Censorship in music

"Music is almost as dangerous as gunpowder"
-Jeremy Collier

Over time, society's morals and values have been shaped by religion and events such as wars and recessions.

Music reflects the ideas of a society, and as these change, so does the music.

However, change isn't always welcomed.

Music has always been censored. Even in the seventeenth century, composers like Giuseppe Verdi had their work rewritten in order to make it more suitable to audiences (Lombardi).

Just after the civil war, pro-southern songs were banned for fear of starting a revolution (Belcik).

The 1920's saw the jazz craze, fueled by wild, upbeat music that was new and exciting. Because radio wasn't as popular, censorship wasn't as prevalent (Lombardi).

THE 1950'S

The once conservative values held by Americans were quickly changing with the new generation, and the music reflected that.

For the first time, sensitive subjects were being freely and frequently discussed in lyrics.

Just as there was segregation in schools, there was segregation in music.

Rythm and blues, a genre dominated by mostly colored musicians, became increasingly popular in the 50's and 60's.

Because of the frequent mention of suggestive material in the lyrics and the expansion to mixed race audiences, the genre was thought to promote immoral behavior in youth (Hall).

Alan Freed's Dance Party was cancelled by CBS after footage of Frankie Lymon dancing with a white girl was accidentally aired in 1955 (Hall).

In 1955, Houston's Juvenile Delinquency and Crime Commission banned over thirty songs-- many of which were by colored artists (Hall).

In 1957, Congress toyed with the idea of creating a committee to review and alter music before it was sold or broadcasted (Hall).

THE 1960'S

Eventually, censorship became less race-oriented and mostly about content. In the 1960's, radio stations banned songs that had suggestive lyrics, ranging from topics like drugs to anti-war statements (Hall).

Many radio stations in Texas agreed not to play any songs by Bob Dylan because his lyrics were too complex. They feared his songs sent the wrong message to youth ("History of Music").

In 1965, the mayor of Cleveland, Ohio banned all rock shows after a raucous Rolling Stones concert ("History of Music").

One of The Beatles' 1966 albums was recalled by Capitol Records as a result of complaints from consumers, saying that the artwork was too "gory" ("History of Music").

After John Lennon's infamous 1966 statement that "The Beatles were bigger than Jesus", outraged citizens across the U.S held record burnings in protest ("History of Music").

Songs that were banned ("HISTORY of Music")

• "The Twist" by Chubby Checker (1962), because it promoted vulgar dancing
• "Satisfaction" by The Rolling Stones (1965), for its sexually suggestive lyrics
• "Unknown Soldier" by The Doors (1968) because of its anti-war sentiment
• "The Ballad of John and Yoko" by The Beatles (1969) because the lyrics were considered "blasphemous".

One of the most pivotal moments in music history was Woodstock Music Festival in 1969, where people gathered to celebrate peace, love, and music, as well as escape from those who were attempting to suppress the messages sent through music.

The 1970's

"The artist must conform to the current, and usually hypocritical, attitude of the majority. He must be original, courageous, inspiring, and all that - but never too disturbing. He must say Yes while saying No" (Lombardi).

For the cover of his 1970 album, The Man Who Sold the World, David Bowie posed in a dress.

In the UK, the original photo was used for the album's cover. In the US, however, the album was sold with an alternate cover for fear that the American public would be unsettled by a man in a dress and not want to buy the album (Belcik).

In 1971, the Federal Communications Commission warned radio stations across the nation that if they played music that promoted drugs, their licenses would be revoked ("History of Music").

Also in 1971, songs by John Lennon and Jethro Tull were changed by record companies and radio stations without their knowledge ("History of Music").

In the 1980s,

PMRC GOALS (Belcik)

• Lyrics printed on album covers
• Explicit covers kept under the counter
• A rating system for albums (much like movies)
• Reassessment of controversial performers' contracts

main reasons for music censorship

• Controversial political statements
• Sexually suggestive lyrics
• Mention of drug use
• Offensive language (profanity, slurs)

Censorship continuously occurs in the music industry today, an example of this being the exclusion of profanity on public radio.

"Popular music can inspire a radical mentality, it is a 'major political weapon' urging youth to improve their world" (Lombardi).

By gradually allowing more radical ideas in music, society is more likely to accept them in time.

Works Cited found here:

• https://docs.google.com/a/isd221.net/document/d/1rAhJzUJb_CdGfW7Ibx1EOO2EIu...