High School Never Ends
Encyclopedia
"High School Never Ends" is a song by the Texas pop band Bowling for Soup
. The song was the first single off their ninth album, The Great Burrito Extortion Case
, and was released on September 19, 2006. The song deals with the frustration of graduating from high school
and seeing that popular culture is very similar to culture in high school.
The song was briefly featured on the January 18, 2007 episode of My Name Is Earl
. Part of the song is also featured on commercials for Beauty and the Geek
and also 17 Again
.
(specifically, her alleged eating disorder
- How did Mary Kate lose all that weight?), Jessica Simpson
(you'll never guess what Jessica did), Bill Gates
(Bill Gates, captain of the chess
team), Reese Witherspoon
(Reese Witherspoon, she's the prom
queen), Jack Black
(Jack Black, the clown
), Brad Pitt
(Brad Pitt, the quarterback
) and Tom Cruise
and Katie Holmes
(Katie had a baby so I guess Tom's straight
, also a reference to his litigation against journalists/paparazzi who questioned his sexuality). The song satirizes
many aspects of today's society and its scrutiny of celebrity lives.
as kids, playing the end of their song "1985
" for a school talent show
audition. The person running the auditions says into the microphone "Guys, don't give up your day jobs." Then they walk off the stage, and pass the popular kids, who say "You guys suck". Then, as the popular kids walk away, the young Erik Chandler says to the rest of the band "Don't worry, after high school, everything will be better."
The video then fades to present time with the band going to their high school
reunion. They arrive, instantly recognizing people from the past that bullied them. During a montage of the band getting back at their former bullies, many flashbacks occur.
First, it shows a flashback of Gary Wiseman getting a wedgie by some bullies. Than they hang him by his underwear on the flag. Gary takes his revenge by taking the underwear of the bullie and putting it over his head.. while he is still wearing it.
The next flashback is of Erik Chandler, getting a note reading "kick me" put on his back by a jock. Erik gets him back by putting the punch bowl sign ("Punch") on his back which starts a queue of people ready to take a punch, including a nun
, a pimp
and a knight
in armor.
After a sequence mentioning celebrities of the time, Jaret Reddick invites on stage a popular kid who had embarrassed him at high school by pulling down his trousers in front of a girl he was obviously keen on, revealing his pink underwear. The payback is that the older popular kid is now exposed on stage as Jaret pulls his trousers down. The popular guy then explodes in embarrassment just after a strategically placed sign "too small for TV" appears over his lower body.
Finally, Chris Burney has a flashback of him getting slipped a laxative
by a cheerleader and manages to get his own back by downing (in no particular order) a massive sub sandwich, a chili recovered from his trousers, a goldfish, a white mouse, gasoline, and a match. After jiggling around he then confronts the popular girl and presents the contents of his stomach upon her—by projectile vomiting.
Jaret completes the video by sticking a plectrum
to his rather sweaty forehead.
. Lyric changes included sanitation, e.g. "all the popular cliques" for "all the total dicks", "whole wide world" for "whole damn world", "what's been suppressed" for "who's having sex", and "who thinks they're funny" for "who gets the honeys".
Additional changes in the second verse and bridge altered or softened the critique of pop culture in the original lyrics. "How did Mary Kate lose all that weight" changed to "How does Mary Kate always look so great?" and "Katie had a baby so I guess Tom’s straight" changed to "Katie's with Tom, okay I got that straight." The lines "Who’s in the club and who’s on the drugs, Who’s throwing up before they digest" were removed entirely.
Bowling for Soup
Bowling for Soup is an American pop-punk band which originally formed in Wichita Falls, Texas in 1994...
. The song was the first single off their ninth album, The Great Burrito Extortion Case
The Great Burrito Extortion Case
I'm Gay sounds like it ends prematurely. The ending is cut in the middle of a guitar part.Many of the bonus tracks were released in 2008 on the Japanese 2008 Re-Issue of Bowling for Soup Goes to the Movies.-B-sides:-Credits:...
