Create a case study of a selection of controversial music videos that were either banned or censored. What made them controversial? Why were they censored? You could make links here with recent censorship decisions for music videos.
2. Some Music Videos Which Have Been
Banned Or Censored
Blurred Lines
By Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams, T.I.
2013
Born Free
M.I.A
2010
Just Lose It
Eminem
2004
Low
Foo Fighters
2002
What It Feels Like For A Girl
Madonna
2000
Dead End Street
The Kinks
1994
3. Dead End Street- The Kinks
Why was this video controversial?
One of the early music videos created by the Kinks in 1966, depicted the bands
members as ‘top hat-wearing pallbearers’ and this was deemed as tasteless by the
BBC (even though the ‘corpse’ jumped out of the coffin alive and well) this resulted
in the BBC banning its first pop video
Why was it censored?
Quoted from Ray Davis: Not Like Everyone Else
“Unfortunately, after its screening, this remarkable three-and-one-half-minute film was banned by the BBC for being
distasteful. With minimal controversy, the BBC could allude to the darkly humorous treatment of widows,
pallbearers, coffins, and corpses. Perhaps, however, Davies surmised the true reason for the ban: “It showed slums and
poverty and so they wouldn’t run it. I guess they prefer films about running around in parks, jumping over chairs.”
It is therefore debatable what the real reason for the censorship was
however it is presented that it was because of its ‘distasteful’ themes and
dark topics such as the pallbearers, coffins and corpses.
4. Girls On Film- Duran Duran
Why was this video controversial?
Even though MTV wanted ‘to appear hip and edgy’ according to the article in Rolling Stones
Magazines about 10 Banned Music Videos, they ended up not airing and including “the racy
mud-wrestling scene in this 1981 video”. Finally, a edited version was made which featured
half the footage and none of the boobs which were originally featured made the cut.
However the band used this and ‘capitalised on the controversy’
Why was it censored?
The raunchy video created an uproar and it was eventually banned by the BBC and before it
ran on MTV originally, it was heavily edited.
Moments leading to the censorship of the video:
- “A petite female Sumo wrestler mounts the catwalk to confront heavyset male Sumo
wrestler. The woman is wearing a sheer top and a mawashi loincloth; the camera follows
her as she enters, offering a generous, fetishistic view of her partially exposed buttocks”
- “A brunette model removes her fur coat to reveal her breasts and skin-tight see-through
plastic knickers underneath”
5. Killed By Death- By Motorhead
Why was this video controversial?
This video illustrated “excessive and senseless violence” which included a scene of
the lead singer Lemmy Kilminster ‘zapped in an electric chair” which resulted in MTV
sentencing “this metal video to death by obscurity”. To make matters worse, the band
had “two female executives deliver the video to MTV while dressed in chains and biker
gear” which didn’t at all help the video get on air.
Why was this video censored?
Because of the ‘excessive and senseless violence’ which was not appropriate for
audiences and the way the band presented itself and the video.
6. This Note’s For You- Neil Young
Why was this video controversial?
This satirical video pointed out ‘big-money TV sponsors”. Some of these
included Coke, Pepsi and Budweiser.
Why did they censor it?
MTV decided to ban the video in 1988 because of the singling out of the
sponsors however this resulted in the ‘uncool impression’ that MTV did not
want to support corporate sponsors. Even though the video was ‘reinstated’
and was able to win the Video of the Year, it made a lot of damage to MTV .
In addition to this, Micheal Jackson sent MTV legal threats because of
representations of him in the music video.
7. The Thunder Rolls- Garth
Brooks
Why was this video controversial?
Brooks presented himself as ‘a cheating husband with bad hair and an even
worse temper” in the 1991 video which was eventually banned by the
Nashville Network and Country Music Television. This video was controversial
because of its depiction of domestic violence
Why was it censored?
A CMT representative commented the network was "in business to entertain,
not to promote or condone gratuitous violence or social issues.“ The Nashville
Network therefore wanted ‘Brooks to add a spoken message explaining the
violent subject matter” however he refused and said it would appear that he
was trying to make money of spousal abuse
8. What It Feels Like For A Girl-
Madonna
Why was this video controversial?
Madonna’s partner and ‘slick filmmaker’ Guy Ritchie produced the 2001
video which featured Madonna (the “Vogue” girl) living on the edge. The
video was controversial because it included ‘a fictional crime spree that ends
with a suicidal bang’ and was overall too violent and graphic.
Why was this video censored?
