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She Bop

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}

{{Infobox song

| name = She Bop

| cover = Ps sb1.jpg

| alt =

| caption = 7-inch vinyl single

| type = single

| artist = Cyndi Lauper

| album = She's So Unusual

| B-side = Witness

| released = July 2, 1984

| recorded = 1983

| studio = Record Plant
(New York City)

| genre = {{hlist|New wave|dance-pop|pop rock}}

| length = 3:47
4:36 (video version)

| label = {{hlist|Portrait|Epic}}

| writer = *Cyndi Lauper

| producer = Rick Chertoff

| prev_title = Time After Time

| prev_year = 1984

| next_title = All Through the Night

| next_year = 1984

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|KFq4E9XTueY|"She Bop"}}}}

}}

"She Bop" is a song by American singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper, written by Lauper, Stephen Broughton Lunt, Gary Corbett, and Rick Chertoff, and produced by the lattermost. It was released on July 2, 1984, via Portrait Records as the third single from her debut studio album She's So Unusual (1983). Lyrically, the song talks about the subject of female masturbation, which caused controversy upon its release at the time.

One of Lauper's most successful singles, "She Bop" peaked within the top ten of the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching number three in September 1984. The track peaked within the top ten of Australia and New Zealand, reached the top twenty of the European Hot 100 Singles chart, and topped the Israeli Singles Chart. Due to a lack of promotion, the track stalled at number 46 in the United Kingdom. The music video for the track, which utilized animated segments and multiple visual effects, would receive a nomination at the 1985 MTV Video Music Awards for Best Female Video. Lauper would re-record a quieter version of the song for her 2005 studio album The Body Acoustic.{{cite news |last1=Jenkins |first1=Mark |title=Cyndi Lauper - The Body Acoustic |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2005/12/16/cyndi-lauper-the-body-a/6f85079b-db10-4c12-b4a0-76fd02b63eaa/ |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=16 February 2021 |date=16 December 2005}}

Recording and composition

"She Bop" moves at a tempo of 137 beats per minute.{{Cite web |title=BPM for "She Bop" by Cyndi Lauper |url=https://songbpm.com/@cyndi-lauper/she-bop-3f827e3a-b14b-49c9-8259-8ba03a08a249 |access-date=January 12, 2025 |website=Song BPM}} The song was recorded at Record Plant Studios in New York City and was produced by Rick Chertoff.{{Cite AV media notes |title=She's So Unusual |type=album liner notes |others=Cyndi Lauper |publisher=Portrait Records |year=1983 |id=38930}} Lauper said she recorded the song naked in an interview with The Howard Stern Show.{{Cite web |date=July 7, 2022 |title=Cyndi Lauper {{!}} "She Bop" was released as a single 38 years ago this month! |url=https://www.instagram.com/cyndilauper/p/CfuVQDzpW6i/ |access-date=January 12, 2025 |via=Instagram}}{{cite web|url=http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/archive/peoplearchive.php/Cyndi_Lauper/biography/|title=Cyndi Lauper Biography|work=Monsters and Critics|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090829165412/http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/archive/peoplearchive.php/Cyndi_Lauper/biography/|archive-date=August 29, 2009}}

= Lyrical content =

The track is an ode to masturbation.{{Cite web |last=Grow |first=Kory |date=September 17, 2015 |title=PMRC's 'Filthy 15': Where Are They Now? |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/pmrcs-filthy-15-where-are-they-now-60601/cyndi-lauper-she-bop-2-179572/ |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=January 12, 2025 |website=Rolling Stone}} It was included on the Parents Music Resource Center's "Filthy Fifteen" list in 1984 due to it being considered "profane or sexually explicit"; this led to the creation of the Parental Advisory sticker. Lauper has stated that finding a copy of gay men's magazine Blueboy lying around in the recording studio provided the impetus for writing "She Bop".{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/03/cyndi-lauper-she-bop-_n_5083703.html|title=Cyndi Lauper's 'She Bop' Was Inspired By Gay Porn Magazine Blueboy |website=HuffPost |date=February 2, 2016 |access-date=September 18, 2016}} The magazine is mentioned in the first verse.{{cite web |url=https://www.bacaf.org/history |title=Blueboy History |author= |date= |website=Blueboy Archives & Cultural Arts Foundation |access-date=18 January 2023}}

