# Songs That Wouldn't Fly Today **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 26, 2017, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227 "2017-01-26T15:05:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/81 "2017-01-27T10:59:14Z")
One I’m shocked hasn’t been mentioned yet is “My Sharona” by the Knack: > [@](#): > > Ooh, my little pretty one, my pretty one > When you gonna give me some time, Sharona > Ooh, you make my motor run, my motor run > Got it coming off o’ the line, Sharona > > Never gonna stop, give it up, such a dirty mind > I always get it up, for the touch of the younger kind > My, my, my, aye-aye, whoa! > M-m-m-my Sharona So he’s emphasizing youth here, obviously. No age is mentioned, but it seems more than iffy. But the phrase “get it up” was pretty outrageous by itself. Why did this fly (everywhere, oh goddamn everywhere if you were alive then…) in 1979? I think people were just a bit more naive about sex then: “Oh he can’t mean _that_”. And there wasn’t social media to let one person point out these skeevy lyrics to all his/her friends. Oh, and the Knack’s followup album was entitled, “…But the Little Girls Understand”. WTF?! So this wasn’t a one-off thing with this band. ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/82 "2017-01-27T11:00:59Z")
\*\*I Saw Her Standing There \*\*wasn’t that controversial when it was written in 1962 and is pretty much old fashioned and quaint today. The age of sexual consent in the UK had been 16 years of age for around 80 years previously when **Paul McCartney** wrote the song. So even if the lyrics about dancing all night and falling in love are euphemisms for sex there is no problem. After all, the opening line makes clear she was 17… McCartney himself was 20 when he wrote it and his then girlfriend was… 17. Back in the early 60s it was completely normal for a boy to be a few years older than his girlfriend. TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/83 "2017-01-27T11:12:23Z")
Way back in 1979 **Elvis Costello** (as **Elvis Costello and the Attractions** ) released his biggest UK hit **Oliver’s Army** and there was no real issue over the line _All it takes is one itchy trigger One more widow, one less white nigger_ Thirty years after the release the BBC started censoring the word nigger. TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/84 "2017-01-27T11:19:15Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > “Wives and Lovers,” written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Here’s a sample of the lyrics: > > I’m warning you, > Day after day, there are girls at the office and the men will always be men, > Don’t stand him up, with your hair still in curlers, you may not see him again. > Wives should always be lovers too Another song recorded by Jack Jones: [“Girl Talk”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3HAuYmV7Aw) (words and music by Bobby Troup): _…inconsequential things that men don’t really care to know Become essential things that women find so ap-pro-pos – But that’s a dame, they’re all the same it’s just a game they call it Girl talk, girl talk_ Shame too - _great_ chord progression and melody. And for a few more dBs of chauvinism, check out this [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDcCxaktex4) of Troup singing it in a women’s changing room. ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/85 "2017-01-27T11:38:57Z")
How far would **Quantum Jump** get with their only hit single today? The hit single \*\*The Lone Ranger \*\*which famously used (Maori masquerading as Native American) _Taumata-whaka-tangi-hanga-kuayuwo tamate-aturi-pukaku-piki-maunga horonuku-pokaiawhen-uaka-tana-tahu mataku-atanganu-akawa-miki-tora_ as the chorus. On it’s first release in 1976 it was initially made BBC record of the week before the BBC then banned it. Possibly because the lyrics implied Tonto was a cannibal: \*Me Tonto Kimosabi Me go and catchee baddy Deep within Apache forest Find him, scalp him, eat him up for breakfast \* Had drug references suggesting Tonto’s pipe of peace had intoxicating narcotics in it. Which Tonto shared with the Lone Ranger and also Silver the horse. Plus also had the lyrics _Tonto know that Kimosabi Never ever have a woman Tonto sometime stop and wonder What the trip with the great white brother_ _Maybe masked man he a poofter Try it on with surly Tonto Let me say to mister lawman Tonto doesn’t mind_ The song having been squashed and no other song getting any interest **Quantum Jump** disbanded a year later but interest in the song was revived in 1979 after extensive play by (BBC DJ)\*\* Kenny Everett\*\* and it became a top 5 hit and a reassembled band appeared on top BBC pop show **Top of the Pops** to promote it. But would it fly today? TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/86 "2017-01-27T13:30:40Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > “Don’t **send him off** with your hair still in curlers.” > Nobody stands anybody up with their hair in curlers. > What ARE curlers, anyway? That’s what I get for trusting lyrics websites. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/87 "2017-01-27T14:28:36Z")
What about The Police’s “Every Breath You Take”? It’s about a stalker, for crying out loud. I’d like to see My Ding-A-Ling get released today: And those of you who will not sing. You must be playing with your own ding-a-ling. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/88 "2017-01-27T15:05:47Z")
Since the thread below this one is “What are your three favorite Guess Who songs?”, I nominate “American Woman.” ---
