It's my last term at the musical theatre club that I attend (since I'm going to be going away for university) and I wanted to "go out with a bang", so I arranged an acapella version of When Doves Cry for us to perform at the end-of-term showcase. The only problem is that the principal of the club said that the lyrics for the first verse are "too suggestive", citing the lines "you and I engaged in a kiss" and "the sweat of your body covers me". I need to change these lyrics in order for us to be allowed to perform it, but I'm struggling to think of good alternatives and I was wondering if anyone had any good ideas as to what I could change it to?

you marvin gay and the kids?

Dig if you will a picture of you and I married with kids
the smile on their faces envelope me can you my darling...

[Edited 5/19/19 10:44am]

Pull a Prince and do Dolphin in protest.

OnlyNDaUsa said:

Dig if you will a picture of you and I married with kids
the smile on their faces envelope me can you my darling...

[Edited 5/19/19 10:44am]

This is pretty good. Thank you!

Gheezus, are these people 12 years old or something? They've never seen people kiss? "the sweat of your body covers me" is okay, but "animals strike curious poses, they feel the heat" is fine?? "Touch if U will my stomach Feel how it trembles inside U've got the butterflies all tied up" is ok. Say the next line in a Jerry seinfeld voice, "WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?!" haha I suppose it just seems silly to change lyrics. Even Prince, when he stopped cussing, sang these lyrics per normal.

mdmeridius said:

It's my last term at the musical theatre club that I attend (since I'm going to be going away for university) and I wanted to "go out with a bang", so I arranged an acapella version of When Doves Cry for us to perform at the end-of-term showcase. The only problem is that the principal of the club said that the lyrics for the first verse are "too suggestive", citing the lines "you and I engaged in a kiss" and "the sweat of your body covers me". I need to change these lyrics in order for us to be allowed to perform it, but I'm struggling to think of good alternatives and I was wondering if anyone had any good ideas as to what I could change it to?

I refuse to do your homework for you

Tell him those alternate lyrics to throw him off and then sing the real words during the performance. Do it for Prince. Be a rebel and honor the song. Be edgy.

You aren't doing it justice otherwise. Who are you really gonna offend anyways? They're all a bunch of double drags who teach their kids that love is bad. Be a rebel and honor the song. You won't though.

TrivialPursuit said:

Gheezus, are these people 12 years old or something? They've never seen people kiss? "the sweat of your body covers me" is okay, but "animals strike curious poses, they feel the heat" is fine?? "Touch if U will my stomach Feel how it trembles inside U've got the butterflies all tied up" is ok. Say the next line in a Jerry seinfeld voice, "WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?!" haha I suppose it just seems silly to change lyrics. Even Prince, when he stopped cussing, sang these lyrics per normal.

I know, it's a bit stupid. I changed the "feel the heat" line to "feel the hate" and I also had to cut the second verse due to time constraints, so there is no stomach-touching (shock horror!) in my arrangement.

TheGloved1 said:

Tell him those alternate lyrics to throw him off and then sing the real words during the performance. Do it for Prince. Be a rebel and honor the song. Be edgy.

You aren't doing it justice otherwise. Who are you really gonna offend anyways? They're all a bunch of double drags who teach their kids that love is bad. Be a rebel and honor the song. You won't though.

You're right. I won't. I did consider it, but I'd feel too bad since he didn't have to let me do the song in the first place, and also because I don't want to burn any bridges, as he's offered me a job there to help teach for when I'm not at uni.

Since I'm right, may I perhaps suggest Sussudio instead? That's more fitting

TheGloved1 said:

Since I'm right, may I perhaps suggest Sussudio instead? That's more fitting

Oh god no 😭 I'm really not big on Phill Collins (bar In The Air Tonight), and I really don't like that song.

In 1987...I was in High School at an JROTC ball and the Major or whatever...refused to let me play 1999... because it was "Anti-War"

Strive said:

Pull a Prince and do Dolphin in protest.

Strive said:

Pull a Prince and do Dolphin in protest.

LOL in the 7th grade (Spring 1982)...at the talent show, some kids were going to preform to "Super Freak." They looked great...with cardboard guitars and outfits and hair... they were dope!

