Frankie Goes to Hollywood's 1983 single "Relax" became one of the decade's most notorious hits after the BBC banned it over its overtly sexual lyrics, sparking outrage that only fuelled its popularity. Formed by Holly Johnson in 1980, the band caught the attention of producer Trevor Horn during a 1983 TV appearance, leading to a record deal despite their provocative fetish-inspired image putting off other labels. The controversy also spilled into fashion, with the "Frankie Say Relax" slogan becoming a t-shirt phenomenon.

In the studio, Horn largely replaced the band's own musicians with session players and reworked the track into a synth-driven sound, toning down some of its riskier elements while keeping the suggestive lyrics intact. Released in October 1983, the song went on to top the UK singles chart, one of three consecutive Frankie Goes to Hollywood songs to do so, and later reached number 10 in the United States in 1985. Decades on, the scandal has faded from memory, but the song remains a lasting pop classic.