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995wlol
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| Posted: 30 August 2020 at 2:08pm | IP Logged
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Paul Haney wrote:
I
believe that KDWB & WLOL were probably only playing it during the day. I was working the overnight shift at 7-11 that summer and I
had the radio on all night long and they were certainly playing the "Sex" version a lot. |
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FWIW, I listened exclusively to WLOL and don't remember hearing "I Want Your Love" that summer, but I was only 11 years old, so take that with a grain of salt. Interestingly, when school started back up in the fall, one of the "KDWB kids" (yes, there was a distinction in our classroom) brought a cassette with different edits of "I Want Your Love" they had recorded off air. This was the first time I was aware of there being a version with cleaned up lyrics.
I also remember a story on one of the Twin Cities TV newscasts that included a snippet of 'LOL evening jock Denny Shafer talking about the controversy...wish I could see that piece now.
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Paul Haney
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| Posted: 30 August 2020 at 2:20pm | IP Logged
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I'm not sure either which station I heard the "Love" version on, but I do remember being taken aback the first time I
heard it. I was covering for someone on the 7-11 day shift, which makes me think they day parted the 2 versions.
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PopArchivist
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| Posted: 30 August 2020 at 7:05pm | IP Logged
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Paul Haney wrote:
I'm not sure either which station I heard the "Love" version on, but I do remember being taken aback the first time I
heard it. I was covering for someone on the 7-11 day shift, which makes me think they day parted the 2 versions. |
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That Billboard article pretty much confirmed there was an edited version at some radio stations so both of you are probably correct.
Though if released now nothing in the entire song would need to be edited for content. Back then I don't think having "sex" in the title of the song was as acceptable as it is now.
I can't think of any 80's song that has "sex" in the title outside of I Want Your Sex that was a top 40 hit. I mean Sexcrime 1984 by Eurythmics is the only one I could even come up with just from the top of my head. Sexual Healing from 1982 sure, but Marvin Gaye could sing about love and sex and it would still be classic Motown hit if the lyrics were not dirty. Nothing in that song that would not be appropriate for the masses.
No, I Want Your Sex is really the first true sex song that mentions more than just love. Programmers had to make a choice for the first time because George Michael did not want to edit the song or the video, the Billboard article even references that.
Edited by PopArchivist on 30 August 2020 at 7:06pm
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jebsib
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Was there any outrage at the time over "Like a Virgin"?
I seem to remember some concern - perhaps that it was too suggestive?
I think other songs in the 80s such as "Sugar Walls" and "Relax" tended to
'bury their message' a little so it wasn't so in your face.
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Paul Haney
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From the 12/26/87 issue of Billboard (Vox Jox column):
SEX & SAFE SEX: George Michael's "I Want Your Sex" caused concern for some programmers, and with prodding
from the press, the hit served as an interesting springboard from which to examine radio's role in these
AIDS-wary days. After the song's release, Michael somewhat reluctantly explained that the song promotes
monogamy. Even then, many programmers felt listeners wouldn't take the time to interpret the song that way.
Many stations introduced "I Want Your Sex" with prosafe-sex messages, some played the edited "I Want Your Love"
version, and some banged it right out of the box to few complaints from listeners. Eventually, the song hit No.
2 on the Hot 100.
Edited by Paul Haney on 31 August 2020 at 11:27am
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Paul Haney
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| Posted: 31 August 2020 at 11:34am | IP Logged
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jebsib wrote:
Was there any outrage at the time over "Like a Virgin"?
I seem to remember some concern - perhaps that it was too suggestive?
I think other songs in the 80s such as "Sugar Walls" and "Relax" tended to
bury their message' a little so it wasn't so in your face. |
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I remember some raised eyebrows when "Like A Virgin" came out, but it was such a
massive hit, that I don't think too many stations wouldn't play it.
I thought there would be more controversy about "Relax", but I seem to remember
that was more directed towards the video.
