Top 20 Songs That Offended the Most People

#20: WAP (2020)

Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion

WAP somehow toes a line between critical acclaim, enormous popularity, and controversy. You can just tell from the title, which stands for - well, you probably know. While the song was praised for its empowering message, the lyrics are unapologetically graphic and wildly, almost comically, explicit. Some religious and parental groups saw the song as harmful, especially for younger audiences who might be exposed to it via TikTok. But the biggest backlash was in conservative circles, with figures like Ben Shapiro and Candace Owens condemning the song as immoral and culturally degrading. Shapiro, in particular, went viral for reading the lyrics on his show - a funny occasion that many found the time to mock.

#19: Dear God (1986)

XTC

Now a personal anthem of sorts, XTCs Dear God caused quite the uproar in the mid 80s. Even though it wasnt that long ago, America was significantly more conservative back then, and religion was taken far more seriously. So Dear God, which is sung from the perspective of a doubter, caused a huge cultural backlash. Many saw the lyrics as anti-Christian and blasphemous, and at least one radio station in Florida received a bomb threat after playing the song. Meanwhile, several radio stations outright refused to play it, and XTC frontman Andy Partridge was inundated with hate mail. But despite the controversy, Dear God has remained a powerful anthem for those wrestling with questions of faith, suffering, and religious authority.

#18: So What? (1981)

Anti-Nowhere League

Punk was roaring in the late 70s and early 80s, and So What? is a defining example of how controversial the genre became. The song is filled with graphic and taboo language that still packs quite the punch. We can only imagine how offensive it was back in 1981. Actually, we dont have to imagine, as the song was essentially banned in its native Britain under the Obscene Publications Act. The BBC refused to play it, the single was prohibited from sale, with police seizing all copies from the distributor. Meanwhile, punk fans celebrated the song as a rebellious anthem against censorship and authoritarianism - the very authoritarianism that prevented it from being played.

#17: Smack My Bitch Up (1997)

The Prodigy

As you can imagine, a song called Smack My Bitch Up didnt go over so well. The songs repeated vocal line, sampled from Ultramagnetic MCs, was widely interpreted as promoting violence against women, and it came under fire from the likes of feminist groups and social activists. Meanwhile, the music video only added fuel to the fire, as it included all the big talking points - sex, violence, drug use, even drunk driving. Not surprisingly, both the song and the video became lightning rods for the late 90s moral panic around media influence on the youth. Heck, you still cant find the video on YouTube. Despite this, the song remains a club favorite and was featured heavily in the pop culture of the day.

#16: One In a Million (1988)

Guns N Roses

It didnt take long for Guns N Roses to start ticking people off. Their second album contains a wildly offensive song called One In a Million, the lyrics of which contain many slurs, including the n- and f-words, not to mention some wildly homophobic and racist remarks. In fact, the cover art of the album contains a mock apology for the song, so the band knew they were releasing a real eyebrow-raiser. It offended many listeners and even some fellow musicians, including Kurt Cobain, who, according to Nirvana manager Danny Goldberg, was deeply offended by the song. Heck, it even managed to anger the other members of the band, who asked Rose not to include the song on the album.

#15: Me So Horny (1989)

2 Live Crew

Florida basically turned into 1984 when Me So Horny was released. As the title suggests, the song includes overtly graphic and sexual lyrics. But to make matters worse, it was also accused of promoting stereotypes, as the hook was taken from an Asian character in Full Metal Jacket. 2 Live Crew was successfully brought up on obscenity charges, the first time in American history that a music album was declared legally obscene So the album was banned, and police stormed record shops and arrested owners who were caught selling it. However, this reaction drew even further controversy, with many arguing that it violated the groups freedom of speech. The ruling was eventually overturned on appeal, turning 2 Live Crew into paragons of musical expression.

#14: Darling Nikki (1984)

Prince

Purple Rain was an enormous hit, but some people objected to the fifth track, Darling Nikki. The song describes a sexual encounter, and despite never releasing as a single, it quickly gained notoriety for its explicit lyrical content. The backlash began when Tipper Gore, wife of then-Senator Al Gore, caught her 11-year-old daughter listening to the song. She was blindsided by the lack of warning over its lyrical content, so she and a few others formed the Parents Music Resource Center to advocate for warning labels on explicit music. They even brought the case to the Senate, and while no government regulation was imposed, the music industry agreed to do something about the problem. And thats how the Parental Advisory sticker was made.

