Monday, March 27, 2023

Wisconsin schools to 1st graders: Rainbowland is not for you

A Wisconsin elementary school was planning on using Miley Cyrus' 2017 duet with her god-mother, Dolly Parton, "Rainbowland", during a spring concert scheduled in May. Unfortunately, some right wing cheesehead, aware of Miley's bouts of post-Hannah Montana adult immaturity, decided that the song was not appropriate for 1st graders to sing. The Muppet classic, "The Rainbow Connection", is being used instead of "Rainbowland", and, in all honesty, while that, too, was on the chopping block, there were parents on the opposite side of the issue raising a fuss, so the kids get to honor Kermit the Frog.

So, what's wrong?

As Parton herself acknowledges, "Rainbowland" is about acceptance, and being able to share with our brothers & sisters, if you will, regardless of race, gender identity, et al, things that are anathema to right wingers.

In truth, "Rainbowland" should be reserved to be sung by middle schoolers (grades 5-8) or high schoolers. It's really a big ask of 1st graders who probably haven't understood the additional societal context of rainbows. 

Did Wisconsin school administrators over-reach? Yep. The song should be played, and knowing how these geeks think, it's probably banned from country radio in Cheese Country.

To give you some idea, here's the song in question. Parton & Cyrus never shot a video, so we have a slide show with the lyrics appearing on the screen.


I don't think school administrators even remember when Dolly appeared on The Muppet Show and/or Sesame Street back in the day. As for those same head-in-the-sand right wingers, I recommend being forced to binge-watch That 70's Show, especially the best of Ashton Kutcher.........

2 comments:

Lawrence said...

Its a given that if you are on the wrong side of a Dolly Parton song, you are a terrible person.

She is a national treasure.

hobbyfan said...

Dolly & Miley have a positive message that right wingers don't want to listen to. I grew up with some of Dolly's hits like "Jolene" and "9 to 5", since my folks preferred country music. I just don't get why some right wing parents listen to the wrong people, and think it's gospel......