San Francisco will be playing the Royals this week, but they won't be playing "Royals."
To support the local team, some San Francisco area radio stations are banning Lorde's "Royals" from playing on their airwaves until the World Series is over. (Video via Universal Music NZ Ltd. / Lorde)
Lorde says the song was inspired by a photo of former Kansas City Royals third baseman George Brett, and the city, especially since beginning of the playoffs, has run with the song.
So, now that the Royals will be facing off against the Giants in the World Series, Bay Area listeners supposedly don't want anything to do with "Royals."
San Francisco's KFOG posted on Facebook, "No offense, Lorde, but for the duration of the World Series, KFOG Radio will be a 'Royals'-free zone. We're sure you understand."
And KOIT is doing the same, citing complaining listeners as the reason behind it, writing, "Our listeners told us to do it, so we did it!"
Which prompted its Kansas City-based sister station to retaliate. KZPT has reportedly put Lorde's "Royals" into the station's "highest rotation."
Which got us thinking — what songs could Kansas City radio stations ban?
They could bar the 1977 song "San Francisco (You've Got Me)" by the Village People, which features lyrics such as, "It's a city known for its freedom" and "(San Francisco), Oh I love ya." (Video via Casablanca Records / Village People)
Or they could go with Starship's "We Built This City," which has been linked to San Francisco before, with references to the Golden Gate bridge and the City by the Bay. (Video via Sony Music Entertainment / Starship)
There's always the option of Tony Bennett's "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" where the timeless singer describes the city's cable cars and morning fog. (Video via Columbia Records / Tony Benett)
If you don't like any of those, SF Weekly compiled a list last year on songs about the city of San Francisco.
Now, whether or not this radio station feud gets any more intense, the San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals will begin World Series play Tuesday in Kansas City. Expect to hear some Lorde.