Reception

Cash Box said that "with characteristic zaniness, Lauper takes a be-bop back beat and sparks it with an inspired vocal that pops and chirps with rhythmic intensity."{{cite magazine|title=Reviews|magazine=Cash Box|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1984/CB-1984-07-28.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1984/CB-1984-07-28.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|date=July 28, 1984|accessdate=2022-07-25|page=7}}

Chart performance

"She Bop" was released on July 2, 1984. It debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 52 in the issue dated July 21, 1984,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1984-07-21 |title=The Billboard Hot 100 – Week of July 21, 1984 |magazine=Billboard |date=January 2, 2013 |access-date=September 8, 2020}} and spent a total of 18 weeks on the chart, reaching a peak position of No. 3 in the issue dated September 8, 1984. It was the third single from Lauper's debut album to make the top 10 of the Hot 100.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/956515/keha-takes-off-with-fourth-top-10-from-debut-album |title=Ke$ha 'Takes Off' with Fourth Top 10 from Debut Album|last=Trust|first=Gary|date=May 2, 2011 |magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 2, 2011}} The single also reached number 10 on the Hot Dance/Club Play Songs chart the week of September 15, 1984, and placed at 34 on the Billboard year-end chart of 1984. On April 17, 1989, the song was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for the shipment of half a million copies across the United States.

Music video

The accompanying music video for "She Bop" was directed by Edd Griles.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mvdbase.com/video.php?id=16169|title=Site Maintenance|access-date=March 2, 2012|archive-date=April 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423213346/http://www.mvdbase.com/video.php?id=16169|url-status=dead}} Mark Marek designed the characters in the animated sections of this music video, which were produced and directed by Jerry Lieberman, of NYC's Jerry Lieberman Productions,{{cite web|title=Toonzone Goes "MAD" Interviewing Kevin Shinick and Mark Marek|url=https://www.toonzone.net/toonzone-goes-mad-interviewing-kevin-shinick-and-mark-marek/|website=Toonzone.|access-date=April 4, 2018|date=September 6, 2010}} and the cover of the US 12" version.{{Cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Cyndi-Lauper-She-Bop/release/531814|title = Cyndi Lauper – She Bop (1984, Carrollton pressing, Vinyl)|website = Discogs| year=1984 }} Wendi Richter and Lou Albano appear in the video, with Richter lip-synching the first line of the song.

The video expands upon the references to masturbation in the song's lyrics, although not overtly.{{cite book |last1=Perone |first1=James E. |title=Listen to New Wave Rock! Exploring a Musical Genre |date=September 7, 2018 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-4408-5969-4 |page=96 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Uw5pDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA96 |access-date=16 February 2021 |language=en}} Among the images presented are an upright bottle shooting mayonnaise into the air, a sign at a gas station that displays 'GIT OFF HERE', gas pumps (labelled 'good x', 'better xx', 'nirvana xxx', 'single', and 'multiple'), a large sign that reads "Self Service", a dance sequence where Lauper portrays a blind person with a cane, and that same person winning a game of "Masterbingo"– both a reference to the myth that masturbation causes blindness. Most of the more blatant references appear during the animated instrumental sequence, although subtle images are seen throughout the live action scenes.

At the 1985 MTV Video Music Awards, the video was nominated for "Best Female Video", but lost to Tina Turner's "What's Love Got to Do with It".{{cite news |title=Celebrity Beat |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9LADAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA53 |access-date=16 February 2021 |work=JET Magazine |date=30 September 1985 |page=53|publisher = Johnson Publishing Company}}

British music magazine Melody Maker complimented the video, noting that it worked well because "Lauper has a certain Boop-cheeked charm" and also because of the "superb bits of animation" used in it.{{cite magazine|magazine=Melody Maker|date=15 September 1985|title=High Definition|page=32|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Melody-Maker/80s/84/Melody-Maker-1984-09-15.pdf|accessdate=11 December 2024}}

