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I heard the song “Dress You Up” last week on the office radio and as I hummed along under my breath, I couldn’t remember who sang it (I thought maybe Debbie Gibson). Naturally, I googled it.

I should have guessed it was Madonna.

I also learned this tidbit:

The song was the subject of much media attention, when it was included in the Parents Music Resource Center‘s (PMRC) “Filthy Fifteen” list, for the perceived sexual content of its lyrics. The Center’s founder Tipper Gore, had heard her daughter listening to the song, and considered its lyric (“Gonna dress you up in my love”) to constitute ‘vulgar music’.

I could go on about how quaint it seems that this song, of all Madonna songs, was considered the filthiest (did they think “Like A Virgin” is about olive oil?), but Idolator did a better job of that a year ago. What I want to know if standards have relaxed since then (which I would say yes) and artists keep pushing the barrier even further (I would say yes to as well), when will we hit the wall?

To give you an idea of how far this song has come, in 14 years it went from condemned to commercialized:

I brought this up to one of my co-workers. “In 20 years, will Back That Ass Up play on the oldies station? It was really popular my freshman year of high school.”

“In 20 years, the radios will basically be playing sex noises,” he said.

I don’t want to seem like a prude or someone who is against pushing boundaries. I’m genuinely curious how popular music will continue to evolve and shock people. Making decent music is asking too much. Honestly, that part is irrelevant.

Will Birthday Sex eventually make its way to those singing birthday cards?