50 Shades is about S&M and Under My Thumb is about an abusive relationship. Two very different things. I don’t think it means that the Stones are endorsing abuse; they’re pointing out a dark side of humanity, as they often do.
@@drothberg3 In 'Under My Thumb', she once had the power until he turned the tables - if he hadn't turned the tables, you would have been okay with her crowing about him being her thumb, I take it. People who are outraged by 'Under My Thumb' are flying their double-standards flag.
These songs and their albums were meant for a more mature listener, not for today’s culture. I’m so glad they wrote what they did. We’ll never get rocked like that again.
These five songs (along with others mentioned in the comments) actually make a great playlist to instruct newbies where to start in The Stone's discography, lol
@@rubbabubba6489 There are good bands keeping it on life support but the movement itself went into steep decline once MTV turned rock into phony pageantry and a celebration of hair metal
Rock n Roll came into being 70 years ago... I'm 52 and love listening to 60s and 70s rock, I know a few kids do as well but its surely going to dwindle in popularity, its just going to be considered old fashioned.
@@jerryattwooll4864there was some grumbling recently about AC/DC, calling their lyrics misogynistic, sexist, etc. Complaining NOW? They’ve been around for 50 Years doing the same thing over and over, and suddenly it’s a problem? These kids don’t get double entendres nor do they get fun. They are like hanging around your 98 year old grandma (who might actually be fun compared to kids today.) glad I’m old.
@@classicalbumI’d read it. But to be honest, rap is super misogynistic, and that is one of the reasons I don’t listen to it. Maybe ‘old mate’ does. Do you?
@@thegreatstrogannofski3418whilst I can appreciate its origins and its importance, I just don’t get it. I don’t like the music, and the lyrics are pretty unpleasant at times.
@@thegreatstrogannofski3418 DeLaSoul and A Tribe Called Quest were really good and didn't go with the gangsta misogynist vibe. There are a few decent Hiphop artists that actually made interesting music.
Honorable mentions? Stray Cat Blues (Barry mentioned it), Memo from Turner, Sweet Black Angel, Short and Curlies, Stupid Girl, Little T & A, gosh the lost goes on. Love 'em all😂
Memo from Turner is not a Stones song, it's a Mick solo song. where all music parts were recorded by Ry Cooder on slide guitar, Russ Titelman (guitar), Randy Newman (piano), Jerry Scheff (bass) and Gene Parsons (drums).
Every song on this I love and still listen to and will probably forever. These songs is what represent rock n roll. Sometimes rock isn’t for the faint of heart.
THE GREATEST ROCKNROLL BAND IN THE WORLD 2024. The Stones invented the Rocknroll lifestyle and they ingeniously incorporated plenty styles and genres into their music. Everybody has critics. They come and go, but the Stones music will be around long after the critics have come and gone.
Sterling work yourself here once again. Lovely video, a nice and quick run down with plenty of details and original opinion and content. Interesting list of songs and definitely a good 5 selected for that topic. Gotta be said though ‘Brown Sugar’ is still such a brilliant song, and despite the lyrics obviously being frowned upon in disgust today, it’s anStones best 20 number for sure! Keep up the great work 👏
The Stones even at their filthiest was never gratuitous. The most disgusting song I think was Gary Glitter's "What your mama don't see your mama don't know". No hidden message there!
With the exception of Cocksucker Blues AKA Schoolboy Blues recorded to mess with Decca, who insisted on receiving one more single from the Stones as per their contract. That was gratuitous as hell.
@@farrellmcnulty909 and when the ending comes and the guitars are wailing as is Mick and his voice? Just killer. Song Rocks!!! Favorite track on Goats Head
@@shawnmccorkle5059 You're right, I love his "YEAH!" at the end. If there was a video in those days, I can imagine him with that same shit-eating grin he has on the album cover.
Before you started I knew that Some Girls (the song) would be on it. Great song that gave an insight into what life was like for a high level rock star for those of us who never got to live it.
I don't agree at all. The lyrics can just as easily be interpreted as ironic, a commentary on the genuinely terrifying world around us. You surely don't mean that Jagger identifies with the scarred old slaver who rapes the girls? Isn't the absurdly macho stance a central trope of the blues? Part of the thrill of these songs is in their ambiguity, the potential for differing interpretations. I'm much more offended by the bland music and unimaginative lyrics of the later Stones stuff.
I don't thinkl there is a lot of ambiguity in these songs, but I agree that these were different times that shouldn't be sanitized. But the Stones have in the last few decades curated their image to steer away from controversy to keep the money rolling in, so it is no surprise to me.
I think you can trace the decline of Jaggers testosterone level just by reading his lyrics. Its why almost all rock bands eventually lose their mojo as they age.
