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What I Go to School For

{{Short description|2002 single by Busted}}

{{Use British English|date=August 2012}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}

{{Infobox song

| name = What I Go to School For

| cover = Whatigotoschoolfor.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Busted

| album = Busted

| released = {{start date|2002|9|16|df=y}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length = 3:30

| label = {{hlist|Universal|Island}}

| writer = {{hlist|James Bourne|Matthew Jay|Charlie Simpson|Steve Robson|John McLaughlin}}

| producer = Steve Robson

| next_title = Year 3000

| next_year = 2003

}}

"What I Go to School For" is the debut single of English pop rock band Busted. It was written by James Bourne, Charlie Simpson, Matt Willis, Steve Robson, and John McLaughlin and produced by Robson. The track was inspired by a teacher that Matt Willis had a crush on at school. Released on 16 September 2002, the song reached number three on the UK Singles Chart. A young Jade Ewen (who would later join girl group Sugababes) appears in the music video.

Background

Matt Willis told the Essex Chronicle that the song came about after a night out in TOTs 2000 (now known as Talk nightclub) in James Bourne's hometown of Southend-on-Sea. "We were too young, we got drunk and went to TOTs," Willis said. "Then we walked home and continued drinking on the way – it took us ages. When we got back to James' house, we went to his bedroom and just picked up the guitar and that's when we started writing What I Go to School For."{{cite news|last=Smolen|first=Bronya|date=10 May 2019|title=How a Busted smash hit ACTUALLY started in this Essex nightclub|url=https://www.essexlive.news/news/essex-news/how-busteds-what-go-school-2855680|access-date=23 November 2021|website=EssexLive}}

In 2003, the real-life inspiration for the song was revealed to be Willis' former teacher Michelle Blair, who made a surprise appearance on The Frank Skinner Show on ITV during an interview with Willis. Blair, who was 28 and had been married for three years at the time of her appearance on The Frank Skinner Show, was Willis' dance teacher at the Sylvia Young Theatre School when Willis was 15. Speaking about the surprise appearance with Willis on the show, Blair 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."{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/theatre/2003/12/michelle_busted.shtml|title=Beds, Herts and Bucks Theatre - Miss McKenzie|date=December 2003|publisher=BBC Three Counties}} Blair 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, Blair 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."{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/BUSTED%27S+MATT+LUSTED+FOR+ME%3B+I%27m+so+flattered+says+real-life+sexy...-a0110989460|title=BUSTED'S MATT LUSTED FOR ME; I'm so flattered says real-life sexy teacher.|work=thefreelibrary.com}} Reflecting on his time under the tutelage of Miss Blair, Willis 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 Blair: "My husband thinks its (sic) 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."

On 29 October 2012, Michelle Blair appeared as the correct answer in the "line-up" section of BBC Two panel Never Mind the Buzzcocks.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/MichelleBlair/status/263231915509837824|title=@david_leighton hahahah DAVID!!!!!!! Omg.... It was hysterical!... I miss you too much :) xx|last=Blair|first=Michelle|date=29 October 2012|publisher=Twitter|access-date=20 April 2016}}

Musical

What I Go to School For became the title of a musical theatre production{{cite web|url=http://www.youthmusictheatreuk.org/thebustedmusical|title=What I Go To School For - the Busted musical {{!}} Youth Music Theatre UK|website=www.youthmusictheatreuk.org|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808205747/http://www.youthmusictheatreuk.org/thebustedmusical|archive-date=8 August 2016}} produced by Youth Music Theatre UK following the story of Busted from their origins in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, through to their break-up in 2005. The musical was written by Elliot Davis with songs from Busted’s albums and new music by Bourne. It was directed by Steven Dexter and played at the Theatre Royal, Brighton in August 2016.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-37115715|title=Teenagers premiere Busted stage musical What I Go To School For|last=Youngs|first=Ian|date=18 August 2016|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=25 September 2022}}