At the rehesral they killed it! By far the best! But some teacher did not like it so they...with no warning.., swapped the music to "Another Brink in the Wall" (which another group did just before them... that was cool too...they acted it out and everything...) So it did not work... but they did it...they tried.

how is "you and i engaged in a kiss" suggestive? Kissing is off limits? Change the lyrics in rehersal, use the real ones for the actual performance.

let spend some time together

mdmeridius said:

It's my last term at the musical theatre club that I attend (since I'm going to be going away for university) and I wanted to "go out with a bang", so I arranged an acapella version of When Doves Cry for us to perform at the end-of-term showcase. The only problem is that the principal of the club said that the lyrics for the first verse are "too suggestive", citing the lines "you and I engaged in a kiss" and "the sweat of your body covers me". I need to change these lyrics in order for us to be allowed to perform it, but I'm struggling to think of good alternatives and I was wondering if anyone had any good ideas as to what I could change it to?

.

Just leave those lyrics alone, will you?
If someone has issues with the lyrics, pick a different song.

OnlyNDaUsa said:

you marvin gay and the kids?

mdmeridius said:

It's my last term at the musical theatre club that I attend (since I'm going to be going away for university) and I wanted to "go out with a bang", so I arranged an acapella version of When Doves Cry for us to perform at the end-of-term showcase. The only problem is that the principal of the club said that the lyrics for the first verse are "too suggestive", citing the lines "you and I engaged in a kiss" and "the sweat of your body covers me". I need to change these lyrics in order for us to be allowed to perform it, but I'm struggling to think of good alternatives and I was wondering if anyone had any good ideas as to what I could change it to?

Are you in kindergarten?

databank said:

mdmeridius said:

It's my last term at the musical theatre club that I attend (since I'm going to be going away for university) and I wanted to "go out with a bang", so I arranged an acapella version of When Doves Cry for us to perform at the end-of-term showcase. The only problem is that the principal of the club said that the lyrics for the first verse are "too suggestive", citing the lines "you and I engaged in a kiss" and "the sweat of your body covers me". I need to change these lyrics in order for us to be allowed to perform it, but I'm struggling to think of good alternatives and I was wondering if anyone had any good ideas as to what I could change it to?

Are you in kindergarten?

^ Oh, OK, I see you're in hi skool. So.. are you in Saudi Arabia??

.

Oh, no, I see you're in the UK. Well, maybe you should ask your principal if the female students are also to cover their hair and wear long dresses and whether he should establish a rule in the school that girls and boys aren't to hold hands in public?

.

I mean seriously!! Don't get me wrong, I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at your principal. WTF is that??! I'm from Europe, too, and when I was in high school 25 years ago it wouldn't have crossed a teachers' mind to trip on such lyrics!!! Head or Eye Wanna Melt With U? OK, maybe that would have created some embarrassment, but friggin' When Doves Cry???!! In high school??! WTF?!

.

[Edited 5/20/19 6:55am]

Give them the new lyrics but tell everyone to do the old ones any way. Dare ya!

mdmeridius said:

TrivialPursuit said:

Gheezus, are these people 12 years old or something? They've never seen people kiss? "the sweat of your body covers me" is okay, but "animals strike curious poses, they feel the heat" is fine?? "Touch if U will my stomach Feel how it trembles inside U've got the butterflies all tied up" is ok. Say the next line in a Jerry seinfeld voice, "WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?!" haha I suppose it just seems silly to change lyrics. Even Prince, when he stopped cussing, sang these lyrics per normal.

I know, it's a bit stupid. I changed the "feel the heat" line to "feel the hate" and I also had to cut the second verse due to time constraints, so there is no stomach-touching (shock horror!) in my arrangement.

Feel the hate? After you've talked about kissing, etc.?

Just pick another song if you can't sing it the way it's intended.

[Edited 5/20/19 7:29am]

Strive said:

Pull a Prince and do Dolphin in protest.

