[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.