What is this kids choir song?

June 12, 2023 10:23 PM

It's called "when I'm wearing my shades" and I had to do it was a kid. there were other songs about sunglasses at the time, but I can't find out anything about this.

here is an example:
https://youtu.be/3VhRoV9UUJU

it had choreography and everything, and was the highlight of the show because good luck getting 30 5th graders to do anything together right.

Anyway, I can't find anything about what this song is, where it's from or... Basically anything. A few scant youtube videos are the only thing assuring me that it wasn't a hallucination.

posted by lkc to Education (5 answers total)

Best answer: Ah yes, “Shades” by Hank Beebe!

In the mid 80s, my middle school choir class roundly vetoed doing “Shades” for our end of the year show because we were so outraged that our teacher would even suggest something this cringey. We had never hated a song so much. Even the fake-chipper songs about persistence and making a song for one’s heart to sing didn’t draw this level of vitriol, but I think we were just a smidge too old to think it was fun and appalled at the prospect of being seen as babyish.

Here’s another choir singing it.

And a fifth grade class that led me to the author’s name.
posted by corey flood at 11:02 PM on June 12, 2023 [4 favorites]

“Shades” !! I had forgotten it existed. It was a terrible song to perform while maintaining any sense of feeling like a cool kid.
posted by walkinginsunshine at 3:27 AM on June 13, 2023 [2 favorites]

Beebe had other songs in his accessory bin: Hats and Gloves.

I remember singing both with my junior high-age choir while performing stilted, mild choreography. I remember that my gloves were a pair of deerskin choppers that were WAY too hot, but I'm not sure what kind of hat I wound up with. I do remember that one girl asked permission to wear her cheesehead hat...and even though permission was granted it elicited some good-natured scoffs from the audience.
posted by Gray Duck at 7:12 AM on June 13, 2023

PS Thanks for the earworm. I can't believe i remember EVERY WORD to both songs, and some of the choreography!!
posted by Gray Duck at 7:21 AM on June 13, 2023 [1 favorite]

“Boy, this sounds an awful lot like ‘Gloves!’” she mused, glovingly.

So when we applaud you with our gloves on
It’s you who understands
We’re giving yooooou [CLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAP]
The wa-arm-esssssst [CLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAP]
Of hands!

You know, gloves sometimes are called “mitts.”
posted by St. Hubbins at 9:42 AM on June 13, 2023 [1 favorite]