Music video

The video for the song features model Lorna Roberts as Miss McKenzie, the object of the band's desire.{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/busted-reunited-miss-mckenzie-boys-7129062|title=Busted reunited with Miss McKenzie as the boys get back with their high school crush for new video|last=McGeorge|first=Alastair|date=6 January 2016|work=Daily Mirror|access-date=29 February 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.judgmentofparis.com/video.htm#lorna|title=The Screening Room|work=judgmentofparis.com}} Then 14-year-old Jade Ewen, who later joined the Sugababes, appears in the video as a schoolgirl.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/busteds-official-top-10-biggest-songs-revealed__10936/|title=Are Busted reforming? Their Official Top 10 songs revealed|last=Copsey|first=Rob|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=6 October 2015|access-date=6 October 2015}}{{cite web|last=Limited|first=London Theatre Direct|date=11 May 2018|title=Q&A with Aladdin star Jade Ewen|url=https://www.londontheatredirect.com/news/q-a-with-aladdin-star-jade-ewen|access-date=16 July 2020|website=londontheatredirect.com|language=en}} The filming of the "What I Go to School For" video was later parodied in the video for the 2019 Busted song "Nineties".

Track listings

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

UK CD1 and Australian CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=What I Go to School For|others=Busted|year=2002|type=UK CD1 liner notes|publisher=Universal Records, Island Records|id=MCSTD 40294, 019 329-2}}{{cite AV media notes|title=What I Go to School For|others=Busted|year=2003|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Universal Records, Island Records|id=019 329-2}}

  1. "What I Go to School For" (single version) – 3:30
  2. "What I Go to School For" (acoustic version) – 3:26
  3. "What I Go to School For" (alternative version) – 3:31
  4. "What I Go to School For" (instrumental mix) – 3:28
  5. "What I Go to School For" (CD-ROM video)

UK CD2{{cite AV media notes|title=What I Go to School For|others=Busted|year=2002|type=UK CD2 liner notes|publisher=Universal Records, Island Records|id=MCSXD40294, 019 330-2}}

  1. "What I Go to School For" (single version)
  2. "Brown Eyed Girl"
  3. Interactive interview (CD-ROM video)

{{col-2}}

UK cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=What I Go to School For|others=Busted|year=2002|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Universal Records, Island Records|id=MCSC 40294, 019 331-2}}

  1. "What I Go to School For"
  2. "Dawson's Geek"
  3. "What I Go to School For" (acoustic version)

US CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=What I Go to School For|others=Busted|year=2002|type=US CD single liner notes|publisher=Universal Records|id=B0002603-32}}

  1. "What I Go to School For" (radio version)
  2. "What I Go to School For" (album version)
  3. "What I Go to School For" (CD-ROM video)

Japanese CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=What I Go to School For|others=Busted|year=2003|type=Japanese CD single liner notes|publisher=Universal Music Japan|id=UICI-5011}}

  1. "What I Go to School For"
  2. "Brown Eyed Girl"
  3. "What I Go to School For" (instrumental mix)

{{col-end}}

Personnel

Personnel are taken from the Busted album booklet.{{cite AV media notes|title=Busted|title-link=Busted (2002 album)|others=Busted|year=2002|type=UK CD album booklet|publisher=Universal Records, Island Records|id=MCD60085, 063400-2}}

{{div col}}

  • Busted – all instruments
  • James Bourne – writing
  • Matt Willis – writing (as Matthew Jay)
  • Charlie Simpson – writing
  • Steve Robson – writing, all instruments, production
  • John McLaughlin – writing, additional production
  • Sidh Solanki – additional programming
  • Tom Elmhirst – mixing

{{div col end}}

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (2002–2003)

