Jobcentre music
In order to help the general public while away the hours as they browsed the job boards, or waited to sign on, Jobcentre offices used to play piped music. They probably still do.

However, being a public sector organisation it had to be by the book and properly licensed, so we got supplied with tapes (yes, tapes - none of this newfangled CD rubbish) with specially sanctioned tracks on.

There were certain tracks that were no goes, however. So as not to upset the customers, you would at no time hear any of the following blaring from the Jobcentre's PA system:

Money's too Tight to Mention by Simply Red (which was a good thing as it's shit anyway).

Money, Money, Money by Abba.

Or Money by Pink Floyd.

Somebody thought it might have upset some people.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Mon 6 Apr 2009, 23:53, 4 replies)

I once rang a hospital
and was put on wait for over 15 minutes listening to REM's Everybody Hurts on repeat. Someone was having a good laugh that day.
(misskitty reeks of sex and turpentine; laudanum afternoons, Tue 7 Apr 2009, 4:31, closed)

Centerlink
The Down under version used the David Bowie song heros as their theme music for quite a while, always fun to hear seven times in a row while on hold to ask why they had decided not to pay your pittance this week.
(danthegpi, Tue 7 Apr 2009, 10:28, closed)

I suppose you weren't allowed
Working 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton

or

Workin' for the Man by Roy Orbison

either?

I think there's a thread in this game...

Edit: Or Found a Job by Talking Heads
(LongJohnBaldry, Tue 7 Apr 2009, 14:16, closed)

"Heaven knows i'm miserable now" by The Smiths would have been good
"I was looking for a job and then I found a job, and heaven knows i'm miserable now"
( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Tue 7 Apr 2009, 16:09, closed)