2013 is the year that sexualisation in music stopped being shocking. Truly, we don't blink an eyelid at anything anymore.
So many sexualised images are thrown in our face every day that we now yawn if there's a steamy girl-on-girl kiss in a music video. We shrug at close-ups of a crotch. Hell, we'll probably roll our eyes when Rihanna runs out of miniscule clothes to wear, cuts out the middle man and goes completely naked in her next video.
It's a frenzied, naked, merry-go-round; a frieze of images of Miley twerking, Britney whipping, Rihanna pole-dancing and Iggy Azalea booty shaking. But really, no-one cares anymore. It was a whole lot different 'back in the old days', however, where even flashing an ankle could get you banned by the BBC (almost - but not really). Here we take a look at the pop scandals of old, compared with the, well, day-today business of new...
The Crotch Thrust:
1956: Hot new singer Elvis Presley performs 'Hound Dog' on The Milton Berle Show
His vague crotch thrusting and enthusiastic dancing causes an uproar, with papers calling it the pinnacle of "vulgarity" and "animalism"
2013: Sorry, Elvis, you wouldn't get a look in nowadays
It barely raises an eyebrow when Rihanna does the above. She's looked classier, that's for sure. Awkward.
The Racy Lyrics:
1965: The fab four's 'I Am The Walrus' is banned by the BBC due to its naughty lyrics. Said offenders? "Pornographic priestess" and the mention of the word "knickers". Saucy!
2013: Kanye West pens romantic ode 'I'm In It' to baby mama Kim Kardashian. "Careless whispers, eye fucking, eating ass," he sighs. "Your pussy's too good, I need to crash, your titties let 'em out, free at last." What would the BBC say?
The Suggestive Video:
1984 : Frankie Goes to Hollywood 'Relax': The song is already a bit shocking in itself because it includes the lyrics "when you wanna come." The visuals, which depicted the band walking through a debauched BDSM nightclub, were banned by both the BBC and MTV.
2013: Robin Thicke 'Blurred Lines': There is nothing more to say about this video, except there are fully naked (save for a flesh coloured thong) women in it. YouTube banned it for a while, then figured they were missing out on traffic from sexually frustrated men alone on a Friday night.
Girl on girl action:
2003: The almost chaste girl-on-girl kiss between Madonna, Britney and Christina at the VMAs rocked the nation, mostly because it was about as sexy as watching your cat get neutured
2013: Ugh, the kiss is so 2003
A decade later, it's all about grinding in your arse in your friend's crotch whilst leaning over suggestively. It'll send the guys crazy.
Meanwhile, when the following took place (Avril Lavigne, Mel B, Iggy Azalea) it barely seemed like a big deal...
Avril Lavigne got steamy in her 'Rock N' Roll' video
Mel B pushed the boundaries even further, by kissing, well, herself. Still - we're over it, Scary
Britney Spears proved the world's least convincing dominatrix in her 'Work Bitch' video
And as for Iggy Azalea and Glastonbury...
So, that's it. Where do we go from here? How else can our favourite pop stars push the boundaries when there are none left to push? Now that's a terrifying thought...
