Band Banned From Performing "Louie Louie"

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CozyReader

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050505...05I2ocA;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. - A pop culture controversy that has simmered for decades came to a head when a middle school marching band was told not to perform "Louie Louie."

Benton Harbor Superintendent Paula Dawning cited the song's allegedly raunchy lyrics in ordering the McCord Middle School band not to perform it in Saturday's Grand Floral Parade, held as part of the Blossomtime Festival.

In a letter sent home with McCord students, Dawning said "Louie Louie" was not appropriate for Benton Harbor students to play while representing the district — even though the marching band wasn't going to sing it.

...snip...

"Louie Louie," written by Richard Berry in 1956, is one of the most recorded songs in history. The best-known, most notorious version was a hit in 1963 for the Kingsmen; the FBI spent two years investigating the lyrics before declaring they not only were not obscene but also were :laugh: "unintelligible at any speed."


[ sheesh...I wonder how much the FBI investigation cost us....]
 
Thanks, kgeaux! That's sorta the version I remember too...but we always used to mumble a lot when singing along.

Remember that toga party scene in "Animal House" LOL! Yeah, like that.

I do remember that everyone used to think it was a "dirty" song though, even if we couldn't figure out the words. But I think lots of middle school bands perform it these days...the melody is quite easy to play...and as the article points out the kids don't sing it so the lyrics don't matter. It's amazing what sets off some people's alarm bells, though.
 
Geesh when's the last time you heard a marching band perform lyrics anyway?

That said, I like this version . . .

Pharaoh, Pharaoh whoa whoa
Let my people go
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Well Pharaoh Pharaoh whoa baby
Let my people go
Well a burning bush told me, Come on down
Take off your shoes you’re on holy ground.
Gotta get my people out of Pharaoh’s hand
And lead them to the Promised Land

Well me and my people going to the Red Sea
Pharaoh’s army coming after me
I raised my rod and stuck it in the sand
And all of God’s people walked across on dry land

Okay let’s hit it now!
Well Pharaoh’s army was a-comin too
So what do you think I did do?
I raised my rod and I cleared my throat
And all of Pharaoh’s army did the dead man’s float

I said Pharaoh, Pharaoh whoa whoa
Let my people go
Let my people go
Let my people go
Let ‘em go!
 
:laugh: funny!

Jeana (DP) said:
Wasn't it a Jamaican love story?
Click to expand...
Jeez, I hope the FBI never gets a look at my music collection.:dance:
 
hi cozy!

aaahhhh "Louie Louie," written by Richard Berry in 1956, is one of the most recorded songs in history."

first song we tried to learn in my friends garage. played it over and over....neighbors had a lot of patience back then!
 
ouie louie, oh baby, i gotta go.
Yi-yi-yi-yi-yi
Louie louie, oh baby, i gotta go.

A fine girl, who waited for me.
I catch a ship across the sea.
I sailed the ship all alone.
I wondered when i'm gonna make it home.

Louie louie, oh baby, i gotta go.
Yi-yi-yi-yi-yi
Louie louie, oh baby, i gotta go.

Three nights and days i sailed the sea.
I think of the girl constantly.
On the ship, i dream she there.

I smell the rose that's in her hair.

Louie louie, oh baby, i gotta go.
Yi-yi-yi-yi-yi
Louie louie, oh baby, i gotta go.

I see jamaican moon above.
See the girl i'm thinking of.
I take her in my arms and then
Say i'll never leave again.

Louie louie, oh baby, i gotta go.
Yi-yi-yi-yi-yi
Louie louie, oh baby, i gotta go.

Oh, i gotta go now.
Uh-huh i gotta go.
 
golfmom said:
Geesh when's the last time you heard a marching band perform lyrics anyway?

That said, I like this version . . .

Pharaoh, Pharaoh whoa whoa
Let my people go
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Well Pharaoh Pharaoh whoa baby
Let my people go
Well a burning bush told me, Come on down
Take off your shoes you’re on holy ground.
Gotta get my people out of Pharaoh’s hand
And lead them to the Promised Land

Well me and my people going to the Red Sea
Pharaoh’s army coming after me
I raised my rod and stuck it in the sand
And all of God’s people walked across on dry land

Okay let’s hit it now!
Well Pharaoh’s army was a-comin too
So what do you think I did do?
I raised my rod and I cleared my throat
And all of Pharaoh’s army did the dead man’s float

I said Pharaoh, Pharaoh whoa whoa
Let my people go
Let my people go
Let my people go
Let ‘em go!
Click to expand...

Oh, I love that one Golfmom! Thanks...I'm going to print it out and save it. My kids will really enjoy singing it next Passover.
 
lex said:
hi cozy!

aaahhhh "Louie Louie," written by Richard Berry in 1956, is one of the most recorded songs in history."

first song we tried to learn in my friends garage. played it over and over....neighbors had a lot of patience back then!
Click to expand...

Hi Lex! Did you grow up in Santa Cruz? If so, then naturally your neighbors were patient...residents of Santa Cruz are among the most tolerant laid-back folks anywhere, IMO. I really love that place. :dance:
 
Jeana (DP) said:
ouie louie, oh baby, i gotta go.
Yi-yi-yi-yi-yi
Louie louie, oh baby, i gotta go.

A fine girl, who waited for me.
I catch a ship across the sea.
I sailed the ship all alone.
I wondered when i'm gonna make it home.

Louie louie, oh baby, i gotta go.
Yi-yi-yi-yi-yi
Louie louie, oh baby, i gotta go.

Three nights and days i sailed the sea.
I think of the girl constantly.
On the ship, i dream she there.

I smell the rose that's in her hair.

Louie louie, oh baby, i gotta go.
Yi-yi-yi-yi-yi
Louie louie, oh baby, i gotta go.

