There’s actually a bit of controversy about “Same Love”, the first of three songs that make up this great Macklemore and Ryan Lewis Tiny Desk Concert.
A Detroit-area teacher who typically begins her 8th grade performing arts classes with a song was suspended for three days after letting a student play “Same Love”. From South Lyon teacher suspended for playing song about being gay:
“I asked [the student] a few questions about the song. If it was violent, if there was any profanity, and he said no. And I said this sounds like a great song to go ahead and use for the class,” said Susan Johnson.
The song is called “Same Love” written in support of same sex marriage. Underground rapper Ben Maclemore tackles the dangers of hate and stereotypes by showing the struggle of a homosexual man from birth to death. As Johnson listened to the song, she said she thought to herself this was something her students could learn from.
“This is one of the things in my school that we’re trying to practice and we’re trying to instill in our students is tolerance to diversity,” she explained.
However, another student in class didn’t agree with the lyrics, went to the office and complained. Before the school day ended, Johnson claims the principal and assistant superintendent told her she was suspended indefinitely without pay.
Here’s how NPR summarized this Tiny Desk Concert:
Tears and laughter in the span of about 15 minutes — that’s what’s so astonishing about these Macklemore & Ryan Lewis songs.
And here are “Same Love”, “Thrift Shop”, and “Can’t Hold Us”.