All better now.
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."
ROFLMFO!!! Thanks, I needed that.
Oh, that.
Yeah.
I was looking for some deeper meaning.
Whew!
Very funny and about what I remember too!
They had a bigger hit with "Jolly Green Giant" & another hit with "Long Tall Texan".
I was actually at a dinner party several years ago where the Kingsmen were the featured act. If I hadn't had so much to drink, I would probably know some of their other songs, though it did seem like they broke into "Louie Louie" about every ten minutes.
Not right offhand. What I do remember is that the same producer recorded the song by two different bands one day apart, the other version being by Paul Revere & the Raiders. I also remember that back in the day, the Paul Revere version was just as common at record parties & neither version was much played on radio. I also remember the days when the song was mandantory on the setlist of every garage band in the country each of which had to create their own lyrics because the lyrics on either of the 45's were equally indecipherable. Somehow pop history decided to just credit the song to the Kingsmen (who did record one day sooner) & forget about Paul Revere but they were just as big if not bigger in their time.
Who can forget Belushi singing that song at the Animal House bash. That was my era, my house and my name!!!
(psst this is a secret between yawl and me)
The Kingsmen
best version of 'Louie Louie' and the flip side 'Money'
To hear the obscene lyrics you have to play it backwards (or sideways, I forget which)
War's over, man.....Paula dropped the big one.
All better now.
LOL I think Animal House is on one of the cable channels (again) this weekend. One of my favorite movies. :)
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