to the lyrics as a child, I only heard the catchy melodies, so never realised how China Girl was supposed to be offensive.

[@TerrickTerran]

yeah, I would be similar.

[@Cat_Rescuer]

Same! The music moved me as a child then as I got older the lyrics to all songs I liked became clear. This topic makes me think of Black Sabbath who were among many called out during the Satanic Panic. Those folks couldn't wrap their heads around the fact that the lyrics were deeper than their little minds could comprehend. ✌️🤘

[@michaelrochester48]

You talk about drivers in the early 70s having to stop their cars and park along the side of the road because of the blood rock song. There was another song that did that that you did not cover. Indiana wants me by Arden Taylor had sounds of sirens at the end of the song with gunshots. People assumed that the police were stopping their carand freaking out listeners so Motown had to issue a second version of the single without the ending with the siren and gunshots.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks Trina.

[@catserver8577]

It's not supposed to be. It's discussing the topic, not promoting it. I live for the day when people start being able to think through complex information again.

[@bjs301]

I don't remember if you've hit this one, but in the mid '60s there was a song called They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha Ha, about a man who lost his mind following a break up. It was just a funny little song at the time, but anyone who tried to do it today would probably end their career.

[@petercena9497]

The song started getting banned after the Whitman U. of Texas tower massacre in August 1966.

[@pcno2832]

@@petercena9497 It fell off the Billboard Hot 100 faster than any other record in history, possibly because of record stores taking it off their shelves. I'd be inclined to call it the first modern rap record, mainly because it relied on tape loops, rather than manual drumming.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Oh yeah that song is funny

[@lynnb8736]

I remember that song being played on the Dr Demento show in the early 1970's I used to sing it and loved it, I still enjoy hearing it once in a. while

[@donalddixoninlou]

You guys remember "Please Mr. Custer." I thought that song was so cool. Cant remember who it was by....

[@lauriesolonka2477]

Good morning Professor & music junkies, love the channel and looking forward to more great stories of the soundtrack of our lives.😊❤

[@TerrickTerran]

good day to you.

[@LaManteca76]

Good morning guys! 🤗

[@FredGroenke55]

Good morning Laurie and everyone.

[@Lam_3-22-23]

Howdy

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks Laurie!

[@junomonroe1508]

The song In The Summertime always bothers me with the lyrics if her daddys rich, take her out for a meal If her daddys poor, just do what you feel

[@ProfessorofRock]

That's pretty bad. I never realized those were the lyrics.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Wow, I never realized!

[@krissykrupski4973]

How is it a matter of realizing it? You have either heard the song or you haven’t.​@@ProfessorofRock

[@DavidJacobs-rl1rj]

​@@krissykrupski4973wtf with the righteous indignation? You've seriously never misheard lyrics before? There's literally thousands of KZbin videos about that very thing. Just cuz someone has heard a song doesn't mean AT ALL that you've properly understood what you've heard. There's plenty of songs to this day that I don't really know what they're saying. And unless the people who actually wrote it supply the lyrics,you can't be sure what's posted online is even correct

[@waynemingin9888]

Then they encourage drinking and driving. "Have a drink, have a drive, go out and see what you can find." ​@@ProfessorofRock

[@lauriecullen7761]

I was 13 and had my "Relax, Don't do It" t-shirt lol.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Awesome!

[@andalistark5416]

Cool, Ross! (😉) Frankie Say Relax!

[@carriekoehler1986]

I still have mine 🤣

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

I need a Frankie Says Relax T shirt ASAP.

[@badkitty4922]

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 you gotta get the Wham! Choose Life one too. 😉

[@frankwilsonjr4974]

Lou Reed’s Walk on the Wild Side, listen to the lyrics on that track. I first heard it at 17 years old 😂 great song!

[@flavellinator]

Maybe Dire Straits was referring to Boy George?

[@ProfessorofRock]

Yep! You got it.

