00:00I think that you'll be doing just fine if you relax a little
00:02I'm glad I inspire you and stand
00:04Why are you so mad? Try to understand
00:06Welcome to Ms. Mojo
00:08And today we're counting down our picks for the most scandalous music videos that would still spark controversy today
00:20Number 10. Born Free, M.I.A.
00:28A provocative music video for a provocative song
00:31British Tamil artist M.I.A. released this 2010 track with its accompanying music video to almost instant controversy
00:39Depicting the genocide of red-haired people
00:42The music video is a sharp commentary on the real-life genocide of Tamil men by the Sri Lankan army
00:54Though critically lauded, its depiction of brutal political violence and nudity were too much for the U.S. and U
01:01.K.
01:01It was banned from YouTube in those countries
01:04I think it was important to just be that brave and say, yeah, actually, I am an artist
01:11I'm going to stick my neck out to get something across
01:13That there are limitations on freedom of speech
01:16But Born Free is a successful indictment of real-life violence that still occurs today
01:21Which is why, unfortunately, it would still very likely get banned today
01:33Number 9. Closer, Nine Inch Nails
01:36The first words in this industrial rock song are you let me violate you
01:41Which should suffice to explain the censorship of this track on the airwaves
01:46You let me violate you
01:48The music video, directed by Mark Romanek, isn't filled with flowers or sunshine either
01:54Set in a 19th century science lab, the video has nudity, crawling insect imagery, and religious profanation mixed in with
02:03disturbing animal imagery
02:12It depicts the self-loathing sexual aggression of the song very well
02:17Perhaps too well
02:18It's a wonder YouTube hasn't taken it down
02:25Even today, the elements of horror would be too much for some people
02:37Number 8. Come to Daddy
02:39Aphex Twin
02:44The music video for this breakbeat song was shot in the same grimy industrial location
02:49Where director Stanley Kubrick shot many scenes of A Clockwork Orange
02:53Need we say more? Directed by Chris Cunningham, the music video depicts a gang of creepy children with adult faces
03:00going on a crime spree
03:01Including terrorizing an elderly grandmother
03:04He also has a rather bizarre approach to playing live
03:07I'd rather annoy people
03:08You know, I get a bit scared when people start dancing and getting into it
03:13I used to get a bit wide, a bit wide
03:15Meanwhile, the words, I want your soul, I will eat your soul, are repeated ad nauseam
03:24The Clockwork Orange parallels are definitely there
03:27Horror film aficionados back then and now would be pleased
03:31But just like Kubrick's classic film, this music video still disturbs and disconcerts
03:36Just started to sell like loads of records, which is a bit freaky
03:39Because it only was supposed to be like a small thing
03:41But it's sort of going big time now and it's a bit weird to sort of deal with it really
03:47Number 7. Relax, Frankie Goes to Hollywood
03:50Relax, don't do it
03:52When you wanna go to it
03:54Relax, don't do it
03:56The world didn't relax when this song came out
03:59This English band's synth pop track was a big hit in the UK
04:02Selling over 2 million copies
04:04But it was also banned from the airwaves by BBC Radio
04:08Due to its sexually suggestive lyrics
04:10Although that only helped not hindered its sales
04:19It's accompanying music video is even more blatant
04:22Depicting gay nightclub culture and other LGBTQIA plus imagery and themes
04:28The music video was also reportedly banned by the BBC and MTV
04:39We have come a long way towards queer acceptance
04:42But unfortunately, we all know this music video would still get a lot of hate
04:52Number 6. Heart-Shaped Box, Nirvana
05:00Kurt Cobain allegedly wrote this song about children with cancer
05:03Although the lyrics express a typical romantic heartache
05:07The music video takes it a step further
05:09Depicting an old man getting crucified amid Wizard of Oz-esque scenery
05:14Forever is dead to your precious advice
05:21Other imagery includes a little girl in a Ku Klux Klan outfit
05:26Reaching for...you get the idea
05:28This gutsy music video won two MTV Video Music Awards
05:32And is considered one of the greatest music videos of all time
05:35You can't believe everything you've seen here now, can you?
