Motley Crue: "Bastard": This song is about someone killing their father. The character in the song kills the father because at the end, as the song states, "don't you try to rape me." However, the PMRC stayed silent when it came to Aerosmith's "Janie's Got a Gun." Even though the band changed some of the lyrics such as "he raped a little bitty baby" to "he jacked a little bitty baby," among others.
It's still understood that "jacked" is (in this case) slang for a sexual act, virtually the same theme. Remember, the PMRC was active into the '90s as well. It's surprising that they did not blast "Janie's Got a Gun."
AC/DC, "Let Me Put My Love Into You": In "Let Me Put My Love Into You," the lead singer propositions a lady. You know what other song talks about propositioning a lady? "Feel All My Love Inside" by Marvin Gaye, which also features orgasmic moans. I don't see why the PMRC wasn't going after some of the more popular artists from their younger years.
Twisted Sister, "We're Not Gonna Take It": The PMRC blasted this song because they deemed it too violent. However, there's no real violence in this song except for in the video, which is more slapstick-ish violence. It makes me wonder if they had even considered Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 2," which is a rather sinister approach as far as violence goes. A later example of a far worse song lyrically is "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns N' Roses, where lead singer Axl Rose exclaims, "I wanna watch you bleed!"
Madonna, "Dress You Up": The PMRC gave this Madonna classic an "S" rating. However, one must wonder why Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing," which is far more explicit lyrically, did not get the same letter. Whereas Madonna says "gonna dress you up in my love/ All over your body/ Feel the silky touch of my caresses/ They will keep you looking so brand new/ Let me cover you with velvet kisses/ I'll create a look that's made for you" she really doesn't get explicit.
However, Gaye says things like "Come take control, just grab a hold/ Of my body and mind, soon we'll be making it, honey/ I'll be feeling fine, the way you heal me/ The way you thrill me, keep me comin' to you/ For you to sexually fulfill me/ You're my medicine, open up and let me in/ Darling, you're so great, I can't wait for you to operate" and "Please don't procrastinate/ it's not good to masturbate." That's pretty explicit.
Mary Jane Girls, "In My House" by Though this song was targeted, the band went on record on VH1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the '80s saying the song is about love, not sex.
Cyndi Lauper, "She Bop": "She-Bop": Clearly about masturbation. However, so is "Pictures of Lily" by the Who, where a boy gets a picture of a deceased actress from his father and gratifies himself every night before he goes to sleep. Same subject, yet only one is getting pointed out as objectionable. How subjective of the PMRC.
Mercyful Fate, "Into the Coven": Lyrically, this is an ode to Satan. I would definitely not play this on the radio, but still leave it up to the listener.
Venom, "Possessed": Once again, a song that mentions worshipping the devil. Although this type of metal is very much a niche market as far as the music scene as a whole goes, I can see why parents would worry.