[@warrenny]

@@ProfessorofRock no way! I never knew that. I had thought it [the F-word] was just a general insult to someone who didn't work hard for a living....I didn't realize they were actually talking about a particular singer. BTW, BG has such a smooth voice. I love hearing him singing.

[@MawYa-Eph.2.8.9]

@@ProfessorofRock I thought it could be, The Cure - The Caterpillar!

[@BanditVanWoert]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJ-7eIOQlrl-n80

[@BarackBoxen]

​@@ProfessorofRockI thought it was Prince

[@timholzer4081]

Bloodrock is not a band that gets talked about much at all. I have 2 Bloodrock albums and really like the albums. Their not the best of the 70s, but I find them to be underrated. Thank you for mentioning the band! Love your show. You're truly the Professor!!

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks Tim!

[@louiebee6745]

Long time opening act for Grand Funk

[@brendanl0711]

I'm 52 years old and until today I always it was about Jeremy deleting his classmates.

[@katemaloney4296]

How come nobody ever talks about Hot Child In The City?

[@ProfessorofRock]

Should we cover it?

[@Cat_Rescuer]

​@@ProfessorofRockyes, please do! ✌️🤘

[@exploringtheparanormalwith81]

​@@ProfessorofRockOh yes, definitely do. There's something slightly cringe -y about it....and then years later when I saw the person singing the song on stage, back in the day, I was completely taken a back when I saw that it is a guy that sings it!!!

[@DDKaraokeOutlaw]

Nick Gilder. He celebrated his 73 birthday 5 days ago. Love the song.

[@bakerfrank98531]

Or the KISS song - Goin Blind.

[@FreddyKurganNimmo]

I *_LOVED_* the inclusion of the song "Relax"(the entire song got played), as well as appearances by several members of Frankie Goes To Hollywood(an alternate music video was made from this), in Brian De Palma's 1984 film *_Body Double_* starring Craig Wasson & Melanie Griffith.

[@Rob-yr3vw]

A "dark" movie made even darker by inclusion of 'Relax'.

[@ProfessorofRock]

This is the second time I've seen this! Cool!

[@Fakeaorta]

That movie was great!

[@badkitty4922]

Yes, and yes! Two Tribes is also a personal favorite. ESPECIALLY the music video. ❤

[@luisderivas6005]

I first heard this song when I was 12, saw the video, got a Tshirt. I has no idea what it was about until I caught "Body Double" on late night Cinemax later the same year, and the alternate video. Great thriller film. Deborah Shelton was smoking HOT. PS: Melanie Griffith's played "Holly Body" which was named after the real life adult film star.

[@lewiscrow]

Speaking of controversial songs, "Timothy" by the Buoys had implied cannibalism. As for "Money for Nothing," I've always thought Knopfler was referring to Boy George.

[@normslivinski7483]

Thank you for remembering. I played in the Buoys.

[@starrywizdom]

I always thought Money For Nothing was about Bon Jovi...

[@denfool902]

@@starrywizdom Bon Jovi didn't have a major hit until 1986 and the song would have been written in 1983-1984. So i wouldn't think it was them. I actually thought it might have been Wham with George Michael, Wake Me Up Before you gogo. The music clip fits well.

[@RadioLaPrincess]

@@denfool902 I thought so as well but it was revealed somewhere the band was Duran Duran. Apparently the video Wild Boys was playing and they mentioned. Also, I remember reading that years ago Duran Duran and Dire Straits headlined a concert in England and didn't like each other.

[@Bevity]

My first thought was "Timothy".

[@rosemaryabbott1020]

I’m so thankful that Cancel Culture has cancelled itself. Got so tired of it.

[@soulscanner66]

No such a thing as cancel culture. It's just people criticizing things they don't like, which they're allowed to do. People are free to criticize these songs, and people who want to listen to them can find these songs.

[@inrainbows1829]

Trump did that

[@soulscanner66]

@@inrainbows1829 Trump sues people when they citizen him to censor them. That's not cancel culture though. That's just fascism.

