Radio Disney versions

Since it has come up a couple times on the board, here is a list of notable top 40 hits that have alternate lyrics specifically for airplay on Radio Disney.

Umbrella (Rihanna)
S.O.S. (Rihanna)
Beautiful Girls (Sean Kingston)
There's Nothin' (Sean Kingston feat. The DEY)
Potential Breakup Song (Aly & AJ)
On The Way Down (Ryan Cabrera)
Irresistible (Jessica Simspon)
Lonely (Akon)
1985 (Bowling For Soup)
Almost (Bowling For Soup)
Right Where You Want Me (Jesse McCartney)
Leavin' (Jesse McCartney)
Get Back (Demi Lovato)
Summertime (New Kids On The Block)
Year 3000 (Jonas Brothers)
Jumpin' Jumpin' (Destiny's Child)
Too Little, Too Late (JoJo)
AM To PM (Christina Milian)
Let U Go (Ashley Parker Angel)
Dance With Me (Debelah Morgan)
Basketball (Lil' Bow Wow) (mutes the word "damn" during Jermaine Dupri's rap)
...and not exactly a top 40 hit, but Weird Al resang one of the lines for "The Saga Begins."

If I can think of others, I'll add them to the list. If anyone is interested in a specific lyrical difference, I would be happy to share what I know.

Edited by aaronk

Aaron:

Thank you for bringing this up. Wow, that list is longer than I'd have thought. Some are available, while some have never been issued, outside of radio. Many of those have been on my radar to try and find.

The last one I looked for (and eventually found) was "Beautiful Girls". What's different about "S.O.S."? On this list, why are some artists, who are signed to Disney (or Hollywood) records, being edited? For example, what could Aly & A.J. possibly need changed from any of their music to be suitable for RD?

I know the prozac reference was changed to something else in "1985", but to the best of my knowledge has never been released. I gave up looking, many months ago. I'd still love to get ahold of that one.

Steve Sharp wrote: What's different about "S.O.S."?

Lots of lyrics have been changed for "S.O.S." If my memory is correct, these lines were all changed:

I'm the question and you're of course the answer
Just hold me close boy cause I'm your tiny dancer
You make me shaken up, never mistaken
But I can't control myself got me calling out for help...
My tummy's up in knots so when I see you I get so hot ...
Take on me (uh huh) you know inside you feel it right
Take me I'ma put desire in your arms tonight
I'm out with you...
Boy you know you got me feeling open
And boy your love's enough with words unspoken
I said boy I'm telling you, you got me open...

Steve Sharp wrote: On this list, why are some artists, who are signed to Disney (or Hollywood) records, being edited? For example, what could Aly & A.J. possibly need changed from any of their music to be suitable for RD?

Well, even some of the Hollywood Records artists "matured" to the point where our management didn't feel comfortable with the original lyrics. The Aly & AJ song, in my opinion, was a ridiculous change. They had to change the line "you're not getting 'til you're getting / getting me" to "...getting to me."

Jesse McCartney's "Leavin'" changes the lines "that thing you got behind you is a amazing" and "you make me wanna take you out and let it rain." I think those might have been the only two.

Jonas Brothers' "Year 3000" was one done for caution. There's a bridge where they sing "I took a ship to the Year 3000," but it sounds really similar to "I took a s**t," so we asked them to resing it "I took a trip to the Year 3000."

Steve Sharp wrote: I know the prozac reference was changed to something else in "1985", but to the best of my knowledge has never been released. I gave up looking, many months ago. I'd still love to get ahold of that one.

Yes, the prozac reference and "shake her ass" were changed. That one can be found on iTunes, as can some of our other special versions. Also, a few have shown up on Radio Disney Jams compilations.

Here's a couple more that I just remembered: "I Don't Wanna Be In Love" by Good Charlotte and "My Happy Ending" by Avril Lavigne. Although Good Charlotte didn't resing the lyrics, the label sent us a version where the vocals drop out for a second during one of the lines. The RD version of "My Happy Ending" ended up becoming the official radio edit, but she originally did the change for us. Her first single from the album was not one we could play, so we opted for "My Happy Ending" instead, as long as she could remove the line "all the s*** that you do." We were playing that song long before any other stations; I believe CHR was playing "Don't Tell Me."

There have also been some in-house edits done over the years, many by yours truly, because it was too difficult to get the artists to change the lyrics. Here's a partial list going from memory:

Beverly Hills (Weezer)
Get The Party Started (Pink)
Yo (Excuse Me Miss) (Chris Brown)
Who Let The Dogs Out (Baha Men)
Big Girls Don't Cry (Fergie)
I Like To Move It (Reel To Reel)
Caught Up (Usher)
L.O.V.E. (Ashlee Simpson)
Because Of You (Kelly Clarkson)
Walk Away (Kelly Clarkson)
Stick Wit U (Pussycat Dolls)
Don't Matter (Akon)
Don't Lie (Black Eyed Peas)
Macarena (Los Del Rio)
Over And Over (Nelly f/Tim McGraw)
Come On, Come On (Smash Mouth)
Men In Black (Will Smith)
Wild, Wild West (Will Smith)
Absolutely (Story Of A Girl) (Nine Days)
Crazy (Gnarls Barkley)
Jenny From The Block (Jennifer Lopez) (same as "No Rap Version" but the "Heaven & Hell Is On Earth" sample on the intro is edited off)
Come On Over, Baby (Christina Aguilera)
What A Girl Wants (Christina Aguilera)
Summergirls (LFO)
Good Vibrations (Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch)
Do The Bartman (The Simpsons)
C'est La Vie (Bewitched) (pretty sure this wasn't a re-sing, but it was also before my time at RD)

Edited by aaronk

Hey, that's interesting about the changed lyrics on "Girlfriend." No, we never played any version of this song due to lyrical content. And yes, feel free to ask away. I'll do my best to answer your questions.

Edited by aaronk

Aaron,
what was objectionable in B*Witched's "C'est La Vie" - was it the line "playing with his toy"? anything else?

I recall hearing this on RD and if I recall correctly, they just substituted one whole verse for another instead of editing a line or two. (But my memory could be foggy on this.)