I Don't Like Mondays: How Boomtown Rats Got Stuck in My Head

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers around the song "I Don't Like Mondays" by the Boomtown Rats, which is associated with the tragic events of January 29, 1979, when Brenda Ann Spencer opened fire at Cleveland Elementary School. The song's upbeat melody contrasts sharply with its dark backstory, as Spencer's infamous quote, "I don't like Mondays," was made during a standoff with police after the shooting. Participants express their frustration when they enjoy a song but later learn about its disturbing context, leading to a conflict between enjoyment and awareness of its history.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the historical context of the Cleveland Elementary School shooting.
  • Familiarity with the Boomtown Rats and their music, particularly "I Don't Like Mondays."
  • Knowledge of the psychological impact of music and lyrics on listeners.
  • Awareness of media representation of tragic events in popular culture.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the full history and impact of the Cleveland Elementary School shooting.
  • Explore the discography and themes of the Boomtown Rats, focusing on their social commentary.
  • Investigate the psychological effects of music on emotions and memory retention.
  • Examine how media portrays violence in relation to music and its cultural implications.
USEFUL FOR

Music enthusiasts, historians, psychologists studying the effects of media on perception, and anyone interested in the intersection of music and societal issues.

CFDFEAGURU
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Somehow I managed to get the Boomtown Rats - I Don't Like Mondays, stuck in my head

 
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haha, I Iove Mondays! The possibilities for the new week are endless :)
 
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Yeah, I don't mind them but I do mind when I get that song stuck in my head. :)
 
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I love the song, it sounds so upbeat, but when you find out what it's about...

On 29 January 1979, 16-year-old Brenda Ann Spencer opened fire on children arriving at Cleveland Elementary School in San Diego from her house across the street, killing two men and wounding eight students and a police officer. Principal Burton Wragg was attempting to rescue children in the line of fire when he was shot and killed, and custodian Mike Suchar was slain attempting to aid Wragg.

Spencer used a rifle her father had given her as a gift. As to what impelled her into this form of murderous madness, she told a reporter, "I don't like Mondays. This livens up the day."

The "Mondays" comment was not the only eyebrow-raising declaration to issue from Spencer that day. According to a report written by the police negotiators who spoke with her during the six-hour standoff, she made
such comments to them as "There was no reason for it, and it was just a lot of fun"; "It was just like shooting ducks in a pond"; and "[the children ] looked like a herd of cows standing around, it was really easy pickings."

Read more at http://www.snopes.com/music/songs/mondays.asp#El2k9VoeLo8L5ycw.99
 
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I will admit, I didn't know the song's history...
 
CFDFEAGURU said:
I will admit, I didn't know the song's history...
Me neither.

I hate it when I fall in love with a song, then view the video and it's something horrible. Nice way to ruin a song!
 
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lisab said:
Me neither.
I hate it when I fall in love with a song, then view the video and it's something horrible. Nice way to ruin a song!
Don't seek the video. There are many videos on the web. :D Enjoy the melody that soothes your mood. That's the point. :D
 
Dammit!

Now it's stuck in my head!

Why did I click on it?
 
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CFDFEAGURU said:
... I do mind when I get that song stuck in my head. :)
Choppy said:
..
Now it's stuck in my head!...
I once ran into the same trouble and realized then that I needed more lubricated food for thoughts.
 
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