[@BouillaBased]

@@soulscanner66 I see what people refer to as "cancel culture" as just an extension of capitalism. It's people using free speech and the power of their dollars. People love the "invisible hand of the free market" up until it's no longer giving them a tuggy.

[@vaporman442]

Cancel culture began long before any of us were born, and it is still happening. I don’t expect any end of it in my lifetime.

[@RobertL_0563]

Good morning Professor and community. Happy Hanukkah 🕎 to our Jewish friends..

[@ProfessorofRock]

Indeed! Happy Hanukkah!

[@elizabethapplebaum9245]

I celebrate Chanukah, and I appreciate this!

[@badkitty4922]

​@elizabethapplebaum9245 Happy Chanukah,friend!😘💖🫂🕎🎶🪔

[@elizabethapplebaum9245]

@@badkitty4922 Thank you!

[@Sacred_Fire]

​@@elizabethapplebaum9245Happy Chanukah 🕎 ❤

[@michaelrochester48]

The R Dean Taylor song from 1970, Indiana wants me had sirens and gunshots on it, which freaked a lot of listeners back in the 70s. Cars literally went to the side of the road thinking they were gonna be stopped by the police. Motown, in fact, had to issue a second version of the single without sirens and gunshots due to massive complaints from radio stations and individuals.

[@ProfessorofRock]

That's right!

[@MrCee71]

@@ProfessorofRock I heard that too as well!

[@MrCee71]

@@ProfessorofRock Also, he was the first white solo artist to have a top 5 hit on Motown, Second White Solo Artist to have a top 5 hit on Motown is guess who? Bruce Willis with his terrible cover of the Staple Singers hit "Respect Yourself" 😆

[@michaelrochester48]

@@MrCee71 yes when they think of white Motown artists, they think of the band Rare Earth, but never R Dean Taylor

[@MrCee71]

@@michaelrochester48 Probably Because Rare Earth had more hits, while R. Dean Taylor only had that one song and that was it.

[@johnparkerreed5712]

One of the things I love about POR is while watching his videos I’m going to learn at least 3 things about a band,time or style of music that I thought I knew but was absolutely wrong! Love this channel!

[@mikemcgown6362]

In this countdown "Jeremy" had the most impact on me. The woman/girl I was dating when it came out had a son named Jeremy who's father had been killed in a car accident before Jeremy was born. He had many social problems at a young age. It got worse when he found out his mother and I had another son on the way. I was only 23 when this was happening. Not only was I becoming a father for my own son I took on the challenge of being Jeremy's dad. I treated him as my own but he didn't want to have me for his dad. His mother and I separated shortly after that. Long story short, he got into trouble as an adult and his little brother (my son) tried to help him through. Jeremy ended up in prison. I guess that's better than the alternatives. So every time I hear this song I think about my Jeremy story.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Wow. Thanks for sharing.

[@juliebee61]

very sad story.

[@Kat-I-am3333]

@@mikemcgown6362 Sorry you had to go thru that. 🫶

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

That’s so sad.

[@annehayes-grillo6600]

"Brown Sugar" was being played on many classic radio stations until just a few years ago. I'm amazed it took as long as it did to retire it.

[@patosos4998]

I was in a terrible car wreck when I was thirteen that put me in the hospital for three months. I would listen to the radio and one time DOA came on. Needless to say it greatly impacted me. It was put in rotation and I listened to it regularly. An interesting side note, as I was watching your segment on DOA an advertisement came on about learning how to pilot a plane😮

[@VenusRadha]