Tune-wise, every song here - and the ones on the dishonourable mentions list - shows the breadth and genius of this band. Ok, change the lyrics. Change everything made in the 60s and 70s. Would i rather have today's fear of saying anything and judgementalism about everything past? Im a Miles Davis fan. Look at ESP and Bitches Brew and Big Fun album covers for starters. Miles wasnt nice to women ( or anyone really). He must be scrutinised and called out therefore. No. Just leave the times alone. Def no more playing Freebird i suppose
When I saw the title, I, like the author, thought about songs with awful sex scenes in the lyrics. I also thought about some of the Stones’ more violent songs. The one that really struck me that way is Too Much Blood from 1983’s Undercover album. Like Midnight Rambler, it’s based on a true story of a gruesome murder, except with more details.
Brown Sugar may be the Stones’ greatest song, and I find it upsetting that Jagger goes along with all the people who just don’t get it. The Stones used their persona as rock’s bad boys to purposely cross lines of propriety and highlight society’s hypocrisies and have fun doing it. Yes, it celebrates interracial sex, but the focus on slavery highlights the fact that slavery involved sexual abuse and that it might guiltily turn on some listeners, and that all of that forms a backdrop to interracial dynamics today. Brilliant. And, by the way, it’s killer musically. I played and sang it at my bar mitzvah party, having no thought of what it was about. It was just cool and I loved it!
Indeed. I was given an earful the other day because I admitted to finding it hilarious when Roger Moore (as James Bond) would slap a girl's bottom while delivering a flawless one-liner and a majestic raised eyebrow. Apparently, this made me a "propagandist tool for the patriarchy"!
Unreleased but easily found - Andrew's Blues (song about Andrew Oldham's antics). Can't write those lyrics here! (the other songs - I just found funny - Stones always have a great sense of humor)
I always thought Under My Thumb was meant to be a portrayal of a guy who talks tough and is full of bluster in front of his friends but then backs down and submits to his woman when she's around. I think the "Take it easy baby, take it easy baby..." during the song's outro was a clue. A bit of contrite pleading to his girlfriend as she walked in and heard him talking s***.
Rock N Roll is often about girls, cars and drugs from a sexually charged male point of view. Historically, its always been juxtaposed to Western sensibilities and social mores. The Stones weren't trend setters here and really didn't do what others haven't done across all art forms over the centuries.
Love all those songs! Brown Sugar was about Claudia Lennear (Bowie wrote Lady Grinning Soul about her). And Steve McQueen was thrilled to be name checked on Star Star. Sod the critics!
Even though I gave a 'thumbs up', I m not sure if I 'enjoyed' this video. As a very long time Stones fan, I fully understand art. All these songs, and many more, are part of my life. I haven't become some sort of misogynist because of them. It's all just Rock 'n' Roll buddy!
I knew Star Star would be #1! What a lyrically raunchy, yet musically excellent tune. ⭐️ ⭐️ However, I would have put Stray Cat Blues on this list over Under My Thumb. Again, musically excellent with disturbing lyrics. Another outstanding classic rock assessment as usual sir! 👍🏼
It's just the best music to get you moving; feeling every note and chord. I'll keep listening and some will hurl the -ists and -isms at me. I'll grab the volume knob and turn it up!
I don't care what other people think about The Rolling Stones or their songs! to me they will always be one of the greatest Rock Bands ever. Oh dear songs from 50 years ago upsetting modern society, pathetic people! 🤣
When I saw the title o' this post my immediate thought was whether or not Stray Cat Blues would make the #1 position. I was perplexed by it's total emission from the list. Then you mentioned it at the end as another possible inclusion. As much as I love Stray Cat Blues it is certainly a prime example o' o'er the top sexual decadence...
I see from his bio that Ben Forest graduated from the University of Leeds with a BA in Journalism in 2023. Like hes going to understand the Rolling Stones? Silly boy
Dear lord, is there any group of "journalists" more pretentious and insufferable than music writers? As others have noted in the comments, let's see this writer's screed about rap.
Frank Zappa would be asked about his sexist lyrics from time to time. He was usually quick to point out that Mick Jagger's lyrics can be more sexist than anything Zappa ever wrote.
I love Frank, but his attitude towards groupies and sex leaves me cold. Never mind that he had a wife and four kids at home, he saw nothing wrong with sleeping around with girls on his tours. In fact, he viewed sex as nothing more serious than coffee and cigarettes, and he often referred to it as "food". When touring with one of his best bands in 1973-74, he would complain about how boring this particular group of musicians were because they went to bed early and didn't want to have any "fun". Now, normally, Frank would fire anyone who used drugs and partied too hard to be able to play his music perfectly, but somehow, he made an exception when it came to sleeping around. That was perfectly OK. I've always felt it was very hypocritical of him to treat people like cattle in this way, while at the same time expecting them to live by his rules. I mean, yeah, you can have sex and still perform the music (unlike with too many drugs) but are drugs really that much worse than promiscuous sex? Especially when you're married?
Sure, FZ wS a sexist and hs did turn his wife into N enabler so he could take groupies home from tour and keep 'em in his basement. His wife accepted his every whim (she didn't want to be left alone with her children). So, there's that. FZ was also totallyconsumed by music and his style of music requires a very spdciL skillset including VERY tight playing. He wouldn't get a good performance fro people that are intoxicated. Also, anyone who didn't like the level of discipline required was free to leave at anytime.
