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Top 10 Most Controversial Music Videos of All Time

Controversies and entertainment are like two sides of one coin. They complement each other. Well our celebs and artists somehow manage to put controversy in almost everything they do. And it quite amuses me as we find few more gossip to munch on. Now that controversies make everything more interesting, there is a list of top 10 most controversial music videos of all the time. Have a look:

Only – Nicki Minaj

This video by Nicki Minaj gathered all the controversies when the animated video unknowingly (?) depicted Minaj as a powerful dictator from 1940s.Due to which, Minaj had to face a lot of questions and criticisms from the viewers as well as the critics. Minaj took the help of Twitter to appologise saying that it wasn’t her concept and she deeply regretted the fact that it offended others. However, thedirector of the video, Jeffrey Osborne told MySpace, “If my work is misinterpreted because it’s not a sappy tearjerker, sorry I’m not sorry. What else is trending?”

(s)AINT – Marilyn Manson

Marilyn Manson is widely known for his self-expression and repellent acts. This video by Manson provides the alternative version of a person’s sexuality and sexual preferences to the viewers. However, to be honest we find the video a bit disturbing with Manson cutting himself, masturbating or engaging in cunnilingus and it is indeed an explicit video which deserves quite a lot of controversy.

Jeremy – Pearl Jam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS91knuzoOA

This video by Pearl Jam led to a hell lot of controversy when a mass killing perpetrator in 1996 revealed he was influenced by this video. Based on true story of a teenager named “Jeremy Delle” who shot himself, the video shows the torments Jeremy had to go through because of the bullies in school. However, the video ends with Jeremy killing his classmates.

Lemon Incest – Serge ft. Charlotte Gainsbourg

The video shows a 12 year old daughter who sprawled out on a bed beside her shirtless father. Serge Gainsbourg and Charlotte Gainsbourg had to face quite a bit of anger and controversy because of their “Lemon Incest.” Taking on burning topics like “incest” and “pedophilia”, the father daughter duet inspired controversies about health, innocence and the manipulation of power. Well the lyrics say, “The love that we’ll never do together.”

The Blurred Lines – Robin Thicke ft. T.I. Pjarrell

With inappropriate lyrics, it is almost impossible for anyone to not to make a controversial video showing three grown men paying models to frolic around them topless. However, it is basically the lyrics that much more vulgar which says, “I know you want it” and “I’ll give you something big enough to tear you’re a** into two”. This led the song to be banned from multiple university campus in the UK. Seriously, who talks like that?

Born Free – M.I.A

This video was removed from YouTube because of its “violent contents”. However when it was first released in 2010, it gathered quite positive response from the viewers. The 9 minute clip portrays violence and shows cruelty and torture towards a group of red-haired young men in a desert by a group of armed men. The video ends with the youngest boy being shot in the head.

Heart Shaped Box – Niravana

Despite being a controversial one, this video won two MTV VMA awards in 1994. The video tries to talk about society’s quite a few issues like cancer, people’s hatred for each other, drugs, religion and stuff. It shows stuffs like a fetus in a blood bag, an old man being crucified and other metaphors to mean death. Creepy!

Do What You Want to – Lady Gaga ft. R. Kelly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3jzMyYgPQs

We don’t really understand how Lady Gaga chose R. Kelly a convicted pedophile to feature on this video. And cherry on top, the director for the video was Terry Richardson, the infamous photographer accused of sexual abuse and coercing. Te original video was never released but a leaked 30 second clip to TMZ, shows explicit contents. A hidden source even quoted to New York Post the video was “literally an ad for rape.”

Like A Prayer – Madonna

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDnUIXF2ly8

The controversy’s child Madonna released this video in 1989 with contents like “black Jesus”, Madonna trying to titillate him and her dancing around burning crosses. This cost Madonna quite a bit as The Pope publicly condemned her and she lost her lucrative endorsement with Pepsi. Why Madonna why?

Looking Hot – No Doubt

Despite of being quite a clean video among all these in the list, this video by No Doubt faced quite a bit rage because of its stereotyping and appropriation of Native Americans. Released in 2012, the band had to pull down the video almost immediately after it offended the Native Americans. However they later apologized to the Native Americans saying it wasn’t their intention to hurt anyone.

Well, we are music lovers. Controversies or not, we love to watch the video of the songs we like. And a bit of controversy in something makes it more interesting. So here is my list. If you happen to find anything new, please feel free to let us know in the comment box!

By Daisy Mali

An accidental writer, who loves to share her thoughts in her own way; soon to be a blogger, a food enthusiast, and a book worm.