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Controversial song lyrics

Updated 1:54 PM EDT, Sun March 20, 2016
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Prince's song<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DmBedGUDTArw" target="_blank" target="_blank"> "Darling Nikki"</a> was about a young lady who did something ... naughty with a magazine.<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fentertainment.time.com%2F2006%2F11%2F02%2Fthe-all-time-100-albums%2Fslide%2Fpurple-rain-1984%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank"> According to Time Magazine,</a> the song's lyrics inspired wife of then Sen. Al Gore, Tipper Gore, to found the Parents Music Resource Center, which led to "Parental Advisory" labels on albums. So thanks for that, Prince. The Purple One announced in March 2016 that he'd be releasing a memoir--perhaps it will also include some titillating passages. Here are just a few other tunes that have have also caused controversy.
Controversial song lyrics —
Prince's song "Darling Nikki" was about a young lady who did something ... naughty with a magazine. According to Time Magazine, the song's lyrics inspired wife of then Sen. Al Gore, Tipper Gore, to found the Parents Music Resource Center, which led to "Parental Advisory" labels on albums. So thanks for that, Prince. The Purple One announced in March 2016 that he'd be releasing a memoir--perhaps it will also include some titillating passages. Here are just a few other tunes that have have also caused controversy.
Frank Micelotta/Getty Images
Rapper Rick Ross apologized in April 2013 for what he said was a misinterpretation of the lyrics "Put Molly all in her champagne/ She ain't even know it/ I took her home and I enjoyed that/ She ain't even know it" as advocating date rape in the song <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DA4d-CJBvR2M" target="_blank" target="_blank">"U.O.E.N.O." </a>That didn't stop him from losing <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Farticles.latimes.com%2F2013%2Fapr%2F11%2Fentertainment%2Fla-et-ms-reebok-drops-rick-ross-over-controversial-lyrics-20130411" target="_blank" target="_blank">an endorsement deal with Reebok over the controversy.</a>
Controversial song lyrics —
Rapper Rick Ross apologized in April 2013 for what he said was a misinterpretation of the lyrics "Put Molly all in her champagne/ She ain't even know it/ I took her home and I enjoyed that/ She ain't even know it" as advocating date rape in the song "U.O.E.N.O." That didn't stop him from losing an endorsement deal with Reebok over the controversy.
Isaac Brekken/Getty Images
Lorde enjoyed having a chart topper with her single "Royals," but sparked some criticism after<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2013%2F10%2F09%2Fshowbiz%2Florde-royals-racism-spat%2Findex.html%3Fhpt%3Den_c1"> a blogger cried racism</a> over some of the song's lyrics.
Controversial song lyrics —
Lorde enjoyed having a chart topper with her single "Royals," but sparked some criticism after a blogger cried racism over some of the song's lyrics.
Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images
Robin Thicke, right, had the song of the summer in 2013 with<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DyyDUC1LUXSU" target="_blank" target="_blank"> "Blurred Lines."</a> But the hit was dubbed "rape-y" by some with its lyrics "I know you want it" <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Foutfront.blogs.cnn.com%2F2013%2F06%2F18%2Fdoes-robin-thickes-blurred-lines-promote-rape%2F">which critics said promoted sexual assault. </a>The music video also came under fire for its use of nude women and spurred <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DtKfwCjgiodg" target="_blank" target="_blank">a parody video</a> with scantly-clad men. Not to mention ... well, <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2013%2F08%2F26%2Fshowbiz%2Fmusic%2Fmiley-cyrus-mtv-vmas-gaga%2Findex.html">you know</a>.
Controversial song lyrics —
Robin Thicke, right, had the song of the summer in 2013 with "Blurred Lines." But the hit was dubbed "rape-y" by some with its lyrics "I know you want it" which critics said promoted sexual assault. The music video also came under fire for its use of nude women and spurred a parody video with scantly-clad men. Not to mention ... well, you know.
Jason Merritt/Getty Images
The Beatles' 1968 hit <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DAqC_Gma221M" target="_blank" target="_blank">"Revolution"</a> angered some in its urging of peace and love when so many <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.independent.co.uk%2Farts-entertainment%2Fmusic%2Ffeatures%2Fjagger-vs-lennon-londons-riots-of-1968-provided-the-backdrop-to-a-rocknroll-battle-royale-792450.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">were protesting the war in Vietnam</a> and calling for rebellion against the establishment.
Controversial song lyrics —
The Beatles' 1968 hit "Revolution" angered some in its urging of peace and love when so many were protesting the war in Vietnam and calling for rebellion against the establishment.
Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Michael Jackson's song <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DQNJL6nfu__Q" target="_blank" target="_blank">"They Don't Care About Us"</a> featured the line "Jew me, sue me, everybody do me/ Kick me, kike me, don't you black or white me" and led to charges of anti-semitism in 1996. The singer apologized and promised that later versions of his single and album would not contain the references.
Controversial song lyrics —
Michael Jackson's song "They Don't Care About Us" featured the line "Jew me, sue me, everybody do me/ Kick me, kike me, don't you black or white me" and led to charges of anti-semitism in 1996. The singer apologized and promised that later versions of his single and album would not contain the references.
M. Caulfield/WireImage/Getty Images
NWA's 1988 debut studio album "Straight Outta Compton" included the tune "<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DZ7-TTWgiYL4" target="_blank" target="_blank">F*** Da Police"</a> which as you can imagine did not go over well with the law enforcement community.
Controversial song lyrics —
NWA's 1988 debut studio album "Straight Outta Compton" included the tune "F*** Da Police" which as you can imagine did not go over well with the law enforcement community.
Ruthless Records/Amazon
The line "Imagine there's no heaven" was enough for John Lennon to <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.examiner.com%2Farticle%2Fjohn-lennon-s-imagine-fails-to-match-up-to-reality" target="_blank" target="_blank">run afoul of religious groups</a> in 1971 when he released the now iconic tune <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DDVg2EJvvlF8" target="_blank" target="_blank">"Imagine."</a>
Controversial song lyrics —
The line "Imagine there's no heaven" was enough for John Lennon to run afoul of religious groups in 1971 when he released the now iconic tune "Imagine."
Central Press/Getty Images
Blondie's 1981 hit <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DpHCdS7O248g" target="_blank" target="_blank">"Rapture"</a> has a line that <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.songfacts.com%2Fdetail.php%3Fid%3D2608" target="_blank" target="_blank">sounds pretty risque.</a> We will leave you to Google that.
Controversial song lyrics —
Blondie's 1981 hit "Rapture" has a line that sounds pretty risque. We will leave you to Google that.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Rapper LL Cool J, left, and country artist Brad Paisley wanted to stir dialogue with their 2013 collaboration <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DFTzRJ3cpTTI" target="_blank" target="_blank">"Accidental Racist."</a> Let's just say <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rollingstone.com%2Fmusic%2Fvideos%2Fbrad-paisley-ll-cool-js-accidental-racist-song-raises-eyebrows-20130408" target="_blank" target="_blank">that did not go as planned. </a>
Controversial song lyrics —
Rapper LL Cool J, left, and country artist Brad Paisley wanted to stir dialogue with their 2013 collaboration "Accidental Racist." Let's just say that did not go as planned.
Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Clear Channel
Eminem rapped about murdering his now ex-wife in the 2000 song <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DOcUgsvpchms" target="_blank" target="_blank">"Kim." </a>
Controversial song lyrics —
Eminem rapped about murdering his now ex-wife in the 2000 song "Kim."
Getty Images
Guns N' Roses' 1988 song <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DoHTjvv8pBMY" target="_blank" target="_blank">"One in a Million"</a> was deemed homophobic and racist. Lead singer Axl Rose later <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.heretodaygonetohell.com%2Farticles%2Fshowarticle.php%3Farticleid%3D3" target="_blank" target="_blank">said in an interview</a> that he was "pro-heterosexual."
Controversial song lyrics —
Guns N' Roses' 1988 song "One in a Million" was deemed homophobic and racist. Lead singer Axl Rose later said in an interview that he was "pro-heterosexual."
Getty Images
<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.spin.com%2Farticles%2Fj-cole-drake-jodeci-freestyle-retard-autistic-lyrics%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">The Anti-Bullying Alliance took on rapper J. Cole</a> in July 2013 for his use of the word "retarded" during a guest appearance on fellow rapper Drake's song <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D44wKC1ZRZwQ" target="_blank" target="_blank">"Jodeci Freestyle." </a>Both Cole and Drake apologized.
Controversial song lyrics —
The Anti-Bullying Alliance took on rapper J. Cole in July 2013 for his use of the word "retarded" during a guest appearance on fellow rapper Drake's song "Jodeci Freestyle." Both Cole and Drake apologized.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Clear Channel
Before he was an actor, Ice T was a rapper and also performed with the heavy metal band Body Count. In 1992 their collaboration on the song<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D7kakUJARSOc" target="_blank" target="_blank"> "Cop Killer" </a>drew criticism from then-President George Bush.
Controversial song lyrics —
Before he was an actor, Ice T was a rapper and also performed with the heavy metal band Body Count. In 1992 their collaboration on the song "Cop Killer" drew criticism from then-President George Bush.
Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Bing

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