@@SpaceCattttt I really wouldn't compare drugs to sex. You can never get that stoned out of your mind on natural endorfines that you can't play your parts anymore like you said. :-) It's not like he forced anybody. FZ was very candid about it all. Most rock stars were doing just the same, but they covered it up more. Never judge what you don't know. The bass player from Saxon (UK band) once said something like : "In America, we had these girls coming on the bus. You'd try and talk to them but before you knew what was happening they were saying hello to the top of your lengths." Nowadays everything is put in boxes of predators and victims. Bruce Dickinson said: "Twenty-one years old. Let loose in North-America. What do you think?" In the sixties the doors of experimentation flew wide open. You can't expect all the rusty, conventionalities just to disappear at the drop of a hat. So, it was mostly a boys game but it's not like every woman was a poor victim. Zappa said: "I like to get laid." So, there you have it. If he's obnoxious about towards his wife, it's their thing to sort out. It's not like Gail didn't know how he rolled.
The Stones covered I'm a King Bee in 1964. This was written by Slim Harpo in the 50's so it was going on long before they wrote there own songs. It's a great song but I guess this bloke whoever he is would object to this to
It’s like these people just discovered something but never did any research about history before it, just to complain. Plenty of old songs used alliteration. For example, Ice Cream Man was not about ice cream.
When I was a kid many years ago back in the 1960s at Catholic boys school our headmaster, a Northern Irishman, who made morning assemblies resemble a Nuremberg Party Rally warned us about Mick "... unless we all bucked our ideas up, we would be stravaging around the streets like that Mick Jagger fella..." - thanks for the warning Sir ! Now let's go play "Sympathy for the Devil" .
I always consider The Stones to be among the more erudite of satirists& usually tongue-in-cheek re: outrageous lyrics. Early on, I think they were trying real hard to emulate the pointed hurtfulness of their blues heroes. Clearly the most offensive thing about this artless article, besides the pathetic false outrage of the "writer", is that he was actually paid to write this value-less tripe.
Im sorry to disappoint Ben, but the 'past is a different country' argument is perfectly valid. The whole of society was different and really didnt see a problem with the lyrics of these songs. Why does he need the Stones to be moral crusaders? They were and are the greatest rock and roll band in the world. Isnt that enough?
I’m still sour that they took ‘Brown Sugar’ off of their current setlist-I still blast it in my house haha… it’s time we BROKE WOKE in this goddamn country! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I remember my mom lunging for the car radio when she heard the chorus to Sweet Virginia - all it did was stoke my fascination with this amazing band and couldn't wait to spend my allowance on the LP.
To each his own. I like what I like and make no apologies for it. Most of those songs were written many years ago, when most people were not offended by almost everything.
Not sure if the Stones' music itself is ugly. I only wish I could enjoy Jagger's vocals. That interferes with my enjoyment of the songs. In fact, that "don't (want to) miss a thing" line was sung by Strven Tyler - but written by Diane Warren.
Truman Capote a truly ugly man in every way. But check out "The Christmas Memory" made for TV film from the mid-sixties with-Geraldine Page. Timeless perfection!
Before the video started I guessed 4 of the 5 choices. Brand New Car was the one I missed, which is not very memorable. My other choice was Stupid Girl. The title pretty much by itself should get it a spot on the list. The actual lyrics are icing on the cake.
The time where they were into their ‘Sympathy with the Devil,’ seemed to be quite relevant in terms with what they seemed to be going through when the employed Hells Angels as enforcers for their concert where one guy got murdered. I suppose what one considers as disgusting. There’s a lot to go on.
These are the videos I dislike the most. Because I am not interested in someone else's "top" whatever. It is THEIR top whatever, not mine. Therefor, I won't watch this video, but I did give it a thumbs-up. I saw the Stones three times in one week at the Feyenoord Football Stadium (De Kuip) in Rotterdam in 1982. Openers were George Thorogood and the J. Geils Band. None of the songs came across as "disgusting", not to me anyway. This is not to dis Classic Album Review's opinion, because he's right. Or at least, there's no reason for anybody to say he's wrong. His opinion is justified, just because it's his opinion. That anyone agrees or disagrees doesn't matter. Cheerio lad. Best wishes and greetings from Belgium.
I love the Stones and i think they always had some healthy tounge in cheek attitude to their lyrics. You know they had this pubertal bad boy image and at the same time a kind of distance to it. I like all the 5 songs. i also love the video to the song She's so hot, a lot of humour there. You should not analyse to much, especially not with some feminist me too glasses on. It's only rock'n roll for god sake.
The only thing obscene about 'Brand New Car' is that its subject matter and lyrics blatantly rip-off Trampled Under Foot by Led Zeppelin, which came out 19 years earlier. There's even a similar line about checking under the hood and the theme of the song is comparing a car to a woman. Personally I think the Led Zeppelin song has better lyrics (and as a bonus the music is quite funky).
I had a copy of goats head soup on tape and for years i thought mick was singing 'papas star' . Bit of a shock when i found out what the real lyrics were. 😅
"Under my thumb" hated by the same people who queued to buy "50 shades of grey"?
