Young Voices 2010/11 - CD2 Track 17 - Disgraceful Songs

[RangTang4]

My DD came home on Thursday night with a CD containing all the lyrics for the Young Voices Concert taking place this year. One track called 'Pop Medley' contains the most horrendously inappropriate lyrics for young voices, of which there will be 90,000 taking part. The lyrics mention 'guns' 'bad romance', 'taking risks', 'lovers revenge', plus lots of bad boys, bad boys bad boys.....!!!!' The literature that comes with the CD asks parents to help their offspring learn the lyrics - over my dead body.
This track in my humble opinion has to be withdrawn immediately unless of course we wish to remain number two in the world for teenage pregnancies. Have a look for yourself at www.youngvoices.co.uk
I only played the CD once but now my three year old boy is singing the mentionned words. My daughter of course loves it and keeps on singing it too.I dont suppose anyone has Michael Gove's email address? Needless to say my daughter will not be attending. I feel I am going to have to seek legal advice. I have emailed the organisation asking for a recall. When I think of all the beautiful love songs they could be singing and they have chosen cheap 'on trend' trashy lyrics, my heart bleeds.

I can not wait to take my children to young voices and watch they faces light up as they sing ALL of these songs.They love to sing and they especially love to sing the current pop songs. Somehow I don't think these songs will make them have a teenage pregnancy, commit gun crime, have constant 'bad romances' with 'bad boys' causing them to take 'a lovers revenge' and if people never took risks, well. we would live in a pretty boring world.
Get over yourselves its a bit of fun. the world today is too concerned with health and safety and protecting.
everyone is entitled to their own opinion but please don't ruin it for others.

Enjoy !!

Sorry if highlighting my concerns regarding inappropriate lyrics has in anyway spoilt your fun night out.

We are a joke in the rest of Europe.

Oh dear.....I am a bad mother..... I love the fact she is singing songs I love listening to......anyway she teaches herself the most inappropriate songs about riding on disco sticks (she thinks it means a glow in the dark stick) and wanting to be a billionaire so fricking bad. These words are only inappropriate in our adult minds not in our children's minds. The positive of this amazing experience far outweigh the negative. It is expensive but I am doing without a Christmas prsent as watching dd in this will fill me with more joy than a naff gift! My dd does freestyle dancing and dances to all these songs too! Better get knitting if this means I am going to be a grandma soon x

I cannot believe the amount of upset and trauma I have caused across the board on this topic.

I know that the concert is fantastic value for money and that everyone has a good night out.

My only concern was that the lyrics are inappropriate. If we want our children writhing around a la Alexandra Burke or Lady Gaga that's very much an individual choice per adult (usually a Mother's).

I personally do not want my daughter or son exposed to this side of life whilst at primary a school. Yep I know that the majority of schoolchildren are exposed to this in the playground and on the radio/television.

This is my individual right and choice. My daughter will not be attending the concert for this reason.

I have written to my MP and the Prime Minister as I feel that this new government is serious about the Big Society whereby we try and help improve society as a whole for the good of everyone.

The next time a child is shot I do not want to think that I did nothing. What I mean is the Lady Gaga singing 'I've got a gun in my holster'' to me glamorises the ownership guns. If the cool Lady Gaga can sing about 'guns' it must be OK to have them.
We have 90,000+ children learning and singing about such songs and sex so what is the knock on effect???

I will leave you with this one to ponder.

Have a nice weekend.

xfactor.itv.com/2009/episodes/video/item_200424.htm

Call me old fashioned but I do not want my daughter attempting the above dance routine.

She is gyrating around copying the older girls as it is. I think its disgusting especially as she doesnt have a clue what she is doing which to me makes it worse and I want to protect her.

No wonder we have the unhappiest children in the whole of Europe. Probably too confused by too many mixed messages - growing up too fast.

Each to his or her own I guess.

My daughter is extremely happy and well rounded....she is confident, sensible, thoughtful and kind. We talk openly about life and she feels happy asking questions. We do NOT shield her from everything as we feel this will only lead to interest and intrigue!

AND I WILL BE VERY VERY UPSET (AS WOULD SHE BE) IF SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO TAKE PART IN THIS EXPERIENCE JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE DOESNT LIKE IT.

I DANCED TO MADONNA AND FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD AND I AM NOT DISTURBED OR AFFECTED!!!

PERHAPS WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING IS BANNING UNDER 18S FROM FACEBOOK WHICH IS MORE DAMAGING THAN A CHILD SINGING IN A CONCERT!

She sounds lovely girl and I have listen to and sat inon the concert practice - its 99% beautiful music. I just do not think lyrics such as guns and bad boys/bad romance should be in. I do not let my 6 and 4 year old watch the X factor now. I think some of the dancing is Xrated. Do you agree? Its now got to the point of toxicity. Cheryl Cole last week what was she wearing or not wearing - she is a beautiful woman, someone needs to tell her she doesnt need to dress like a tart to get a new man. Sadly she is a role model for our dauhgters.

I totally agree that facebook should be banned for under 18's. I am thinking of banning myself as it is so easy to get sucked into this virtual world of fun. I have a business/home and two children to run/look after. I will support your campaign without a doubt.