, and was released on September 19, 2006. The song deals with the frustration of graduating from high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
and seeing that popular culture is very similar to culture in high school.
The song was briefly featured on the January 18, 2007 episode of My Name Is Earl
My Name Is Earl
My Name Is Earl is an American television comedy series created by Greg Garcia that was originally broadcast on the NBC television network from September 20, 2005, to May 14, 2009, in the United States...
. Part of the song is also featured on commercials for Beauty and the Geek
Beauty and the Geek
Beauty and the Geek is a reality television series on The CW. It has been advertised as "The Ultimate Social Experiment" and is produced by Ashton Kutcher, Jason Goldberg and Nick Santora....
and also 17 Again
17 Again (film)
17 Again: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was released on April 21, 2009 by New Line Records.-Track listing:# "On My Own" by Vincent and The Villains# "Can't Say No" by The Helio Sequence# "L.E.S...
.
Song references
The song contains many references to today's culture. Specific celebrities mentioned include Mary-Kate OlsenMary-Kate Olsen
Mary-Kate Olsen is an American actress, producer, author and fashion designer. She made her career debut in 1987 alongside her twin sister Ashley Olsen in the television series Full House...
(specifically, her alleged eating disorder
Eating disorder
Eating disorders refer to a group of conditions defined by abnormal eating habits that may involve either insufficient or excessive food intake to the detriment of an individual's physical and mental health. Bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, and binge eating disorder are the most common specific...
- How did Mary Kate lose all that weight?), Jessica Simpson
Jessica Simpson
Jessica Ann Simpson is an American recording artist, actress, television personality, and fashion designer whose rise to fame began in 1999. Since that time, Simpson has achieved many recording milestones, starred in several television shows, movies, and commercials, launched a line of hair and...
(you'll never guess what Jessica did), Bill Gates
Bill Gates
William Henry "Bill" Gates III is an American business magnate, investor, philanthropist, and author. Gates is the former CEO and current chairman of Microsoft, the software company he founded with Paul Allen...
(Bill Gates, captain of the chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
team), Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon
Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon , better known as Reese Witherspoon, is an American actress and film producer. Witherspoon landed her first feature role as the female lead in the film The Man in the Moon in 1991; later that year she made her television acting debut, in the cable movie Wildflower...
(Reese Witherspoon, she's the prom
Prom
In the United States and Canada, a prom, short for promenade, is a formal dance, or gathering of high school students. It is typically held near the end of the senior year. It figures greatly in popular culture and is a major event among high school students...
queen), Jack Black
Jack Black
Jack Black , is an American actor and musician, notably of Tenacious D.Jack Black may also refer to:* Jack Black , late 19th - early 20th Century author and hobo* Jack Black , drummer for 1970s UK punk band The Boys...
(Jack Black, the clown
Clown
Clowns are comic performers stereotypically characterized by the grotesque image of the circus clown's colored wigs, stylistic makeup, outlandish costumes, unusually large footwear, and red nose, which evolved to project their actions to large audiences. Other less grotesque styles have also...
), Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt
William Bradley "Brad" Pitt is an American actor and film producer. Pitt has received two Academy Award nominations and four Golden Globe Award nominations, winning one...
(Brad Pitt, the quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
) and Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise
Thomas Cruise Mapother IV , better known as Tom Cruise, is an American film actor and producer. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards and he has won three Golden Globe Awards....
and Katie Holmes
Katie Holmes
Katherine Noelle "Katie" Holmes is an American actress who first achieved fame for her role as Joey Potter on The WB television teen drama Dawson's Creek from 1998 to 2003. Her movie roles have included the blockbuster Batman Begins along with art house films such as The Ice Storm and thrillers...
(Katie had a baby so I guess Tom's straight
Heterosexuality
Heterosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the opposite sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, heterosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, physical or romantic attractions to persons of the opposite sex";...
, also a reference to his litigation against journalists/paparazzi who questioned his sexuality). The song satirizes
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
many aspects of today's society and its scrutiny of celebrity lives.