Frederick. Yes, and probably bop along to WAP.
Excellent..Ironic.
50 Shades is about S&M and Under My Thumb is about an abusive relationship. Two very different things. I don’t think it means that the Stones are endorsing abuse; they’re pointing out a dark side of humanity, as they often do.
@@drothberg3 a very generous reading of 50 shades. Both are about power and control.
@@drothberg3 In 'Under My Thumb', she once had the power until he turned the tables - if he hadn't turned the tables, you would have been okay with her crowing about him being her thumb, I take it. People who are outraged by 'Under My Thumb' are flying their double-standards flag.
Mick Jagger, 1978: "If you can't take a joke, it's too f*cking bad."
1981 tour: "This is for all the girls who left their tampax at home." (Let It Bleed.) 😄
Too bloody right!!!
Mick Jagger is right. Humourless toads should keep their unwanted opinions to themselves. Nobody asked them anything.
Can't wait for the Macc lads five most disgusting songs video.
So Mick asking John Phillips if he could sleep with his 14 year old daughter McKenzie Phillips was ok. He actually slept with her in his 40’s
It's only Rock'n'Roll but I like it. It SHOULD be disgusting.
Well, today's snowflakes would rather say that it's only rock 'n roll, but it should be banned...
Just what I was thinking... it's only rock 'n' roll!
If you cant rock me …..dirty fun lyrics too
The more these songs offend those people the more I like them.
"Let's Spend The Night Together" outraged the godly fundamentalists 60;yrars ago
These songs and their albums were meant for a more mature listener, not for today’s culture.
I’m so glad they wrote what they did.
We’ll never get rocked like that again.
Ain’t that the truth
Well said... We live in an era where anything, real or imagined, can be a slight to someone.
A little surprised Cocksucker Blues didn't make the list, but as that one was never officially released, I can understand.
Probably just a little bit to obscure.
Oh yeah that one was when they lefty Decca? They demanded a last single as per their contract
Ben Forrest probably doesn't know it. He doesn't know much about the Stones but he does like to make ignorant little swipes at them
I’m sure one day it will be released.
These five songs (along with others mentioned in the comments) actually make a great playlist to instruct newbies where to start in The Stone's discography, lol
Hahahaha. Absolutely agree
Stray Cat Blues is raunchy as all hell.
I thought for SURE this was going to be #1. How could it not be?
I can see that you're 15 years old
No, I don't want your ID
@@kingpininfo4506 13 years old in the live version!
Stray Cat Blues, besides being one of their best tunes, is by far the raunchiest! That's why it's one of my favs.
Agreed. And as soon as I brought home and played BB, that song jumped out as one of my favorites.
We are witnessing the death of Rock n Roll, slow but sure. All clean, sanitary, and non offensive
The Rock n Roll movement died in the early 80s. Resurrected for a while by 90s grunge but then settled back in the grave
@kenjohnston1257 you're probably not far off, some exceptions like GmR and The Black Crowes come to mind
@@rubbabubba6489 There are good bands keeping it on life support but the movement itself went into steep decline once MTV turned rock into phony pageantry and a celebration of hair metal
Rock n Roll came into being 70 years ago... I'm 52 and love listening to 60s and 70s rock, I know a few kids do as well but its surely going to dwindle in popularity, its just going to be considered old fashioned.
“WAP” not offensive and clean? It’s not the lyrics that have changed (they’ve gotten worse), it’s the low bar of creativity that has ruined music.
Part of rock's appeal is that it is often naughty, and allows us to poke stuffy prudes in the eye.
Ben Forrest graduated from Leeds Uni July 2023; which says it all really........Lets just hope no one buys young Ben a Whitesnake compilation.
Or AC/DC.
Funny how the Stones outraged the older generation when they started. Now they're older, they're managing to upset the younger generation!
The generation of which Ben Forrest is a member of is so puritanical and uptight.
@@rumblehat4357They were exactly the two bands that I immediately thought of too, but there's plenty of others as well
@@jerryattwooll4864there was some grumbling recently about AC/DC, calling their lyrics misogynistic, sexist, etc.
Complaining NOW? They’ve been around for 50
Years doing the same thing over and over, and suddenly it’s a problem? These kids don’t get double entendres nor do they get fun. They are like hanging around your 98 year old grandma (who might actually be fun compared to kids today.) glad I’m old.
Is old mate Ben going to write an article about all the misogynistic rap tracks that exist ?,I doubt it,I couldn’t imagine why
LOL... he should do, that would keep him busy
@@classicalbumI’d read it. But to be honest, rap is super misogynistic, and that is one of the reasons I don’t listen to it. Maybe ‘old mate’ does. Do you?
@@gattingbowledwarne My love of rap started & ended with Public enemy
@@thegreatstrogannofski3418whilst I can appreciate its origins and its importance, I just don’t get it. I don’t like the music, and the lyrics are pretty unpleasant at times.
@@thegreatstrogannofski3418 DeLaSoul and A Tribe Called Quest were really good and didn't go with the gangsta misogynist vibe. There are a few decent Hiphop artists that actually made interesting music.
