Smack My Bitch Up — The Prodigy

The Prodigy's 1997 track remains one of the most banned songs in radio history, triggering immediate feminist protests and widespread blacklisting across the UK and US. The band insisted the phrase meant "energizing yourself," but critics—and over 200 radio stations—saw unambiguous glorification of violence against women. This controversy dwarfs even #10 WAP's political backlash in sheer longevity, as the lyric continues to spark debate 26 years later. A 2019 BBC survey ranked it the third most controversial song of all time, behind only God Save the Queen and Relax. While WAP faced vocal condemnation from politicians, The Prodigy's title inspired actual legislation in several countries, with Australia's broadcasting regulator fining stations that played it. The 1997 single still sells over 10,000 copies annually, proving its cultural endurance outpaces any other entry on this list.