00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most beloved songs
00:11that have become uncomfortable to revisit due to controversies surrounding the musicians
00:17behind them.
00:2510.
00:26New York, New York – Ryan Adams Originally set for release on September 11,
00:392001, this Ryan Adams song was postponed until November following the terrorist attacks.
00:46Despite the delay, New York, New York became an unexpected anthem for the shaken city,
00:50symbolizing its resilience and hope in the face of the tragedy.
00:54But the song has since become harder to enjoy after sexual misconduct allegations surfaced
00:59against Adams.
01:01In 2019, several women, including his ex-wife Mandy Moore, accused him of sexual harassment
01:07and emotionally manipulative behavior.
01:14Although Adams initially denied the allegations, he later admitted wrongdoing and apologized.
01:20Nevertheless, the feel-good New York, New York that once lifted people's spirits now
01:24carries the weight of Adams' tarnished reputation.
01:329.
01:36Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On – Jerry Lee Lewis
01:39After kicking off his career in the early 1950s, Jerry Lee Lewis scored his first major
01:44hit in 1957 with a cover of Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On.
01:53Famous for its energetic piano riffs and Lewis' fiery performance, the song became a rockabilly
01:58classic and catapulted Lewis to international fame.
02:02Just one year later, while on a tour in Britain, it was revealed that Lewis had married his
02:06teenage cousin, Myra Gayle Brown.
02:19This news damaged his rising career and yanked him away from the spotlight.
02:23The song's popularity also waned as many couldn't listen to it without being reminded
02:28of the scandal surrounding the man who breathed new life into it.
02:358.
02:37Stronger – Kanye West
02:43There's no question that Stronger was a massive hit when it dropped in 2007.
02:48Its blend of hip-hop and futuristic electronica beats was groundbreaking and propelled the
02:52song to the top of the Billboard Hot 100.
02:55But what was initially an anthem of self-empowerment and emancipation has now taken on a different
03:01vibe amid Kanye West's erratic behavior, controversial comments, and troubling affiliations.
03:20It's hard to bop to a track that symbolized the future of hip-hop when the artist behind
03:24it now seems to represent divisive rhetoric that only pulls us back to the past.
03:29Don't get us wrong, the song still slaps, but its once-empowering message has been drowned
03:34out by the noise of West's seemingly never-ending scandals.
03:417.
03:44Coming Home – Diddy, Dirty Money Featuring Skylar Grey
03:54In November 2023, Sean Diddy Combs' career essentially crumbled after his former girlfriend,
04:01singer Cassie, filed a lawsuit accusing him of physical and sexual assault.
04:06This opened the floodgates to a deluge of allegations from other women.
04:10Among them was Dawn Richard, a member of the musical trio Diddy, Dirty Money, which also
04:16included Combs and singer Kalena Harper.
04:18The group's most successful single was Coming Home, an uplifting song about returning to
04:23one's roots that was celebrated for its lyrics of triumph and survival.
04:33But those powerful themes have been overshadowed by the serious accusations surrounding Combs.
04:39Richard, in particular, who collaborated with Combs on the song, has claimed that he threatened
04:44and groped her during their time working together.
04:506.
04:54Never Learn Not To Love – The Beach Boys Today, Charles Manson is widely known as the
05:04cult leader who was held responsible for the Tate-LaBianca murders.
05:09But what many do not know is that Manson was also a musician.
05:14In his early attempts to get his career off the ground, Manson penned a song titled Cease
05:18To Exist for the Beach Boys.
05:26The band later tweaked the music and lyrics, releasing it in 1968 as Never Learn Not To
05:31Love.
05:32Less than a year later, Manson and his family would go on to carry out the infamous murders.
05:38While the track itself is a mellow, introspective piece, its association with Manson's disturbing
05:44actions has made it a challenging listen, as it now serves as a reminder of one of history's
05:50darkest chapters.
05:565.
