|
|
Swamp Gas
Joined: 06 Jun 2001
Posts: 4254
Location: On a Hill in the Lowlands |
High School Band told not to play Louie Louie
 Thu May 05, 2005 9:53 pm
|
 |
|
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/05/05/entertainment/main693177.shtml
'Louie Louie,' You Gotta Go
BENTON HARBOR, Mich., May 5, 2005
The best-known, most notorious version was a hit in 1963 for the Kingsmen; the FBI spent two years investigating the lyrics before declaring they not only were not obscene but also were "unintelligible at any speed."
(AP) A pop culture controversy that has simmered for decades came to a head when a middle school marching band was told not to perform "Louie Louie."
Benton Harbor Superintendent Paula Dawning cited the song's allegedly raunchy lyrics in ordering the McCord Middle School band not to perform it in Saturday's Grand Floral Parade, held as part of the Blossomtime Festival.
In a letter sent home with McCord students, Dawning said "Louie Louie" was not appropriate for Benton Harbor students to play while representing the district — even though the marching band wasn't going to sing it.
Band members and parents complained to the Board of Education at its Tuesday meeting that it was too late to learn another song, The Herald-Palladium of St. Joseph reported.
It's very stressful for us to try to come up with new songs for the band," eighth-grader Laurice Martin told the board. "We're trying to learn the songs from last year, but some of us weren't in the band last year."
Dawning said that if a majority of parents supports their children playing the song, she will reconsider her decision.
"It was not that I knew at the beginning and said nothing," Dawning said. "I normally count on the staff to make reliable decisions. I found out because a parent called, concerned about the song being played."
"Louie Louie," written by Richard Berry in 1956, is one of the most recorded songs in history. The best-known, most notorious version was a hit in 1963 for the Kingsmen; the FBI spent two years investigating the lyrics before declaring they not only were not obscene but also were "unintelligible at any speed."
_________________
Heard it from a pilot who spoke real gooooood! |
| |
|
|
TheMinstrel
Joined: 15 Sep 2004
Posts: 72
|
|
Tue May 10, 2005 11:15 pm
|
|
|
raunchy lyrics besides , perhaps there is more of an underlying problem here... Maybe the real problem is the high school band programs are so underfunded and decrepit they can't scrape together enough funds to teach the kids material more sophisticated than a three chord wonder like Louie Louie!... Sorry kids not enough money in the school budget for G, F, & E this year! And will have to pull off a few dozen more bake sales before breaking out the Beethoven sheets...
Ha just kiddin. Louie Rocks like the Chicken Cow. |
| |
|
|
Swamp Gas
Joined: 06 Jun 2001
Posts: 4254
Location: On a Hill in the Lowlands |
|
Wed May 11, 2005 1:06 am
|
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by TheMinstrel
raunchy lyrics besides , perhaps there is more of an underlying problem here... Maybe the real problem is the high school band programs are so underfunded and decrepit they can't scrape together enough funds to teach the kids material more sophisticated than a three chord wonder like Louie Louie!... Sorry kids not enough money in the school budget for G, F, & E this year! And will have to pull off a few dozen more bake sales before breaking out the Beethoven sheets...
Ha just kiddin. Louie Rocks like the Chicken Cow.
You could be correct. Music and science are low on the priorities list. We know some college people, and they say the majority of majors are business and police/military.
Louie Louie is a rather dumb song, and in 1964, I had a band that didn't even want to play it......We were more interested in The Ventures, The Tornadoes, The Beatles, and Sam Cooke. However, all music needn't be complicated. Everything has it's place if it's done sincerely. If I recall, the chords were E, A, and B minor for Louie Louie.
I wouldn't play Beethoven in a HS Band though....possibly Messian, Strravinsky, Bazelon.....or....Zappa!!!!
_________________
Heard it from a pilot who spoke real gooooood! |
| |
|
|
Mech
Joined: 06 Jun 2001
Posts: 8237
Location: THE 4th REICH USA |
|
Fri May 13, 2005 3:31 am
|
|
|
Frank Zappa and the Mothers once played "louie louie" on the great Royal Albert Hall pipe organ during one of their shows in England During the late 1960s FYI.
Must be the Tonal quality of the song that pisses off the squares..not necessarily the content.
|
| |
|
|
 
|
|
All times are GMT. The time now is Sat May 26, 2012 4:33 pm
|
|
|
|
|
Login