#13: Papa Dont Preach (1986)

Madonna

With Papa Dont Preach, Madonna sparked headlines for her new look and more serious tone. The song tells the story of a young woman who becomes pregnant and decides to keep the baby - a message that sparked a wide range of reactions. Many people condemned the single, arguing that it glorified teenage pregnancy. This problem was exacerbated by Madonnas fame, as she was enormously popular with the younger generation and many adults feared that impressionable young listeners would emulate their icon and get pregnant. Madonna also dedicated the song to Pope John Paul II during her concerts, leading to public condemnation from The Vatican. Meanwhile, others praised the single for its empowering message, including the aforementioned Tipper Gore.

#12: Killing an Arab (1978)

The Cure

Misinterpretation can cause a lot of problems. Just ask the Cures Robert Smith, who admits that he should have called Killing an Arab something else, as it would have saved him and the band a lot of unwanted trouble. The song was inspired by Albert Camuss novel The Stranger and narrates a scene where the protagonist, Meursault, kills an Arab man. It uses the novels scene to explore themes of existentialism and alienation, but many listeners simply assumed that it was racist and promoting anti-Arab sentiment. These critics often didnt listen to the lyrics, or they didnt have an understanding of their literary connection - they simply read the title and made a false assumption.

#11: Blurred Lines (2013)

Robin Thicke ft. T.I. & Pharrell

While it was massively popular, Blurred Lines was also massively controversial. We mean, the title alone has the power to raise an eyebrow or two, with the blurred lines referencing consent. Many listeners interpreted the song as promoting non-consensual sex, with super creepy lines like I know you want it, Just let me liberate you, and I hate these blurred lines. Many argue that the song echoes phrases often associated with sexual assault justification, and it received widespread backlash from the likes of feminist groups, activists, and student unions. And the music video made things fifty times worse, as it was slammed by accusations of female objectification. Yeah, its a weird one.

#10: Killing in the Name (1992)

Rage Against the Machine

Timing is essential to a breakout song, as is backlash sometimes. Killing in the Name was Rage Against the Machines debut single, written in response to the then-recent beating of Rodney King by LAPD officers. Commercial appeal was hardly the objective of a rap metal rant about police brutality and racism that drops 17 F-bombs. The political significance nonetheless led to heavy circulation of cleaned-up edits. Outrage over the obscenity may have distracted from the song's message, but even political moderates who understood that were disturbed by the belligerence. This controversy announced RATM as a uniquely confrontational voice in mainstream music. Killing in the Name is itself considered a classic, which has gotten no less controversial or relevant since 1992.

#9: Bobby Brown (Goes Down) (1979)

Frank Zappa

The endlessly inventive Frank Zappa spread many complicated themes through edgy comedy and double-entendre. Some say Bobby Brown (Goes Down) especially loses the message in its pushed envelope. The ballad is told from the perspective of a misogynistic yuppie who begins questioning his sexuality after an encounter with a butch feminist. It was a groundbreaking satire of toxic masculinity and hypocrisy. It's also surreally glib about homophobia, sexual assault and other sensitive topics, pulling no punches with the protagonists vulgar narration. The snazzy single was a hit in Europe, and remains one of Zappa's most talked-about pieces. Chalk that up to debates not only of Bobby Browns concept, but of the crass way in which it's delivered.

#8: God Save the Queen (1977)

Sex Pistols

These punks sure werent covering a patriotic hymn for Elizabeth IIs Silver Jubilee. The Sex Pistols God Save the Queen was an angry anthem that dehumanized the Queen as a representative of the greedy establishment. What was meant to be a rallying cry for the working class was seen by many as a condemnation of the English people, to say nothing of monarchists. The single was banned by many British radio stations and music stores. All the same, it soared up the charts on the week of the Jubilees observation. At least Johnny Rotten has since walked back his disdain for the late Queen as a human being. But he and the surviving Pistols stand by their heretical classic.

#7: F*** tha Police (1988)

N.W.A

Few songs this directly offensive are this ingrained in pop culture. N.W.As, lets just say, F the Police dramatizes a court proceeding in which the rap group holds a police department on trial. The ensuing testimonies paint the organization as a racist and corrupt gang in its own right. This was one of the first hip-hop songs to use anger and obscenity to draw audiences to social issues. Of course, many just dwelled on the anger and obscenity. But it spoke to so many peoples own outrage about institutional injustice that it transcended cult status. Its an iconic protest anthem that revolutionized a music genre. Its also a blunt statement that skewers a whole group with shock value.