Music video
The video starts with the members of Bowling for SoupBowling for Soup
Bowling for Soup is an American pop-punk band which originally formed in Wichita Falls, Texas in 1994...
as kids, playing the end of their song "1985
1985 (song)
"1985" is a song best known for its performance in 2004 by the pop punk band Bowling for Soup which reached #23 on the Billboard Hot 100...
" for a school talent show
Talent show
A talent show is an event where participants perform their talent or talents of acting, singing, dancing, acrobatics, drumming, martial arts, playing an instrument, and other activities to showcase a unique form of talent, sometimes for a reward, trophy or prize...
audition. The person running the auditions says into the microphone "Guys, don't give up your day jobs." Then they walk off the stage, and pass the popular kids, who say "You guys suck". Then, as the popular kids walk away, the young Erik Chandler says to the rest of the band "Don't worry, after high school, everything will be better."
The video then fades to present time with the band going to their high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
reunion. They arrive, instantly recognizing people from the past that bullied them. During a montage of the band getting back at their former bullies, many flashbacks occur.
First, it shows a flashback of Gary Wiseman getting a wedgie by some bullies. Than they hang him by his underwear on the flag. Gary takes his revenge by taking the underwear of the bullie and putting it over his head.. while he is still wearing it.
The next flashback is of Erik Chandler, getting a note reading "kick me" put on his back by a jock. Erik gets him back by putting the punch bowl sign ("Punch") on his back which starts a queue of people ready to take a punch, including a nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
, a pimp
Pimp
A pimp is an agent for prostitutes who collects part of their earnings. The pimp may receive this money in return for advertising services, physical protection, or for providing a location where she may engage clients...
and a knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
in armor.
After a sequence mentioning celebrities of the time, Jaret Reddick invites on stage a popular kid who had embarrassed him at high school by pulling down his trousers in front of a girl he was obviously keen on, revealing his pink underwear. The payback is that the older popular kid is now exposed on stage as Jaret pulls his trousers down. The popular guy then explodes in embarrassment just after a strategically placed sign "too small for TV" appears over his lower body.
Finally, Chris Burney has a flashback of him getting slipped a laxative
Laxative
Laxatives are foods, compounds, or drugs taken to induce bowel movements or to loosen the stool, most often taken to treat constipation. Certain stimulant, lubricant, and saline laxatives are used to evacuate the colon for rectal and/or bowel examinations, and may be supplemented by enemas under...
by a cheerleader and manages to get his own back by downing (in no particular order) a massive sub sandwich, a chili recovered from his trousers, a goldfish, a white mouse, gasoline, and a match. After jiggling around he then confronts the popular girl and presents the contents of his stomach upon her—by projectile vomiting.
Jaret completes the video by sticking a plectrum
Plectrum
A plectrum is a small flat tool used to pluck or strum a stringed instrument. For hand-held instruments such as guitars and mandolins, the plectrum is often called a pick, and is a separate tool held in the player's hand...
to his rather sweaty forehead.
Radio Disney edit
A separate edit of the song was recorded for Radio DisneyRadio Disney
Radio Disney is a radio network based in Burbank, California and headquartered out of the Disney Channel headquarters on West Alameda Ave., from where it has been based since November 2008. Prior to that, the network was based in Dallas, Texas...
. Lyric changes included sanitation, e.g. "all the popular cliques" for "all the total dicks", "whole wide world" for "whole damn world", "what's been suppressed" for "who's having sex", and "who thinks they're funny" for "who gets the honeys".
Additional changes in the second verse and bridge altered or softened the critique of pop culture in the original lyrics. "How did Mary Kate lose all that weight" changed to "How does Mary Kate always look so great?" and "Katie had a baby so I guess Tom’s straight" changed to "Katie's with Tom, okay I got that straight." The lines "Who’s in the club and who’s on the drugs, Who’s throwing up before they digest" were removed entirely.
Charts
| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
40 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
97 |
| U.S. Billboard Pop 100 Pop 100 The Pop 100 was a songs chart that debuted in February 2005 and was released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States until its discontinuation in 2009... |
79 |