One of the UK’s most interesting historical legacies in music does not involve the actual bands that made up the British Invasion, but rather the people who played these bands records illegally.
During the early 1960s, while American youth were falling in love with numerous bands from the UK, the BBC had still banished rock ‘n’ roll from the airwaves. So, in retaliation, a group of rabble-rousing Brits decided to board old fishing boats anchored off the coast of England, putting them in international waters and out of reach from the censoring British authorities. With the help of these “pirates” people, — particularly younger people — in the UK could enjoy some of the most influential early rock ‘n’ roll while sidestepping the restrictive BBC. Below are a collection of 1960s pop gems that have helped shape American and British rock as we know it today — all while not being allowed on the radio in the UK at the time.
Index on Censorship has teamed up with the producers of an award-winning documentary about Mali’s musicians, They Will Have To Kill Us First, to create the Music in Exile Fund to support musicians facing censorship globally. You can donate here, or give £10 by texting “BAND61 £10” to 70070.
Beyoncé has joined an array of artists using their music to bring light to injustices black Americans have faced throughout the history of the US. Her newest single, Formation, poignantly addresses issues such as police brutality, slavery’s impact and the US government’s response to the flooding of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. However, after Beyoncé’s Super Bowl halftime show performance of the song, some people weren’t happy with her political message. In response, Index created a playlist of hip-hop protest anthems from the last 30 years.
1. N.W.A – Fuck tha Police
The second Dr. Dre asks Ice Cube “well why don’t you tell everybody what the fuck you gotta say”, hip-hop changed for good, as Ice Cube launches into the woes and frustrations of being confronted by the police in Compton as a young black man. One of the most confrontational songs ever recorded, the group was banned from performing the song on their 1989 tour. In addition, partly because of the song, their debut album Straight Outta Compton was one of the first covers to feature a “Parental Advisory” label.
2. Public Enemy – Fight the Power
With the bombastic production of the Bomb Squad behind them, Chuck D and Flavor Flav lit a torch of rebellion with their declaration that “Our freedom of speech is freedom or death/We got to fight the powers that be”. Partially made for Spike Lee’s classic film Do the Right Thing, the song’s legacy continues today, with Chuck D saying: “I feel like Pete Seeger singing We Shall Overcome. Fight the Power points to the legacy of the strengths of standing up in music.”
3. KRS-One – Sound of the Police
With the recognizable “WOOP WOOP, that’s the sound the police” opening, KRS-One provided people with a tenacious account of how police brutality had affected not only his life but nearly every generation of his family before. KRS-One even had the idea to point out the similarities between the words “officer” and “overseer”, essentially comparing certain police officers to plantation overseers.
4. Kanye West – New Slaves
One of the 2000s ultimate button-pushers, Kanye West used this track to outline what he believes as consumerism taking the place of the control slavery and the Jim Crow era had on blacks in America. Highlighting this point, he raps: “You see it’s broke nigga racism/that’s that ‘Don’t touch anything in the store’/and it’s rich nigga racism/that’s that ‘Come in, please buy more’/What you want, a Bentley? Fur Coat? A diamond chain? All you blacks what all the same things.’”
5. Kendrick Lamar – Alright
Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly is full of politically-charged tracks, but none encompass resilience and strength against injustice as well as Alright. A song that’s been adopted by the Black Lives Matter movement as their anthem, Alright articulates many issues the black community faces, but with Lamar promising at the each line of the hook “we gon’ be alright”.
Index on Censorship has teamed up with the producers of an award-winning documentary about Mali’s musicians, They Will Have To Kill Us First, to create the Music in Exile Fund to support musicians facing censorship globally. You can donate here, or give £10 by texting “BAND61 £10” to 70070.
As the annual Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Awards gala approaches, we’ve highlighted five of those who have won or been nominated for free expression awards, including the Freemuse Awards. From a Moroccan rapper to an Iranian folk singer, these artists refuse to be censored and continue to fight to have their voices heard.
El Haqed, Morocco
Winner of the 2015 Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Award for arts
Mouad Belghouat, aka El Haqed, faced repression from the Moroccan government, including multiple arrests since the Arab Spring. His music focuses on poverty, oppression and political corruption in his country. He is currently living in Belgium, where he continues to write music.
Mayam Mahmoud, Egypt
Winner of the 2014 Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Award for arts
Mayam Mahmoud, one of Egypt’s first and bravest female hip-hop artists, uses music to address some of the grievances in her country, from a lack of women’s rights to sexual harassment. After competing on the TV show Arabs Got Talent, she used her prominence to speak out against the misogyny she has witnessed and experienced.
Ferhat Tunç, Turkey
2010 Freemuse Award winner
Despite years of attempted censorship by the Turkish government, Ferhat Tunç has continued to release music and promote human rights in his homeland. He has released more than 20 albums, undeterred by numerous court summons and a prison sentence.