You know what, I live in SE Asia right now and have been since 2012. I am from America. I have lived and traveled for extended periods of time in a lot of countries in SW Asia. I can tell you from personal experience that these countries do not care about cultural appropriation. If you want to put on local traditional clothes or you want to participate in cultural things, they love it. They are so happy to share their cultural. And they are adopting things from the west. They are coloring their hair and wearing hip hop style or punk fashion, or whatever their interest is. They wear basketball jerseys and make rap music or pop music, just like Americans. One of my Chinese colleagues loved the Lakers so much that he had his car painted Laker yellow and put Laker decals all over it. Some of them even try to speak English hip hop style and have blond dreads. I can give so many examples of things that have been adopted from America and Europe. They are developing their countries to be more western style in many ways for multiple reasons while keeping many aspects of their culture. And they have far superior public transportation and banking functions. They don't care about all of these things that these cancel culture people are complaining about. The people are just busy living their lives, taking care of their families, doing the best that they can, and they aren't canceling anyone. People often confuse cultural appropriation with cultural appreciation. Unfortunately, stereotypes do contain some truth. Infact, there is so much racism in these SE Asian cultures that you wouldn't believe it. Sons are favored over daughters and that's the truth. Many women are using products with skin bleaching ingredients or having plastic surgery to have their eyes rounded to look more western, and the darker you are, or the different you are, the more racist they can be. Obviously, not all SE Asians are like that, but plenty of them are. These cancel culture people don't know what they are talking about. Most of them haven't traveled to see if what they are espousing is even true. They have no idea how others live their lives on the other side of the world. I love living here and have many local friends all over and in different countries. I am privileged to be accepted into their culture and I take it with me wherever I go.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks for sharing.

[@billg3356]

Pretty sure the band that the two guys were ragging on was Culture Club, and the video was Do You Really Want to Hurt Me.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Great guess! It seems to fit!

[@billg3356]

@@ProfessorofRock it even has bongo drums

[@SteveDave29]

That fits the timeline, huh?

[@warrenburroughs3025]

I remember when the song came out and the first time I heard it I thought - Culture Club. I mean the earrings and the makeup just screamed Boy George.

[@skylx0812]

Dunno, all those Brit artists were brought together for the "Do They Know Its Christmas" aid for Africa song. Would have been awkward. I always figured it was rap they were ragging on. "Rap Crap" is what the rock world was calling it at the time.

[@RichSad45]

Man I dislike censorship. Each of those songs were an artistic statement of some kind. I particularly despise being forced to listen to watered down versions of songs. As others have said, rock and roll, and music in general must represent the totality of the human condition. By definition, that will offend some people. But why do we give people easily offended so much power over what we choose to listen to?

[@amandajingleheimerschmidt3050]

During a session of Mtv’s Unplugged, David admitted that the phrase “little China girl,” was code for heroin, AKA: China White. He and Iggy wrote it while trying to detox in Berlin (of all places).

[@luisderivas6005]

Bingo!

[@louiebee6745]

Golden Brown by The Stranglers.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Oooooohhhh.

[@tahoemike5828]

Every time you talk about 'disturbing' songs I keep expecting/hoping for you to cover, "People Who Died" ~ Jim Carroll Band

[@barkermjb]

You really do a fantastic job on this channel. I’m glad you’re doing well! Thanks!

[@frankgonzalez222]

I can't find any comments on NIN's Closer. Talk about controversial! Both the song and the video. Great video, Professor of Rock and I love that your radio show gets picked up here in Chicago!

[@badkitty4922]

@frankgonzalez222 omg, I love Closer! It's one of my favorite NIN songs. The radio never played the F bomb, but I never remember any controversy around the song. There was a LOT going on with alternative music coming out and shaking things up and I was digging it all.

[@catbutte4770]

A controversial song that I can remember is, "I Love Little Girls" by Oingo Boingo. Hoo boy is that song scandalous and the video is even creepier! It was also used in an "American Dad" episode when Avery Bullock starts dating a much, much younger Haley Smith. Well, I found the song funny because of the taboo subject. Anyway, Professor, thanks for another great video.

[@janetarteaga4191]

My guess would be Knopfler was talking about Culture Club from 1982/1983. Just a guess....

[@ProfessorofRock]

I think you're right!

