Posted on 05/05/2005 1:22:52 PM PDT by metalmanx2j
BENTON HARBOR, Mich. - 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."
Not for nothing, but they should just ban most high school marching bands. Lack of talent is the norm. P-U.
The main reason why the lines for toilets are so long at halftime.
Why do these stories always have that line in them? ONE idiot parent has a problem with someone else doing something so EVERYONE must conform to their wishes.
If said parent has such a problem with the lyrics to a song that will not be sung...let them keep their child home that day. Sheesh.
Re: "Paula Dawning cited the song's allegedly raunchy lyrics"
Raunchy? How on earth would anyone know?
I've seen the lyrics. Makes no sense at all.
Supposedly John Belushi did a raunchy version of it on the Animal House soundtrack (or at the very least the "Deltas" added their own raunchy lyrics as Otis Day and the Knights performed the song)
My band was banned from playing "Tequila" no words but the idiotic principal said it would encourage drinking. My boyfriend at the time then proposed banning the driver's ED car, a Ford Escort, because it would promote prostitution. He got detention for insubordination. *sigh*
indecipherable lyrics
Louie Louie
O Louie
repeat indecipherable lyrics
But certainly not raunchy or obscene at all. The parent is probably not real bright. The lyrics are easy to find online.
Wow..what a wierd marching band! And to think...our band (I was in it) only played the TUNES...we didn't sing the "raunchy" lyrics like this band does (it must right? Why else does it matter?)
Hell, we even played a song named "Tequila!" And I'm sure that wasn't about wholesome feel good teen activities...
Looweeloowhy ono sadday we gowgow
yeh yeh yeh yeh yeh sadday looweeloowhy oh bebay sadday we gowgow
Ayfain liyelkurwl away onee
eektatsh ahip oconstalee
ale wine shit wine all alowe
eenever acow aamay gitome
Aloowee loowhy nanananana heywegowgow
Oh no addeeloowee loowhy oh bebay heddeweegoddegow
Wenite andayo afaildefee
kaykogorld ocontoflee
a on ay shit awayteedair
agul ayrow mowinherrair
Aloowee loowhy oh no heddewegowgow
ya ya ya ya ya sadday loowee loowhy oh bebay heddeweegowgow
OWKAYLITSGITITOOWERITENEOW
teey.... teteeynow ingamymoowabow
theymuppeelow they peepeealow
theypayinarhear my artegen
aymebber ay mebbelayergen
Looweeloowhy ono sadday we gowgow
yeh yeh yeh yeh yeh sadday looweeloowhy oh bebay sadday we gowgow
Ayseddewegoddegownow
Beybeeconnoweekot
Etco!
From a web page I googled:
Just what was Jack Ely saying when he sang Louie, Louie? Well, as originally written by Richard Berry, here it is:
Fine little girl she waits for me
Me catch the ship for cross the sea
Me sail the ship all alone
Me never think me make it home
Louie, Louie, me gotta go
Louie, Louie, me gotta go
Three nights and days me sail the sea
Me think of girl constantly
On the ship I dream she there
I smell the rose in her hair
Louie, Louie, me gotta go
Louie, Louie, me gotta go
Me see Jamaica moon above
It won't be long, me see my love,
I take her in my arms and then
Me tell her I never leave again
Louie, Louie, me gotta go
Louie, Louie, me gotta go
Seems innocent enough to me. If somebody else added a few dirty lyrics later, I don't see why that should put the song out of bounds.
ping
The lyrics are actually based on an old calypso song, though how you would ever prove that from the Kingsmen's version of it is a complete mystery to me. Great trivia question: What's on the flip side of Louie, Louie? OR, "Name any other song ever recorded or performed by the Kingsmen?
:-D
My favorite version was done by Black Flag. I believe Rhino put out "The Best of Louie Louie" in TWO volumes that included the original by Richard Berry, and covers by everyone from the Kingsmen to the Sandpipers, from the Kinks to the Rice Marching Band. I defy you to get the song out of your head after sitting through those!
Not for nothing, but they should just ban most high school marching bands. Lack of talent is the norm. P-U.
The main reason why the lines for toilets are so long at halftime.
***
I graduated from a lousy school system, but it had an excellent marching band....won numerous and sundry awards...best friend played with them...she's very talented. But unfortunately, she couldn't make a career of music -- needed a day job to pay the bills.
Lol, this song is banned, but was it yesterday I read how a Cop was teaching kids how too make meth in a class room....... Oy Vey!!!!
Jeff
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