Songhoy Blues, Mali
Nominees for the 2015 Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Award for arts
A group of musicians that fled northern Mali after the occupation by militant Islamist groups in spring 2012, Songhoy Blues are a rowdy blend of blues and rock. After Islamists banned music in their region, they went into exile and have since gone on to tour with Julian Casablancas and Damon Albarn. The band released their debut album, Music in Exile, in February 2015.
Pussy Riot, Russia
Nominees for the 2013 Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Award for arts In February 2012, members of the feminist punk band Pussy Riot staged a brief demonstration through music at Moscow’s Christ the Saviour Cathedral, condemning the Russian Orthodox Church’s close ties to Vladimir Putin. In August of that year, three members were sentenced to two years in jail for hooliganism motivated by religious hatred. The verdict was a bitter blow for freedom of expression in Russia, which continues to be under attack today.
Index on Censorship has teamed up with the producers of an award-winning documentary about Mali’s musicians, They Will Have To Kill Us First, to create the Music in Exile Fund to support musicians facing censorship globally. You can donate here, or give £10 by texting “BAND61 £10” to 70070.
Music can unite, divide, incite and even disgust people from all cultures, age groups and backgrounds. As increasing numbers of academic textbooks are labelled with trigger warnings, music has fallen under the same spotlight on campus.
Below, you can find a playlist we’ve curated of different songs, artists or genres that have been censored on campuses across the world.
1) Eminem – My Name Is
One of the all-time kings of controversy, Eminem is an artist whose records include profanity, misogynistic and homophobic slurs, and even the occasional jab at international pop stars. His persona was so detested by some college administrators that in February 2001, the Sheffield University student union banned his music altogether. The university’s radio station and DJs at union’s club nights were instructed not play any of the rapper’s music in order to “create a culture of tolerance, equality and respect”.
2) Robin Thicke – Blurred Lines
Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines upset many UK students in 2013, resulting in more than 20 student unions banning the song. This was due to its lyrics, which many argued a rape culture by disregarding the idea of consent.
3) Rage against the Machine – Take the Power Back 4) KRS-One – Sound of Da Police
Superintendent John Huppenthal, on behalf of the state of Arizona, issued a “notice of non-compliance” to Tucson Unified School District. Cholla High Magnet School in the school district used the Rage Against the Machine song Take the Power Back in a Mexican-American history class and hip-hop legend KRS-One’s essay on the genre in an African-American-focused English class. After censoring the use of his music, RATM guitarist Tom Morello tweeted that hip-hop is “only dangerous if you teach it right”.
5) Rustie’s song Attak featuring Danny Brown
Due to the perceived increase of the drug MDMA at electronic dance music concerts and festivals, the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, took the decision in November 2013 to ban all EDM events from taking place on campus. Students responded with numerous petitions and organised a flash mob outside the student union in protest.
6) Shokazoba – Chemical Abuse
The performance of an predominantly white afrobeat band, Shokazoba, at Hampshire College, Massachusetts, was cancelled in October 2013 after the selection of the group became controversial. A statement posted on the school’s website said the cancellation was due to “concerns about cultural appropriation and the need to respect marginalized cultures”. The band, who play afrobeat music, were considered “too white”.
7) The Kingsmen – Louie Louie
The 1950s standard Louie Louie was temporarily pulled from performances by a middle school’s marching band in Benton Harbor, Michigan, due to its “sexually explicit lyrics”. The song was eventually allowed, but not before Superintendent Paula Dawning said it wouldn’t be appropriate for Benton Harbor students to play.
8) Bad Religion – The Empire Strikes Back
In October 2015, Biola University in Los Angeles County decided to it would no longer play anything but Christian music in campus coffee shops following a series of complaints, according to The Biola University Chimes, the school’s student newspaper. A senior member of staff told the newspaper at the time: “When we are in a Christian school…we have to kind of walk that line.” In November 2015, the administration began having members of the student government work with the school’s university services to select playlists, according to representative of Biola.
9) Bruno Mars – Locked out of Heaven
Despite it being one of the most popular songs of 2012, Bruno Mars’ Locked out of Heaven found itself onto the no-no list for Garden Spot High School’s marching band programme. The Pennsylvania school had board members who claimed the lyrics of Mars’ smash-hit were “trashy” and “inappropriate” for students.
Index on Censorship has teamed up with the producers of the award-winning documentary about Mali’s musicians They Will Have To Kill Us First to create the Music in Exile Fund to support musicians facing censorship globally. You can donate here, or by texting “BAND61 £10” to 70070 to give £10.
This article was amended on 2 February 2016 to reflect updated information about music playlists at Biola University.
