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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want heads on platters? Utterly inappropriate school assembly

362 replies

Renarde1975 · 02/11/2018 11:33

This is a fucking corker. I am fuming but I'd like the hive minds' view.

At DS assembly today. Topic is 'Evacuation: WW2'. All good. Actually, they've done a great job and it's really excellent. Then this.

Towards the end, Christine Aguilera's 'Candyman' comes on. I'm watching open mouthed. I still cannot believe it.

MN: let me refresh you on the 'choicest' lyrics.

He's a one stop shop, makes the panties drop

He took me to the Spider club on Hollywood and Vine
We drank champagne, and we danced all night

He's a one stop shop, makes my cherry pop

And no, MN - this was NOT the radio edit.

And then to cap it all off for some inexplicable reason we are treated to two renditions of Don't Stop Believin' by Journey

A singer in a smoky room
A smell of wine and cheap perfume
For a smile they can share the night
It goes on and on, and on, and on

WTAF? Did I smoke crack this morning and enter into a parallel dimension? I am a teacher, that another member of my profession could fuck up so royally is just, wow.

I don't want my nine year old son to be singing this in a school assembly, or listening to words that objectify women and glorify alcohol. Turns out the kids were practicing the dance moves to Candyman for three weeks!

OP posts:
MrsRubyMonday · 02/11/2018 11:36

Candyman was one of the songs used in my GCSE media exam that we had to analyse and answer questions on. They played it three times and then we had our papers, so I would assume approved for use in schools. And the Journey song is very popular because of glee, it's everywhere. I think you're overreacting.

Original poster
Renarde1975 · 02/11/2018 11:37

Eh?

He's 9!

OP posts:
QueenJuggler · 02/11/2018 11:39

Candyman:
15/16 year old GCSE students - OK.
9 year old Y3s - not OK.

Don't Stop Believing:
Not sure I can see that it's much worse than 90% of songs.

Ohheyyy · 02/11/2018 11:39

I understand why they chose it. I also imagine the kids didn't pay that much attention to the lyrics or knew what they meant.

YABU

LagerthaTheShieldMaiden · 02/11/2018 11:40

They probably just watched the video for Candyman, saw vaguely looking "WW2 costumes" and thought it went with the theme. You are overreacting.

Armadillostoes · 02/11/2018 11:40

I see your point OP. Lots of material suitable for GCSE pupils is not age appropriate for a 9 year old.

LagerthaTheShieldMaiden · 02/11/2018 11:41

Also, are 9 year olds not supposed to know about wine and cheap perfume?

Nesssie · 02/11/2018 11:42

Does your child listen to the radio? Much worse lyrics out there.
And I doubt a 9 year old is relating the lyrics to sex tbh.

Think you are overreacting.

Aquamarine1029 · 02/11/2018 11:43

The choice of Candyman is outrageous, but I think you're being hysterical over Don't Stop Believing.

Singingtherapy · 02/11/2018 11:43

Candyman isn't ideal but I couldn't get worked up about it. It's just a mainstream pop song with cheeky lyrics, same as lots of others. No 9yo was ever scarred for life from hearing one.

DioneTheDiabolist · 02/11/2018 11:43

I think you're over reacting OP.

Original poster
Renarde1975 · 02/11/2018 11:44

It was all so different in my day. We were made to sing 'The Streets of London'. Every sodding week.

OP posts:
user1981287 · 02/11/2018 11:44

Do you turn off the radio when don't stop believing comes on?

TeddybearBaby · 02/11/2018 11:44

Just the song tune. It’s 40’s sounding and the video was her in an army uniform I think. Supposed to be set in wartime. I’m sure they don’t have a clue and just did a dance. Lighten up.

Original poster
Renarde1975 · 02/11/2018 11:46

If I'm over-reacting on candyman then why is it that the radio version gets played and not the unexpurgated one?

Point taken on 'Don't stop'.

OP posts:
Original poster
Renarde1975 · 02/11/2018 11:46

Do you turn off the radio when don't stop believing comes on?

I do.

Because it's shit.

OP posts:
user1981287 · 02/11/2018 11:48

OP you need to get a grip

If the school assembly used a song with explicit parental advisory lyrics then that would be something to get cross about. But the journey song is definitely not parental advisory lyrics.

what on earth do you do if you're in a shop and the songs come on.

Smallplant · 02/11/2018 11:52

How ridiculous that you're "fuming" about this. I actually feel a bit sorry for your children.

I assume your 9yo knows what sex and alcohol are? How is hearing "champagne" and "cherry popped" in a song going to damage him? Hmm Confused They probably didn't even register the lyrics. Please don't embarras yourself by kicking up a fuss about this

WontonSoupForTheSoul · 02/11/2018 11:52

You’re being quite hysterical. “Fuming”, “open mouthed”, “heads on a platter”. You need to calm down.

Therealjudgejudy · 02/11/2018 11:52

Heads on platters??

Are you usually this dramatic?

MrsGB2225 · 02/11/2018 11:52

Heads on a platter?!

Slightly over the top!

TeddybearBaby · 02/11/2018 11:52

I didn’t say you were overreacting but I do think lighten up but I don’t take anything too seriously so I’m coming from a totally different place to you maybe? My daughter is 9. She’d have done the dance and either not noticed the lyrics or had no idea what they were about and that would be the end of that.

NotUmbongoUnchained · 02/11/2018 11:53

Ergh get a life.

missyB1 · 02/11/2018 11:53

I’m with you on this OP. What people choose to let their kids listen to at home is totally up to them, but schools shouldn’t assume we are all happy for our primary school age dc to listen to songs about sex. Whether the kids understand the lyrics or not seems irrelevant to me, the teachers know damn well what it means.

MeredithGrey1 · 02/11/2018 11:53

I see your point, and although I see why they chose it, I don’t know why they didn’t just choose a song from the era if that’s what they were going for.

Were they singing Candyman? I do find the idea of 9 year olds singing “he’s a one stop shop with a real big (gasp)” a bit off.