The Song Remains the Same (WARNING: VERY VERY VERY BAD LANGUAGE)

Last week, a member of the Neenah High School Dance Team got high praise for refusing to perform to the song selected by her team.  Emma McLaughlin was put off by the words conatained in "Out of My Mind" by B.o, B featuring Nicki Minaj (because no one can perform by themselves anymore--you always have to "feature" someone too). 

I’m, I’m, I’m, I’m
I’m out of my, out of my mind
Out of my fucking mind
I’m, I’m
I’m out of my, out of my mind
Out of my mind
I’m, I’m
Out of my, out of my mind
I’m, I’m, I’m
I’m out of my, out of my mind
(Mind, mind, mind, mind)
I’m out of my fucking mind
Out of my fucking mind (Mind, mind, mind)
I’m out of my fucking mind, G-G-golly, oh my
I was doing fine, once upon a time
Then my brain left and it didn’t say bye
Don’t look at me wrong; I’m out of my mind
Like Nostradamus and da Vinci combined
So paranoid of espionage
I’m watching my doors and checking my blinds
My brain is on vacation, they telling me
And I’m bi-polar to the severity
And I need medication, apparently
And some electrocompulsive therapy
I am a rebel but yes I’m so militant
Still I’m eligible for disabilities
I am psychotic but there is no remedy
This is not figurative, this is literally
If these niggas go dumb, I go to the mental facility
See, man I’m so out there, I slap fives with E.T
I don’t need a feature, they don’t wanna?
When I’m on this beat
If you feel the same as me, then you gotta agree
I’m, I’m, I’m, I’m
I’m out of my, out of my mind
Out of my fucking mind
I’m, I’m
I’m out of my, out of my mind
Out of my mind
I’m, I’m
Out of my, out of my mind
I’m, I’m, I’m
I’m out of my, out of my mind
(Mind, mind, mind, mind)
I’m out of my fucking mind
Out of my fucking mind (Mind, mind, mind)
What’s your name? B.o.B?
So, they callin’ you Bob?
Stop playing, nigga, you know that I’m known for the Bob
Couple hit songs, got you thinking you a hearthrob
Well, this thang so good, make a nigga wanna sob
(Hmm, hmm)
You don’t need a feature?
Nigga, I’m the feature
You gon’ be the priest, and I’mma be the preacher
You can be the he-man, I’mma be the she-ra
You can be the Grim, I’mma be the Reaper
Now, now airplanes in the night skies
Are like shooting stars?
Well, you gon really need a wish right now
When my goons come through and start shooting stars
You know, I’m all about shoes and cars
I’m kinda drunk off blue Bacardi
I told Baby when I get my new advance
I’mma blow that motherfucker on a blue Bugatti
You know, I graduated summa cum laude
That’s why they thinking I’m Illuminati
And matter fact, let’s kiss and make-up
I’ll help you escape on my blue Ducati
Hallelujah!
I’m, I’m, I’m, I’m
I’m out of my, out of my mind
Out of my fucking mind
I’m, I’m
I’m out of my, out of my mind
Out of my mind
I’m, I’m
Out of my, out of my mind
I’m, I’m, I’m
I’m out of my, out of my mind (Mind, mind, mind, mind)
I’m out of my fucking mind
Out of my fucking mind (Mind, mind, mind)
I’m out of it
I can’t seem to come out of it
What’s going on inside of my head?
It feels like I’m being John Malkovich
Ladies and gentlemen, please turn it down a bit
There’s an announcement, I like to announce (It…)
Wait, how am I’m suppose to announce this shit?
I don’t need this song, I don’t need this nigga
Cause a nigga bring the noise like an onomonopia
Leave him in the dust, all he see is my Adidas
Na na na na boo boo, wouldn’t want to be ya
Never turnin’ back, how you think I got here?
And I’m never slowing down, fuck was that a deer?
If you got a problem, step to the office
Matter fact, never mind, talk to the Kiosk, Biatch
You have no idea
That’s why they call me B dot
Been a maniac ever since I was knee-high
I’m gonna need help, someone call Charter,
Maybe call FEMA cause I got to be crazy
Or outta my mind to have this many steps on my VISA
I’m, I’m, I’m, I’m
I’m out of my, out of my mind
Out of my fucking mind
I’m, I’m
I’m out of my, out of my mind
Out of my mind
I’m, I’m
Out of my, out of my mind
I’m, I’m, I’m
I’m out of my, out of my mind
(Mind, mind, mind, mind)
I’m out of my fucking mind
Out of my fucking mind (Mind, mind, mind)
Wait, if I’m here and you’re there?
And if I’m here and you’re there?
And if I’m here and you’re there?
And if I’m here and you’re there?
And if I’m here and you’re there?
And if I’m here and you’re there?
Um, yeah, yeah
Nicki, B.o.B, ho
(Shh… they might be listening)

A review of said lyrics shows a number of F-bombs and multiple uses of the "N-word"--but I'm guessing that the Neenah dancers were using a "radio edit" version of the song in order to get around that.  But Miss McLaughlin was still offended by the references to bi-polar disorder and the stigmatizing of mental health issues--and didn't want to perform.  School officials agreed with her that the song is unacceptable--but felt it would be "unfair to the team" to change their song at the last minute--so McLaughlin was allowed to sit out the performances without punishment and the dancers still got to play their offensive song.

As a referee, an umpire and a play-by-play guy, I am around high school sporting events a lot--and I can tell you that "Out of My Mind" is not the only questionable song selection being played in our gymnasiums and sports fields.  Sexual and misogynistic lyrics abound in many warm-up and timeout mixtapes.  Girls are told to "get that up all over me" and how much guys want to "tap that ass".  There have been a number of times that I have told my officiating partner that I am going to file formal complaints with the WIAA about the songs being played and push for a ban on recorded music during high school sporting events.  You want music before the game and at halftime?  Get your pep band to show up and stay for more than the National Anthem.

I can hear some of you saying "You're just are biased against Hip Hop and black artists".  Well, even Camp Randall Stadium favorite "Jump Around" is of questionable taste.  That song features lines like "If your girl steps up I smacking the ho'" and "I never eat a pig cuz a pig is a cop".  Now, you never hear those lyrics at a Badgers game because the audio engineer turns the music down before they come on (following myriad complaints in the early days of the tradition from campus officials).  But PA guys who think they are clever at several high school football fields I've been to let the song play all the way out.  And at the sectional semi-final game I did on the air last week, both student sections were more than enthusiastic in shouting "TEQUILA!!" during that moldy oldie played by the band.  So much for those anti-youth drinking messages.

I once asked an athletic director why they played such songs and if they were reviewed by administration before being blasted at ear-splitting levels over and over again in the gym.  I was told "that is what the kids want to hear".  Well I'm guessing that the kids would like to have Mountain Dew and pizza for every meal every day--but we don't give them that either, do we?