Formats and track listings

  • US/UK 7" single{{cite AV media notes|title=She Bop|others=Cyndi Lauper|year=1984|type=US 7-inch Single liner notes|publisher=Portrait Records|id=37-04516}}{{cite AV media notes|title=She Bop|others=Cyndi Lauper|year=1984|type=UK 7-inch Single liner notes|publisher=Portrait Records|id=A 4620}}
  1. "She Bop" – 3:47
  2. "Witness" – 3:40
  • US 12" single{{cite AV media notes|title=She Bop|others=Cyndi Lauper|year=1984|type=US 12-inch Single liner notes|publisher=Portrait Records|id=4R9 05011}}
  1. "She Bop" (Special Dance Mix) – 6:16
  2. "She Bop" (Instrumental) – 6:30
  • UK 12" single{{cite AV media notes|title=She Bop|others=Cyndi Lauper|year=1984|type=UK 12-inch Single liner notes|publisher=Portrait Records|id=TA 4620}}
  1. "She Bop" (Special Dance Mix) – 6:16
  2. "She Bop" (Instrumental) – 5:20 (stated)
  3. "Witness" – 3:40

Official versions

  1. Album version – 3:42
  2. Single version – 3:47 (7" single)
  3. Special dance mix – 6:27 (12" single)
  4. Instrumental – 5:21 (12" single)
  5. Video mix – 4:35 (Philippines 7" single){{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Cyndi-Lauper-She-Bop/release/7306961|title=Cyndi Lauper – She Bop (Vinyl)|website=Discogs|date=July 12, 2020 }}
  6. Live at Le Zenith (Recorded 1987) – 5:12 (From Heading West UK single – CD & 12" versions)
  7. Live at Irvine Meadows (Recorded 1983) – 5:20 (From She's So Unusual 2000 CD reissue)
  8. The Body Acoustic Version – 4:16 (From The Body Acoustic)
  9. Live (True Colors Live 2008) – 3:46 (From True Colors Live 2008 EP){{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Cyndi-Lauper-True-Colors-Live-2008/release/7286262|title = Cyndi Lauper – True Colors Live 2008 (2008, File)|website = Discogs| year=2008 }}
  10. Live at the Warehouse, Memphis – 4:04 (From To Memphis, with Love)
  11. Live (Front and Center Presents) – 3:59 (From Front and Center Presents Cyndi Lauper) (2014){{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Cyndi-Lauper-Front-And-Center/release/7351985|title=Cyndi Lauper – Front and Center (2015, CD)|website=Discogs|date=March 25, 2015 }}

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!style="width: 200pt;"|Chart (1984–1985)

!style="width: 40pt;"|Peak
position

scope="row"|Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=Illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|page=173|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6}} N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between 1983 and June 19, 1988.

|6

{{single chart|Austria|5|artist=Cyndi Lauper|song=She Bop|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 20, 2016}}
{{single chart|Flanders|31|artist=Cyndi Lauper|song=She Bop|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 20, 2016}}
scope="row"|Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders){{cite web|url=http://www.radio2.be/top-30/1984/09/29|title=Radio 2 Top 30|publisher=Top 30|access-date=September 20, 2016|language=nl|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328094126/http://www.radio2.be/top-30/1984/09/29|archive-date=March 28, 2016}}

|27

{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|3|chartid=8602|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 20, 2016|refname=CA_Top_Weekly}}
scope="row"|Canada (CHUM){{cite web|url=http://www.1050chum.com/index_chumcharts.aspx?chart=1447 |title=CHART NUMBER 1447 – Saturday, September 22, 1984 |publisher=CHUM |access-date=June 3, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061107201523/http://www.1050chum.com/index_chumcharts.aspx?chart=1447 |archive-date=November 7, 2006}}

|5

scope="row"|Chile (Clasificación Nacional del Disco){{Cite web|url=http://www.cyndilauper.com/single_det.php?shname=sb|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031229083318/http://www.cyndilauper.com/single_det.php?shname=sb|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 29, 2003|title=Cyndi Lauper – She Bop|date=December 29, 2003|access-date=April 23, 2020}}

|8

scope="row"|European Top 100 Singles (Music & Media){{cite magazine|magazine=Eurotipsheet|title=European Top 100 Singles|page=10|date=September 24, 1984|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1984/M&M-1984-09-24.pdf}}

|17

scope="row"|European Airplay Top 50 (Music & Media){{cite magazine|title=European Airplay Top 50|magazine=Eurotipsheet|page=19|date=September 10, 1984|issue=24}}

