The Millennium Prayer was very controversial at the time.

It's been suggested that Ring My Bell by Anita Ward is not about telephone calls.

How about this 90’s record for the subliminal messaging throughout the song;

 

 

"Es are good, Es are good..."

On the subject of sexually controversial songs... late 60s chart-topper 'Je t'aime moi non plus' by Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg springs to mind

 

Taking a slight detour from chart toppers here but here's another one from 1969 that made it to #10 in the charts despite being banned by radio for obvious reasons :lol:

 

Although Ebeneezer Goode does recommend caution as well as amplifying the benefits as follows:

 

But go easy on old 'Ezeer he's the love you could lose

Extraordinary fellow, like Mr Punchinello

He's the kind of geezer who must never be abused

Edited April 12, 20232 yr by Smint

Not exactly a hidden message…

 

There's also Jack Your Body by Steve Hurley from 1987. Format regulations meant it should have been disqualified from the singles chart but this was only realised after it had already charted and got to #1 so it's run was allowed to continue. Don't think it's particularly remembered as 'controversial' unlike some of the other situations due to it not blocking anything from #1, would only have been an extra week each for Jackie Wilson and George Michael if it was removed.

I don't know if it raised much controversy at the time but doubt the Police would release 'Don't stand so close to me' (about sexual attraction between teacher and pupil) nowadays if they were a current band.

 

I know not a no.1 but Abba's 'Does Your Mother Know' has lyrics that haven't aged well ('But Ah Girl you're only a child')

I don't think there has ever been a number 1 single that the charts refused to play. Considering how long the charts have been going, that seems a bit strange!

I don't think there has ever been a number 1 single that the charts refused to play. Considering how long the charts have been going, that seems a bit strange!

 

I'm sure they didn't play FGTH's 'Relax' at the time it was no.1 - only later they relented. Can someone confirm?

I don't think there has ever been a number 1 single that the charts refused to play. Considering how long the charts have been going, that seems a bit strange!

Maybe, until The Kunts eventually get there, and then whatever that song will be will surely be reigned the most controversial UK #1 of all time.

Teletubbies - Teletubbies say "Eh-oh!"

I was going to post this myself, though it wasn't them that got to number 1, but the actual #1 (Rod Stewart - I Don't Want to Talk About It) is just as controversial, as many sources claim it wasn't actually a genuine number 1 and was manufactured in order that they didn't have to air it on Jubilee Weekend (I'm skeptical of that myself as there's little evidence to suggest it, but still x)

 

Steve Miller Band's The Joker as well, given it was pretty much a tie with the #2 song (Groove is in the Heart).

 

:lol: If we are going with that bloody Sophie Ellis Bextor being way behind Victoria Beckham until that last day somehow that vastly outselling her… FIX!!! (Groove jet is so much better though!) :lol:

I'm sure they didn't play FGTH's 'Relax' at the time it was no.1 - only later they relented. Can someone confirm?

 

It def got a TOTP performance when it was climbing the charts on 5/1/84!

I'm sure they didn't play FGTH's 'Relax' at the time it was no.1 - only later they relented. Can someone confirm?

Radio 1 banned the record the week it climbed 35-6 so it never got played when it was at #1. The next time Radio 1 played the record, at least on a chart show, was on the best selling singles of the year chart show at the end of December 1984.

 

Je Taime was never played on the radio on either of it's chart runs. An instrumental cover was available though. Relax was played then it got banned after Mike Reid suggested the record was about more than relaxing (which it was) and it got unbanned in later years.

 

Most banned artist ever was Judge Dread - every single one of his records was banned and he had loads of reggae-dubious-lyric hits. I've still only ever heard Big Six and Big Seven.

Other than the earlier example I mentioned by The Shamen, can anyone think of any other #1 singles with a hidden, subliminal message contained within the lyrics?

 

There's actually LOADS. I watched a conspiracy theory documentary before on it lol. There's lots in music videos too.

 

In recent years the most controversial one I can think of is Blurred Lines. It was accused of being sexist and also of promoting rape. I was at university at the time and mine didn't ban it, but a lot of others did. Which of course would just make it more popular. :lol: And it also had plagiarism accusations. And the uncensored music video too which got banned then put back on Youtube. And Miley Cyrus's performance of it on American TV. :lol: It seemed like it never ended with that song. I remember a lot of parodies of the song, lengthy opinion pieces criticising it, etc.

 

Maybe like in the 80's or before there was a more controversial #1, but in recent times I can't think of anything. Killing In the Name certainly caused a media frenzy, but I didn't really hear anybody complaining that it was immoral or harmful. I think most people agreed with (or didn't mind) the purpose of the campaign and I actually reckon there were probably tens of thousands of people who bought both songs.

Eamon’s F**k It just for the number of expletives.

 

Five and Queen’s We Will Rock You as it only made it thanks to Life is A Rollercoaster’s rule infringement.

 

River and Killing In The Name for the reasons already mentioned.

 

Oh and House Every Weekend because it was only a 5 day week - and would very likely have been beaten by Shine if all the streams had been counted properly.

Shine would’ve also got #1 if that chart had its full 7 days

Shine would’ve also got #1 if that chart had its full 7 days

But by the same token, I believe "House Every Weekend" would otherwise still be #1 if it didn't coincide with Spotify losing its data on that particular week.