05:41You know, it's really hard to believe everything you read
05:46The Ku Klux Klan robe alone, however
05:49Makes it so that Heart-Shaped Box would definitely stir some controversy
05:53Were it to be released today
05:54I've been locked inside your heart-shaped box
05:59No, baby
06:01Number 5. Like a Prayer
06:04Madonna
06:05Life is a mystery
06:09No list would be complete without this highly controversial music video
06:13Like a Prayer blends religious themes with sexual innuendo
06:17The music video goes one step further
06:19Depicting a forbidden interracial romance cruelly torn apart by racism
06:23There's also Madonna in a flattering slip nightdress amid burning crosses
06:32Naturally, this video got heavy backlash for its Christian imagery
06:36With many TV stations banning it and the Vatican itself protesting it
06:46We would like to think that this level of furor wouldn't happen today
06:50But perhaps the music video would attract a much different kind of criticism
06:54For its depiction of interracial desire
06:56Sad to say
06:58And it feels like home
07:04Number 4. Girls on Film
07:07Duran Duran
07:12An international synth-pop hit by this English band
07:16Girls on Film's lyrics contain pointed criticism
07:19Of the exploitation of young models in the fashion industry
07:22Its music video pulls no punches either
07:25With explicit sensuality, scanty clothes, and Japanese sumo imagery
07:35Its conclusion of female nudity made MTV heavily censor it
07:39Although it never received an outright ban
07:47To 21st century eyes and ears, however
07:50Duran Duran's songs may be interpreted as less a critique of this industry
07:54Than glamorization
07:55Perhaps it was best that it came out in the 80s after all
07:58Because you want exposure, you know
08:01And you can't suddenly shut the door and say
08:04No, I want to be private now
08:05When, you know, three years ago
08:07We needed the publicity
08:18It's not every day a musical artist coins a term
08:21Now included in the Oxford English Dictionary
08:23Eminem's hip-hop track Stan
08:25Is considered one of his signature songs
08:27Inspired by disturbing letters written to him
08:30By obsessive fans
08:36The music video develops
08:38This theme following an obsessive fan of Eminem called Stan
08:42Who writes long letters to the rapper
08:44While neglecting and even abusing his pregnant girlfriend
08:52The graphic content and references were censored by MTV
08:56Critically lauded and commercially successful
08:59This depiction of dangerous stalking
09:01And domestic violence would not fly today
09:03And what's this junk about us meant to be together
09:05That type of crap would make me not want us to meet each other
09:09Number 2
09:09Smack My Bitch Up
09:11The Prodigy
09:16It's not every day MTV outright bans a music video
09:19The title of this song by English band The Prodigy
09:22Was hard to stomach as it is
09:24The lyrics interpreted as promoting violence towards women
09:27Caused tremendous uproar
09:35The song was banned by the BBC
09:37The music video, directed by Jonas Ackerlund
09:40Added further insult to injury
09:42With scenes of substance use
09:44Violence, nudity, and even sexual assault
09:47The music video was removed from MTV's rotation in 1997
09:55Needless to say, it would certainly get banned today
09:58Perhaps sparking even more controversy
10:01Everybody get low
10:03Get down low
10:05Load, load
10:14Before we continue
10:16Check out this single from Sound Mojo's album current
10:19EDM Transformed
10:20Check out the full track and album below
10:36Number 1
10:37Blurred Lines
10:39Robin Thicke
10:47This huge hit by American singer Robin Thicke
10:50Was certified diamond in the US
10:52It was also immediately controversial upon release
10:55With lyrics about the blurred lines between consent and non-consent in sex
10:59The song was heavily criticized for misogyny and normalizing sexual assault
11:04Just let me liberate you
11:06You don't need no papers
11:08That man is not your maker
11:10Some universities in the UK even banned the song
11:13The music video, featuring topless models amid a party of fully clothed men
11:17Was removed from YouTube and received further criticism for its objectification of women
11:27Needless to say, this song would certainly generate similar outrage today
11:37Which other controversial music video do you feel would cause similar outrage today?
11:42Let us know in the comments
11:44Let us know in the comments
11:44Let us know in the comments
11:44Let us know in the comments
11:45Let us know in the comments
11:45Let us know in the comments
11:47Let us know in the comments
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