|12

{{single chart|France|34|artist=Cyndi Lauper|song=She Bop|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 20, 2016}}
scope="row"|Finland (Suomen virallinen lista){{cite book|url=https://musiikkiarkisto.fi/oa/_tiedostot/julkaisut/sisaltaa-hitin.pdf#page=143 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://musiikkiarkisto.fi/oa/_tiedostot/julkaisut/sisaltaa-hitin.pdf#page=143 |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|first=Timo|last=Pennanen|year=2021|title=Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021|section=Cyndi Lauper|page=143|publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava|location=Helsinki|access-date=June 29, 2022|language=fi}}

|22

scope="row"| Guatemala (UPI){{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hvBDAAAAIBAJ&dq=la+opinion+CANCIONES+latinoamerica&pg=PA12&article_id=1343,6853987|title=Las canciones más populares en Latinoamérica|newspaper=La Opinión (Los Angeles)|language=es|access-date=October 11, 2024|date=October 8, 1984}}

|8

scope="row"| Israel (IBA){{cite web|title=Israel Singles Chart 1987-1995|website=UKMix.org|url=https://www.ukmix.org/forum/chart-discussion/chart-analysis/46793-israel-singles-charts-1987-1995?q=Cyndi%20Lauper|date=October 10, 2016|access-date=January 12, 2025}}

|1

{{single chart|Dutch40|34|year=1984|week=42|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 20, 2016}}
{{single chart|Dutch100|41|artist=Cyndi Lauper|song=She Bop|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 20, 2016}}
{{single chart|New Zealand|6|artist=Cyndi Lauper|song=She Bop|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 20, 2016}}
scope="row"| Puerto Rico (UPI)

|7

scope="row"|South Africa (Springbok Radio){{cite web|title=South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Acts L|website=The South African Rock Encyclopedia|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(L).html|access-date=September 20, 2016}}

|6

{{single chart|Switzerland|10|artist=Cyndi Lauper|song=She Bop|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 20, 2016}}
{{single chart|UK|46|date=19840915|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 20, 2016}}
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|3|artist=Cyndi Lauper|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 20, 2016|refname=BB_HOT100}}
scope="row"|US Dance/Disco Top 80 (Billboard){{cite magazine|date=September 15, 1984|title=Billboard September 15, 1984|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/80s/1984/BB-1984-09-15.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/80s/1984/BB-1984-09-15.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|magazine=Billboard|page=45|location=New York, NY, USA|access-date=September 20, 2016}}

|10

{{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|27|artist=Cyndi Lauper|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 20, 2016}}
scope="row"|US Cash Box Top 100{{cite magazine|url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19840929.html |title=CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending SEPTEMBER 29, 1984 |magazine=Cash Box magazine |access-date=June 3, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001104209/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19840929.html |archive-date=October 1, 2012}}

|3

scope="row"|US Top 40 (Gavin Report){{cite magazine|title=The Gavin Report – Top 40|magazine=Gavin Report|page=3|date=September 14, 1984|issue=1524}}

|3

scope="row"|US AOR Hot Tracks (Radio & Records){{cite magazine|title=R&R AOR/Hot Tracks|magazine=Radio & Records|page=63|date=August 31, 1984|issue=549}}

|26

scope="row"|US Contemporary Hit Radio (Radio & Records){{cite magazine|title=National Airplay: The Back Page|magazine=Radio & Records|page=88|date=September 7, 1984|issue=550}}

|2

{{single chart|West Germany|19|artist=Cyndi Lauper|song=She Bop|songid=1145|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 20, 2016}}
scope="row"|Zimbabwe (ZIMA){{cite book |last=Kimberley |first=Christopher |title=Zimbabwe Singles Chart Book: 1965–1996}}

|15

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

!style="width: 200pt;"|Chart (1984)