Honorable mentions? Stray Cat Blues (Barry mentioned it), Memo from Turner, Sweet Black Angel, Short and Curlies, Stupid Girl, Little T & A, gosh the lost goes on. Love 'em all😂
I don't think Sweet Black Angel is disgusting. It's about black political activist Angela Davis and her travails.
What about Let it Bleed lol We all need someone we can CREAM on hahaha
Memo from Turner is not a Stones song, it's a Mick solo song. where all music parts were recorded by Ry Cooder on slide guitar, Russ Titelman (guitar), Randy Newman (piano), Jerry Scheff (bass) and Gene Parsons (drums).
Luckily no one gives a f**k what BF thinks.
Every song on this I love and still listen to and will probably forever.
These songs is what represent rock n roll.
Sometimes rock isn’t for the faint of heart.
Just like Life itself
I never think of songs and their subjective meanings that people try to analyze or interpret.I just like the music.
I love Brown Sugar !!!It's a great song!
It’s a great tune but not a great song!
@@clebozer It's a great tune and a great song with hilariously foul lyrics. Lighten up, geez...
@@clebozer Great enough to be a #1 hit. With one of the all time great opening riffs
I think it might be their greatest song, musically and lyrically.
@@SpaceCattttt Love the rhythm and riff but can't see anything great or hilarious in singing about whipping and raping slaves. Even back then.
I hope nobody will ban these songs. If these snowflakes find the lyrics offensive, let them listen to Ed Sheeran or Taylor Swift.
Brown Sugar is their greatest recording. And the biggest highlight of a classic Stones concert. Yeah yeah woo
Possibly one of the most unique song lists I've ever seen. Kudos for the effort. Good list.
Not really my list, just a response to an article
And the most predictable.
The lyrics to New Car are a pretty direct, ahem, "homage" to Robert Johnson's Terraplane Blues.
As was Led Zeppelin's Trampled Underfoot, which takes the car/female double entendre to Carry On film levels. 😬
@@dansmithwave
Add 'Start Me Up' to the list.
Can't help but to love The Stones! It's rock n' roll baby!!🤘🤘🔥🔥🎸🎸
In 2024…..Ladies and Gentlemen, STILL the greatest rock n roll band in the world ….The Rolling Stones!!!!!!!!!!
......"GOT THAT RIGHT"!!
THE GREATEST ROCKNROLL BAND IN THE WORLD 2024. The Stones invented the Rocknroll lifestyle and they ingeniously incorporated plenty styles and genres into their music. Everybody has critics. They come and go, but the Stones music will be around long after the critics have come and gone.
@@antondial5326 never were but the greatest pr creation of all time (a great band could release a great LIVE album without ovedubs)
@@papajohnloki Greatest rock and roll band my arse!!
@@austake I suppose Nickelback might be your number 1? 👍
"Parachute woman, join me for a ride / will you blow me out? Well my heavy throbber's itchin just to lay a solid rhythm down." Good heavens! Matron!
😆😅😂🤣
Love the (probably) deliberate wearing of the AC/DC shirt for this one, who themselves are no strangers to the odd controversial lyric
Who’s got the Jack?
What's Next To The Moon.
I heard a rumor that the original Stones' tongue-out-of-mouth logo originally had a phallus going into it. Probably phallacious.
😂😂😊
Sterling work yourself here once again. Lovely video, a nice and quick run down with plenty of details and original opinion and content. Interesting list of songs and definitely a good 5 selected for that topic. Gotta be said though ‘Brown Sugar’ is still such a brilliant song, and despite the lyrics obviously being frowned upon in disgust today, it’s anStones best 20 number for sure!
Keep up the great work 👏
The Stones even at their filthiest was never gratuitous. The most disgusting song I think was Gary Glitter's "What your mama don't see your mama don't know". No hidden message there!
With the exception of Cocksucker Blues AKA Schoolboy Blues recorded to mess with Decca, who insisted on receiving one more single from the Stones as per their contract. That was gratuitous as hell.
Had a feeling Star Star would be no.1. I love it anyway. Fab intro.
Ditto. Great track.
@@shawnmccorkle5059 I love the bass and honky-tonk piano ushering in the second verse.
@@farrellmcnulty909 and when the ending comes and the guitars are wailing as is Mick and his voice? Just killer. Song Rocks!!! Favorite track on Goats Head
@@shawnmccorkle5059 You're right, I love his "YEAH!" at the end. If there was a video in those days, I can imagine him with that same shit-eating grin he has on the album cover.
Star Star Keef doing Chuck Berry better than Chuck Berry
I saw the title and immediately thought of "Some Girls" and "Brown Sugar." "Star Star" is a good fit, too.
Sounds like a SOFT veiw point people are way to sensitive
Agree
They can blah blah the Stones all day: they don't care. And neither do we!
My favourite Stones song, "Stray Cat Blues", might have some naughty lyrics. 😯
"My word, that's a dodgy one isn't it?"
The British have such a graceful way to express disdain.
😆😅😂
I nearly shat myself!