!Peak
position

{{single chart|Australia|22|artist=Busted|song=What I Go to School For|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Austria|32|artist=Busted|song=What I Go to School For|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Cw0EAAAAMBAJ&q=busted|title=Hits of the World – Eurochart Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|volume=114|issue=40|page=63|date=5 October 2002|access-date=21 July 2012}}

|15

{{single chart|Germany|34|artist=Busted|song=What I Go to School For|songid=5506|rowheader=true|access-date=19 March 2019}}
{{single chart|Ireland2|20|song=What I Go to School For|rowheader=true|access-date=29 January 2020}}
scope="row"|Latvia (Latvijas Top 40){{cite web|url=http://www.lanet.lv/news/airplay/2002/021110lv.html|title=

The most popular songs in Latvia|publisher=Lanet.lv|language=lv|date=10 November 2002|access-date=September 3, 2024}}

|align="center"|24

scope="row"|Romania (Romanian Top 100){{cite web|url=http://www.rt100.ro/editie-top-100_x10051.html|title=Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 50, saptamina 16.12–22.12, 2002|publisher=Romanian Top 100|language=ro|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050217145527/http://www.rt100.ro/editie-top-100_x10051.html|archive-date=17 February 2005|access-date=11 May 2020}}

|75

{{single chart|Scotland|3|date=20020928|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Switzerland|33|artist=Busted|song=What I Go to School For|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|UK|3|date=20020928|rowheader=true}}

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (2002)

!Position

scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC){{cite web|url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/ChartsPlusYE2002.pdf|title=The Official UK Singles Chart 2002|work=UKChartsPlus|access-date=11 May 2020}}

|84

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Busted|title=What I Go to School For|award=Platinum|relyear=2002|certyear=2025|id=12833-166-1}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref(s).|Reference(s)}}

scope="row"|United Kingdom

|16 September 2002

|{{hlist|CD|cassette}}

|rowspan="2"|{{hlist|Universal|Island}}

|align="center"|{{cite web|url=http://www.poprockbands.com/busted/biography/prb.html|title=Busted Biography|website=poprockbands.com|access-date=18 June 2021}}{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2002/Music-Week-2002-09-14.pdf|title=New Releases – For Week Starting 16 September 2002: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=23|date=14 September 2002|access-date=28 August 2021}}

scope="row"|Australia

|13 January 2003

|rowspan="2"|CD

|align="center"|{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/Issue673.pdf|title=The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 13th January 2003|publisher=ARIA|page=23|date=13 January 2003|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20030106130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20030107-0000/Issue673.pdf|archive-date=6 January 2003|access-date=18 June 2021}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

scope="row"|Japan

|21 June 2003

|Universal Music Japan

|align="center"|{{cite web|url=http://www.universal-music.co.jp/u-pop/mein/release/0306.html|title=2003/6月新譜リリース表|trans-title=June 2003 New Release List|publisher=Universal Music Japan|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040205105638fw_/http://www.universal-music.co.jp/u-pop/mein/release/0306.html|archive-date=5 February 2004|access-date=28 August 2023}}

scope="row"|United States

|23 August 2004

|Contemporary hit radio

|Universal

|align="center"|{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2004/RR-2004-08-20.pdf|title=Going for Adds|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1569|page=21|date=20 August 2004|access-date=18 June 2021}}

Cover versions

  • "What I Go to School For" was parodied by the Amateur Transplants on their 2004 album Fitness to Practice.
  • The Jonas Brothers covered the song for their 2006 album It's About Time.[http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300&mode=results&searchstr=531062716&search_in=i&search_type=exact&search_det=t,s,w,p,b,v&results_pp=25&start=1 Ascap entry for song] ASCAP, accessed 22 October 2010

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Busted}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Island Records singles

Category:2002 songs

Category:2002 debut singles

Category:Busted (band) songs

Category:Songs about school

Category:Songs written by Charlie Simpson

Category:Songs written by James Bourne

Category:Songs written by Matt Willis

Category:Songs written by Steve Robson

Category:Universal Records singles