!style="width: 40pt;"|Position

scope="row"|Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite web|url=https://i.imgur.com/MyookoA.jpg|title=Kent Music Report No 548 – 31 December 1984 > National Top 100 Singles for 1984|publisher=Kent Music Report|via=Imgur.com|accessdate=January 8, 2022}}

|align="center"|61

scope="row"|Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40){{cite web|url=http://www.austriancharts.at/year.asp?cat=s&id=1984|title=Jahreshitparade Singles 1984|website=Ö3 Austria Top 40|access-date=September 20, 2016|language=de}}

|align="center"|27

{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|25|chartid=9638|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 20, 2016|refname=CA_YE}}
scope="row"|Israel (IBA)

|align="center"|11

scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine|date=December 22, 1984|title= Volume 96 No. 51, DECEMBER 22. 1984|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/80s/1984/BB-1984-12-22.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/80s/1984/BB-1984-12-22.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|magazine=Billboard|page=TA-19|location=New York, NY, USA|access-date=September 20, 2016}}

|align="center"|34

scope="row"|US Cash Box Top 100{{cite magazine |url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1984YESP.html |title=The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1984 |magazine=Cash Box magazine |access-date=June 3, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930234839/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1984YESP.html |archive-date=September 30, 2012}}

|align="center"|23

scope="row"|US Top 40 (Gavin Report){{cite magazine|title=Top 40 Top 100|magazine=Gavin Report|page=9|date=December 14, 1984|issue=1537}}

|align="center"|26

scope="row"|US Contemporary Hit Radio (Radio & Records){{cite magazine|title=Top 84 of '84: Contemporary Hit Radio|magazine=Radio & Records|page=64|date=December 14, 1984|issue=564}}

|align="center"|28

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{certification Table Top}}

{{certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|award=Gold|title=She Bop|artist=Cyndi Lauper|relyear=1984|certyear=1984}}

{{certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|award=Gold|title=She Bop|artist=Cyndi Lauper|relyear=1984|certyear=1989|refname=RIAA_CERT}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

Awards and nominations

Won

Nominations

Release history

class="wikitable"

|+Release dates and formats for "She Bop"

!Region

!Date

!Format(s)

!Label(s)

!{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

United States

|July 2, 1984

| rowspan="2" |{{Hlist}}{{hlist|7-inch|12-inch single}}

|Portrait

|

rowspan="2" |United Kingdom

|August 13, 1984

| rowspan="2" |{{Hlist}}{{hlist|Portrait|Epic}}

|{{Cite news |date=August 11, 1984 |title=New Singles |work=Music Week |page=20 |issn=0265-1548}}

August 27, 1984

|5-inch picture disc single

|{{Cite news |date=August 25, 1984 |title=New Singles |work=Music Week |page=20 |issn=0265-1548}}

Cover versions

  • Howie Beno and Cruella DeVille recorded a version of the song for the 1999 movie Jawbreaker
  • Hong Kong singer Aaron Kwok recorded a Cantonese and a Mandarin version of the song, both called "絕對美麗".
  • Greek band Matisse covered the song for their 2007 album, Toys Up.
  • Chilean hard rock band Betty Black Boots covers this song in their presentations in the Chilean rock scene.
  • In July 2008, J-pop singer Nana Kitade covered "She Bop" for the album We Love Cyndi – Tribute to Cyndi Lauper; another version of the cover was featured on her 2009 album Bondage.
  • South Korean pop singer Wax covered the song. Her version of it is called "Oppa", which means "Brother".
  • American heavy metal band GWAR performed a version of the song in October 2015 for The A.V. Club{{'s}} A.V. Undercover series, in a medley with The Ramones' "Blitzkrieg Bop".{{cite web |first=Josh |last=Modell |title=GWAR covers Cyndi Lauper |url=http://www.avclub.com/video/gwar-covers-cyndi-lauper-227503 |work=The A.V. Club |date=October 27, 2015 |access-date=October 27, 2015}}
  • Ex-Reuben frontman Jamie Lenman, covered the song for his 2019 album Shuffle.

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFq4E9XTueY Cyndi Lauper – She Bop – YouTube – Uploaded by CyndiLauperVEVO]

{{Cyndi Lauper singles}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1983 songs

Category:1984 singles

Category:Cyndi Lauper songs

Category:Songs with feminist themes

Category:Songs written by Cyndi Lauper

Category:Fiction about masturbation

Category:Female masturbation

Category:Song recordings produced by Rick Chertoff

Category:Epic Records singles

Category:Songs written by Rick Chertoff

Category:Gay-related songs

Category:Obscenity controversies in music

Category:Gay male pornography

Category:Works about pornography