If this guy thought these Stones lyrics are filthy, he'd have a heart attack upon hearing some of those KISS and Whitesnake lyrics.
"Put your hand in my pocket, grab onto my rocket". 🙂
Before you started I knew that Some Girls (the song) would be on it. Great song that gave an insight into what life was like for a high level rock star for those of us who never got to live it.
I don't agree at all. The lyrics can just as easily be interpreted as ironic, a commentary on the genuinely terrifying world around us. You surely don't mean that Jagger identifies with the scarred old slaver who rapes the girls? Isn't the absurdly macho stance a central trope of the blues? Part of the thrill of these songs is in their ambiguity, the potential for differing interpretations. I'm much more offended by the bland music and unimaginative lyrics of the later Stones stuff.
Of course, Mick doesn't think that. Nowadays, we live in an age of snowflakes, SJWs, and Cancel Culture. Swell...
I don't thinkl there is a lot of ambiguity in these songs, but I agree that these were different times that shouldn't be sanitized. But the Stones have in the last few decades curated their image to steer away from controversy to keep the money rolling in, so it is no surprise to me.
I think you can trace the decline of Jaggers testosterone level just by reading his lyrics. Its why almost all rock bands eventually lose their mojo as they age.
Everyone is sooooo sensitive these days! I wonder what happens when this guy discovers hip-hop
That's a good idea for a new Stones compilation album
Name it 'FILTH'. I'm a Stones fan for life so not meant as a put down.
Just a prude really.
I think it's his politics really
Agreed. It is a part of the grist, the gristle of their composition. @@classicalbum
Tune-wise, every song here - and the ones on the dishonourable mentions list - shows the breadth and genius of this band. Ok, change the lyrics. Change everything made in the 60s and 70s. Would i rather have today's fear of saying anything and judgementalism about everything past? Im a Miles Davis fan. Look at ESP and Bitches Brew and Big Fun album covers for starters. Miles wasnt nice to women ( or anyone really). He must be scrutinised and called out therefore. No. Just leave the times alone. Def no more playing Freebird i suppose
When I saw the title, I, like the author, thought about songs with awful sex scenes in the lyrics. I also thought about some of the Stones’ more violent songs. The one that really struck me that way is Too Much Blood from 1983’s Undercover album. Like Midnight Rambler, it’s based on a true story of a gruesome murder, except with more details.
But that song is literally complaining about "Too Much Blood" these days
Thanks for creating a playlist for me. Great tracks.
Brown Sugar may be the Stones’ greatest song, and I find it upsetting that Jagger goes along with all the people who just don’t get it. The Stones used their persona as rock’s bad boys to purposely cross lines of propriety and highlight society’s hypocrisies and have fun doing it. Yes, it celebrates interracial sex, but the focus on slavery highlights the fact that slavery involved sexual abuse and that it might guiltily turn on some listeners, and that all of that forms a backdrop to interracial dynamics today. Brilliant. And, by the way, it’s killer musically. I played and sang it at my bar mitzvah party, having no thought of what it was about. It was just cool and I loved it!
Art , in any form , should not be censored
Young people today seem to have the same morals as Mary Whitehouse
The new puritans
Indeed. I was given an earful the other day because I admitted to finding it hilarious when Roger Moore (as James Bond) would slap a girl's bottom while delivering a flawless one-liner and a majestic raised eyebrow. Apparently, this made me a "propagandist tool for the patriarchy"!
Ha ha, charade you are
@@SpaceCattttt liberals today seem to be so illiberal
The fact that so many listeners are contributing suggestions that missed the list is a testament to the greatness of the Rolling Stones
4 of these 5 songs are some of my favourite Rolling Stones songs. Unashamedly so. Never apologise for great art.
Unreleased but easily found - Andrew's Blues (song about Andrew Oldham's antics). Can't write those lyrics here! (the other songs - I just found funny - Stones always have a great sense of humor)
Stones are the ultimate rock punks. Love the video 👍👍
Ben should check out some Zappa, that would send him into meltdown.
I always thought Under My Thumb was meant to be a portrayal of a guy who talks tough and is full of bluster in front of his friends but then backs down and submits to his woman when she's around. I think the "Take it easy baby, take it easy baby..." during the song's outro was a clue. A bit of contrite pleading to his girlfriend as she walked in and heard him talking s***.
Rock N Roll is often about girls, cars and drugs from a sexually charged male point of view. Historically, its always been juxtaposed to Western sensibilities and social mores. The Stones weren't trend setters here and really didn't do what others haven't done across all art forms over the centuries.
Love all those songs! Brown Sugar was about Claudia Lennear (Bowie wrote Lady Grinning Soul about her). And Steve McQueen was thrilled to be name checked on Star Star. Sod the critics!
Even though I gave a 'thumbs up', I m not sure if I 'enjoyed' this video. As a very long time Stones fan, I fully understand art. All these songs, and many more, are part of my life. I haven't become some sort of misogynist because of them. It's all just Rock 'n' Roll buddy!
