Lady Gaga & Katy Perry are banned in China for "being vulgar"

China’s Ministry of Culture is certainly not to be played with when it comes to “vulgar content” in music. Thus, the ministry has ordered music download sites to delete songs by Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, the Backstreet Boys and other pop stars within two weeks or face punishment. This “blacklist” encompasses 100 songs – including Lady Gaga’s “Judas,” Katy Perry’s “Last Friday Night” as well as 12-year-old ballad “I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys. In addition, dozens of Hong Kong and Taiwanese pop songs and a few Western hits were listed as well. The goal is to preserve China’s “national cultural security.” Unless the record labels submit the songs for official approval, the sites have until September 15 to remove the tracks.

Foreign music acts in particular are believed to be under special scrutiny after Icelandic artist Björk shouted “Tibet!” during a 2008 concert in Shanghai after performing a song titled “Declare Independence.” China claims Tibet has always been part of its territory, but many Tibetans say the Himalayan region was virtually independent for centuries. Share your thoughts on this subject below.