The Rolling Stones, Brown Sugar | Controversial Tunes 😈🎶

On the 20^th edition of Controversial Tunes, we explore the controversy behind the song, “Brown Sugar” by The Rolling Stones.

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ring on the controversy, won’t you? 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.  On the 20^th edition of Controversial Tunes, we explore the controversy behind the song, 🎵 “Brown Sugar” by 🎙 The Rolling Stones. 

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Theme & Lyrics ✍

“Brown sugar, how come you taste so good? Uh huh / Brown sugar, just like a young girl should, uh huh, oh (Woo).” “Brown Sugar” hails from The Rolling Stones’ 1971 classic album, 💿 Sticky Fingers.  “Brown Sugar” is a prime example of blues rock at its best.  🎙 Mick Jagger has ample swagger, showcasing his electrifying personality.  The energy is L-I-T, from the enthused guitars, honky-tonk piano, and of course the vocals. However, the controversy of “Brown Sugar” lies within its theme/lyrics!

Sex is key: “Drums beating, cold English blood runs hot…” Much dirtier, and incredibly controversial, however, are the references to black women/sex with black women. Lauretta Charlton (Vulture) accurately writes in 2015, “‘Brown Sugar’ is gross, sexist, and stunning offensive toward black women’… It’s been called one of the nastiest, most controversial, and racist songs of all time.”  The first verse is undoubtedly problematic:

“Gold coast slave ship bound for cotton fields
Sold in the market down in New Orleans
Scarred old slaver knows he’s doing alright
Hear him whip the women just around midnight.”

What is Jagger doing exactly? Referencing the history of interracial sex, of course. There’s a reason from his perspective why slave owners were whipping [black] women at midnight. Of course, he doesn’t stick with the slave days, as he and many other white men are intrigued with interracial sex… Woo! The second verse has more problematic lyrics (“House boy knows that he’s doing alright / You shoulda heard ‘em just around midnight”), while the third continues in unapologetic fashion:

“Ah, I bet your mama was a tent show queen
And all her boyfriends were sweet sixteen
I’m no schoolboy, but I know what I like
You shoulda heard me just around midnight.”

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Final Thoughts 💭

Keeping it 100, I don’t think if “Brown Sugar” had been released today it would fly. Would ‘cancel culture’ have ‘cancelled’ The Rolling Stones totally? Probably not, but there’s no denying “Brown Sugar” is problematic.  To recap, it’s problematic thanks to the tone deaf references to slavery in relation to interracial ‘relations’ as well as a shallow view of interracial relations.  No, a controversial theme doesn’t keep “Brown Sugar” from being a classic by The Stones, but it’s important to acknowledge that this is one of those songs you avoid penning.

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 15 Sugar Songs That Are Indeed Sugary Sweet

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🎙 The Rolling Stones • 💿 Sticky Fingers • 🏷 Promotone B.V. • 🗓 1971

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The Rolling Stones, “Brown Sugar”: Controversial Tunes 😈🎶 No. 20 [📷: Aidan Feddersen on Unsplash, Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype, Promotone B.V.]

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