**Author:** ![YoudNeverGuess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a587f6/32.png) [@YoudNeverGuess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YoudNeverGuess)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/89 "2017-01-27T15:13:31Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > On the age thing, I think that there should be a distinction between songs meant to be from the perspective of the adult singer wanting the jailbait and a song written for and meant to be identified with by actual teens. For example, Neil Sedanka was just mentioned, and in his song _Calendar Girl_, he wasn’t implying that he, Neil Sedanka, intended to go to a girl’s Junior Prom but that the teen male who was supposed to be the POV character for the song intended to. This is a good point. I was surprised to see ‘Dancing Queen’ listed. It’s written from the perspective of the girl IMO and there’s nothing to suggest she’s not dancing with/ looking for 17 year old guys. That’s what I always thought anyway when we sang along as teenage girls. ---
**Author:** ![YoudNeverGuess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a587f6/32.png) [@YoudNeverGuess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YoudNeverGuess)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/90 "2017-01-27T15:16:38Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > “Illegal Alien” by Genesis. 😃 I’ve _always_ thought ‘Every breath you take’ by Sting/ The Police was creepy (but still catchy!). But maybe it was supposed to be 😕 And what about ‘Thank Heaven for Little Girls’ sung by Maurice Chevalier in _Gigi_? Actually that whole film is kind of icky. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/91 "2017-01-27T15:22:39Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > What about The Police’s “Every Breath You Take”? It’s about a stalker, for crying out loud… I assume it’s intentionally ambiguous, but I thought it was more about Big Brother (the government) watching us. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/92 "2017-01-27T15:25:00Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > To be fair, that was controversial in its own time, and they ended up putting a sticking on the album saying it’s not them endorsing killing an Arab but about the Camus novel _The Stranger._ This is what I what I always assumed, although I never did check into it (since it was pre-internet). Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![FuriousGeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecae2f/32.png) [@FuriousGeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/93 "2017-01-27T15:44:24Z")
Baby, It’s Cold Outside still gets played and redone though it is seemingly about a guy trying to pressure his girl into a little post date action while she protests the entire time. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/94 "2017-01-27T15:58:21Z")
> [@SantaMan](#): > > “[Homecoming Queen has a gun](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG3yGdQYwqg)” - after columbine, well… Counter-point: [Pumped Up Kicks](http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/fosterthepeople/pumpedupkicks.html) ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/95 "2017-01-27T16:00:23Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > The Police - Don’t Stand so Close to me. While the subject of this song is icky, they acknowledge the relationship is wrong in the song. I can’t see any reason this song could not be made today. ---
**Author:** ![Spit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@Spit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spit)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/96 "2017-01-27T16:01:59Z")
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NF5XU-k2Vk) Jimmy Soul- If You Want to Be Happy. While an argument could be made for his wisdom, I doubt it would be received warmly today. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/97 "2017-01-27T16:13:28Z")
Then there are _these_ reprehensible lyrics: Do you remember sweet Michelle She was my high school romance She was fun to talk to and nice to smell So I took her to the homecoming dance Then I tied her to a chair and I shaved off all her hair And I left her in the desert all alone Well sometimes in my dreams I can still hear the screams Oh I wonder if she ever made it home ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/98 "2017-01-27T16:24:31Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > “Art Lover” by the Kinks is pervey as hell if you purely look at the lyrics. > > **But if you know Ray Davies wrote it after a bitter custody fight in which he lost his daughter, it has a different tone**. (Bolding mine) I just read the lyrics with this in mind and dang that’s heartbreaking. And for people to interpret the song as pedo-y is extra heartbreaking. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/99 "2017-01-27T17:42:53Z")
> [@F.U.Shakespeare](#): > > Another song recorded by Jack Jones: [“Girl Talk”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3HAuYmV7Aw) (words and music by Bobby Troup): > > _…inconsequential things that men don’t really care to know > Become essential things that women find so ap-pro-pos – > But that’s a dame, they’re all the same it’s just a game they call it > Girl talk, girl talk_ > > Shame too - _great_ chord progression and melody. > > And for a few more dBs of chauvinism, check out this [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDcCxaktex4) of Troup singing it in a women’s changing room. I know, right? “Girl Talk” is simply gorgeous. But god help you if a woman catches you with it on the stereo. Best to stick to instrumental versions. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/100 "2017-01-27T17:44:19Z")
> [@Soylent\_Juicy](#): > > (Bolding mine) I just read the lyrics with this in mind and dang that’s heartbreaking. And for people to interpret the song as pedo-y is extra heartbreaking. Ray Davies is enough of a screwball that I can picture him saying “hee hee, everyone is going to think this song is completely skeevy…BUT IT’S NOT.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227.md?page=6)