Band Camp Won't Be the Same This Summer

As much as I hate the AP linking scheme (this link is sure to expire), they are reporting on some good nuggets of stupidity. Political Correctness and Conservative Censorship has reached new heights as a parent managed to convince Benton Harbor [Michigan] School Superintendent Paula Dawning that the lyrics of Richard Berry's 1956 song "Louie Louie" are too "raunchy." As a result of this complaint, Dawning has ordered "the McCord Middle School band not to perform it in Saturday's Grand Floral Parade."

Keep in mind that no one sings the lyrics in the band's performance - it's merely an instrumental performance. Worse yet, the poor kids don't have enough time to learn another song for the parade. How can this get better you ask? Let's discuss: I don't know how many of you actually know the lyrics but I realized I sure as hell didn't so I looked them up and they seem pretty harmless, even by 1956 standards. Hell, even the FBI agreed at the time (see the end of the AP article).