[@grimbo73]

my thoughts exactly....

[@badkitty4922]

I always thought he was busting on Prince. If he was, Prince didn't give a fuck. 😂😂😂 ETA if you don't mind me being my honest and sweary self. 😉

[@cindyheitman9455]

Do you really want to hurt me had the bongos in the video. I bet you are right!

[@johnstevener501]

I always thought it was about George Michael

[@evandoorbell4278]

I’m a 70s-80s dance club DJ. During 1985, when the management needed to leave me my paycheck, hidden somewhere in the DJ booth, they would hide it inside the record jacket of Money for Nothing. I did get minor calluses on my thumb and index finger but never a blister :-)

[@badkitty4922]

😂😂😂👏👏👏♥️

[@danijade8432]

Wow, What controversial songs that I listened to can I think of??? I’m a mid 80’s-90’s kid so here goes: Beastie Boys “Girls” Nirvana “Polly” Nirvana “R@pe Me” Prodigy “Smack My B!tch Up” (Prodigy also has arguably the most controversial music video of all time for this song with a crazy twist ending too.) Just to name a few…. The 90’s for MTV was the LAST real decade for MTV standing for “MUSIC” television… By the mid 2000’s MTV barely played music and leaned heavily on reality shows….. I really miss the 90’s.

[@jstnxprsn]

Good morning Adam and music lovers. Happy Holidays to you all.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Same to you my friend! Have a great day!

[@chrissad3349]

Happy Holidays to you too! ✌️🌲

[@AnnaTrail-xp8pr]

Same to you and good health.

[@jstnxprsn]

@@chrissad3349 Thanks Chris

[@jstnxprsn]

@@AnnaTrail-xp8pr Thanks Anna. Same to you.

[@alexnejako777]

contextually, Relax is really good in Body Double. A great Brian De Palma movie which is not for kids.

[@ProfessorofRock]

It's been a long time since I saw that one!

[@FreddyKurganNimmo]

@@alexnejako777 - I prefer the alternate music video made from the film footage with additional footage of the band on-set by De Palma himself.👍

[@kristinb5121]

That was the first time I remember hearing the song.

[@rogerdeahl9629]

Love these countdowns! Disturbing songs? Was the band Disturbed consulted? 😂😂 Thanks Professor. Hope everyone had a good Christmas ⛄

[@michaelmcmeel914]

They were reportedly down with the sickness.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks Roger! Hope you had a great Christmas!

[@rogerdeahl9629]

@@michaelmcmeel914 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@AnnaTrail-xp8pr]

😆 yep no presents just good food. Simple and nice and spoiled the animals (well I always do they're my kids, but they got extra).

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Nope, they only cared about the sounds of silence.

[@pcno2832]

18:40 This wasn't the first time a record ran into trouble due to the use of sirens in the mix. About 6 months earlier, "Indiana Wants Me", by R. Dean Taylor, opened with a siren blaring alone, a second or two before the music started. When radio stations complained that the siren was confusing drivers, an alternate version of the single, one with a much-diminished siren, was sent out to radio stations. I remember waking up to the original version blaring from the clock-radio and thinking that the house was on fire.

[@jimfritz2087]

Wasn't there a song by OHIO PLAYERS that an alarm at the beginning ? It was " Fire". But not enough to make a fuss about

[@rickster4455]

War Pigs- Black Sabbath...

[@joshbodenhamer8737]

I love these type of shows. Thank you for making the music nostalgia happen.

[@ProfessorofRock]

You bet!

