Paul Simon - Kodachrome

In Britain, the BBC refused to play "Kodachrome", not because of the word 'crap', but because it mentioned a brand name. So in Britain the flip "Take Me to the Mardi Gras" became the hit.

It's curious that although there are more naughty words that can be played on the radio today than in years past, there are also words artists could get away with in the past that they can't today. My favourite example is Charlie Daniels' "Uneasy Rider", for which the 45 version bleeps the word "asses" but not "Toking on a number" or a word that rhymes with "bags". Today I think the situation would be reversed. It's also been ages since I've heard Rolf Harris' "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" on the radio, most likely because it refers to Australia's aboriginal people using a word that today is considered a racial slur.

It surprised me, too, that "crap" was an issue in 1973. It wasn't a swear word. (I wonder when the word started being said on TV.) Even more surprising to me was that "bitch" was OK in 1974/1975 - and the 2 songs I'm thinking of both went to #1 (and both had Elton John on them) - The Bitch Is Back & Bad Blood.

On the other hand, "get inside her pants" had to be re-sung by the Knack for radio. And yes, times have sure changed. I listen to a lot of new pop music (not necessarily what's on the Hot 100) and young artists today use the "F" word so much.