I knew Star Star would be #1! What a lyrically raunchy, yet musically excellent tune. ⭐️ ⭐️
However, I would have put Stray Cat Blues on this list over Under My Thumb. Again, musically excellent with disturbing lyrics.
Another outstanding classic rock assessment as usual sir! 👍🏼
There are a few more including "Casino Boogie" and "Stray Cat Blues."
As soon as i started the video i knew star star would be number 1. Lol
Surprised Stray Cat Blues wasn't listed.
It makes my list, I mention it at the end
@@classicalbum Oh. I did see your video until the end. Guess my mind was distracted at that point. Ha.
It's just the best music to get you moving; feeling every note and chord. I'll keep listening and some will hurl the -ists and -isms at me. I'll grab the volume knob and turn it up!
I don't care what other people think about The Rolling Stones or their songs! to me they will always be one of the greatest Rock Bands ever. Oh dear songs from 50 years ago upsetting modern society, pathetic people! 🤣
Brown Sugar is too great to be bad….sorry.
All rock is anti feminist.
When I saw the title o' this post my immediate thought was whether or not Stray Cat Blues would make the #1 position. I was perplexed by it's total emission from the list. Then you mentioned it at the end as another possible inclusion. As much as I love Stray Cat Blues it is certainly a prime example o' o'er the top sexual decadence...
I see from his bio that Ben Forest graduated from the University of Leeds with a BA in Journalism in 2023. Like hes going to understand the Rolling Stones? Silly boy
You forgot "Hey Negrita" on the Black and Blue album
Dear lord, is there any group of "journalists" more pretentious and insufferable than music writers? As others have noted in the comments, let's see this writer's screed about rap.
Frank Zappa would be asked about his sexist lyrics from time to time.
He was usually quick to point out that Mick Jagger's lyrics can be more sexist than anything Zappa ever wrote.
Itr's not really a good argument to find someone who is worse than you, but with Zappa sarcasm and cynicism was obvious. Mick Jagger lived his image.
I love Frank, but his attitude towards groupies and sex leaves me cold. Never mind that he had a wife and four kids at home, he saw nothing wrong
with sleeping around with girls on his tours. In fact, he viewed sex as nothing more serious than coffee and cigarettes, and he often referred to it as "food".
When touring with one of his best bands in 1973-74, he would complain about how boring this particular group of musicians were because they went to
bed early and didn't want to have any "fun". Now, normally, Frank would fire anyone who used drugs and partied too hard to be able to play his music perfectly, but somehow, he made an exception when it came to sleeping around. That was perfectly OK.
I've always felt it was very hypocritical of him to treat people like cattle in this way, while at the same time expecting them to live by his rules.
I mean, yeah, you can have sex and still perform the music (unlike with too many drugs) but are drugs really that much worse than promiscuous sex?
Especially when you're married?
Sure, FZ wS a sexist and hs did turn his wife into N enabler so he could take groupies home from tour and keep 'em in his basement.
His wife accepted his every whim (she didn't want to be left alone with her children).
So, there's that.
FZ was also totallyconsumed by music and his style of music requires a very spdciL skillset including VERY tight playing.
He wouldn't get a good performance fro people that are intoxicated.
Also, anyone who didn't like the level of discipline required was free to leave at anytime.
@@SpaceCattttt I really wouldn't compare drugs to sex. You can never get that stoned out of your mind on natural endorfines that you can't play your parts anymore like you said. :-) It's not like he forced anybody. FZ was very candid about it all. Most rock stars were doing just the same, but they covered it up more. Never judge what you don't know. The bass player from Saxon (UK band) once said something like : "In America, we had these girls coming on the bus. You'd try and talk to them but before you knew what was happening they were saying hello to the top of your lengths." Nowadays everything is put in boxes of predators and victims. Bruce Dickinson said: "Twenty-one years old. Let loose in North-America. What do you think?" In the sixties the doors of experimentation flew wide open. You can't expect all the rusty, conventionalities just to disappear at the drop of a hat. So, it was mostly a boys game but it's not like every woman was a poor victim. Zappa said: "I like to get laid." So, there you have it. If he's obnoxious about towards his wife, it's their thing to sort out. It's not like Gail didn't know how he rolled.
@@splankhoon Well, you certainly seem OK with it...
The Stones covered I'm a King Bee in 1964. This was written by Slim Harpo in the 50's so it was going on long before they wrote there own songs. It's a great song but I guess this bloke whoever he is would object to this to
It’s like these people just discovered something but never did any research about history before it, just to complain. Plenty of old songs used alliteration. For example, Ice Cream Man was not about ice cream.
Are we really talking about what young boys did in the "70's and '80's seriously let's grow up.
Mick Taylor was the best thing that happened too the Stones, absent him they are the most overrated band ever, their stuff is mostly a borefest.
When I was a kid many years ago back in the 1960s at Catholic boys school our headmaster, a Northern Irishman, who made morning assemblies resemble a Nuremberg Party Rally warned us about Mick "... unless we all bucked our ideas up, we would be stravaging around the streets like that Mick Jagger fella..." - thanks for the warning Sir ! Now let's go play "Sympathy for the Devil" .