06:00Crazy – Gnarls Barkley The duo of singer-songwriter CeeLo Green and
06:09producer Danger Mouse created the infectious hit Crazy, which captivated listeners worldwide
06:14with its blend of R&B, funk, and psychedelic sounds.
06:23The song's acclaim is undeniable.
06:26It won a Grammy and was the UK's best-selling single of 2006.
06:30However, its achievements have become eclipsed by the controversy surrounding one half of
06:35the duo.
06:36In 2014, Green pleaded no contest to charges related to drugging and sexually assaulting
06:42a woman.
06:43He received even more backlash when he put out a series of tweets attempting to redefine
06:47sexual assault.
06:49This controversy has tainted the song's legacy for some, reflecting the broader issue
06:53of how exactly to engage with art created by problematic figures.
07:034.
07:06California Dreamin' – The Mamas and the Papas Perhaps more than any other song, California
07:20Dreamin' by The Mamas and the Papas captures the longing for sunshine and warmth, a dream
07:25of escaping winter's gloom for the West Coast.
07:28It was written by band members and married couple John and Michelle Phillips.
07:32But while many have that relationship to thank for this tune, John's daughter Mackenzie
07:38has made claims that cast a troubling shadow over her father's work.
07:43In 2009, Mackenzie alleged that she and Phillips shared a 10-year sexual relationship that
07:48began with the sexual assault incident.
08:05Although some family members deny the accusations, the contrast between the dreamy escape the
08:10song offers and Mackenzie's disturbing claims have made it harder for some to separate the
08:15art from the artist.
08:223.
08:26Last Train Home – Lost Prophets Six years after their formation, this Welsh
08:36alt-rock band landed their first bona fide hit in 2003 with Last Train Home.
08:42The track cracked the top 10 in the UK and topped the alternative songs chart in the
08:46US, quickly turning lead singer Ian Watkins into a star.
08:50But Watkins terribly misused his platform, engaging in illegal conduct with minors and
08:55possessing highly inappropriate material.
08:58He was arrested for these crimes and in 2013 was sentenced to 29 years in prison.
09:11For many fans, knowing Watkins co-wrote and performed the song they once held dear has
09:16completely ruined it.
09:17Now, Last Train Home comes with baggage that just makes it hard to enjoy in the same way.
09:262.
09:30Do What You Want – Lady Gaga Featuring R. Kelly
09:38Even back in 2013, when this song was released, Lady Gaga's choice to feature R. Kelly was
09:44already controversial.
09:46Although Kelly had been acquitted of sexual misconduct charges, rumours about him still
09:50persisted.
09:51And for a song about people trying to control and exploit her image, Kelly was clearly the
09:56worst possible collaborator.
10:00Nevertheless, Gaga initially defended her decision, dismissing some of the rumours as
10:09very untrue.
10:11She later acknowledged her error in judgement in 2019, following the release of the Lifetime
10:16documentary, Surviving R. Kelly, and apologised for the collaboration.
10:20Since then, the version featuring Kelly has been pulled from streaming platforms and replaced
10:24by a much more dignified rendition with Christina Aguilera.
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10:501.
10:52Rock and Roll – Gary Glitter Although Glitter had multiple top ten hits
10:57in the UK, his only major success in the US came in 1972 with his two-part single, Rock
11:03and Roll.
11:11Over time, the second part of the song became a staple at sporting events in the US, frequently
11:16playing during NFL and NHL games.
11:19However, beginning in 1999, Glitter was convicted of multiple sex offences involving minors.
11:25Many sporting venues, teams, and broadcasters stopped using Rock and Roll in a bid to distance
11:31themselves from the singer's tarnished image.
11:34Listening to the song now often triggers discomfort among fans, as many associate it not with
11:40nostalgia, but with Glitter's reprehensible actions.
11:49Are there any of your favourite songs you hesitate to revisit due to a controversy involving
11:53the artist?
11:54Let us know in the comments below!
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