"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 Leiber and Mike Stoller's "Riot in Cell Block Number 9" with new lyrics by Mike Love.
Background and lyrics The song that "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 14–15, 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 Netherlands—where it peaked at #21—and 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.
Criticisms According to Jack Rieley, the band's manager at the time, "Student Demonstration Time" "had Carl and I [sic] blushing with embarrassment", while Dennis was "thoroughly disgusted". Brian disliked the song, saying that the lyrical content was "too intense".
The track is widely considered to break up the flow of Surf's Up, as it is at a louder volume, aggressively contrasting the arrangements of adjacent tracks "Disney Girls (1957)" & "Feel Flows".
It placed 7th on the Rolling Stone's list of 50 Terrible Songs on Great Albums.
Personnel Credits from Craig Slowinski
The Beach Boys Al Jardine – backing vocals Bruce Johnston – backing vocals Mike Love – lead and backing vocals, tambourine Carl Wilson – backing vocals, electric guitars Dennis Wilson – backing vocals, drums
Additional musicians Blondie Chaplin – bass guitar Daryl Dragon – tack piano, Moog synthesizer Glenn Ferris – trombone Sal Marquez – trumpet Roger Neumann – tenor saxophone Joel Peskin – tenor saxophone Mike Price – trumpet
Charts +Chart performance for "Student Demonstration Time" Chart (1971–1972) Peakposition Australia (Kent Music Report) 62
See also List of anti-war songs
References