Hardly Nursery

It's an ongoing trend among songwriters of mainstream music to recycle old material. Akon turned Bobby Vinton into a chipmunk, for his hit Lonely. Nelly modified Spandeu Ballet's True into N Dey Say.

But what's most worrisome is the perversion of the good old nursery rhymes. You know, the simple naive songs we used to sing during preschool.

Imagine this scenario. At a preschool somewhere in the world:

Ms. Teach: Boys and girls, today we're gonna sing a song. One, two, three...
Hush little baby don't say a word
Mama's gonna buy you a mocking bird
If that mocking bird don't sing --

Johnny: -- I'mma break that birdie's neck
I'd go back to the jewler who sold it to ya
And make him eat every carat, don't fuck with dad (haha)
(Eminem)

Ms. Teach: ARGH!!

Johnny: ??

The next day, at the same preschool, somewhere in the world:

Ms. Teach: Class, today we're gonna sing another song. Ready? One, two, three...
London bridge is falling down, falling down --

Jane: Yo! I’m such a lady, but I’m dancing like a --

Ms. Teach: HO-ld it!

Jane: That's right! Here we go!

All: How come everytime you come around
My London, London bridge, wanna go down like
London, London, London, wanna go down like
London, London, London, we goin’ down like…
(Fergie)

Ms. Teach: That's not how you sing it, class.

Jane: But that's what's playin' on da radio! I’m Fergie Ferg, give me love you long time.

Ms. Teach: Class. That's not how you sing London Bridge!

Class: Oh shit!