Sex Pistols, “God Save the Queen” | Controversial Tunes 😈🎶

In the 19^th edition of Controversial Tunes (2022), we explore the controversy behind the song, “God Save the Queen” by Sex Pistols.   

Bring on the controversy!

 Controversial Tunes 😈🎶 is a column that provides background information and insight into songs that raised eyebrows and totally stirred the pot.  The records that grace Controversial Tunes are old and new alike, with all genres of music welcome.  In the 19^th edition of Controversial Tunes (2022), we explore the controversy behind the song, 🎵 “God Save the Queen” by 🎙 Sex Pistols.

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Theme & Lyrics ✍

“God save the Queen / The fascist regime…” Uh-oh! You cannot talk about a popular queen 🎙 Sex Pistols and NOT expect controversy.  Furthermore, characterizing The Queen as fascist? Woo! 🎵 “God Save the Queen”, which appears on the iconic punk rock band’s sole album, 💿 Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols, is considered to be one of the more controversial tunes of them all.  And no, we’re not referencing the British national anthem, which this legendary punk anthem mocks.  Interestingly, the release of “God Save the Queen” coincided with the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, something that only amplified flack received by the band.  It’s unapologetic in its criticism of the monarch and the state of England under her reign.  Given how younger individuals tend to be more liberal and rebellious, the notion of a strong reaction against the status quo (the monarchy in general) isn’t far-fetched.

“God save the queen

She ain’t no human being

There is no future

In England’s dreaming.”

Not a human being? No future in dreaming because it’s fascist! Bold, 🎙 Johnny Rotten (John Lydon), bold! There’s more of course: “God save the Queen / Cause tourists are money / And our figurehead / Is not what she seems.” The question that should be considered, of course, is this more aimed toward Queen Elizabeth II, who is controversially pictured on the cover art, or the monarchy itself.  Lydon has emphasized no ill intent, essentially. Expectedly, “God Save the Queen” experienced ample backlash with no shortage of censorship – looking at you BBC.  Interestingly, this single should’ve been no. 1 in the UK, but somehow (*cough, cough*) didn’t reach the no. 1 spot it earned.

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Final Thoughts 💭 

Listening to 🎵 “God Save the Queen” today, in 2022, 45 years after its release, it’s doesn’t feel incredibly controversial. Back then, however, it practically lit England on fire! All told, it is one of the greatest songs of all time and a supremely, historically important punk rock record.  Of course, musicians have been protesting politicians for years, even before this controversial tune arrived.

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🎙 Sex Pistols • 💿 Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols  • 🏷 Warner • 🗓 1977

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Sex Pistols, “God Save the Queen”: Controversial Tunes 😈🎶 No. 19 (2022) [📷: Brent Faulkner, cottonbro, Darkmoon_Art,  TheDigitalArtist, inna mikitas, Isabela Catão, Jonathan Nenemann, The Musical Hype, Pexels, Pixabay, Tazz Vaughn, Victoria Borodinova, zzzvector]

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