#6: Try That in a Small Town (2023)

Jason Aldean

With the 2020s being marked by division across the United States, Jason Aldean affirmed Americana in the crudest way. Try That in a Small Town blasts American cities as being more tolerant of violent crime and political upheaval than rural communities. The song naturally infuriated those who felt that the song misrepresented urban culture and political activism. Some went so far as to accuse it of romanticizing reactionary violence. The more credible criticism is that Aldean, who does not come from a small town, promoted offensive stereotypes of said communities. Either way, the controversy naturally boosted Try That in a Small Towns popularity and debates about its sentiments.

#5: Angel of Death (1986)

Slayer

Extreme metal pioneers Slayer have always been provocateurs. In fact, few of their songs have shocked on the scale of their breakout Angel of Death. This was the nickname of Josef Mengele, whose twisted experiments at the Auschwitz concentration camp are graphically described from his perspective. Though focus later shifts to condemn this monster, singer-songwriter Jeff Hanneman was accused of being a Nazi sympathizer. At the very least, the song sensationalizes unspeakable historical horrors. This controversy came after the track delayed the release of the album Reign in Blood. It also solidified the uncompromising brand that made Slayer a sensation themselves. Angel of Death would not be their last anthem of evil, but its particular success makes it particularly unsettling.

#4: Get Your Gunn (1994)

Marilyn Manson

It was only when the band Marilyn Manson took their shock value into politics that the world took notice. Get Your Gunn refers to Dr. David Gunn, who was murdered by an anti-abortion extremist the year before. The song also samples audio of Republican politician R. Budd Dwyer taking his own life on camera. Besides these disturbing allusions, the ambiguous lyrics suggest adolescent self-harm and fury over the establishments hypocrisy. Get Your Gunn would thus be accused of motivating the 1999 Columbine High School massacre. Marilyn Mansons namesake frontman maintains that his breakout single merely observes the cultural violence and despair that really fuel such tragedies. It's less controversial to say that the unlikely hit is abrasive with its touchy references.

#3: Lemon Incest (1984)

Serge and Charlotte Gainsbourg

Before becoming a revered movie and music star, Charlotte Gainsbourg made a bold debut with Lemon Incest. Subversive pop star Serge Gainsbourg and his preteen daughter croon about their affection for each other with steamy phrasing. The song obviously disturbed the public, especially with a music video featuring the Gainsbourgs in a bed. Charlotte asserts that she and her father shared an otherwise appropriate relationship, and that the song aimed to be mockingly provocative. As scandalous as it still was in 1984, it's even more so now. This was compounded by mounting allegations against Serge of harassment and misogyny. Lemon Incest may thus be one of his most assuredly ironic shockers, but it may also be his most tasteless.

#2: Cop Killer (1992)

Body Count

Body Counts real splash in hip-hop and thrash metal was over their combined political shock value. The bands self-titled debut album ended with a tirade against police by an armed vigilante. Needless to say, Cop Killer sparked outrage within and beyond the law enforcement community, who worried that the vulgar track endorsed attacks on police officers. Frontman Ice-T and others argued that the song just expresses the mentality behind a terrible response to police brutality. Nonetheless, Body Count reissued the album with a replacement final track, Freedom of Speech. Moreover, Ice-Ts acting career is highlighted by the role of Det. Fin Tutuola in the Law & Order franchise. He still performs Cop Killer live, fully aware of its disturbing interpretations by a wider audience.

#1: Kim (2000)

Eminem

Eminems brash, politically incorrect songwriting has earned as much controversy as renown. But even defenders of his artistic expression feel Kim went too far. The horrorcore jam was inspired by the rappers bitter custody battle with ex-wife Kim Scott. It dramatizes a hostile argument in front of a child, leading to gruesome homicide. Audiences were horrified by Eminem announcing real domestic drama with an obscene and misogynistic fantasy of domestic violence. Scott, who has long struggled with depression, survived an attempt on her own life after the song received an ovation at an Eminem concert. Thus, Kim continues to polarize as an uncompromised portrayal of disdain in divorce, and a compromising example of womens place in popular music and Eminems legacy.

Did you take offense to any of these songs? Let us know in the comments below!