[h=2]The Kingsmen, “Louie Louie”[/h] This iconic and incomprehensible song performed by The Kingsmen may be one of the most famous banned songs in American rock history. Based on a song originally written and performed by Richard Berry in 1955, the song gained wider acclaim when a rawer, less understandable version was put out by The Kingsmen in 1963. Per Ultimate Classic Rock, the song was soon banned from multiple radio stations due to its rumored explicit lyrics.
After a concerned parent complained to Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy (FBI records courtesy of The Smoking Gun), the FBI launched an investigation into the song’s lyrics, of which the hilarious results can be seen here, here, and here. After several attempts to nail down the lyrics, the FBI concluded that “because the lyrics of the recording ‘Louie Louie’ could not be definitely determined in the Laboratory examination, it was not possible to determine whether this recording is obscene.” Rock music: 1, FBI: 0.

 

‘Louie, Louie’

The Kingsmen
Sometimes, songs are banned for no real reason at all — like in the case of the No. 1 track on our list of the Top 10 Censored Rock Songs. The Kingsmen’s garage-rock nugget was banned from several radio stations, prohibited throughout Indiana (thanks to its governor) and subjected to a 31-month investigation by the FBI. All because some teens somewhere started a rumor that the words singer Jack Ely was howling were about an explicit sexual encounter. In reality, the lyrics (written by Richard Berry in 1957) recounted a sailor’s rather banal ode to his dream girl. But because Ely was singing in pidgin English, screaming at the top of his lungs and wearing new braces, his enunciation wasn’t perfect, and rumors escalated. The FBI then spent a fair amount of taxpayer dollars interviewing almost everybody associated with the recording and listening to the hit single at various speeds in an attempt to decipher the “true” meaning. In the end, the FBI threw their hands up and declared their inability to interpret any of the lyrics. Despite, and because of, its reputation, ‘Louie Louie’ has become one of the most important songs in rock history.

 

The Lascivious Louie Louie

Yes, the FBI probed whether the 1960's hit was obscene

 

 

 

 

Louie Louie became the anthem of every Fraternity house in the free world!

Largely due to the John Belushi movie: "Animal House".

 

You can't ban what you can't hear.

Essentially what they said in Tampa Florida in 1965!

I was in the USF sports car club at that time and the only frat guy I knew was
pres of the USFSCC, Gary Brosch.....and if you find him today and ask,
Gary will say: "I don't know anything about it!" lol

 

The original recording.......and a few more from that time...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-2CKsaq5r8&list=RDz-2CKsaq5r8#t=39

This is self playing! Enjoy it!