Ah, the joy of childhood car rides! We sang our hearts out while wedged in the backseat with our siblings, blissfully unaware of the true meaning behind the lyrics. Now that we’re older, we realize that our parents might have either tuned us out or were just relieved we weren’t arguing over who got the last snack. Here’s a look back at some tunes we belted out—and probably should have skipped.
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“She Bop,” Cyndi Lauper (1984)
This catchy tune celebrates female desire, with Lauper hinting at some very adult themes. Those playful lines about “ooh, she bop” might have sounded innocent, but they mask a song about self-pleasure. As kids, we likely sang along, missing the underlying message entirely. -
“Little Red Corvette,” Prince (1982)
Though it’s easy to confuse with “Raspberry Beret,” this track is all about metaphorical love affairs. Prince’s sultry lyrics speak of a “little red Corvette,” a clever euphemism for female anatomy. As children, we probably didn’t grasp the full context behind the metaphor. -
“Like a Virgin,” Madonna (1984)
At first, the lyrics may seem like a whimsical adventure, but a closer listen reveals a deeper meaning about love and innocence. The line “I made it through the wilderness” doesn’t quite prepare us for the exploration of what being a virgin truly entails. Our parents certainly weren’t explaining that one! -
“Seventeen,” Winger (1988)
This hair metal hit features an adult man lamenting his attraction to a 17-year-old girl. With lyrics that trivialize the age difference, it’s a prime example of how some songs from our youth were not exactly child-appropriate. We were likely more captivated by the catchy melody than the troubling narrative. -
“All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You,” Heart (1990)
This song tells an entire story of a one-night stand leading to unexpected consequences. From the moment a woman picks up a stranger in the rain, it’s a tale filled with red flags, from stranger danger to anonymous encounters in hotels. Not the kind of storytelling we should have been singing about! -
“Boom Boom,” Paul Lekakis (1987)
With its catchy chorus, this song was hard to resist, but the implications behind “let’s go back to my room” leave little to the imagination. It’s a song that, as kids, we might have sung without fully understanding what “it” really meant. -
“Me So Horny,” 2 Live Crew (1989)
While my parents kept this one off the airwaves, it still made its way into my youthful repertoire. The title alone should have been a warning sign that this song was not suitable for kids. Even the clean version retained its suggestive title, making it clear we should steer clear. -
“I Touch Myself,” Divinyls (1990)
By the time this anthem hit the airwaves, we should have known better. The Divinyls’ bold declaration about self-love was shocking enough to make parents cringe. I still recall my mom quickly changing the channel whenever the music video played on MTV. -
“Let’s Get It On,” Marvin Gaye (1973)
Though this classic was released a bit earlier, it found new fans in later generations. Its sultry invitation might have seemed romantic, but as children, we were blissfully unaware of its true implications.
Imagine any of these songs suddenly playing in your car today, especially with little ones present. Would you join in, or would you quickly change the station? Personally, I’d rather switch to something more family-friendly. But when I’m alone? You bet those windows are rolling down, and I’m singing my heart out!
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Summary: Reflecting on childhood favorites reveals a surprising number of songs that had rather adult themes. From Cyndi Lauper’s playful exploration of desire to the more troubling narratives in Winger’s “Seventeen,” these songs were often sung without understanding their deeper meanings. As parents today, we might reconsider what tunes we let our kids belt out on road trips.