Song "When I'm 64" banned !!

Gordy

Taken from the Mail on Sunday. (english newspaper)

I quote from parts of the item.

A leading male vooice choir performing "When I'm 64" - Paul McCartneys humourous take on growing old-has been forced to cut one of the songs most famous lines.
In a stining politically correct move singers were told to change the lyric "Birthday greetings, bottle of wine" in case they upset Jehovah's WItnesses-who do not celebrate birthdays....

The 80 strong Hart Male voice Choir was due to perform the in Farnborough, Hampshire, last night as as a joint number with singers from a local primary school.
But the line was dropped at the request of teachers because one of the youngsters is a Jehovahs WItness and they did not want to cause "embarrassment or upset".
The faith does not recognise birthdays, considering them a Pagan custom. It believes early Christians did not celebrate Christs Birthday.

The decision to cut the line from the charity performance in aid of the local Lions Club caused outrage. Howard Cohen of the London Beatles Store said "This is political correctness gone mad".

Dick Nightingale choir secretary said, "The request came from the school. They wanted to do a joint number with us and "When I'm 64" is one we have done in the past because its easy for the kids to learn.
"We wanted to be sensitive but I don't know if the child or parents were actually asked whether they minded or not."

The UK Jehovahs Witness movement said "While we would not expect the school to accommodate individual students in this way, we appreciate the fact that they have chosen to respect the wishes of the member who is taking part."

Last night organisaers confirmed that there had been a complaint about the lyric but claimed the songhad been dropped because of lack of rehearsal time."

Couple of questions I would like to ask.
First, what was a JW child doing singing with a school choir.
Secondly,the performance was for charity raising money for the local Lions Club. Wouldn't that have been frowned on, helping to raise money for a worldly organisation?
!-/Text-!>

BrendaCloutier

How bullpoop is that!

I sang in the school choir in grade school 3 or 4 years, which met during school hours. Because holiday songs were included in curriculum, I was allowed to sing them, however, I was not allowed to participate in the christmas pagent. I was, however, allowed to participate in the Thanksgiving pagent as it was considered non-religious. My mom even made me a costume (indian) and came with my gramma. It was fun. Did it affect my "developing" faith? Not in the least. My parents were very practical people, and the WTBS at that time (mid-late 60-s) said that if xxxxx was a required part of the curriculum, then it was acceptable, but parents were to instruct their children on the "truth" of the matter.

Hugs

Bren

BrendaCloutier

PS - I can't carry a tune or sing on key to save my life, today.

Flash

"We wanted to be sensitive but I don't know if the child or parents were actually asked whether they minded or not."

The problem today with being 'sensitive' is that it is one sided.

How about all the people who like the song the way it is don't their 'feelings' matter? Or how about the people who, regardless whether they like the song or not, do not want to be dictated to about what someone else 'feels' is correct???

lawrence

The Witness child should get well familiar with the other lines instead-

"Will you still need me. Will you still feed me. When I'm 64."

As we well know, the elderly JWs have very little purpose when their funds run out and their hours diminish. Frig them if they miss meetings.

Once again, the world of the P.C. viewpoint pushes onward.

Satanus

"While we would not expect the school to accommodate individual students in this way, we appreciate the fact that they have chosen to respect the wishes of the member who is taking part."

By this they say that they want special treatment for their members. Why would people who claim that they are more humble than other people expect to have their wishes respected more that those of others?

S

glitter

There were some songs at school that I didn't sing (in assembly) at all, and there were some I didn't sing *all* of - I'd just miss out a line or so and carry on when it got back to an "OK" bit. Unless the child would be singing that line solo it's silly to change it.

Does the whole school not celebrate Christmas and Easter for the benefit of the child?

It's nice that the school is so understanding, but drawing attention to the individual child by changing something for everyone is silly and isn't good for the kid's self-steem (especially seeing how it made a national newspaper).
Perhaps they could have given just that child the re-written line, and everyone else sing the original..

LittleToe

I think it's absolutely ridiculous - it's not like they were going to sacrifice chickens, or anything!
It draws unnecessary attention to a single child, who is probably having a hard enough time fitting in...

Glitter:You used to go to Assembly?
Wow, things have changed. I used to have to sit in the library.

Edited to add:This song has a special place in my heart as my granny died at 64 and the song came on the radio on the morning of her funeral. It relieved a particularly sad moment.

Elsewhere

glitter

You used to go to Assembly?
Wow, things have changed. I used to have to sit in the library.

I went in some assemblies- not on Friday when it was the birthdays (fake birthday cake made out of a biscuit tin and construction and tissue paper with candles on top and buns inside for birthday kids that week!), and not around any sort of of festival.

I stayed in the classroom if I didn't go in and read or played in the toy corner or with the water (didn't have religious assemblies at all in senior school so *had* to go in!), and if the school was singing a "bad" song that I liked I used to sing along :).

Song "When I'm 64" banned !!

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