"Louie Louie" song controversy
The "Louie Louie" song controversy centers around the scrutiny and censorship the song faced, particularly after the Kingsmen's rendition became popular in 1963. Originally written and recorded by Richard Berry, the song was targeted by school officials and various censoring agencies, including the FBI, due to widespread rumors that its lyrics contained obscene references when played at slower speeds. Despite an investigation by the Federal Communications Commission determining that the lyrics were indecipherable and thus not obscene, the public's perception of the song as inappropriate contributed to its growing cult status. The controversy escalated when the Kingsmen's version was banned from Boston radio stations later that same year. The song's notoriety was further solidified when it was featured in the 1978 film "National Lampoon's Animal House." Over the years, "Louie Louie" has been covered by numerous artists, some of whom introduced entirely new lyrics, diverging from the original content. This blend of censorship, cultural interpretation, and musical legacy continues to intrigue music historians and fans alike.
"Louie Louie" song controversy
Type of work: Song
Released on record: 1956
Original artist: Richard Berry (1935-1997)
Subject matter: A boy’s longing for a girlfriend across the sea in Jamaica
Significance: Although early recordings of the song are almost incomprehensible, many people believed that its lyrics were “dirty” and campaigned to have the song banned
Whatever made “Louie Louie” a target of censors is one of the classic mysteries in broadcast music history. Readily available in record stores from the time that Richard Berry first recorded the song, “Louie Louie” was denounced by school principals; it eventually attracted the scrutiny of a number of censoring agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Many people believed that playing recordings of the song at slower speeds made it possible to hear obscene allusions to the singer’s sexual exploits. The fact that a popular new recording released by the Kingsmen in 1963 was virtually undecipherable failed to dampen such popular perceptions. Later that year, the Kingsmen’s recording was banned from Boston radio stations.
Although a Federal Communications Commission investigation into the song concluded that its lyrics were indecipherable and therefore not obscene, the song’s banning contributed to its becoming a cult favorite. The song’s fame was revived in 1978, when it was featured in the raucous film National Lampoon’s Animal House.
Over the years many singers have covered “Louie Louie.” Some of these artists have contributed new lyrics that have nothing to do with the original song.