80s songs you have to turn off before your mom enters the room!

As a child of the 80s, I can vividly recall the thrill and the fear that came with listening to music back then. The songs that were deemed too racy or explicit for daytime listening were always the ones that caught our attention the most. Listening to these songs secretively was like a forbidden fruit, making them all the more intriguing.

Music history has consistently showcased performers who took their art to boundaries considered questionable by society, which often led them to become legendary figures within the industry. This list encompasses several tracks from the ’80s that, upon hearing them as a child during that era, you might have quickly switched off before your parent walked in.

A number of these song titles were featured on the PMRC’s “Filthy Fifteen,” a list compiled by the Parents Music Resource Center in 1985 with the aim of giving parents more control over the music their kids listened to. The PMRC’s efforts led to the creation of the Parental Advisory label, which is found on physical music copies. However, instead of deterring teens from buying the music deemed most objectionable by adults, this label often served as an enticing factor for them.

Although there are many songs that could potentially make this list, we’ve narrowed it down to just seven that truly match our criteria.

“She Bop” – Cyndi Lauper 1984

“Cyndi Lauper’s hit single, ‘She Bop’, came out in 1983 as part of her first album, ‘She’s So Unusual’. This upbeat tune was often played at school dances, with many young girls unknowingly singing its lyrics, which subtly discuss a private topic – masturbation. The song reached the third spot on the charts and was recognized in the 1985 MTV Video Music Awards for Best Female Video.”

The “She Bop” video incorporated subtle jokes about masturbation, such as Lauper portraying a blind person with a cane, poking fun at the false belief that masturbation leads to blindness. It remains a popular song, but after your mother understood its lyrics, you probably didn’t want her listening to you singing it.

“Darling Nikki” – Prince 1984

One of the songs that subtly addressed masturbation was Prince’s 1984 track titled “Darling Nikki.” Although it wasn’t officially released as a single, it gained attention due to its sexually suggestive lyrics, which were brought to light by Tipper Gore, co-founder of the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC). She discovered her 11-year-old daughter had been listening to the song. “Darling Nikki” appeared on Prince’s album “Purple Rain,” which shared its name with the movie of the same title. The track has been covered numerous times, with the rock band Foo Fighters offering one of the most popular interpretations.

“Touch Me (I Want Your Body)” – Samantha Fox 1986

1986 saw the debut of Samantha Fox’s self-titled album, where the hit single “Touch Me” was unveiled. Intriguingly, Fox was summoned for an open audition by Jive Records, who were in search of a female artist reminiscent of Madonna from the UK to perform this song. Lyrics like “Touch me, touch me now,” echo through the track, mirroring Fox’s self-assured and powerful persona. Known for her bold and empowered image, she frequently adorned skintight leather ensembles to accentuate her alluring persona. Although seemingly modest by today’s standards, the song’s lyrics were quite scandalous when first released!

Choosing between Samantha Fox’s “Touch Me” and “Naughty Girls Need Love Too” was difficult, but “Touch Me’s” lyrics, “Touch Me, Touch Me Now,” won out, at least for this list. Additionally, the orgasmic sounds she makes during the song, in case you didn’t get her point, would make anyone turn this off if their mom was within hearing distance. The song was featured on her same-titled debut album, a record deal she acquired after attending an open audition for Jive Records, who were looking for a “British Madonna” to sing the song.

“I Want Your Sex” – George Michael 1987

“The third track from the soundtrack of ‘Beverly Hills Cop II’ and George Michael’s first solo single off his album ‘Faith’, titled “I Want Your Sex”, stirred up some discussion due to its explicit lyrics. Despite this, it reached No. 2 in the US and No. 3 in the UK charts. In 2022, MTV ranked its music video as the third most controversial ever aired on their network. The song was banned from daytime radio play and only shown on MTV during late-night hours due to its content.”

“Push It” – Salt-N-Pepa 1987

Initially, “Push It” was released as a secondary track to Salt-N-Pepa’s “Tramp.” However, it soon overshadowed its predecessor. Following the single’s achievement, it was reissued and peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100. This Grammy-nominated song (in the category of Best Rap Performance) gained fame for its explicit lyrics, and the band members initially didn’t anticipate its success. However, it did become a hit and swiftly became an anthem for girls who were too young to comprehend its message at the time.

“Love in an Elevator” – Aerosmith 1989

“Living it up despite facing difficulties” is a representation of the frank lyrics in Aerosmith’s popular song “Love in an Elevator,” which, as stated by lead singer Steven Tyler, is inspired by a real-life incident. Once upon a time, he was kissing someone in an elevator when the doors unexpectedly opened. He also mentioned that it seemed like an eternity before the doors closed again. The song, the inaugural single from their tenth studio album titled “Pump, ” was penned by Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry, and was nominated for Best Hard Rock Performance at the 1990 Grammy Awards.

2024-08-23 21:31