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In both the UK and the US, which are seeing vital elections in 2024 (starting with the local elections in the UK next week), the youth voter turnout is very low. It's below 60% in the UK for 25-34-year-olds, and in the US in 2020 young people turned out at almost half the rate of older voters. So with Alfie about to vote in his first General Election later this year, we decided to tackle the subject by putting together a parody of the song “Kids“ written by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers, and first released as a duet with Kylie in 2000 (part of his album Sing When You're Winning, and hers, Light Years) - including the dreadful rap at the end, which we chose to hand over to Ori Ori and friends. ________ We actually recorded this live around the table last Monday as part of a brilliant British campaign called “Give an X“ encouraging voter registration, but we messed up the camera focus, so it wasn't very shareable. And since we had a laugh singing it, and figured it was an important topic - we decided to revisit the whole shebang and work it up from scratch, including all instruments. This is a 'clean' version too, so might even work for younger listeners - all the research shows engaging with politics and in elections is a habit that can be embedded just as effectively as it can be abandoned. Interesting reading here on both age and class etc. for the stattos: (UK) and (US) And great youth voter initiatives here for the UK: and here for the US: Feel free to add comments of similar in other countries, and we'll try to pin them or edit them in too. ___________________________ Support us here: - PayPal to leave us a tip jar: - Patreon for ongoing support & bonuses: Find our other channels here: Follow us here: - - - - - @marshfamilysongs - ___________________________ LYRICS: The young are quite embittered Showing disregard Opportunities are pretty hard Voter registration Shows they’re falling through the cracks Politics makes people turn their backs Gotta change the numbers, and get it fixed Stop old folks screwin’ it for the kids So come on: Jump on board, use your rights (They’ll be screwin’ you otherwise) Get involved, or, pay the price Cause the kids are all quiet! Voting in elections Ain’t the sexiest reward Campaign leaflets often leave you bored You may find you’re repelled by your society But if you don’t take a stand The power and the wealth is in other hands Go from prey to hunter, in politics Your vote might do a bit for the kids So come on: folks before sacrificed (They were fighting for your rights) Register, worth a try! Cause the kids are alright You gotta get ID and get voting It’s gonna matter if you don’t vote You gotta pick the best for your future You gotta pick a side to promote You gotta give an x and get voting It’s gonna matter if you don’t vote You gotta take a slice of the future You better sit up now and take note Issues you believe in Whether they’re seen as left or right It’s hard to move or to even pursue When you’re victimised The disaffection’s easy And it’s ringing through the land Well, try to turn the tables You’re not that bad! Jump on board, use your rights (echo), yeah (They’ll be screwin’ you otherwise) Get involved, or, pay the price, yeah (Cos the kids are alright!) Don’t be all glassy-eyed (They’ll be screwin’ you otherwise) Don’t get more zombified Cos the kids are alright! A democracy’s got pretty weak, scorned and then abhorred Where there is apathy Citizenry abandoning proud history Of advancing suffrage very liberally Let’s be asking how we keep our liberty? Are we snowflakes? Who bleat sheepishly? Who’s been damaging the planet and society? Not the young who knackered the economy! Knuckle down, no time to show lethargy Use the ballot box, just get ID We’ve had to suck it up but now we get to dish it [repeat] ____________________________ Huge thanks to all our amazing Patreons, whose support allows us to make these songs and videos, (& who've had a preview of this one for a while :) HOWLERS: Alyssa Sangeeta Jacobson Memorial Fund Andy Riches Carol Leff Cliff Hope Dan McColm Dave Lee David Patrao David Ryan Derrick Brown Douglas Lind Jim the Magician Geeta & Karen Grandad Lew Mike Smith Patricia Saucier Ronald Slye Sandra Vernooy Simon Haslam Todd
