Re: Controversial Songs on AT40 -- American Top 40: The Countdown of the Century

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Date Posted: 17:33:57 06/30/02 Sun
Author: Don Beckman
Subject: Re: Controversial Songs on AT40
In reply to: scott s. 's message, "Re: Controversial Songs on AT40" on 19:24:16 04/06/02 Sat

>>>I remember, "I Want Your Sex" was banned on the radio
>>station I listened to for AT 40. And for
>>controversey, I think you don't have to go further
>>than the Geto Boys, "Mind Playing Tricks on Me"!
>
>A shadoe show I have from 1990 gives stations the
>option of cutting "tic tac toe" by kyper....the song
>comments about casual sex, with a brief mention on how
>to cut it.
>
>As for "I want your sex", show cue sheets included
>memos from producer elizabeth rollins as how to cut
>the song, and in some cases would include part of the
>script to illustrate where stations can cut. I know
>one vinyl show I got from my source back in 87, dubbed
>the segment with the song to reel and cut the song
>out, and played the tape. To make sure the board
>operator/jock played the tape, a white file folder
>label was placed ON THE RECORD GROOVES!! saying play
>the tape. That was really fun to get off!

This should get a laugh...It's a true story. The song "Kung Fu Fighting" by Carl Douglas. I was living in Seattle attending the University of Washington in Dec 1974. American Top 40 was played on radio station KJR. KJR only played the song briefly while it was climbing up the charts then they quit playing it altogether.

When Kung Fu Fighting reached number 1, I heard Casey play the number 2 song "I Can Help" & then jump to the ending theme music. KJR deliberately skipped over the song in the countdown each week. The reason (if I remember correctly)....the Asian students at the UW didn't like the song. They hated the stereotypical lyrics in the song so the students protested & marched at the station. KJR's license was coming up for renewal & they didn't need the controversy so they quit playing the song.

I really didn't hear the song on the radio until I went home for Christmas break to Eastern Washington & the song was down to #4 in the nation.

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