The banned song is called ‘Rainbowland’
A song by Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton has been banned from the setlist of an elementary school summer concert and it’s causing a bit of an uproar.
Some of Miley’s songs could be deemed raunchy but Dolly’s? Her country classics are universally loved and are pretty much free from any controversy.
The song banned is called ‘Rainbowland’. It’s a song about tolerance, respect and embracing your own individuality.
Its lyrics include “wouldn’t it be nice to live in paradise, where we’re free to be exactly who we are” and “lets all dig down deep inside, brush the judgment and fear aside.”
The 2017 song from Miley’s album Younger Now is thought to be a statement of support to the LGBTQ+ community.
Parton has said in the past that the song is supposed to give hope to people during their darker moments.
She said: “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.
“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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“It could be perceived as controversial”
Mum, Sarah Schindler, raised the issue with a local TV channel after her daughter Audrey came home from Hayer Elementary in Wisconsin buzzing because she was going to sing the song at the school concert.
However, last Wednesday the first-grader came home devastated because her song had been banned. Her mum wasted no time getting in touch with the teacher and school superintendent to ask what was going on.
Audrey’s teacher, Ms Tempel, took up the baton and wrote: “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?”
The Superintendent of the school, 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.”
He also said the school management 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.
Allowed on the summer concert list were songs like Louis Armstrong’s ‘What A Wonderful World’ and Kermit the Frog’s ‘The Rainbow Connection.’
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