Jon W. brought up a question in the "live music" thread . He wondered if anyone has suggestions on how to coax Boy Scouts into singing. I've got the same question.
I was a Cubmaster for some 10 years, working with boys 6-11 years old. I did a lot of singing with them, and thye seemed to enjoy it. I have to admit that I found the most of the songs in books published by the Boy Scouts didn't go over very well. I seemed to have a lot of success with songs that dealt with booze and violence. "Mountain Dew" was popular, and so was "The Deacon Went Down." they liked Shel Silverstein's "Welcome to Our House," and the one about Anne Boleyn called "With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm." They also loved "MTA," and "The Hole in the Bottom of the Sea."
When the kids hit Boy Scout age, 12, they weren't so interested in the songs I sang, and I kind of lost heart. then I took them to camp, and the counselors sang. Since the counselors were close to their own age, the boys decided it was OK to sing. Some of the songs they liked at camp were "Titanic," "The Rooster" (in the database - the song about the rooster helping out the chicken that wouldn't lay eggs), "The Cat Came Back," and even the "Hokey-Pokey."
So, Jon, there's one hint - get them to a place where they have kids doing the song leading. Any other hints or song suggestions for Jon, anyone?
-Joe Offer-