I see jamaican moon above.
See the girl i'm thinking of.
I take her in my arms and then
Say i'll never leave again.

Louie louie, oh baby, i gotta go.
Yi-yi-yi-yi-yi
Louie louie, oh baby, i gotta go.

Oh, i gotta go now.
Uh-huh i gotta go.
Click to expand...

Just an old-fashioned Jamaican love song, huh? Boy if I had known that when I was a teenager... I wouldn't have tried so hard to figure out the words! :D
 
CozyReader said:
Hi Lex! Did you grow up in Santa Cruz? If so, then naturally your neighbors were patient...residents of Santa Cruz are among the most tolerant laid-back folks anywhere, IMO. I really love that place. :dance:
Click to expand...

hi cozy! i grew up in east brunswick, new jersey. the garage band where we made all the racket was in a small town called Old Bridge. i've lived here 26 years, and 7 years in your neck of the woods, berkeley and oakland. where abouts are you? yes santa cruz has many friendly people, great place to live!
 
CozyReader said:
Oh, I love that one Golfmom! Thanks...I'm going to print it out and save it. My kids will really enjoy singing it next Passover.
Click to expand...

Yeah, my kids can give quite a LOUD rendition of it ... LOL!
 
Ya reckon they mean THIS Louie Louie? I couldn't find who sang it....it said Hot Chocolate but I don't think that's right? This is the song I thought of when I saw the title to this thread

******************

She was black as the night
Louie was whiter than white
Danger, danger when you taste brown sugar
Louie fell in love over night
Hey man, what's wrong with that?
Nothing bad, it was good
Louie had the best girl he could
When she took him home to meet her mama and papa
Louie knew just where he stood

Louie Louie Louie, Louie Louie Louie
Louie Louie Louie, Louie you're gonna cry

All right, what's all this about?
I love her, man
Oh yeah, man, let me tell you
I don't want no honky in my family, you dig?
No honky in my family

See what I mean
Louie really caused a scene
He did, I tell you
Ain't no diff'rence 'tween black or white
Brothers, you know what I mean

Louie Louie Louie, Louie Louie Louie
Louie Louie Louie, Louie you're gonna cry

There he stood in the night
Knowing what's wrong from what's right
He took her home to his mama and papa
Louie had a terrible fright

What's goin' on?
Well, we're in love
Now listen, let me tell you
I don't want no spook in my family
Get it, no spook in my family

See what I mean
Louie really caused a scene
He did, I tell you
Ain't no diff'rence 'tween black or white
Brothers, you know what I mean

Louie Louie Louie ....
 
LOL ... I don't care what version they're talking about!

I've NEVER heard a marching band actually sing the lyrics!!!!!!!
 
golfmom said:
LOL ... I don't care what version they're talking about!

I've NEVER heard a marching band actually sing the lyrics!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

LOL yep! :crazy:
 
Golfmom
Yeah, My kids love that one. You can find it on many CD's for kids at the Christain Book store. One of the CD's we have is called Hallejuah Hop. It's Great!!
 
golfmom said:
Geesh when's the last time you heard a marching band perform lyrics anyway?

That said, I like this version . . .

Pharaoh, Pharaoh whoa whoa
Let my people go
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Well Pharaoh Pharaoh whoa baby
Let my people go
Well a burning bush told me, Come on down
Take off your shoes you’re on holy ground.
Gotta get my people out of Pharaoh’s hand
And lead them to the Promised Land

Well me and my people going to the Red Sea
Pharaoh’s army coming after me
I raised my rod and stuck it in the sand
And all of God’s people walked across on dry land

Okay let’s hit it now!
Well Pharaoh’s army was a-comin too
So what do you think I did do?
I raised my rod and I cleared my throat
And all of Pharaoh’s army did the dead man’s float

I said Pharaoh, Pharaoh whoa whoa
Let my people go
Let my people go
Let my people go
Let ‘em go!
Click to expand...

I bet the last version is the one they objected to. It is a great song, and a catchy beat. It is a shame the kids can't play it. I have heard other bands (probably high school) play it. Some parent probably objected saying it promoted mixed relationships. (Hey I don't care, but some people out there still object)

What if some of us sent the Pharaoh version words to the bandleader and principal of that school. asking why it is inappropriate for the children to play this? As far as I am concerned, banning music is like book burning- not justified in most cases (except for Child *advertiser censored* and they don't burn enough of that)
 
....fussing about stuff like this....meanwhile, there are kids graduating from high school that can't read, write or add...sheesh...

I wholeheartedly agree that this type of censorship is ridiculous and smacks of the Hiterlian type of book burning....It could be that this public school district has the same problem we do....we have fundamentaist/born again folks on our school board who are trying to control the public schools....Now, I respect everyone's right to worship as they please, but these folks should NOT be controlling the PUBLIC school agencda.....Separation of chirch and state is a fundamental underpinning of this country....Also, folks with views like this can just pull their kids from public school and homeschool or go parochial...
 
mysteriew said:
I bet the last version is the one they objected to. It is a great song, and a catchy beat. It is a shame the kids can't play it. I have heard other bands (probably high school) play it. Some parent probably objected saying it promoted mixed relationships. (Hey I don't care, but some people out there still object)

What if some of us sent the Pharaoh version words to the bandleader and principal of that school. asking why it is inappropriate for the children to play this? As far as I am concerned, banning music is like book burning- not justified in most cases (except for Child *advertiser censored* and they don't burn enough of that)
Click to expand...

Maybe. But there are some GRAPHIC versions out there! I am not even going to post a link, in case there are kids reading.....they are probably smart enough to track it down on their own, but at least "I" won't be responsible.

That principal has his mind in the gutter, if you ask me. There are many, many benign versions out there, and he gloms right onto the dirty one.
 
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