Surely number one has to be Cocksuckers Blues a Stones song recorded as a contractural obligated single.
Thank you!
Yes! But even this throwaway is a dramatic song that works.
I always consider The Stones to be among the more erudite of satirists& usually tongue-in-cheek re: outrageous lyrics. Early on, I think they were trying real hard to emulate the pointed hurtfulness of their blues heroes. Clearly the most offensive thing about this artless article, besides the pathetic false outrage of the "writer", is that he was actually paid to write this value-less tripe.
Remember their Percy the plastic Phallus?
Some Girls: The sleazy and sweaty title tune, a sexual tour with everything under the sun (Greil Marcus).
Im sorry to disappoint Ben, but the 'past is a different country' argument is perfectly valid. The whole of society was different and really didnt see a problem with the lyrics of these songs. Why does he need the Stones to be moral crusaders? They were and are the greatest rock and roll band in the world. Isnt that enough?
Under My Thumb is about turning the tables on a woman. Some Girls is an awful song
I’m still sour that they took ‘Brown Sugar’ off of their current setlist-I still blast it in my house haha… it’s time we BROKE WOKE in this goddamn country! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Great commentary and thanks.
Also doesn't hurt that our host resembles the excellent Charles Dance.
I remember my mom lunging for the car radio when she heard the chorus to Sweet Virginia - all it did was stoke my fascination with this amazing band and couldn't wait to spend my allowance on the LP.
To each his own. I like what I like and make no apologies for it. Most of those songs were written many years ago, when most people were not offended by almost everything.
Not sure if the Stones' music itself is ugly. I only wish I could enjoy Jagger's vocals. That interferes with my enjoyment of the songs.
In fact, that "don't (want to) miss a thing" line was sung by Strven Tyler - but written by Diane Warren.
Truman Capote a truly ugly man in every way. But check out "The Christmas Memory" made for TV film from the mid-sixties with-Geraldine Page. Timeless perfection!
Midnight rambler doesn't make top 5 ? You're joking
Interviewer : why Some Girls
Keef : coz I forgot all their fuckin names.
Disgusting, like in a good way? Yep.
Enjoyed this.
Can you do a similar video about The Carpenters?
That's a REALLY offensive band!
Superstar is actually a somewhat dirty song
Yes although they cleaned up the lyrics to Superstar from the original version.
Before the video started I guessed 4 of the 5 choices. Brand New Car was the one I missed, which is not very memorable. My other choice was Stupid Girl. The title pretty much by itself should get it a spot on the list. The actual lyrics are icing on the cake.
The time where they were into their ‘Sympathy with the Devil,’ seemed to be quite relevant in terms with what they seemed to be going through when the employed Hells Angels as enforcers for their concert where one guy got murdered.
I suppose what one considers as disgusting. There’s a lot to go on.
I've been a RS fan for about 50 years and I don't disagree with what you had to say. I enjoyed your episode.
These are the videos I dislike the most. Because I am not interested in someone else's "top" whatever. It is THEIR top whatever, not mine. Therefor, I won't watch this video, but I did give it a thumbs-up. I saw the Stones three times in one week at the Feyenoord Football Stadium (De Kuip) in Rotterdam in 1982. Openers were George Thorogood and the J. Geils Band. None of the songs came across as "disgusting", not to me anyway. This is not to dis Classic Album Review's opinion, because he's right. Or at least, there's no reason for anybody to say he's wrong. His opinion is justified, just because it's his opinion. That anyone agrees or disagrees doesn't matter. Cheerio lad. Best wishes and greetings from Belgium.
Thank God I'm old enough to remember what it was like before we became so soft as a society and everything became "cringeworthy."
I love the Stones and i think they always had some healthy tounge in cheek attitude to their lyrics. You know they had this pubertal bad boy image and at the same time a kind of distance to it. I like all the 5 songs. i also love the video to the song She's so hot, a lot of humour there. You should not analyse to much, especially not with some feminist me too glasses on. It's only rock'n roll for god sake.
The only thing obscene about 'Brand New Car' is that its subject matter and lyrics blatantly rip-off Trampled Under Foot by Led Zeppelin, which came out 19 years earlier. There's even a similar line about checking under the hood and the theme of the song is comparing a car to a woman. Personally I think the Led Zeppelin song has better lyrics (and as a bonus the music is quite funky).
Trampled Underfoot wasn't original, either; it was a take on Terraplane Blues from 1936 which also has the "hood" reference
@@tomojay28 I stand corrected!
amusing you'd miss this lyric from the title track of "Let It Bleed": "She said there will always be a space in my parking lot".
Hard to disagree that Brown Sugar belongs on the list, but Damn - what a great song it is!
I had a copy of goats head soup on tape and for years i thought mick was singing 'papas star' . Bit of a shock when i found out what the real lyrics were. 😅
My Dad and his friends referred to the Stones as The Rolling Uglies when they first came out.
Stray Cat Blues is by far the most 'frisky' Stones song. Stupid Girl a distant second !
I always find it strange that songs get taken more seriously than say a novel. Aren't both creating fictional narratives?