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Student Demonstration Time
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Wikipedia article
"'Student Demonstration Time'" is a song by the American rock band the Beach Boys from their 1971 album 'Surf's Up'. It is an altered version of Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller's "Riot in Cell Block Number 9" with new lyrics by Mike Love.
Background and lyrics
The song which "Student Demonstration Time" is based on"Riot in Cell Block Number 9"was originally written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in 1954, and was considered for inclusion on the Beach Boys' 1965 album 'Party!', but was ultimately not included. The song was subsequently performed live by the Beach Boys in concert starting in 1969. In mid-1970, Mike Love re-wrote the lyrics after learning of the Kent State Shootings where four unarmed college students protesting the Cambodian Campaign were killed by the Ohio National Guard on Monday, May 4, 1970. Stephen Desper, engineer of the Beach Boys during this period, explained the genesis and context behind the song:
Other events referred to in the song include (in order of appearance):
* Autumn 1964 Berkeley Free Speech Movement
* May 1969 People's Park, also in Berkeley, California
* June 1970 rioting in Isla Vista, California
* May 1415, 1970 Jackson State killings
* May 4, 1970 Kent State shootings
Release
"Student Demonstration Time" (backed with "Don't Go Near the Water") was released as a single in the Netherlandswhere it peaked at #21and Italy, as well as Australia, where it charted during 1972. However, for the British and German releases of the single, the A-side and B-side were switched, resulting in "Don't Go Near the Water" being the A-side.
Reception
According to Jack Rieley, the band's manager at the time, "Student Demonstration Time" "had Carl and I blushing with embarrassment", while Dennis was "thoroughly disgusted". Brian disliked the song, saying that the lyrical content was "too intense".
See also
*List of anti-war songs
References
Category:1971 songs
Category:The Beach Boys songs
Category:Songs written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
Category:Songs written by Mike Love
Category:Song recordings produced by the Beach Boys
Category:Anti-war songs
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