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AIBU?

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Original poster

Or was this acceptable in the 60's?

202 replies

luckylucky24 · 15/07/2017 18:57

Today I came across this song by Neil Sedaka called "Happy birthday Sweet 16". It appears that he released a song at age 22 singing about a girl he has known for a while and has been watching and waiting for her to come of age. I find it quite uncomfortable. You couldn't release such a song nowadays so was this okay in the 60's? AIBU to be so uncomfortable with a song that probably hasn't had airtime for 50 years?
Here are the Lyrics
Tra la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Happy birthday, sweet sixteen
Tra la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Happy birthday, sweet sixteen
Tonight's the night I've waited for
Because you're not a baby anymore
You've turned into the prettiest girl I've ever seen
Happy birthday, sweet sixteen
What happened to that funny face
My little tomboy now wears satins and lace
I can't believe my eyes you're just a teenage dream
When you were only six, I was your big brother
Then when you were ten, we didn't like each other
When you were thirteen, you were my funny valentine
But since you've grown up, your future is sewn up
From now on you're gonna be mine, so
If I should smile with sweet surprise
It's just that you've grown up before my very eyes
You've turned into the prettiest girl I've ever seen
Happy birthday, sweet sixteen

OP posts:
elephantoverthehill · 15/07/2017 20:37

I'll just leave this here Grin

Or was this acceptable in the 60's?
VeryButchyRestingFace · 15/07/2017 20:38

When you were only six, I was your big brother

We don't know how old the person singing is supposed to be, but this line indicates he's older than the object of his predatory affections.

Unless one prefers a more literal interpretation, in which case, not only is the singer a paedo, but he's partial to a bit of incest too.

And to think this was the song they played me on my 8th birthday... Confused

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 15/07/2017 20:41

Predatory? Since when did it become predatory for a boy of 17 or 18 to be attracted to a 16yo girl? Even if he's supposed to be 19 (I don't think the lyrics will stretch to assuming he's any older than that), what's the big deal?

ellestyle · 15/07/2017 20:43

Gasp
Wonderful, Smile i was 15 when it came out and all us girls wished it was us he was singing about. Times were more innocent then and none of us would have dreamt of "going all the way" with a lad. The next song he sang was Lady Willpower, i suppose that could be equally interpreted as pervy, but to us, in those long ago innocent days it wasn't. Some of today's lyrics are far worse and tbh quite disturbing.

SleightOfHand · 15/07/2017 20:43

This is what it says on Wiki about the song.

The narrator sings the song to a childhood friend of his upon her sixteenth birthday, reminiscing about the ups and downs of their friendship thus far and declaring that now that she has grown from an awkward tomboy into a beautiful young lady, he wants her for his girlfriend.

VeryButchyRestingFace · 15/07/2017 20:44

redatory? Since when did it become predatory for a boy of 17 or 18 to be attracted to a 16yo girl?

It was a joke. Would have thought the general tone of my post rather gave that away. Hmm

But we still don't know his age. Granpaw may be fixin' to draw his pension.

boggedoff · 15/07/2017 20:45

What about 'i was 37 you were 17? 'so many songs like the one in op just of their time

AutumnalLeaves38 · 15/07/2017 20:46

misit,

16 was the age of consent in 1960s UK, but the song was by an American songwriter...I'm not so sure it wasn't older over in the States? Unless married?

VeryButchyRestingFace · 15/07/2017 20:48

What about 'i was 37 you were 17? 'so many songs like the one in op just of their time

Probably modelled on Mr Knightley in Emma.

woodhill · 15/07/2017 20:48

I hate the Bobby Goldsborough one about the older women seducing him. He was 17. Sordid. Now that is about sex.

It was a hot afternoon etc.....

FlyMeToDunoon · 15/07/2017 20:49

Ringo Starr 'you're sixteen, you're beautiful and your mine.'

It's worth noting that it is legal to get married in Scotland at 16.

FlyMeToDunoon · 15/07/2017 20:49

You're

PetalMettle · 15/07/2017 20:50

I LOVE that heaven17 song. Aspects of love is quite dodgy age wise which I think is why it's never had a revival

AutumnalLeaves38 · 15/07/2017 20:52

Friend, tomorrow: "How did you spend your Saturday night, then?"

Me: "Er, analysing Neil Sedaka song lyrics for potentially dubious subtext. You?"

Grin
VeryButchyRestingFace · 15/07/2017 20:52

It's worth noting that it is legal to get married in Scotland at 16.

I think it is in England and Wales too, as long as mopsy and popsy give consent.

Don't need parental consent at 16 in Scotland, hence why Sam and Ricky made a dash for the Borders on EE back in the day... 👰 🎩

OCSockOrphanage · 15/07/2017 20:52

Have none of you ever heard Bessie Smith? Sexually explicit with bells on... recorded in the 1920s and 30s. You all sound a bit sheltered, and my family are deeply MC (albeit farmers).

PetalMettle · 15/07/2017 20:53

Oh there we are, google tells me I'm wrong. Tour in 2007 and at the menuer in2010

ellestyle · 15/07/2017 20:55
The gorgeous Gary Pucket
OCSockOrphanage · 15/07/2017 20:57

In some MEXICAN states, the age of consent is from 12 onwards. In the US, it varies between 16 and 18. The minimum age in the UK is 16, for consent and marriage with parental consent. And from 18, a person is adult. My mum, married in 1955 at 20, needed parental consent.

VeryButchyRestingFace · 15/07/2017 20:59

In some MEXICAN states, the age of consent is from 12 onwards

I believe it's 12 in Spain. 🇪🇸

**

AutumnalLeaves38 · 15/07/2017 21:02

OC,

Yes, another Bessie Smith fan here:
"He’s a deep sea diver with a stroke that can’t go wrong / He can stay at the bottom and his wind holds out so long."

I like her style Wink

thereallochnessmonster · 15/07/2017 21:04

Spain raised the age of consent from 13 to 16 in 2013, Butchy...

CaveMum · 15/07/2017 21:04

As well as the Mr Kneigtly/Emma reference, don't forget in the current object of the nation's affections - Poldark - Demelza is supposed to be 13 when she goes to work for Ross, hence why everyone refers to her as "child". They marry when she is 17.

And there's Romeo and Juliet, though the age gap isn't the issue, more that she's 13!

VeryButchyRestingFace · 15/07/2017 21:08

Spain raised the age of consent from 13 to 16 in 2013, Butchy...

A bit less scandalous! Smile

AshesandDust · 15/07/2017 21:08

Young Girl is one of my all time favourites. It was playing on the pub jukebox when I was on a night out with my husband and auntie.

I was 19 years old and sipping a babycham when coming towards me was an old boyfriend I hadn’t seen since I was 16. I used to call round
for him (he lived with his friend in a flat - they were from Ireland) and after a few months of ‘courting’ he was never in when I called so I thought he didn’t like me anymore so stopped calling round.
I was heartbroken.
And seeing him in that pub was the 1st time since. He came straight up to me and asked why I stopped calling for him.
It turned out he was heartbroken too and had written me lots of letters
which I never received because he didn’t realise my address had an ‘A’ after the number.
He asked me to be with him and I told him I was married and had a baby.
He said he’d look after us both. Bless him.