Or Pearls B4 The Swine

Kares said:

mdmeridius said:

It's my last term at the musical theatre club that I attend (since I'm going to be going away for university) and I wanted to "go out with a bang", so I arranged an acapella version of When Doves Cry for us to perform at the end-of-term showcase. The only problem is that the principal of the club said that the lyrics for the first verse are "too suggestive", citing the lines "you and I engaged in a kiss" and "the sweat of your body covers me". I need to change these lyrics in order for us to be allowed to perform it, but I'm struggling to think of good alternatives and I was wondering if anyone had any good ideas as to what I could change it to?

.

Just leave those lyrics alone, will you?
If someone has issues with the lyrics, pick a different song.

I've got exams coming up in 2 weeks and I don't have the time to create a four-part harmony acapella version of another song. I'm not too happy either about having to change the lyrics either, but if it means it will get performed, then so be it.

databank said:

databank said:

Are you in kindergarten?

^ Oh, OK, I see you're in hi skool. So.. are you in Saudi Arabia??

.

Oh, no, I see you're in the UK. Well, maybe you should ask your principal if the female students are also to cover their hair and wear long dresses and whether he should establish a rule in the school that girls and boys aren't to hold hands in public?

.

I mean seriously!! Don't get me wrong, I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at your principal. WTF is that??! I'm from Europe, too, and when I was in high school 25 years ago it wouldn't have crossed a teachers' mind to trip on such lyrics!!! Head or Eye Wanna Melt With U? OK, maybe that would have created some embarrassment, but friggin' When Doves Cry???!! In high school??! WTF?!

.

[Edited 5/20/19 6:55am]

I think it mainly has to do with the fact that the club is for 4-18 year olds, and the younger groups (as well as their parents) will be present during our performance and he doesn't want to deal with any flack he might get from parents complaining about the lyrics.

onlyforaminute said:

This is what i thought of though not quite a cappello the lyrics sound changed or obscured. How can u just leave me standing alone in a world that’s so cold? Maybe I’m just 2 demanding. Maybe I’m just like my father: 2 bold. Maybe you’re just like my mother. She’s never satisfied. Why do we scream at each other? This is what it sounds like when doves cry. Yes, they cry, oh they cry. How can u just leave me standing alone in a world that’s so cold? Maybe I’m just 2 demanding. Maybe I’m just like my father: 2 bold. Maybe you’re just like my mother. She’s never satisfied. Why do we scream at each other? This is what it sounds like when doves cry. This is what it sounds like This is what it sounds like This is what it sounds like Oh ah, oh ah Dream, if u can, a courtyard, an ocean of vi’lets in bloom. Animals strike curious poses. They feel the heat, the heat between me and u. Maybe you’re just like my mother. She’s never satisfied. She’s never satisfied. Why do we scream at each other? This is what it sounds like when doves cry. source: https://www.lyricsondeman...yrics.html [Edited 5/20/19 8:07am]

Thank you for the suggestion, but I've already arranged it and Quindon's version is quite a bit different from what I already had in mind. I think I'm going to go with the lyrics that OnlyNDaUsa suggested as they're better than anything I could come up with and they fit reasonably well.

mdmeridius said:

databank said:

^ Oh, OK, I see you're in hi skool. So.. are you in Saudi Arabia??

.

Oh, no, I see you're in the UK. Well, maybe you should ask your principal if the female students are also to cover their hair and wear long dresses and whether he should establish a rule in the school that girls and boys aren't to hold hands in public?

.

I mean seriously!! Don't get me wrong, I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at your principal. WTF is that??! I'm from Europe, too, and when I was in high school 25 years ago it wouldn't have crossed a teachers' mind to trip on such lyrics!!! Head or Eye Wanna Melt With U? OK, maybe that would have created some embarrassment, but friggin' When Doves Cry???!! In high school??! WTF?!

.

[Edited 5/20/19 6:55am]

I think it mainly has to do with the fact that the club is for 4-18 year olds, and the younger groups (as well as their parents) will be present during our performance and he doesn't want to deal with any flack he might get from parents complaining about the lyrics.

I honestly wouldn't mind playing WDC for a 4 year old but if's that sort of school then you should have chosen Graffiti Bridge, not WDC. No big deal though, sing Marvin Gaye And The Kids, no one will notice, it's not the Grammy Awards, and in the end you'll have learned a good lesson not to cast pearls before the swine

.

[Edited 5/20/19 9:51am]

mdmeridius said: