List of songs censored or banned in Malaysia
The following is a list of songs Censored or banned in Malaysia at one stage or another, considered unsuitable for broadcasting on its radio and television stations since 2010 (though by no means this is a complete list). The censors are mostly done by Malaysian format radio network Astro Radio (which controls popular radio stations such as Hitz.FM and Mix FM) and Astro hitz (formerly known as Hitz.TV). MTV Asia, like almost other foreign channels on Astro, is also delayed by 1 hour in Malaysia for censorship purpose. In addition, singles released to Malaysian radio stations May Be different from the version released in the album due to censorship purpose.
Censorship of music also applies to other radio and television stations (such as Red FM and Fly FM), but the censoring method is different from Astro radio and television networks because Astro radio has a stricter form of censorship than other radio station in Malaysia.
Songs being censored
The following list of songs and music videos censored or banned by Malaysia since 2010. Most songs have the same censoring like in the US.
Year |
Song title |
Performer |
Reason for censoring |
|---|---|---|---|
1999 |
Absolutely Everybody |
Vanessa Amorosi |
The single and music video are both banned in Malaysia due to strong violence, horror and indigenous/aboriginal content in the music video with Amorosi performing in front of the green screen. |
2000 |
Groovejet (If This Ain't Love) |
Spiller featuring Sophie Ellis-Bextor |
The single and music video is banned due to strong violence and horror content before the end of the song and clip. |
2003 |
American Life |
Madonna |
The original music video is banned due to strong violence and horror and very course language content. The lyrics consisted of "[...] it." The replaced music video was used with Madonna performing in front of the green screen with flags from different countries. |
2008 |
Running Back |
Jessica Mauboy |
The official music video was banned due to strong violence and horror. |
2008 |
Burn |
Jessica Mauboy |
The official music video was banned due to strong violence and horror. |
2009 |
Been Waiting |
Jessica Mauboy |
The official music video was banned due to strong violence and horror. |
2009 |
Because |
Jessica Mauboy |
The official music video was banned due to strong violence and horror. |
2009 |
Like It Like That |
Guy Sebastian |
The official music video was banned due to strong violence and horror. |
2009 |
Up and Down |
Jessica Mauboy |
The official music video was banned due to strong violence and horror. |
2009 |
Black Box |
Stan Walker |
The official music video was banned due to strong violence and horror. |
2009 |
Art of Love |
Guy Sebastian |
The official music video was banned due to strong violence and horror. |
2009 |
Lovegame |
Lady Gaga |
The words "[...]" and "[...]" are censored. The music video is released with the word and some of the [...] scenes censored on Astro Hitz. |
2009 |
Bad Romance |
Lady Gaga |
The word "[...]" is censored. The music video is released with the word censored on Astro Hitz. |
2009 |
The Black Eyed PEAS |
The song uses the US censored version for music video and airplay. |
|
2010 |
Telephone |
Lady Gaga |
The music video is banned in Malaysia due to some explicit content in the music video. |
2010 |
Not Afraid |
Eminem |
Profanity in both the song and the music video on Astro.Hitz is censored. |
2010 |
California Gurls |
Katy Perry |
The words "[...]" and "[...]" are censored during the airplay and the music video is banned in Malaysia due to some nudity content. The word "gin" is only censored on Hitz.fm. |
2010 |
Love The Way You Lie |
Eminem featuring Rihanna |
The word "[...]" is censored and some of the scenes in the music video are censored. |
2010 |
Alejandro |
Lady Gaga |
The word "Jameson" is censored and the music video is banned in Malaysia due to some religious content. |
2010 |
Teenage Dream |
Katy Perry |
The song is passed without cuts made but the music video is heavily censored due to the moderate [...] scenes in the music video. |
2010 |
Unbroken |
Stan Walker |
The official music video was banned due to strong violence and horror. |
2010 |
We'll Be Alright |
Travie McCoy |
The word "[...]" is censored in both the song and the music video. Additionally, a scene showing the performer giving the finger is censored in the music video. The word "drunk" is only censored on Hitz.fm and Astro Hitz. |
2010 |
Misery |
Maroon 5 |
The song is passed without cuts but some of the scenes in the UK version of the music video are censored. |
2010 |
We R Who We R |
Kesha |
The word "Jesus" is censored during airplay on some radio stations but the music video has its audio intact. |
2010 |
Who's That Girl |
Guy Sebastian |
The official music video was banned due to strong violence and horror. |
2010 |
[...] You |
Cee Lo Green |
An alternative clean version (Forget You) is used for both airplay and music video. |
2011 |
Like a G6 |
Far East Movement |
A scene which shows some alcoholic drinks on the table is censored in the music video. |
2011 |
Tonight (I'm Lovin' You) |
Enrique Iglesias |
An alternative clean version (Tonight I'm Lovin' You) is used for both airplay and music video. However, the official clean version of the music video is still heavily censored by Astro.Hitz. |
