Last Christmas - not a carol and not really great for a 7 year old.

[nothingoldcanstay]

Every year a Christmas issue at this school.
There is no play this year but they are learning 13 "carols" to sing back to back. We have to sponsor them which will pay for a school trip to London (we live in Hampshire) Parents can join in but not watch because IT'S NOT A CONCERT according to newsletter.
Having looked at the song sheet there are four actual carols and the rest are popular Christmas songs. I am upset that they haven't done all proper carols especially since it's a small local school that doesn't have any other faiths (apart from me being pagan ish )However it's REALLY distressing me that they have to sing Last Christmas which I'm pretty sure would put off any one of any faith all together:

"My God, I thought you someone to rely on
Me? I guess I was a shoulder to cry on
A face on a lover with a fire in his heart
A man under cover but you tore me apart
Ooooh, Ooooh

For Christmas for a seven year old?

I don't mind him humming along in a shop but learning the (inappropriate) words for 3 weeks is grim. Why can't he learn the Holly and the Ivy or something?

YANBU! What is the point of them learning them, if not to perform to their parents? Sounds nuts imo!

Kids of 7 would not see "inappropriate" words...

Its just a song...

None of it sounds very festive - you have to sponsor them, and it's not a concert - how joyless.

YABU. I would say that the lyrics to Last Christmas are pretty lame compared to most modern pop songs. Did you hear the one Kelly Rowland was performing on X-Factor this evening?

I don't really see the issue about all the songs not being carols either? Why does it matter. Also if you can join in then you can also watch - how would they stop you?

*tame not lame

It sounds a bit off, yes. And there's something uniquely awful about children singing pop songs en masse. Particularly the woahs and yeahs

Fairytale of NY next year, so?

I just think you only do carols at Christmas hence that's the one time you get to learn them.
You can't watch because they won't put chairs out. So you can join in if you want to get some sponsorship which is fine. Like I said I think learning Last Christmas and All I want for Christmas is crap for 7 year old so I'm not keen on joining in although I can do a good version.

Hey, don't dis Wham ! (last christmas - now humming along to it)
I agree with Squeakytoy - seriously, we used to listen and sing that song when we were kids ! I honestly didn't think twice about the lyrics.
There are much worse sexually explicit songs out nowdays.
Though I agree it (sponsoring, no concert etc) doesn't sound very christmasy at all.

I wouldnt allow mine to take part.

So flame me.

YANBU - it sounds a bit odd - especially with not being able to watch.

I went to watch my nieces (infant) school play last Christmas (C of E school) and was honestly quite disappointed that they did a song - I'd not heard of it before and can't remember the tune now - but the words in it were "Christmas dinner - it better be ready on time"

I was quite taken aback with it... most didn't see my point but it was the way it was worded "it better be ready on time". Aren't they taught they're lucky to be having any such dinner at all rather than teaching them to make demands about the timing of it?

The school was knocked off my DS's choice of schools to attend

I think some schools just try to make things a bit different - hence all this weirdness :)