There were some stations that banned "Sugar Walls" and others that only played
it at night.
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eriejwg
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I worked at a station here in Erie in 1984 that banned
play of "I Want A New Drug!"
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Paul Haney
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| Posted: 01 September 2020 at 4:17am | IP Logged
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eriejwg wrote:
| I worked at a station here in Erie in 1984 that banned play of "I Want A New Drug!" |
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But I bet you played it later that year when it morphed into "Ghostbusters!" :)
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RichM921
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I'd love to have a copy of the censored version. I remember hearing it
as the only version on one of my local CHRs at the time WRBQ Tampa
Q105. In all honesty I never knew until reading this forum that the word
he was singing was "love". It sounded like a different word, which I
won't repeat here but could be considered just as dirty as the word
"sex".
In a strange twist of fate, the station that would only play the censored
version, Q105, is now classic hits and now plays the uncensored
version every day.
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jebsib
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| Posted: 01 September 2020 at 8:42am | IP Logged
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Is there a thread for Controversial Top 40 hits: their evolution and various
edits? Sounds like we have a few candidates
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David Pro
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| Posted: 01 September 2020 at 11:40am | IP Logged
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The censored radio edit of "I Want
Your Sex" titled "I Want Your Love"
would have been a nice inclusion to
the second disc of the 2011
remastered re-issue of
Faith. Here is the
tracklisting of the second disc:
1. "Faith" (Instrumental) – 3:16
2. "Fantasy" – 5:02
3. "Hard Day" (Shep Pettibone Mix)
– 9:04
4. "I Believe When I Fall in Love"
(Stevie Wonder, Yvonne Wright)
(live) – 7:03
5. "Kissing a Fool" (Instrumental)
– 4:35
6. "Love's in Need of Love Today"
(Live at Wembley Arena, 1 Apr '87)
(Wonder) – 4:43
7. "Monkey" (7" Edit Version) –
4:48
8. "Monkey" (A Capella & Beats) –
7:27
9. "Monkey" (Jam & Lewis Remix) –
8:10
Edited by David Pro on 01 September 2020 at 11:41am
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radiofan16
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995wlol wrote:
Paul Haney wrote:
I
believe that KDWB & WLOL were probably only playing it during the day. I was
working the overnight shift at 7-11 that summer and I
had the radio on all night long and they were certainly playing the "Sex"
version a lot. |
|
|
FWIW, I listened exclusively to WLOL and don't remember hearing "I Want Your
Love" that summer, but I was only 11 years old, so take that with a grain of salt.
Interestingly, when school started back up in the fall, one of the "KDWB kids"
(yes, there was a distinction in our classroom) brought a cassette with
different edits of "I Want Your Love" they had recorded off air. This was the
first time I was aware of there being a version with cleaned up lyrics.
I also remember a story on one of the Twin Cities TV newscasts that included a
snippet of 'LOL evening jock Denny Shafer talking about the controversy...wish
I could see that piece now. |
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Here's a news report.
George Michael I Want
Your Sex Report.
Edited by radiofan16 on 11 May 2023 at 10:38pm
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Jody Thornton
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| Posted: 11 May 2023 at 10:24pm | IP Logged
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Paul Haney wrote:
eriejwg wrote:
| I worked at a station here in Erie in 1984 that banned play of "I Want A New Drug!" |
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But I bet you played it later that year when it morphed into "Ghostbusters!" :) |
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Was it K-104? (WCCK)
__________________
Cheers,
Jody Thornton
(Richmond Hill, Ontario)
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eriejwg
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| Posted: 13 May 2023 at 12:50pm | IP Logged
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Hi Jody, indeed it was K104 in Erie. As I recall, the order
came down from the President of the company
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John Gallagher
John Gallagher Wedding & Special Event Entertainment
Snapblast Photo Booth
Erie, PA
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Top 40 Music on Compact Disc : Chat Board
Topic: George Michael - Hard Day b/w I Want Your
