In Honor of Banned Books Week: A List of Songs That Were Once Banned

Nothing says “Happy Monday” like a sexy George Michael video.  Which is why, in honor of Banned Books Week, we are featuring the sultry video of a song that was once banned from public consumption.

Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Freedom to Read by going to your local library and taking out a title from the “List of Most Challenged Books,” as compiled by the Office for Intellectual Freedom. (my top pick will be to re-read the first installment of “The Giver” series by author Lois Lowry. You can check out an interview with her about the 4th–and final–book in the series on NPR’s “On Point” here).

Support the Freedom to Read Foundation by becoming a member or making a donation today.

While you’re at, turn the volume on your speaker up to 11 and rock out to a formerly banned song. Thanks to the Songfacts web site for this pretty extensive list:

(Oh) Pretty Woman – Van Halen

A Day In The Life – The Beatles

Armchair Anarchist – Kingmaker

Baby Got Back – Sir Mix-A-Lot

Be Chrool To Your Scuel – Twisted Sister

Big Boys Bickering – Paul McCartney

Big Five – Judge Dread

Bitch – The Rolling Stones

Body Language – Queen

Bring The Boys Home – Freda Payne

Burn My Candle (At Both Ends) – Shirley Bassey

Can’t Stand Losing You – The Police

Cardiac Arrest – Madness

Cop Killer – Body Count

Crazy Horses – The Osmonds

Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover – Sophie B. Hawkins

Eve Of Destruction – Barry McGuire

Fat Bottomed Girls – Queen

Feel Good Hit Of The Summer – Queens of the Stone Age

Girl Don’t Come – Sandie Shaw

Give Ireland Back To The Irish – Wings

God Only Knows – The Beach Boys

God Save The Queen – The Sex Pistols

Great Balls of Fire – Jerry Lee Lewis

Happiness Is A Warm Gun – The Beatles

He Liked To Feel It – Crash Test Dummies

Hey Mister – Custom

Hi Hi Hi – Paul McCartney & Wings

Horst-Wessel-Lied – Horst Wessel

Hurricane – 30 Seconds to Mars

I Don’t Want You Back (F–k It!) – Eamon

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus – Jimmy Boyd

I Want Your Sex – George Michael

Ich tu Dir Weh – Rammstein

If You Have To Ask – Red Hot Chili Peppers

Jesus Christ Pose – Soundgarden

Juicebox – The Strokes

Justify My Love – Madonna

Kool In The Kaftan – B.A. Robertson

Lady Godiva – Peter & Gordon

Laquer Head – Primus

Let’s Spend The Night Together – The Rolling Stones

Little Red Rooster – The Rolling Stones

Louie Louie – The Kingsmen

Love Is A Good Thing – Sheryl Crow

Love Me Two Times – The Doors

Love To Love You Baby – Donna Summer

Mambo Italiano – Rosemary Clooney

Me So Horny – 2 Live Crew

Money For Nothing – Dire Straits

My Generation – The Who

No Way Out – Stone Temple Pilots

Oasis – Amanda Palmer

Only The Good Die Young – Billy Joel

Party On Your Pussy – Red Hot Chili Peppers

Physical – Olivia Newton-John

Pictures Of Lily – The Who

Pop Song ’89 – R.E.M.

Red Nation – Game

Relax – Frankie Goes to Hollywood

Relax – Frankie Goes to Hollywood

Rhapsody In The Rain – Lou Christie

Ride – Ciara

Rumble – Link Wray & His Ray Men

Run – Gnarls Barkley

Run For Your Life – The Beatles

Sex and Drugs and Rock And Roll – Ian Dury

Smack My Bitch Up – The Prodigy

Some Girls – The Rolling Stones

Stagger Lee – Lloyd Price

Street Fighting Man – The Rolling Stones

Tell Laura I Love Her – Ray Peterson

The Ballad of John and Yoko – The Beatles

The Bitch Is Back – Elton John

The Winker’s Song (Misprint) – Ivor Biggun

This Note’s For You – Neil Young

Those Were The Days (Theme to All In The Family) – Archie and Edith Bunker

Timothy – Buoys

Too Drunk To F–k – Dead Kennedys

Wake Up Little Susie – The Everly Brothers

Walk On – U2

Wet Dream – Max Romeo

What It Feels Like For A Girl – Madonna

With My Little Stick Of Blackpool Rock – George Formby

Would You Mind – Janet Jackson

Yep Roc Hearesay – Slim Gaillard

You’re All I Need – Mötley Crüe