I have emailed both the founder and the creative director of Young Voices on many occasions now trying to get the above words removed or changed to no avail. They have done it in the past.I am in contact with my MP to see if he can use his clout to have it changed.

THE LAST THING I WANT IS TO GET THE CONCERT STOPPED - it is fantastic. I would dearly love to be there myself.

The headmaster of our school has also complained about these words when another mother complained.

Ooo, Ooo, my first ever

[hsmile]

i just think there are worse things out there to be worrying about.....like who the hell it is who keeps passing round nits, whether my dd can cross the road safely and whether there will be a cure for cancer by the time she is older.

BANNING MY DD FROM WATCHING X FACTOR.....NOW THAT WOULD BE CRUEL....SHE LOVES IT!!!!

SHIELDING MY DD FROM ALL INFLUENCES WOULD WORRY ME.....HOW WOULD SHE DEAL WITH THESE THINGS THEN WHEN SHE IS A TEENAGER AND OUT OF MY REACH IF SHE HAS HAD NO EXPERIENCE OF THEM!

SORRY I LIKE CAPS!!!!

Dear Sparkly Cheery Mummy,

You may well be right.

I was worried about it on 26th September well more livid. I HAVE CALMED DOWN SOMEWHAT AND PERHAPS I DID OVERREACT. Read all 161 messages and see if you really think I am being unreasonable.

My new tshirt read - 'I am addicted to autumn' its a long sleeved snoopy one so I may see you at the NEC?

NO worries...... I do agree its seems inappropriate if they were sat in class writing them out and learning the meaning but less serious when singing for fun in a leisure activity......it scares me how many songs she picks up just in the car or on the radio at home!!!! We are going to the Manchester one x

I love the pop medley best if I was to admit it, its just some of the words do not feel right coming from young mouths.

I have sat my daughter down and told her that I do not like her singing 'bad boys' and exactly why in gentle terms. I have said that they are not kind words and that the singer who sings them is having a little joke like when we went to see a pantomine. My daughter is six in January.

I havent mentionned the 'guns in the holster' as she hasnt picked it up as yet. As she is not in the concert I have not taught her the words as requested in the lyric sheet.

I have emailed the founder on a few occasions and I have been so disappointed with his responses. He has basically called me crazy for questionning his judgement and trying to spoil his concert. I have merely asked for the removal of a few words. Fortunately our headmaster has also complained as well as a couple of other mothers. Anyway it will be interesting to see what our MP has to say I feel sure he will be with me although we do not suffer much gun crime in this part of Cheshire. Not yet heard back from Michael Gove. I will put it in writing as the email may not have reached him.

Best wishes and I am thinking of going to the concert anyway just out of interest. Hey I may even get asked to leave for complaining............

My daughter has been involved with young voices for two years now. I have no objection to her participating, it's helped boost her confidence and she loves the whole process.
The lyrics maybe slightly risqué but a child of that age doesn't understand what it means anyway, plus there subjected to this content daily on TV, or even at the local youth clubs/groups they may attend.Eventually they are probably going to love this kind of music anyway, why delay the inevitable.
Both my six year old and 8 year old own multiple CD'S including the likes of Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Chipmunk...i really don't see what the problem is here, someone care to enlighten me?

What age do you think children understand lyrics of pop songs is a tough question.

I am too tired and frankly bored to rehearse all my previous arguments suffice to say that I have a slight problem with a tiny proportion of the lyrics as described above.

I am off to have a hot bath.

imo.....all you did as stated above was draw her attention to them!

We were in a shop today when songs were blasting out that in theory were no appropriate !!! These songs are everywhere!!!!

They might be everywhere but do we have to teach 90 children the words - surely there are more appropriate pop songs that do not use the word ' gun' and 'bad boys'.

In Britain, we are in a mess are children are the most unhappy in Europe and we as mothers in my view need to act to stop it. One in five children self harm. Are they being forced to grow up too quickly?

We are acting to change the clothes that little girls wear e.g. bras at six etc and slutty outfits why not the words of songs.

I am sure that they do not notice the words of the radio but seeing Alexandra Burke or Lady Gaga writhing around in next to nothing must have some effect on a sub concscious level. Lets see what my MP, The Prime Minister, and the children's Minister have to say.

Young voices is not for five year olds!!!!!
Have your school been before? I can't imagine a five year old being able to cope with the physically demanding nature of the day. Our year sixes are exhausted by the end of it. I'm really surprised that young voices would let five year olds take part. Please be more concerned about whether your five year old will still be awake by the time track 17 is sung in the concert. It can't be an enjoyable or positive e xperience for a five year old. Are The five year olds taking part or watching on the night?

To be fair, we have a heck of a journey to get there so maybe that is colouring my view a bit.
I've read the whole thread now and am quite impressed with the comedy nature of this wind up, tis really quite amusing, well done op!

yeh perhaps it is a wind up but nonetheless a good one!

just go to a young voices concert love and see, it is fabulous see all them kids singing together. We are not breaking down the song and teaching the children what the words mean. They are popular songs that they all know anyway and get a change to sing with thousands of other children. If you don't want your child doing it then don't let them, there are hundreds of other school that would love to be involved in their place.

How Lady Gaga increases teenage pregnancies is beyond me since she has publicly stated that she is celibate and encourages her fans to be too.