2011 |
I Just Had [...] |
The Lonely Island featuring Akon |
Both the song and the music video are banned in Malaysia. |
2011 |
Firework |
Katy Perry |
The song is passed without cuts but a gay kissing scene is censored in the music video. |
2011 |
Loud |
Stan Walker |
The official music video was banned due to strong violence and horror. |
2011 |
What the Hell |
Avril Lavigne |
The song is passed without cuts but a scene which shows the performer showing her middle finger is censored in the music video. |
2011 |
Fuckin' Perfect |
Pink |
An alternative clean version (Perfect) is used for both airplay and music video. However, a scene showing a girl [...] herself is censored. The word "beer" is censored on Hitz.fm. |
2011 |
Born This Way |
Lady Gaga |
The line "gay, straight or bi, lesbian, transgendered life" is removed from the song and replaced with the repetition of the words "no matter" for three times. The music video is banned in Malaysia. The censor is applied to "Born This Way (Country Road Version)" too. Some radio station only censor the word "gay", "bi" and "lesbian" instead of the whole line. |
2011 |
E.T. |
Katy Perry |
The song is passed without cuts but the scene showing the buttocks of the E.T. showed in the music video is censored. |
2011 |
S&M |
Rihanna |
Both the song and the music video are banned in Malaysia. However, this only applies to Hitz.FM and Astro Hitz. The song is still played with some parts censored. |
2011 |
Feat (壮举) |
Hins Cheung |
The quick gasping sound in the song was censored in both song and music video (presumably the sound related to [...]) . |
2011 |
Judas |
Lady Gaga |
At first, the song can be played as usual with the words "dead", "hooker", "prostitute", "condom", "Jesus" censored in local radio stations. However, the song was later banned indefinitely followed by the banning of official music video due to some religious content. |
2011 |
The Lazy Song |
Bruno Mars |
The word "[...]" was censored during the airplay but the music video has its audio intact. |
2011 |
Party Rock Anthem |
LMFAO |
The song is passed without cuts but a scene showing a man who portrays Jesus dancing on the street is censored. |
2011 |
This Is War |
Thirty Seconds to Mars |
A scene in the music video with pariah was censored (presumably to avoid racial tensions). |
2011 |
Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) |
Katy Perry |
The phrase "Menage a trois", which means household of three in French, is censored by reversing the audio. However, the censoring so far is only applied to Hitz.FM and Astro.Hitz. For the music video, two scenes are censored. One scene shows a photo on Katy Perry's laptop where Katy Perry is in bed with a man and another scene shows a man touching Katy Perry's buttock. |
2011 |
Good Night |
Reece Mastin |
The official music video was banned due to strong violence and horror. |
2011 |
Smile |
Avril Lavigne |
The words "[...]", "[...]" and "[...]" are censored both during airplay and in the music video on Astro.Hitz. In fact, an official clean version of the song is available but surprisingly it is not been adopted. |
2011 |
Bow Chicka Wow Wow |
Mike Posner |
A scene which shows some alcoholic drinks on the table is censored in the music video. |
2011 |
I Need a Doctor |
Dr. Dre |
Vulgar words were censored in both the song and the music video. |
2011 |
Till The World Ends |
Britney Spears |
The music video has not been aired on Astro Hitz so far for reasons unknown. However, the song is passed by censor during the airplay. |
2011 |
I Wanna Go |
Britney Spears |
The song is passed without cuts for airing. For the music video, two scenes are censored. One scene shows Britney answering nicely for the few first questions from the paparazzi, but then proceeds to continuously say "[...] you" to them and another scene showing Britney touching her fan's buttocks. |
2011 |
Don't Wanna Go Home |
Jason Derulo |
The word "[...]" was censored in both the song and the music video. |
2011 |
The Edge of Glory |
Lady Gaga |
Banned due to strong violence and very course language. |
2011 |
You and I |
Lady Gaga |
The music video is partially censored due to some explicit content while the song during airplay has the words "whiskey" and "Jesus" censored. |
2011 |
Hush |
Magic Power(魔幻力量) featuring Della Ding(丁當) |
The song is banned in Malaysia due to some [...] references. |
2011 |
Rain Over Me |
Pitbull featuring Marc Anthony |
The word "[...]" was censored in both the song and the music video. |
2011 |
In the Dark |
Dev |
The word "[...]" was censored in both the song and the music video, which is also censored on the official radio edit version. |
2011 |
I'm on One |
DJ Khaled featuring Drake, Rick Ross and Lil Wayne |
The word "[...]" was censored in both the song and the music video. |
2011 |
Cheers (Drink to That) |
Rihanna |
The word "bastards" was censored in both the song and the music video with Avril Lavigne singing I'm With You. |
2011 |
It Girl |
Jason Derulo |
The whole line of "Baby you're my shhh girl" is replaced by another line of "Baby you got me whipped girl" for both music video and airplay. |
2011 |
Wish You Were Here |
Avril Lavigne |
The word "[...]" was censored in both the song and the music video. |
2011 |
Criminal |
Britney Spears |
Some [...] scenes were censored in the music video but the song has its audio intact during the airplay. |
