Most controversial songs/albums?

Let me start this topic off with a few:

Yesterday and Today by the Beatles
Controversy- The original album picture had a picture of the Beatles with baby limbs scattered around them. (I shall not post the picture, but it is not hard to find) Obviously, they weren't real, but they were enough to cause the album's cover to be changed:



White Album by the Beatles
Controversy- This album was probably the most controversial of all the Beatles' albums. One of the bigger facts is that Helter Skelter was not only the first heavy metal song, but it also caused Charles Manson to see it as a sign of the apocalypse, which was followed up by murders that proclaimed the song title at the sites.



The Ballad of John and Yojo by the Beatles
Controversy- This song used the word 'Christ' frequently. Sure, it may not seem like a huge deal now, but during the Beatles' time this was unheard of.

An obvious and necessary choice for this list:

Stravinsky's Le Sacre du printemps
The intensely violent and chaotic ballet without precedent, exhibiting extreme rythmic form and dissonance. Naturally, it caused great scandal upon its premiere (the ballet choreography was similarly unsettling), and is also considered to have opened the door to much of the music that followed.

The LSO has a nice description for those who want to take a more detailed look.

It was Cop Killer that was the most controversial. They didn't know whether they should allow people to talk about killing cops on music records.

Rage Against the Machine: Rage Against the Machine



Well...firstly theres the cover, which included the photograph of Thích Quảng Đức in his act of self immolation. The Album itself caused a stir in right wing groups, and pitched the band as being one most successful but politically inspired bands of the 90s.

i don't know that this really fits in here... but.... Ed Sullivan sure had a problem with the lyrics to "Light My Fire" good for Jim for going ahead and signing them anyway

and you guys see the back part??

Originally Posted by sportfriend

and you guys see the back part??

No, show us.

Well, I remember A day in the life being controversial, for the lyrics 'I want to turn you oooonnnnn" . Also, Give peace a chance was controversial, for it had the lyrics "Everyone is talking about revolution...ion...:wub:, reincarnation."

Finally The song "God" was controversial for it used the word... well F#&* .

Limp Biscuit (not sure on spelling exactly) the song says the f word over 200 times in a 3 min song.

Is that in Chocolate Starfish and Hot Dog Flavored Water?
Oh, and it's, "Limp Bizkit."

Originally Posted by orange slice

Limp Biscuit (not sure on spelling exactly) the song says the f word over 200 times in a 3 min song.

Ah, how fallen is the meaning in controversy

You may claim both Stravinsky and the one you have aptly named "Limp biscuit" (Limp Bizkit of course) have their controversy rooted in vulgarity. I think it's just rude pathetic that the term "controversy" would be applied to nothing more than attention-seeking obscenities, rooted not in artistic experimentation but a culture of slovenly youth.

SoggyFrog raises an interesting point- what constitutes as controversy in music today? Or how has it changed?

Is it the music itself? How it plays? Does it break away from standard forms so much it creates controversy?

Is it the meaning behind the music? For example Wagnar is often cited as being anti-semetic. Or a more modern example in the form of Rage Against the Machine, who, as a politically fuelled band, created very Socialist fueled music?

Is it in the form of controversial lyrics or often videos? Here I will use the example of "Jeremy" By Pearl Jam. The video (and song) featured the real life story of Jeremy Wade Delle, a boy who shot himself in front of class mates, and features a strong anti-Fascist message.

Or is it simply "offensive" lyrics?

I think lyrics.
"**** da police" is one
There was another rap song, with the album cover showing women in bikinis (can't remember the song, damn)

Also the lyrics in '80s metal sparked those stupid women to get the Parental Advisory for certain records with language.

Working Class Hero was a pretty controversial song; after all, it was released in 1970 and used the most vulgar curseword imaginary to the prudes of Britain...