Ours is one of the schools where a minute or so of music is played before the morning bell is finally rung. Apparently more and more schools are doing this these days. Why, I don’t know. I presume it’s to shepherd in the day lightly and positively, being fun. This may be, and call me cynic if you like, but I also can’t help but remember that in 1984 music would often play over the telescreens. But that is a book, and this is life, and I could get in trouble for making the comparison, so here’s the point where I’ll whistle innocently…
Anyway, moving on, in our case the songs vary from Bon Jovi to the occasional pop ballad. I was watching a boy one morning who happened to be walking past. He looked to be in about Year Two or Three. Just at that moment, the first few bars of music started to play over the loudspeakers; they were the distinct piano arpeggios that begin Adele’s ‘Someone like You’. The boy stopped to listen, possibly hoping to hear a favourite song; however once he realised what was actually playing he grabbed onto his hair with both hands and tugged the ends in obvious disgust.
“Oh, God, I’m so sick of this song,” he muttered to himself as he scuttled off to class.
You and me, buddy. You and me both.