2011 |
It Will Rain |
Bruno Mars |
The word "morphine" was censored in both the song and the music video. |
2012 |
Marry the Night |
Lady Gaga |
Some scenes from the music video were banned, then later removed from YouTube's VEVO page, the nudity part, but contains strong bloody Violence and Strong Adult Themes and Horror and Very Course Language. |
2012 |
[...] Back Home |
Gym Class Heroes featuring Neon Hitch |
An alternative clean version of the song, "Get Yourself Back Home" are used for both airplay and music video. |
2012 |
Turn Me On |
David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj |
The music video is apparently banned in Malaysia. In the one-hour delay broadcast of MTV Asia in Malaysia, the music video was censored and left 5 to 10 seconds left to be aired. |
2012 |
You Da One |
Rihanna |
Some scenes showing the singer rubbing her groin were apparently censored along with the word "niggas". |
2012 |
Give Me All Your Luvin' |
Madonna featuring Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. |
The word "[...]" was censored in both the song and the music video and two cheerleaders kissing is censored. |
2012 |
Payphone |
Maroon 5 featuring Wiz Khalifa |
An alternative clean version of this song is used. |
2012 |
Starships |
Nicki Minaj |
The music video was heavily censored in the delayed version of MTV Asia in Malaysia. |
2012 |
Locked Out of Heaven |
Bruno Mars |
The word "[...]" is censored on airplay but the music video has its audio intact. The word "sinner" is only censored on Hitz fm. |
2013 |
Thrift Shop |
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis |
An official clean version was used for both music video and airplay. |
2013 |
C'mon |
Kesha |
The words "wine" and "Budweiser" are censored on Hitz.fm and Astro Hitz. |
2013 |
Here's to Never Growing Up |
Avril Lavigne |
The words "[...]" and "[...]" are censored in the clean version for airplay and music video. In addition, the word "drunk" is censored on Hitz.fm and Astro Hitz. |
2013 |
I Love It |
Icona Pop featuring Charli XCX |
The official clean version is used on airplay, resulting in the replacement of "[...]" to "stuff" and "[...]" to "chick". |
2013 |
Timber |
Pitbull featuring Kesha |
The line "bras and thongs" is censored on Hitz.fm. |
2013 |
Can't Hold Us |
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis |
The word "[...]" is censored and replaced by sound effects on airplay and music video. |
2013 |
Talk Dirty |
Jason Derulo featuring 2 Chainz |
The official clean version was used on airplay and music video, but it is heavily censored on Hitz.fm. |
2013 |
Swine |
Lady Gaga |
The song unknowingly played on Hitz FM but is banned in Malaysia due to the name being in reference of a pig. |
2014 |
Drunk in Love |
Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z |
An official clean version was used with the word "liquor", "[...]", "breastases" censored on radio stations. This song did not air on Hitz fm. |
2014 |
Partition |
Beyoncé |
An official clean version was used with the words "horny", "wine" and "sexe"([...] in French) censored on radio stations. This song did not air on Hitz fm. |
2014 |
Sing |
Ed Sheeran |
The words "smoke", "tequila" and "drunk" are censored on Hitz fm. |
2014 |
G.U.Y. |
Lady Gaga |
The word "sexes" was censored on airplay. However, this song did not air on Hitz fm. |
2014 |
Black Widow |
Iggy Azalea featuring Rita Ora |
The line "Praise Jesus Hallelujah" was censored on Hitz fm, the censorship is also applied to Hollywood Hamilton's Weekend Top 30. Other radio stations like Fly FM censors the word "Jesus". Initially, the word "Jesus" was not censored on Fly FM until the music video released despite the music video doesn't contain religious material. |
2014 |
Wiggle |
Jason Derulo featuring Snoop Dogg |
The word "butt" is censored on airplay but the music video has its audio intact. |
2014 |
Bang Bang |
Jessie J featuring Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj |
The word "cocking" is censored on airplay but the music video has its audio intact. |
2014 |
Stay with Me |
Sam Smith |
Hitz fm censors the phrase "one-night stand" on Hollywood Hamilton's Weekend Top 30. |
2014 |
Anaconda |
Nicki Minaj |
The word "butt" was heavily censored on airplay. The word "[...]" (from "[...] appeal") was censored on Hitz fm. |
2014 |
Habits |
Tove Lo |
The word "[...]" (from "[...] clubs") is censored on airplay. |
2014 |
Don't |
Ed Sheeran |
The words "gin" and "[...]" are both censored, but this censoring only applies to Astro-owned radios like Hitz fm. |
2014 |
Uptown Funk |
Mark Ronson |
The words "liquor" and "[...]" were censored on airplay but the music video has its audio intact. |
2014 |
Break the Rules |
Charli XCX |
The word "[...]" is censored on Hitz fm. |
2014 |
Burnin' Up |
Jessie J |
The word "[...]" is censored on airplay. |
2014 |
Take Me to Church |
Hozier |
The song is banned on Astro-owned radio like Hitz fm and Mix fm due to religious content. The ban is applied to Hollywood Hamilton's Weekend Top 30 and Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 too. |
2015 |
Talking Body |
Tove Lo |
The word "drunk" from "daydrunk" is censored in Hitz fm. |
2015 |
Good for You |
Selena Gomez |
Some of the scenes in the music video are censored. |
See also
- Censorship in Malaysia
- List of films banned in Malaysia