Monday 13th January 2014 by Gaby Whitehill | Photos by WENN / Press

30 years since 'Relax': 13 more songs to be banned

The tracks that caused outrage - three decades since Frankie Goes to Hollywood's hit was banned

George Michael - 'I Want Your Sex', 1987: This raunchy track, taken from Michael's first solo album Faith was banned by the BBC thanks to its sexual content. Michael released a statement at the time, accusing the media of having "divided love and sex incredibly".

Marxman - 'Sad Affair', 1992: This track from the Marxist, Irish hip-hop group was banned by the BBC due to its Irish Republican lyrical content, as well as the IRA slogan "Tiocfaidh ar la".

Sheryl Crow - 'Love Is a Good Thing', 1996: US supermarket Walmart banned sales of the singer's second album thanks to track 'Love Is a Good Thing' containing the line "Watch out sister, watch out brother, watch our children while they kill each other with a gun they bought at Wal-Mart discount stores."

Cliff Richard - 'Millennium Prayer', 1999: Probably the first song to ever be banned for being too boring, this track was banned from usual Richard champion BBC Radio 2 as they were trying to shed their "golden oldie" image.

Queens of the Stone Age - 'Feel Good Hit of the Summer', 2000: Walmart refused to stock QOTSA's album Rated R thanks to the drugs referencing track. Josh Homme argued successfully that thanks to the name of the album, there was no need for an explicit content sticker.

Eminem - Er, all of his songs, 2001: The University of Sheffield announced they were banning all of the rapper's tracks from being played on their campus due to the misogynistic and homophobic lyrical content of many of his songs.

The Bangles - 'Walk Like An Egyptian', 1986: Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, US regulators Clear Channel issued a list of 150 songs to radio stations to not play. These included 'You Dropped A Bomb On Me' by the Gap Band and er, novelty 80s hit 'Walk Like An Egyptian'.

U2 - 'Walk On', 2001: Album All That You Can't Leave Behind was banned in Burma due to track 'Walk On' being dedicated to Suu Kyi, a freedom fighter under house arrest. Anyone who attempted to import All That You Can't Leave Behind, to Burma could have faced a prison sentence lasting between 3�20 years.

Mr Vegas - 'Daggering', 2008: In a bid to stop the dance move 'daggering', which simulates various sexual positions, Jamaican authorities banned this song from the airwaves.

Lady Gaga - 'Born This Way', 2011: Gaga's second record was banned in China thanks to its "vulgar and offensive" content, which promoted tolerance of sexuality. However, the ban was lifted months later.

All of Rick Ross' and Lil Wayne's songs, 2013: Michigan radio station WUVS 103.7 announced they were pulling all of the rappers' songs from the airwaves after Ross' and Wayne's controversial date rape-referencing track 'UOENO'. "We pride ourselves on playing music that is non-degrading and non-violent," WUVS said at the time.

Robin Thicke - 'Blurred Lines', 2013: Around 20 UK universities banned the controversial track thanks to its lyrics, which some believe promote rape culture. It didn't stop it from being the biggest selling song of the year, however.

Frankie Goes to Hollywod - 'Relax', 1984: Probably the most famous track to be banned by the Beeb, Radio 1 DJ Mike Read was so outraged by the "overtly sexual" nature of the track he turned it off halfway through playing it. The raunchy video, which depicted the band walking through a BDSM club, was also banned. Nevertheless, it was a massive hit.

When Frankie Goes to Hollywood released their sexually-charged track 'Relax', it shocked the nation thanks to its suggestive lyrics and BDSM-themed visuals. The outraged BBC banned it at once, 30 years ago today (January 11) - and obviously and inevitably, secured the track's success.

We've taken a look at other controversial songs that were banned on radio, TV, or even some entire countries since 'Relax' first caused a stir three decades ago.

From Eminem to Cliff Richard, Queens Of The Stone Age to George Michael, Rick Ross to Robin Thicke and here are 13 of the tracks that followed in Frankie Goes to Hollywood's footsteps in the last 30 years.