Ever wondered when albums started bearing the classic "Parental Advisory" label? After a contentious senate hearing, it was one of two options - the other being censorship.
Learn briefly what led to the creation of the label and who was the unlikely defender of artistic expression alongside Dee Snyder, Frank Zappa and many others way back in the 1980s.
Learn briefly what led to the creation of the label and who was the unlikely defender of artistic expression alongside Dee Snyder, Frank Zappa and many others way back in the 1980s.
Category
🎵
MusicTranscript
00:00Ever flip through your music collection and seen that little black and white sticker?
00:05You know the one that says parental advisory explicit lyrics or explicit content these days?
00:11It is so common now it's easy to take for granted.
00:14But its origins lie in a fascinating and often fiery debate from the 1980s,
00:20a clash between artistic expression and parental concern.
00:24The decade of big hair and synthesizers also saw a growing unease about the lyrical content of popular music.
00:31Parents, fueled by concerns about sex, violence, drug use, Dungeons and Dragons,
00:37yeah Dungeons and Dragons was part of it as well, satanic panic, look it up.
00:42They started to push back against what their kids were listening to,
00:45and at the forefront of this movement was the Parents Music Resource Centre, the PMRC.
00:51Now in 1985 the PMRC, a group of influential Washington wives released their infamous Filthy 15 list.
00:59These were 15 songs that they deemed particularly offensive,
01:03from Prince's suggestive darling Nicky and Sheena Easton's metaphorical Sugar Walls,
01:09to the raw aggression of Motley Crue's Bastard and the occult themes of Merciful Fates into the Coven.
01:15These tracks became the lightning rods of a national controversy.
01:19The PMRC didn't just compile a list, they took their concerns to Congress.
01:24Senate hearings were held, bringing the debate into the national spotlight.
01:28And it was here that artists stood up to defend their creative freedom.
01:33One of the most powerful voices was Dee Snider, the flamboyant frontman of Twister's sister.
01:39His articulate and passionate defence against censorship became a defining moment in his battle for artistic expression.
01:46And incredibly, Dee Snider wasn't the only one to speak out.
01:50Even John Denver, yep, John Denver, known for his wholesome country music, lent his voice in defence of artistic freedom.
01:58He argued against a slippery slope of censorship, by saying that when you drunk, emphasising the importance of allowing artists to explore different themes and perspectives.
02:08But despite the artists' compelling arguments, the pressure from the PMRC and concerned parents was significant.
02:15The recording industry, facing potential government regulation, eventually agreed to a compromise.
02:21Instead of outright censorship, they opted for a voluntary labelling system.
02:27And so, the Parental Advisory Sticker was born.
02:31Initially, it was a simple, explicit lyrics warning.
02:34But over time, it evolved to the more recognisable black and white designs, sometimes accompanied by specific warnings about content like strong language or violence.
02:44But still nothing regarding satanic panic.
02:46Take that, Dungeons & Dragons haters.
02:48But decades later, the question remains, was the Parental Advisory Sticker a worthwhile solution?
02:54Did it genuinely protect young listeners?
02:56Or did it inadvertently sensationalise the very albums it intended to warn against?
03:01For some, it provided a valuable piece of guidance.
03:04And for others, it simply acted like a badge of rebellion, making those forbidden albums even more appealing.
03:11And in today's digital age, with instant access to virtually any song, the impact of a physical sticker might seem diminished.
03:19But its legacy reminds us of an ongoing tension between artistic freedom, parental responsibility, and the ever-evolving relationship between music and society.
03:29The Filthy Fifteen may seem tame by today's standards, but they ignited a debate that continues to shape how we talk about and regulate potentially explicit content in music.