We all know that expression is the most important ingredient in art. We also know that, sometimes, the way an artist expresses themselves isn't what some would call "appropriate". Ever since the first person took offence to an artistic statement, there have been artists that revel in offending. Recently, Wakrat (side project featuring Rage Against the Machine bassist Tim Commerford) released their new single Generation Fucked, a snappy little tune with a nice groove. Oh, and 36 F-bombs.
That got me thinking about this week's column, and what might make the cut on a list of the most explicit songs ever released. As it turns out, there are a lot of explicit songs, so I had to pare the list down somehow. With that in mind, the boundaries I set are as follows:
a) No hip-hop or extreme metal. Low hanging fruit.
b) No joke/novelty bands. Sorry, Tenacious D and Steel Panther.
c) No album tracks. For inclusion on this list, a song has to have been released as a single and/or video.
d) No Limp Bizkit.
Ready? Let's fucking do this!
10 LOCAL H
High Fiving MF (1996)
Many of the songs on this list are from the '90s, because I remember them well and because bands were allowed to get away with all kinds of crazy shit. Like releasing a song with the repeated use of the word "motherfucker" as the second single from your major label debut. Naturally, As Good As Dead went gold.
F-bomb count: 16
9 FAITH NO MORE
Motherfucker (2014)
Take what I said above about bands getting away with crazy shit, but replace "second single" with "lead single" and "major label debut" with "highly anticipated first album in 18 years".
F-bomb count: 17
8 PAPA ROACH
Last Resort (2000)
Some bands get a quick rise and a chuckle out of teenage boys when they write a sweary song about killing yourself. Papa Roach got a career; Infest sold over 7 million copies worldwide. That said, buying the CD was the only way outside of a fledgling Napster you could hear all the words. Among the non-explicit, censored-for-context words when they aired this on Much: cut, bleeding, die, life, suicide. Mutilation, however, is acceptable (outta sight, even).
F-bomb count: only 3, but all the cutting and bleeding and dying, oh my!
7 KORN
A.D.I.D.A.S. (1996)
Green Day's Longview may be considered the most famous rock song from the '90s about masturbation, but Korn's A.D.I.D.A.S. is right up there with it ("so I dream and stroke it", incidentally, was a perfectly acceptable line in the censored version). I guess it's also about shoes or track suits or whatever.
F-bomb count: 7
6 SYSTEM OF A DOWN
Sugar (1998)
If only they'd released Violent Pornography as a single... oh well, Sugar is a fine consolation prize, a highly politicized indictment of American life that rings just as true now as it did 18 years ago.
F-bomb count: 4
5 AGAINST ME!
Black Me Out (2014)
Laura Jane Grace's first album after coming out as transgender is unflinching in its portrayal of her experiences. There are far worse songs from a profanity standpoint, but Black Me Out was not only chosen as a single, but is simply one of the band's best overall songs all time.
F-bomb count: 5
4 TOOL
Ænima (1996)
Sometimes, being a doom-and-gloom song about tidal waves wiping California off the map just isn't enough. As the song builds toward its destructive conclusion, Maynard James Keenan absolutely tees off on some of the state's less desirable residents.
F-bomb count: 15
3 NINE INCH NAILS
Closer (1994)
Having already established himself as a master of the dark and profane arts with the notorious Happiness In Slavery video, everyone expected controversy on Trent Reznor's next album. What very few expected, however, was for The Downward Spiral's destructive ode to hard fucking to become a smash hit.
F-bomb count: 4
2 RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE
Killing In the Name (1992)
When you're a pissed off teenager, there's only one thing more exhilarating than yelling out, "Fuck you! I won't do what you tell me"; and that's yelling out "Fuck you! I won't do what you tell me" sixteen times, followed by a "motherfucker" for good measure.
F-bomb count: 17
1 NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS
Stagger Lee (1995)
Interpretations of the tale of Stagger Lee have existed in folk songs for over a century. Many contemporary artists have taken a turn at telling Stagger Lee's story, from The Clash to Josh Ritter. Cave's version, however, is on a whole other level. Harrowing, bloody and gleefully profane, this version takes some... er, interesting turns.
F-bomb count: 9
What's wrong with this list? What did I miss? Have your say and maybe give me a suggestion for a future list!
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