Wednesday Morning Music: PS22 Chorus - "Joga"

Several summers ago I worked at a summer camp for at-risk youth in Harnett Co. North Carolina. I was in charge of the fourth and fifth grade students, and one day I asked them to bring in their favorite music for some kind of music-slash-art project I was concocting. I spent that evening picking out some of my own CDs and came up with two songs I thought the kids might enjoy. The next day I passed out construction paper and deposited a pile of markers, crayons, colored pencils, etc. in the center of the table and said some uncharacteristically hippie-esque, like, "I'm gonna fire up this CD and I want you to draw what you feel. Feel the music, moon children. Feel the music and bleed your soul onto the canvas!"

All right. It wasn't that bad, but it was something semi-lame like that. They seemed to enjoy the exercise at first. They were quite fond of my first selection: "Such Great Heights" by The Postal Service. My second choice, however, left them less than motivated and, apparently, quite willing to hurt Mr. Matt's feelings. I don't remember the exact song because the moment was so traumatizing, but I do know it was Bjork. I should've known better, I guess. Fourth and fifth graders are not the perfect audience for Bjork's unique brand of yelping and growling. Or are they not? Wait, what?

I discovered this sweetly beautiful rendition of "Joga" on YouTube Monday night and thought it would make a perfect entry for our popular Wednesday Morning Music column. Do yourself a favor and watch the whole thing.

Look at 'em! They are really getting into it. With the exception a few fat ones, these kids seem to genuinely enjoy the song. I don't know what the hell was wrong with my students.

Interesting coda to that summer camp story: after my class laughed Bjork out of the CD player, I snapped, "OK, fine, let's hear what you guys brought in then." And we were treated to the timeless sound of Mr. Ruben Studdard.

Sigh.