Student Barred from singing anti-Bush Song

As reported by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

A 10-year-old Coral Springs girl won't be allowed to sing a controversial President Bush-bashing ballad at her school talent show after her principal deemed it inappropriate and too political.

The song, Dear Mr. President, performed and co-written by the singer Pink, criticizes the president for the war in Iraq and other policies, including his stance on gay rights.

Yeah, how dare someone state in a pop song that not only do gays have rights, they're actually kinda people-like? Y,know - with feelings?

The Mother stands up for her daughters song choice...

Parent Nancy Shoul says her daughter Molly should be lauded for choosing lyrics that are full of substance rather than pop music fluff. She said the principal's ban sends a bad message and violates her daughter's right to free speech.

"If this was a student singing a pro-administration song, no one would quibble with it," Shoul said. "The principal is just running scared and doesn't want to upset any parents."

Well, she could always substitue in "I'm in Love with a Stripper" - that ought to make the Parents, well ok, just that Dads, kinda smile? Or how about, "Don't you wish you're girlfriend was a freak like me?" Yeah, that's much better.

Meanwhile, the Principal gave their excuses.

The principal of Park Springs Elementary, Camille Pontillo, could not be reached for comment Thursday. In an e-mail provided by the mother, Pontillo explained that the song Molly "chose to sing is a political song and does use the word hell in it." A Broward County School District official said the principal has every right to determine what music her students should hear at a school function.

"This is a fifth-grade student that wants to perform a song filled with lyrics about drug use, war, abortion, gay rights and profanity," said district spokeswoman Nadine Drew. "This is an elementary school that includes kindergarteners and pre-K students."

The report does go on to point out some basic facts about the song...

The song does not mention abortion, and the profanity mentioned is the word "hell." The drug use refers to Bush's alleged conduct before he became president.

This entire incident reminds me of when students at my step-son's Jr. High school were voting on their class song. They were leaning toward using "Under the Bridge" by Red Hot Chili Peppers. I informed him at the time that the song, which was an incredibly popular ballad, was actually about singer Anthony Keides recalling the most harrowing days of his addiction to heroin. He was singing about being curled up under his favorite shooting spot - under a bridge in the downtown L.A. area.

Under the Bridge Downtown... I could not get enough...Under the Bridge Downtown... I washed my life away

The bridge was even shown in the video, with shots of bassist Flea dancing under it - while you see slow motion images of Keides running away.

My step-son brought this up to his class, and was hooted down by clueless classmates. Ultimately, they did use the song.

So here's the question - are controversial songs appropriate for kids this age? Or is it more an issue that these songs bring forth issues that parents don't want to have to explain? Is it the subject matter, or that fact that the Pink song is direct and unambigous and unapologetic for it's stance? Should they wait until the kids are better able to comprehend the subject matter or should they - y'know - try to Educate and stuff?

[Note: I didn't object to the "Bridge" song on content reasons, my problems with it were asthetic - I thought they should be accurately informed on what they were going to be singing - plus IMO it was a bad song that was incredibly overhyped, not to mention that Keides vocal performance on it was for crap. The idea of listening to a class full of kids trying to copy his already bad singing (as a 20-year musician myself) was about as attractive as going out and having a unneccesary root canal. But I admit, that's probably just me - and most of the non-tone deaf portion of the population.]

Vyan

Now Playing "Dear Mr. President" on Truth 2 Power Radio