Why did the BBC condemn ‘Jackie’ by Scott Walker?
A highly transformative figure in music, Scott Walker first gained fame as part of the 1960s pop group The Walker Brothers. Their success catapulted him into the spotlight, becoming an iconic figure in the British pop music scene. However, Walker’s trajectory took a divergent path as he sought creative freedom beyond the confines of pop stardom.
It was Walker’s solo career that came to epitomise experimentation and artistic evolution. His sonic explorations led him to venture into uncharted territories, incorporating elements of orchestration, avant-garde, and unconventional song structures. His albums, marked by their complexity and emotional depth, carved a niche that blurred the lines between popular music and high art.
Even today, Walker still profoundly influences many musicians, who look to his unique approach to songwriting and haunting baritone voice for inspiration. Artists like Alex Turner have cited Walker as a major luminary in the scene, helping him craft his own twist on Walker’s signature experimentalism.
Turner once specifically referenced Walker’s track ‘Jackie’ as being one of his all-time favourites and one that significantly influenced his side project, The Last Shadow Puppets. The song, appearing somewhat chaotic and potentially unkind to the ear at first listen, captures the essence of the turbulent 1960s, embodying the complexities of human emotions and the harsh realities of fame and adoration.
Despite arriving as a considerable niche segment of Walker’s discography, ‘Jackie’ remains a standout track throughout his entire career, with many singling it out as one of the best songs ever made. However, interestingly, it was banned by the BBC upon its initial release in 1968. The reason? Its references to homosexuality.
Reportedly, the BBC had been offended by the song’s reference to “authentic queers” and “phony virgins”, which influenced their decision to blacklist it from the air. One of the lyrics, “cute in a stupid-ass way”, also apparently rubbed producers up the wrong way, contributing to their resentment of the track.
During that period, the BBC and other public platforms were highly cautious about their public image related to homosexuality. The same year ‘Jackie’ was banned from radio play, the enactment of the Sexual Offences Act in England and Wales was passed, which legalised private sex acts between consenting men over 21. Despite the legal changes, however, institutions such as the BBC were still hesitant to permit any references to homosexuality on their channels.
Nevertheless, the track eventually found its place in public broadcasting, albeit many years later. In 1991, Marc Almond covered the song and featured it on prime-time television. Despite passing through various artists, its eventual emergence came at a time when censorship was a bit more lenient, with the focus of its original artistry remaining on Walker himself.
