“In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins
Who knows why “In the Air Tonight” was prohibited both during the Gulf War and after 9/11? Nonetheless, the song about suffering from jilted love was deemed too delicate for airplay during the conflict. Perhaps the remark, “It’s all been a pack of lies,” was construed posthumously to refer to the causes of the conflicts. It would be understandable if Bob Dylan’s “Masters of War” had been blacklisted, but it was not. Instead, “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” appeared on the list. The BBC and Clear Channel Communications brought the censorship to our attention.
In The Air Tonight By Phil Collins
“Wake Up Little Susie” by The Everly Brothers
“Wake Up Little Susie” peaked at number one on the charts in 1957, but a Boston radio station banned it anyway. According to the censors, the song implies that the teenage couple had an intimate relationship. The content, in general, of staying out late with a boyfriend, was too delicate for the 1950s. In today’s world, that reaction is virtually incomprehensible. The song became a great smash. While campaigning for president, George W. Bush told Oprah that Buddy Holly’s rendition of “Wake Up Little Susie” was his favorite song. The majority of The Everly Brothers’ songs were written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, a husband and wife duo who also wrote songs for Elvis, Bob Dylan, and Buddy Holly.
Wake Up Little Susie By The Everly Brothers