[@princebloodgrave8097]

What about the one 80s song, with the lyrics "Boom boom boom, let's go back to my room"

[@MrCee71]

I Had no Idea “Relax” Was Suggestive till when I was a teenager, I remember hearing that song on the radio as a kid without paying any attention to what it was talking and funny enough, A Kids Saturday Morning 80s Cartoon Show Called Kidd Video, a Show that was about a live action pop band (that features Cousin Oliver on Guitar) that gets trapped into the flipside (A Cartoon World) By a Villain Named Master Blaster who uses as slaves, and thanks to a fairy, they manage to get away from him and every episode, they try to find their way out of the flipside (which they never did) Now the show was based on MTV and its music videos and they always had hit songs like Duran Duran or Billy Joel or Alan Parsons Project playing in the background, and in one episode, they had “Relax” playing and I don’t the producers know what the song is actually talking about.

[@LaManteca76]

I loved Kidd Video but it always bothered me that they never made it back home. Poor Oliver especially wanted to go home so bad.

[@MrCee71]

@@LaManteca76 He was a jinx! That's why they never made it home, Just kidding.

[@onemadkat]

Unedited version of Money for Nothing is the only way to go. Our local classic rock station (independent) plays it uncut

[@Jims_Camera_at_dawn]

Looking back, I was a fan of each of these songs. Silly how people got upset about any one of them. Those that get upset need to learn about the OFF button and the CHANNEL selector option. Just saying. Keep'em coming POR. ☕️☕️🎶🎵🎶

[@AnnaTrail-xp8pr]

The other day I made a comment on my favorite rock singers and this guy responded to singers I should listen to. Nothing wrong with that, but then criticize my choices. Music is subjective and people like different people.

[@Jims_Camera_at_dawn]

@@AnnaTrail-xp8pr Exactly!! People need to let others listen to what they want. Don't get your underwear bunched up because somebody likes something you don't. ☕️☕️🎶🎵🎶

[@vcv6560]

That Frankie Goes to Hollywood story was just incredible. Goes to show you can't keep a good man down..... what did I just say?!

[@Papparratzi]

Great 5 pack. Though I’ve never heard of DOA, understandably it fits here. At the time when Money for Nothing hit the air waves, I had a group of buddies that were all Gay accept me. As I recall, none were offended by MFN. If anything they’d tease one another when that verse played. It’s important to remember the cultural context and time of the song. Though I’m sure none of my buddies found it offensive, surely there were some that did. In this butthurt world we’re living in, there’s always someone looking to find something offensive so they can use it to draw attention to themselves. Girls will be girls, boys will be boys. It’s a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world, Except For Lola!😊

[@tnrodgers]

Censors hold moral high ground for the sake of the innocent. Thanks Adam!

[@FreddyKurganNimmo]

"Boom Boom (Let's Go Back To My Room)" by Paul Lekakis "People Are Still Having Sex" by LaTour "She Bop" by Cyndi Lauper "I Touch Myself" by The Divinyls "Me So Horny" by 2 Live Crew

[@o0oTyPow]

And now I have amazing song of LaTour stuck in my head! I'm so glad there's another person out there that remembers this song! Boom Boom Boom.....I still have the 12" record!

[@artmoss6889]

A song that always made me a little uneasy was "Clair" by Gilbert O'sullivan, in which he sings of his love for a little girl: "Clair, if ever a moment so rare Was captured for all to compare That moment is you In all that you do But why in spite of our age difference do I cry? Each time I leave you, I feel I could die."

[@JBofBrisbane]

Ditto Save Your Kisses For Me by Brotherhood Of Man, with a similar theme?

[@cameraman655]

22:17 Not certain of the video per say, but I always believed he was referencing Boy George and Culture Club…. I could be wrong. I would be curious as to what other bands fit that profile from the mid-80s.

[@IheartDogs55]

"Money For Nothing" resonated with me because of its authenticity. I personally have known people with the same points of view who are loud and proud about how they feel. Haven't we all met those types? Good on Mark Knopfler! He was ahead of his time.

[@c.e.anderson558]

There are always somebody ready to be offended. They search for things to be offended by. The same 10 people nowadays. Most these songs are truthful. Truth can be scary sometimes. Knofler was quoting and everything in journalism says don't change a quote or don't say it was a quote. How people take the quote can't be controlled by the author.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Especially who’s coming to the White House in 2025.