Madonna had other videos such as “Justify My Love” and “Erotica” as well
as the recent “Girl Gone Wild” banned or limited for its saucy content. For
the video “What It Feels Like For A Girl” MTV and VH1 didn’t approve of it
because of the fictional crime which ended in suicide. There is a argument
that the video was banned off MTV because there was a scene which
included Madonna pointing a gun towards the police and MTV had banned
previous music videos which had guns. Miller explained that "while Madonna
is one of MTV's darlings, she's still a woman, and the idea of a woman taking
her aggressions out on men is something the network can just not have
9. Low- Foo Fighters
Why was this video controversial?
The music video included scenes with sex toys which Dave Grohl
said he spent six hours of film shooting with actor Jack Black.
There were also scenes of Jack Black taking a dump and
vomiting and Dave Grohl fondling himself and finally ‘a cross-
dressed spanking’
Why was this video censored?
The scenes with the sex toys were eventually edited out because
of discretion. However MTV still deemed the 2003 video
unsuitable for all ages because of this kind of content
10. Just Lose It- Eminem
Why was this video controversial?
Michael Jackson personally called Eminem’s representation of him in this
video “inappropriate and disrespectful”. The video was portrayed as
controversial because there was ‘one point depicted a noseless
Jackson on a bed full of children. Other scenes included ‘Pee-Wee
Herman, Vanilla Ice and Madonna are also lampooned”. Furthermore
“The music video for "Just Lose It" generated controversy by parodying
singer Michael Jackson's child molestation trial, plastic surgery and an
incident in which Jackson's hair caught on fire while filming a Pepsi
commercial in 1984”.
Why was this video censored?
Because of the inappropriate behaviour and representation Eminem
illustrated of Michal Jackson. Furthermore, the timing was worse for
Jackson, who at the time was battling child molestation charges and
Jackson had many supporters such as Stevie Wonder who disagreed
that the music video was out of order.
11. Born Free- M.I.A
Why was this video controversial?
Scenes from this video included one young male getting shot in the head
and another blown to pieces in the shocking video ‘depiciting redhead
genocide’. Since this video appeared on YouTube, it encouraged
thousands to debate racism.
Why was it censored?
Disturbing scenes such as the ones mentioned above. Additionally, the
violence and nudity (that paled by comparison) prompted YouTube to ban
the video. There was too much graphic content which depicted political
censorship. On 27 April, the BBC reported that the video was being
removed in some instances by YouTube, and labelled with an age-
restriction in others
12. Blurred Lines- Robin Thickle
Why was this video controversial?
Even though Thicke’s wife gave him permission to shoot surrounded by
topless models, the 2013 video was controversial because of scenes
such as the one with the helium balloons spelling ‘Robin Thicke has a big
dick’. Furthermore, the lyrics of the song and the way he objectified
women for his pleasure in the video is also a controversial issue. Overall,
it was felt “the song and the music video trivialize sexual consent” and it
promoted rape culture because of the title. It was felt that it was sexist
towards the female race.
Why was this censored?
YouTube felt the video was not appropriate because of the naked women
who were arguably presented as ‘sexual passive objects’ and were
trivialised, however it was then edited so the women were fully dressed
and it ‘quickly surpassed a million views after its Vevo debut’
13. Reasons Why Music Videos Keep Getting
Censored Or Are Controversial
Objectifying Women:
This issue was even demonstrated as early as
the 1900s, there is a sexism issue that women
are illustrated as ‘pleasures’ rather than an
independent being. This is even presented at
now, in the 2013 Blurred Lines video.
Violence:
Too much ‘uneeded’ and ‘excessive’ violence seems to be
another common occurrence. If a video is seen as something
which will promote violence among its viewers, it is seen as
controversial or having the right to be censored. This clearly
happened in M.I.A’s music video which was arguably showing the
idea of racism and heavy violence against a certain race
Parody Issues:
Celebrities such as Michael Jackson have faced this in a
number of videos e.g. Just Lose it. The celebrities can
pose legal threats to the company airing the video which
is another reason videos are censored. Furthermore,
they are controversial as people may not agree to the
way the celebrity is being represented and deem it as
unfair and inappropriate
Sexual Content:
This is shown very early in music videos. From Madonna
to Robin Thickle’s video, the demonstration of too much
sexual content needs to be age restricted, so children
who are young do not feel this is a trivial lifestyle. Many
videos are censored mainly because of this reason, too
much sexual content is deemed inappropriate
These are the issues which still seem to be a common occurrence in today’s music videos…
