# Songs you'd never hear on the radio in North Korea **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 9, 2013, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-youd-never-hear-on-the-radio-in-north-korea/665812 "2013-08-09T16:40:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-youd-never-hear-on-the-radio-in-north-korea/665812/21 "2013-08-09T20:31:40Z")
[We’re Not Gonna Take It](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xmckWVPRaI), by Twisted Sister ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-youd-never-hear-on-the-radio-in-north-korea/665812/22 "2013-08-09T21:12:11Z")
Mistakenly allowed: Wilco - “Ashes of American Flags” Forbidden: Sugar - “Explode and Make Up” ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-youd-never-hear-on-the-radio-in-north-korea/665812/23 "2013-08-09T21:56:03Z")
I Think I’m Turning Japanese ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-youd-never-hear-on-the-radio-in-north-korea/665812/24 "2013-08-09T22:44:03Z")
One Toke Over the Line - Brewer & Shipley ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-youd-never-hear-on-the-radio-in-north-korea/665812/25 "2013-08-09T23:19:13Z")
Questionable: _A Favour House Atlantic_ by Coheed and Cambria: > [@](#): > > Good eye sniper. > I shoot, you run It’s either a threat against leaving, or encouragement. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-youd-never-hear-on-the-radio-in-north-korea/665812/26 "2013-08-09T23:34:28Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > I think the obvious answer would be CAKE’s “I Bombed Korea”. That’s one of my favorite Cake songs. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-youd-never-hear-on-the-radio-in-north-korea/665812/27 "2013-08-09T23:42:25Z")
_Another Brick In The Wall_, Pink Floyd ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-youd-never-hear-on-the-radio-in-north-korea/665812/28 "2013-08-10T11:07:42Z")
Something in the air - Thunderclap Newman [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZNK5jVkv0vM/hqdefault.jpg "something in the air- thunderclap newman") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNK5jVkv0vM) Won’t get fooled again - The Who [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SHhrZgojY1Q/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgVChfMA8=&rs=AOn4CLCKOc6opKDqMw3hrpJWXfFcXqKUww "The Who - Won't Get Fooled Again") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHhrZgojY1Q) 2112 - Rush [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpENyx-qty4) I am a rock - Simon & Garfunkle [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ntHOqosgBYQ/hqdefault.jpg ""I Am A Rock" Simon And Garfunkel") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntHOqosgBYQ) ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-youd-never-hear-on-the-radio-in-north-korea/665812/29 "2013-08-10T21:52:09Z")
The South’s Gonna Do it Again by Charlie Daniels band. (but only because it’s a terrible song) ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-youd-never-hear-on-the-radio-in-north-korea/665812/30 "2013-08-10T22:29:11Z")
I know of one that one would not expect to hear on the radio, but that it was in the list of a Karaoke machine in a NK hotel: The guys from VICE in their guide to North Korea found \*The Sex Pistols \*- **Anarchy In The U.K** , in the documentary (that I do recommend to watch and it is free in their website) the narrator sings the song to the worrisome looks of the poor North Korean tour guide girls from the hotel. [http://www.vice.com/en\_ca/the-vice-guide-to-travel/vice-guide-to-north-korea-3-of-3](http://www.vice.com/en_ca/the-vice-guide-to-travel/vice-guide-to-north-korea-3-of-3) Around 16:36 in the video, this is part 3 but the other parts are on the right of the screen. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-youd-never-hear-on-the-radio-in-north-korea/665812/31 "2013-08-12T22:04:40Z")
North Korea has radio? ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-youd-never-hear-on-the-radio-in-north-korea/665812/32 "2013-08-13T00:38:27Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > North Korea has radio? Yes. However there is only one sanctioned station and according to several books that I’ve read, officially sanctioned radios have dials that are soldered in place. How you’d be able to fiddle with the dial to improve the reception, I have no idea. I submit [I Want to Break Free](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM8Ss28zjcE) by Queen. And Don’t Fence Me In. ETA: If You Love Somebody, Set Them Free! Sting. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-youd-never-hear-on-the-radio-in-north-korea/665812/33 "2013-08-13T00:40:50Z")
Along those lines: I’m Free - The Who. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-youd-never-hear-on-the-radio-in-north-korea/665812/34 "2013-08-13T00:44:42Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > … > American Woman - The Guess Who > … > … Yet another example of a song that NK might approve, as it is actually anti-American, or at least very critical of American imperialism. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-youd-never-hear-on-the-radio-in-north-korea/665812/35 "2013-08-13T03:12:40Z")
[Here is the Vice Guide guy singing Anarchy in the UK in North Korea while the North Koreans just look at him, assuming he is drunk.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=JY5z5-TxKCw&t=134) ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-youd-never-hear-on-the-radio-in-north-korea/665812/36 "2013-08-13T03:21:19Z")
“Suicide is Painless,” Johnny Mandel, the theme song to **M_A_S\*H**. It’s not very popular here in South Korea, either. “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley. No political reason, just a hunch. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-youd-never-hear-on-the-radio-in-north-korea/665812/37 "2013-08-13T04:04:07Z")
Jay and the Americans: “Only in America [Land of Opportunity].” Lee Greenwood: “God Bless the USA.” (This one nauseates even me.) Tammy Wynette: “Stand by Your Man.” (If the C&W industry can inflicit it on the US, we can inflict it on North Korea!) Village People: “YMCA.” Just too happy, just too … gay! ☹ Julio Iglesias: “Crazy,” dedicated to Kim Jong Un. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-youd-never-hear-on-the-radio-in-north-korea/665812/38 "2013-08-13T04:42:38Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > Yes. However there is only one sanctioned station and according to several books that I’ve read, officially sanctioned radios have dials that are soldered in place. How you’d be able to fiddle with the dial to improve the reception, I have no idea. Ahhhhhh. I see. Let me try again: North Korea has _electricity?_ ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-youd-never-hear-on-the-radio-in-north-korea/665812/39 "2013-08-13T15:33:39Z")
_Bette Davis Eyes_ ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-youd-never-hear-on-the-radio-in-north-korea/665812/40 "2013-08-13T16:10:44Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Ahhhhhh. I see. Let me try again: > > North Korea has _electricity?_ Mostly the capital, I would think in the radios case they depend on batteries elsewhere, but I do think that one reason the dictators of North Korea are not in a hurry to electrify the southern part of the nation is to prevent the proliferation of electronic devices that they have no control over. When one looks at the satellite pictures at night one can see the dramatic result: [http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2011/12/satellite-image-shows-kim-jong.html](http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2011/12/satellite-image-shows-kim-jong.html) North Korea is as dark as Mordor with virtually just [del]the Eye of Sauron[/del] Pyongyang the capital as a bright spot in the darkness. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-youd-never-hear-on-the-radio-in-north-korea/665812.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-youd-never-hear-on-the-radio-in-north-korea/665812.md?page=3)