Coming up, it’s the latest edition of our Taboo Songs countdown. That’s right today we’re exploring the stories behind five controversial tracks that deeply offended certain segments of society. One was a hilarious double entendre song by Chuck Berry that sounded like a nursery rhyme, and it came under fire from a teacher-turned-crusader who tried to ban it from the airwaves. But it only made it his most popular song. One track by Matchbox Twenty was accused of glorifying domestic abuse, but it was the complete opposite of what it was accused of. Another song by Carl Douglas got a man arrested just for playing it. And then there is the kid's song by Peter, Paul; and Mary that supposedly contained hidden messages promoting drug use. They’re tracks that had the morality police hyperventilating, melting down, and losing their freaking minds… and their stories are coming up NEXT on the Professor of Rock.
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Okay, I’m really excited for this one. On today’s countdown, we’ve got five of the most taboo and controversial songs. Some were the targets of bans and boycotts, and others stirred up backlash whether they deserved it or not. But each one was wrapped up in scandal one way or another. Let’s get into it.
For my #5 pick, I’m going with a one-hit wonder that had everyone doing disco karate…. It’s Carl Douglas and Kung Fu Fighting. And this one is another insane story. In 1974, Jamaican-British singer Carl Douglas recorded "Kung Fu Fighting," a track that unexpectedly became a global sensation. Initially intended as a B-side, the song was completed in just two takes due to limited studio time. However, its infectious rhythm and timely theme captured audiences, propelled it to the top of charts in the US and UK. The song's producer, Biddu Appaiah, an Indian-born British musician, crafted the disco sound and infused the songs with elements reminiscent of martial arts cinema, which was highly popular in the early 70s, thanks in large part to the great Bruce Lee. The lyrics and melody captured the zeitgeist, celebrating the kung fu craze that had permeated pop culture. Despite Kung Fu Fighting’s widespread popularity in the 70s and for decades after, in the new millennium, it has faced increasing criticism for being culturally insensitive.
The song's use of the term "funky Chinamen" and its mimicry of Asian musical motifs are points of contention. Musically, the track incorporates the so-called “Oriental riff," a sequence often used in Western media to evoke East Asian themes. This 9-note motif has been criticized for reinforcing simplistic and exotic notions of Asian cultures. Naysayers argue that these elements contribute to a caricatured portrayal of Asian culture. The controversy surrounding Kung Fu Fighting came to the forefront in 2011 in England when a British singer in a bar was arrested after a passerby of Chinese descent took offense to his