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"What I Go to School For"
Single by Busted
from the album Busted
Released	16 September 2002 (2002-09-16)
Length	3:30
Label	Universal Island
Songwriter(s)	James Bourne Matthew Jay Charlie Simpson Steve Robson John McLaughlin
Producer(s)	Steve Robson
Busted singles chronology
"What I Go to School For" (2002) "Year 3000" (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." 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." 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." 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.

Musical

What I Go to School For became the title of a musical theatre production 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.

Music video

The video for the song features model Lorna Roberts as Miss McKenzie, the object of the band's desire. Then 14-year-old Jade Ewen, who later joined the Sugababes, appears in the video as a schoolgirl. 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

Personnel

Personnel are taken from the Busted album booklet.

• 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

Charts

Certifications

Release history

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.

References

1. Smolen, Bronya (10 May 2019). "How a Busted smash hit ACTUALLY started in this Essex nightclub". EssexLive. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
2. ^ "Beds, Herts and Bucks Theatre - Miss McKenzie". BBC Three Counties. December 2003.
3. ^ "BUSTED'S MATT LUSTED FOR ME; I'm so flattered says real-life sexy teacher". thefreelibrary.com.
4. Blair, Michelle (29 October 2012). "@david_leighton hahahah DAVID!!!!!!! Omg.... It was hysterical!... I miss you too much :) xx". Twitter. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
5. "What I Go To School For - the Busted musical | Youth Music Theatre UK". www.youthmusictheatreuk.org. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016.
6. Youngs, Ian (18 August 2016). "Teenagers premiere Busted stage musical What I Go To School For". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
7. McGeorge, Alastair (6 January 2016). "Busted reunited with Miss McKenzie as the boys get back with their high school crush for new video". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
8. "The Screening Room". judgmentofparis.com.
9. Copsey, Rob (6 October 2015). "Are Busted reforming? Their Official Top 10 songs revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
10. Limited, London Theatre Direct (11 May 2018). "Q&A with Aladdin star Jade Ewen". londontheatredirect.com. Retrieved 16 July 2020. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
11. What I Go to School For (UK CD1 liner notes). Busted. Universal Records, Island Records. 2002. MCSTD 40294, 019 329-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
12. What I Go to School For (Australian CD single liner notes). Busted. Universal Records, Island Records. 2003. 019 329-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
13. What I Go to School For (UK CD2 liner notes). Busted. Universal Records, Island Records. 2002. MCSXD40294, 019 330-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
14. What I Go to School For (UK cassette single sleeve). Busted. Universal Records, Island Records. 2002. MCSC 40294, 019 331-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
15. What I Go to School For (US CD single liner notes). Busted. Universal Records. 2002. B0002603-32.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
16. What I Go to School For (Japanese CD single liner notes). Busted. Universal Music Japan. 2003. UICI-5011.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
17. Busted (UK CD album booklet). Busted. Universal Records, Island Records. 2002. MCD60085, 063400-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
18. "Busted – What I Go to School For". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
19. "Busted – What I Go to School For" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
20. "Hits of the World – Eurochart Hot 100". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 5 October 2002. p. 63. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
21. "Busted – What I Go to School For" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
22. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – What I Go to School For". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
23. "Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 50, saptamina 16.12–22.12, 2002" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 17 February 2005. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
24. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
25. "Busted – What I Go to School For". Swiss Singles Chart.
26. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
27. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2002" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
28. "British single certifications – Busted – What I Go to School For". British Phonographic Industry.
29. "Busted Biography". poprockbands.com. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
30. "New Releases – For Week Starting 16 September 2002: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 14 September 2002. p. 23. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
31. "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 13th January 2003" (PDF). ARIA. 13 January 2003. p. 23. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 January 2003. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
32. "2003/6月新譜リリース表" [June 2003 New Release List] (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. Archived from the original on 5 February 2004. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
33. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1569. 20 August 2004. p. 21. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
34. Ascap entry for song ASCAP, accessed 22 October 2010

• Island Records singles
• 2002 songs
• 2002 debut singles
• Busted (band) songs
• Songs about school
• Songs written by Charlie Simpson
• Songs written by James Bourne
• Songs written by Matt Willis
• Songs written by Steve Robson
• Universal Records singles