What I Go to School For
Encyclopedia
"What I Go to School For" is the debut single released by English
pop punk
boyband
Busted. It was released on September 16, 2002, and reached #3 in the UK Singles Chart
. The song was inspired by a teacher that bassist
Matt Willis
had a crush on at school. It was parodied
by the Amateur Transplants
on their 2004 album Fitness to Practice
. It was also later re-written by the Jonas Brothers
and covered on their 2006 album It's About Time
. A young Jade Ewen
from girl group Sugababes
appeared in the video.
appeares in the video as a school girl. In 2003, the real-life inspiration for the song was revealed to be Matt's former teacher Michelle Blair, who made a surprise appearance on The Frank Skinner Show
on ITV1
during an interview with Matt. Michelle, who was 28 and had been married for three years at the time of her appearance on The Frank Skinner Show, was Matt's dance teacher at the Sylvia Young Theatre School
when Matt was 15. Speaking about the surprise appearance with Matt on the show, Michelle said: "It was hilarious - he looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him up. I only found out the song was about me after it came out - it's really flattering." Michelle said that at the time she was not aware of her pupil's crush on her, but that she did remember him from the dance classes: "He was quite cheeky and charming and always had something to say in class. He used to tell us he was in a band, but I never dreamed they were going to be this big and I certainly hadn't a clue I was going to feature in one of their songs!" Commenting on the veracity of these events as portrayed in the song, Michelle said: "I think he's used a bit of artistic licence in the song. It was a dance class so we never used any pencils but I suppose he had ample opportunity to look at my bum. There was never any tree outside my bedroom window though - I think I might have noticed a Peeping Tom." Reflecting on his time under the tutelage of Miss Blair, Matt said, "She was kind of nice and there was always something really sexy about her." Being identified as the object of adolescent lust, and the subject of a pop song, hasn't caused any friction with her husband according to Michelle: "My husband thinks its hilarious and takes the mickey. I don't think he's really worried I'm going to run off with a pop star. I'm proud of them. Looking back it was obvious Matt had what it takes."
UK CD2
UK Cassette
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
pop punk
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
boyband
Boy band
A boy band is loosely defined as a popular music act consisting of only male singers. The members are expected to dance as well as sing, usually giving highly choreographed performances. More often than not, boy band members do not play musical instruments, either in recording sessions or on...
Busted. It was released on September 16, 2002, and reached #3 in the 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 ...
. The song was inspired by a teacher that bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Matt Willis
Matt Willis
Matthew James Willis is an English singer-songwriter. He found fame as a founding member of the band Busted.- Early years :...
had a crush on at school. It was parodied
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
by the Amateur Transplants
Amateur Transplants
Amateur Transplants are a London based, British parody musical duo consisting of medical professionals, Dr. Adam Kay and Dr. Suman Biswas , who came to prominence in 2005 with a song about the London Underground, parodying the Jam song "Going Underground"...
on their 2004 album Fitness to Practice
Fitness to Practice
Fitness to Practice is a 2004 album produced for charity by Amateur Transplants . 10% of the profits from the album sales go to Macmillan Cancer Relief....
. It was also later re-written by the Jonas Brothers
Jonas Brothers
The Jonas Brothers are an American boy band. The band gained its popularity from the Disney Channel children's television network. From the shore region of New Jersey, the band consists of three brothers: Paul Kevin Jonas II , Joseph Adam Jonas , and Nicholas Jerry Jonas...
and covered on their 2006 album It's About Time
It's About Time (Jonas Brothers album)
It's About Time is the debut studio album from the Jonas Brothers. It was released on August 8, 2006 on Columbia Records. The album was successful in the Christian genre and was released in Christian bookstores through INO Records. Later an amended version of the album was released through Daylight...
. A young Jade Ewen
Jade Ewen
Jade Almarie Louise Ewen is an English singer, songwriter, actress and member of the Sugababes. Ewen began her singing career in a girl group named Trinity Stone signed to Sony BMG in 2005, but they disbanded in 2007 with no album released...
from girl group Sugababes
Sugababes
The Sugababes are an English pop girl group based in London, consisting of members Heidi Range, Amelle Berrabah and Jade Ewen. The Sugababes were formed in 1998 with founding members Siobhán Donaghy, Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan. Their debut album, One Touch, was released in 2000 under London...
appeared in the video.
Background
The video for the song features model Lorna Roberts as Miss McKenzie, the object of the band's lust. Sugababe Jade EwenJade Ewen
Jade Almarie Louise Ewen is an English singer, songwriter, actress and member of the Sugababes. Ewen began her singing career in a girl group named Trinity Stone signed to Sony BMG in 2005, but they disbanded in 2007 with no album released...
appeares in the video as a school girl. In 2003, the real-life inspiration for the song was revealed to be Matt's former teacher Michelle Blair, who made a surprise appearance on The Frank Skinner Show
The Frank Skinner Show
The Frank Skinner Show was a television chat show hosted by comedian Frank Skinner which lasted nine series on British television between 1995 and 2005.It was screened on BBC One from its first episode on 10 September 1995 until 3 June 1999....
on ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
during an interview with Matt. Michelle, who was 28 and had been married for three years at the time of her appearance on The Frank Skinner Show, was Matt's dance teacher at the Sylvia Young Theatre School
Sylvia Young Theatre School
Sylvia Young Theatre School is an independent fee-paying stage school, in Westminster, London, named after its founder and Principal, Sylvia Young.-Outline:...
when Matt was 15. Speaking about the surprise appearance with Matt on the show, Michelle said: "It was hilarious - he looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him up. I only found out the song was about me after it came out - it's really flattering." Michelle said that at the time she was not aware of her pupil's crush on her, but that she did remember him from the dance classes: "He was quite cheeky and charming and always had something to say in class. He used to tell us he was in a band, but I never dreamed they were going to be this big and I certainly hadn't a clue I was going to feature in one of their songs!" Commenting on the veracity of these events as portrayed in the song, Michelle said: "I think he's used a bit of artistic licence in the song. It was a dance class so we never used any pencils but I suppose he had ample opportunity to look at my bum. There was never any tree outside my bedroom window though - I think I might have noticed a Peeping Tom." Reflecting on his time under the tutelage of Miss Blair, Matt said, "She was kind of nice and there was always something really sexy about her." Being identified as the object of adolescent lust, and the subject of a pop song, hasn't caused any friction with her husband according to Michelle: "My husband thinks its hilarious and takes the mickey. I don't think he's really worried I'm going to run off with a pop star. I'm proud of them. Looking back it was obvious Matt had what it takes."
Track listing
UK CD1- "What I Go To School For" (Single Version) - 3:29
- "What I Go To School For" (Acoustic Version) - 3:34
- "What I Go To School For" (Alternative Remix) - 3:26
- "What I Go To School For" (Instrumental) - 3:29
- "What I Go To School For" (CD-ROM Video) - 3:30
UK CD2
- "What I Go To School For" (Single Version) - 3:29
- "Brown Eyed Girl" - 2:56
- "CD-ROM Interactive Interview" - 5:00
UK Cassette
- "What I Go To School For" (Single Version) - 3:29
- "Dawson's Geek" (Demo Version) - 2:37
- "What I Go To School For" (Instrumental) - 3:29
Charts
| Chart (2002) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Singles Chart | 32 |
| German Singles Chart | 34 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 20 |
| UK Singles Chart | 3 |
| Chart (2003) | Peak Position |
| Australian Singles Chart | 22 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 33 |