Young Voices - national singing event includes lyrics from Tommy - Pinball Wizard

[adjaegham]

Young Voices is a child-focused organisation involving 1000s of children performing at events throughout the uk in stadiums. My 7 year old is singing and it includes the following lyrics in one section.

I am sickened that young children are expected to perform a song about peodos, sadism, prostitution and abuse.

What do you think? Whilst my young daughter doesn't understand the lyrics I feel sick when she sings about his supple wrist.

For a pro child group this is in poor taste....or is it just me being intellectual about it - most people in the peak district have no idea about what Tommy is nor the inference....

By ignoring this are we endorsing this blatant behaviour - it's not good...

Ever since I was a young boy I?ve played the silver
ball
From Soho down to Brighton I must have played
them all,
But I ain?t seen nothing like him in any amusement
hall
That deaf dumb and blind kid sure plays a mean
Pinball!
He stands like a statue, Becomes part of the
machine,
Feeling all the bumpers, Always playing clean,
Plays by intuition the digit counters fall,
That deaf dumb and blind kid, Sure plays a mean
Pinball!
He?s a pinball wizard there has to be a twist,
A pinball wizard?s got such a supple wrist,
How do you think he does it? What makes him so
good?

I could understand and would completely agree with you if it was some of the other songs like "Fiddle About" or "The Acid Queen" but I don't see how Pinball Wizard in any way references child abuse prostitution or drug abuse so for that I think YABU its not like they're forcing the kids to watch Tommy. Which by the way imo is an absolutly fantastic film even if it does concern the more nasty parts of life

I think I'm missing something here. I can't see any undertones in those lyrics.

(But I grew up in the Peak District - seriously)

WTF?

To the kids it's a song about playing pinball (which you need supple wrists for)

I grew up listening to that song and never thought anything other than pin ball.

Being intellectual about it? No I'd say being hysterical about it.

When I saw the thread title, I thought that maybe it was about Uncle Ernie "fiddling about".

But if they are only singing Pinball Wizard, I think that's fine. I really am struggling to understand why you have such an issue with the idea of a "supple wrist" - I think it just refers to the speed with which Tommy operates the pinball controls.

and a bit TBH, so Yes YABVU

My DS loved going to the young voices event.

Music can be interpreted all different ways, thats the way you are choosing to see it, children will take the song as written.

YABU.

Christ its not Smack My Bitch Up.

I never noticed any 'undertones' and I'm not from the Peak District if its relevant I'm from sordid London.

If you're that fussed don't let her do it or complain to them.

The song is not about sadism or paedophilia - it is about a boy playing pinball. Yes those themes are explored in the film it comes from, but unless your child has seen the film there is no reason for her to associate the song with anthing other than pinball.

(And personally I don't think "Uncle Ernie" had the faintest interest in Tommy's supple wrists anyway)

I have never thought the song referred to anything other than playing a pinball machine. I am sure none of the dc will pick up on anything untoward so will not be harmed by singing it but if you know the film (which I don't) and from what you say, the film topics would be inappropriate for such a young audience, I do agree with you that it is an odd choice. If you have these associations in the back of your mind when you hear your dd sing the song, I can see why you are uncomfortable with it.

"I am sickened that young children are expected to perform a song about peodos, sadism, prostitution and abuse" I think this is the film rather than this particular song. Can you separate them in your mind a bit so it bothers you less?

Thanks for feedback.

Clearly over sensitive to a 7 year old singing lyrics from Tommy.

Heck, there's no problem here - we'll sit and laugh about the Musical when she's a bit older & have fond memories of Sheffield arena.

You sound borderline hysterical! Do you really really read something into "supple wrists" apart from the obvious reference to playing a pinball machine? Really?

I think this is perhaps the one song from "Tommy" that doesn´t allude to what you reference in the OP.

And it´s an earworm now!

OP, you have a dirty mind !

There is nothing inappropriate about the song, even if it is from a musical that is inappropriate for a 7yo; to the children taking part, it is a song about pinball.

When I was at primary school we sang 'House of the Rising Sun' by The Animals but AFAIK none of us were corrupted by unwittingly singing about an opium den.

Why would you and she be laughing about the musical? Why do you even need to tell her that this one specific pop song from the 1970s comes from a film? Unless you make a big deal about it, all she will know is what she hears in the lyrics of the song itself, which does not contain anything inappropriate.

Did you worry about her "laughing" about the Black Death when you sang "Ring a Ring A Roses" with her? I'm guessing not. The context of the song is something that will completely pass her by, unless you go around shouting about how terrible it is.

Pinball Wizard is about ,err, playing pinball.

And what the hell has the Peak District got to do with it?

I'm sure people in the Peak District are just as intelligent as you, and have been to the cinema and everything.

supple wrists:

I suspect what she means is "All of the RL people I have spoken to about this (who happen to be in the Peak District) are looking at me like I have grown a second head - can MN be relied on to fuel an anti-paedo rant on the basis of such a flimsy link?"

Jesus. I'd see why you were pissed off if they were singing a Gary Glitter tribute to Jimmy Saville. But seriously? Where is the undertones of paedophilia, sex and violence in that song (unless you read far, far too much into it).

Have you seen Tommy? Its a weird film, I grant you. But get over it OP.

dd did this at O2 last year . It included a Monkees medley just after the death of Davy Jones. Seems more like a money making scam opportunity than designed to corrupt young children. Would you be equally concerned about the precocious sexuality in Joseph for example or is that just projecting adult awareness onto a kids' performance?

Yabu. The rest of the film/stage show is inappropriate but that song to kids us simply about playing pinball.

Not sure about it in terms of vocal range though - odd choice

OP you should hear some of Matilda!

Dd has performed in the Peak District. She dressed up as a giant chicken. Maybe i should have read more into it!

YAB totally U.

They sing loads of songs in a giant medley. They've even changed the lyrics of an Olly Murs song from "pretty ladies" to "pretty people" which I find laughable.

You're worrying about nothing.