[@sariahut1]

This is a fantastic list, great stories too. Thanks again Professor.

[@christineml1476]

The only thing that should be cancelled are the cancel culture creatures.

[@mikebuck1897]

Yep, and that’s starting to happen. I still remember when a lady told me,”I’m offended!” I was like, WGAS? 😃

[@Lam_3-22-23]

I fully agree!!!

[@AnnaTrail-xp8pr]

Yep 👍

[@christineml1476]

@@11Eleven11Eleven I sure hope it has, but sometimes it doesn't seem that way.

[@johnarksey9460]

Yep - watching those MAGA snowflakes trying to cancel Bud Lite and Yeti coolers just made me shake my head

[@theman-recon6065]

Just stumbled on ur videos..love it..learning things on diff.songs l didnt know back in the day, keep doing what ur doing..also my wife and l used the song "Power of Love" from Frankie goes to Hollywood for our wedding song, it brought up alot of conservations lol..to this day we play it on our wedding anniversary every year in our house dancing to it now going on 37 years still going strong..thx again for sharing ur knowledge

[@lregwoc2]

The song and video that can't be played now would be Julie Brown's "The Homecoming Queen gots a gun".

[@ProfessorofRock]

No

[@geoffsolomon768]

When that was first recorded it was just a fluffy piece of fun. Things like that didn’t happen. Too bad the world has changed.

[@louiebee6745]

Not to mention her other classic Trapped In The Body Of A White Girl.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Oh yeah that song is so bad it’s hilarious

[@KubeyHunter]

'Welcome to the Pleasuredome' is such a criminally underrated album... I wish the lads could have held it together for more than 2 albums as well... Oh, what could have been.

[@offgridnightmarenewhomeste3215]

Money for Nothing couldn't be made in today's woke climate.

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

By woke you mean accepting and tolerant. Neither of which are bad things.

[@offgridnightmarenewhomeste3215]

@neiloflongbeck5705 Wokies are neither "accepting or tolerant"!

[@michaelcollins5563]

@@neiloflongbeck5705 The thing about these "woke" comments is that it is the people who are aware ie woke who tend to write the songs and the traditionally conservative who have the issues. Obviously that is a generalizations, but just ask yourself - Just which side was the PMRC and Parental Advisory playing to?

[@mjnagan]

No mention of the movie Body Double for Relax? That's when everyone I know first heard of it. Became huge in the midwest after that.

[@doplinger1]

The one song that deeply disturbs me is the Violent Femmes “Country Death Song”. I can’t bear to listen to it.

[@badkitty4922]

I've never heard that one. I stick to my usual 3: Kiss Off, Blister In The Sun, and Add It Up. I've never owned one of their albums but have had friends make me mix tapes in the 80s. With my Bipolar diagnosis at 16, maybe out of their love for me, they were careful what songs they put on my tapes. I DID have some Depeche Mode (Blasphemous Rumours still makes me cry) and a bunch of other tapes/albums as I got older. But I'd consult one specific friend first. 😅

[@doplinger1]

@ - yes, you don’t want to hear it! I like their whole album “Why Do Birds Sing?” There are some real gems in the deep cuts!

[@karmab4391]

My brain cannot wrap itself around the concept of any song being controversial.

[@David-i1g1r]

Brown Sugar was offensive to some.

[@skasteve6528]

Well the Stones have pulled that one themselves.

[@jstnxprsn]

Including Jagger who quit singing it.

[@originaldcjensen]

So, for you it is hard to believe that a song featuring a slaveholder raping his slaves would upset anyone…

[@brucetucker4847]

Sadly, because it has one of the all time great opening guitar riffs. Maybe they should just rewrite the lyrics.

[@michaelblankenship548]

I'm honestly surprised to see Money For Nothing on this list. I lived on MTV in the 80's and I don't remember hearing about the controversy. I loved that song and the music video. I even bought the Brothers in Arms album. As for the video being discussed in the song, My thoughts are George Michael when he was still in Wham! or Culture Club. I can't think of a specific video with the bongos though. Too long ago.

