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A song by Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton has been banned from the setlist of an elementary school summer concert, causing a bit of an uproar.
Now, some of Miley Cyrus’ songs are known to be more than a little bit raunchy and risqué, particularly during the ‘Bangerz’ period of her career.
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But Dolly?
Dolly Parton is universally loved and universally accepted, she doesn’t go in for controversial lyrics really, just solid country classics and wholesome themes.
The song in particular isn’t one of Miley’s tunes that has adult themes in it, either.
In fact, it’s a song about tolerance, respecting everyone’s individuality, and getting along with each other.
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However, you’ll probably soon start to see why some people have taken against it.
Mum Sarah Schindler raised the issue with a local TV channel after her daughter Audrey came home from Hayer Elementary in Waukesha, Wisconsin buzzing because she was going to sing the song at the school concert.
However, last Wednesday the first-grade student came home disappointed because her song had been banned.
Her mum wasted no time getting in touch with the teacher and school district superintendent to ask what was going on.
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It later turned out that the decision was made because the lyrics of the song could have been controversial.
It’s called ‘Rainbowland’, and features lyrics such as ‘wouldn't it be nice to live in paradise, where we're free to be exactly who we are’ and ‘let's all dig down deep inside, brush the judgment and fear aside.’
Are you starting to see where we’re going here?
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The 2017 song from Cyrus’ album Younger Now is thought by some to be a statement of allyship to the LGBTQ+ community, which – you’d have to imagine – is why some aren’t pleased with it.
Parton has said in the past that the song is supposed to give hope to people during their darker moments.
"It's really about if we could love one another a little better or be a little kinder, be a little sweeter, we could live in rainbow land," Parton told Taste of Country.
"It's really just about dreaming and hoping that we could all do better. It's a good song for the times right now."
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Audrey’s teacher Ms Tempel later took up the baton, tweeting the lyrics to the song, writing: “My first graders were so excited to sing Rainbowland for our spring concert but it has been vetoed by our administration. When will it end?”
Superintendent Jim Serbet later said that the song was dropped because of a specific policy.
He said: “It was determined that ‘Rainbowland’ could be perceived as controversial.”
Upon further questioning, he said the district had concerns about whether it was ‘appropriate for the age and maturity level of students’ as well as the ‘social or personal impacts’ on them.
Also on the summer concert list were songs like Louis Armstrong’s ‘What A Wonderful World’ and Kermit the Frog’s ‘The Rainbow Connection’.
That last one – also about rainbows, but obviously sung by a famous frog – stayed in.
Make of that what you will.
Topics: LGBTQ+, Celebrity, Miley Cyrus, Music
Tom Wood