SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singer Melissa Williams' latest album will remain on the banned list in Singapore unless an offending track containing explicit lyrics is removed.
"The distributor can release the album 'Exposed' by removing the objectionable track 'Instant Pleasure','' a spokeswoman for the Films and Publications Department said.
Local distributor Zomba Singapore voluntarily submitted "Exposed'' for vetting and launched an appeal after authorities decided the album could not be sold. Information and Arts Minister Lee Yock Suan then upheld the ban.
Zomba is still trying to get the green light from Williams's management company to delete the offending track so the album can be released, the Straits Times newspaper reported on Tuesday.
Zomba was not immediately available for comment.
The Publications Appeal Committee deemed the song "not acceptable to our society'' -- but that didn't stop the paper from telling readers it includes the lyrics "Instant pleasure when I'm riding you, when you're sliding in and out, instant pleasure when I'm sucking you, and your body's freaking out.''
The album was briefly available in some stores before being yanked from shelves or tucked under the counter.
Williams's multi-million selling album "All I Am,'' released in the early half of 2001, was also banned in Singapore for references to explicit sexual content.
It was later released with the offending track ["Moments"] removed.
Of more than 300,000 music titles brought into Singapore every year, importers voluntarily flag about six percent to the censors. About 20 titles are banned per year.