[@bacchus003]

You missed that David Bowie was married to Iman until he passed. 🙄

[@ProfessorofRock]

Sorry.

[@bacchus003]

@@ProfessorofRock No worries. It gets lost in the fact that Bowie CLEARLY was not a racist.

[@RickZepp]

DOA by Bloodrock was also shunned by radio after the 9/11 terrorists attacks.. “we were flying low, and hit something in the air” If only Bloodrock would known.

[@MisterPersuasion]

Mark Knoppler poked fun at everything in his songs. Industrial Disease is the best example, he even slurred Jesus in that song.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Mark rules!

[@JBofBrisbane]

No he didn't - he slurred those people who claim to be Jesus... "Two men say they're Jesus - one of them must be wrong!"

[@MisterPersuasion]

@@JBofBrisbane Yea, meaning the other is Jesus which is Blasphemy. Unless, of course, he was referring to the Hispanic name, but that would be out of context of the song.

[@CaptApple]

Remember when we tried to not get hung up on things we couldn't change or really didn't have an interest in? GOOD times.

[@TerrickTerran]

Money For Nothing is a great song and interesting about all the controversy. I didn't know Relax was dirty for years.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks Terrick!

[@jeromethiel4323]

Pure ignorance is a pretty good way to describe the woke, social justice, cancel culture mob. If you are looking to find something offensive to you, you WILL find it. I guess these people have never heard of "pet names" that people in relationships call each other?

[@dvaunt3516]

The problem with cancel culture is the disgusting level of narcissistic entitlement. Suppose I don't like something or find it offensive... I get to scroll past it, close the browser window, or change the channel or change the station. Done. Thats not good enough for the narcissist. They want to make sure no one else gets to decide for themselves whether or not they want to watch it or tune in. They want to be the one that gets to decide for everyone else.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Right? It causes so much harm.

[@brucetucker4847]

I think the most hilarious but controversial moment in the history of rock music was when the lyrics to "Golden Shower" by the Mentors were read aloud in Congress during the Tipper Gore PMRC hearings. The Mentors, what a truly class act.

[@310rustyswan]

Timothy by the Buoys

[@normslivinski7483]

Thank you. I played in the Buoys.

[@310rustyswan]

No way!! That was a trippy tune from my distant past.

[@j.graham8068]

16:08 For a second there I thought you were talking about the band D.O.A. and was thinking that's an outlier for this channel!

[@ProfessorofRock]

Yes!

[@juansimonreynosoalba336]

Greetings Profesor Rock 🎸🎵🥁🎼. China Girl is Song Excelent. Bowie is #1🎵🎸🥁🎼🔥👍😃

[@ProfessorofRock]

THanks Juan! I agree. Great artist!

[@toddbradford4700]

I remember laughing back in the day at the soccer moms singing "Relax" along with their kids completely oblivious of what the song was actually about.

[@eggsngritstn]

Huge Genesis fan, but there’s no way “Illegal Alien” and that video ever see the light of day again.

[@exploringtheparanormalwith81]

😂 Ya that one was super funny...and because he's British 😆

[@jezballs4018]

Really?,I just found it right here on this platform.

[@lyndas2767]

I've heard it on the radio with the one verse removed entirely

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Especially with today’s political climate.

[@joshuahoward1680]

As someone who was truly part of the Mtv generation - I was 10 when The Buggles launched the new chanel - I have to say that it is surprising just how much the newer generations have lost in terms of their ability to grasp abstracts like satire, parody, and character-driven lyrics. If I, as someone on the spectrum, can grasp that not everything should be taken as literal, then others should be able to do so. What are they teaching in English/Literature classes these days that even blatant satire and commentary are going right over these young people's heads?

[@kommensense4390]

Bloodrock is one of my favorite bands! Super underrated!