Bmeandering

Bmeandering

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Songs--Country's ahead!

So far country is ahead and as we live in the country that's appropriate!



My English III (general English for juniors)class has a poetry project for their final.  They have to have poems (of course), but they also have to have one song.   For a laid-back presentation, each student has to bring in his/her song, play it for the class, and talk about it: what it means, why he/she likes it, why/when it's played, and anything else.  I have 4 classes of presentations, but this is the only class doing songs.
The list so far: "Call Me" by Shine Down, "Welcome to the Jungle" by by Guns and Roses, "Subterranean Homesick Blues" by Bob Dylan, "He Stopped Loving Her Today" by George Jones (with an accompanying tear-jerker for real story), "Imagine" by John Lennon, and we ended that day with some song by Dwayne---I can't find the paper with the info on it--this was my least favorite, but it didn't have any cuss words or the n -word which I guess is a major accomplishment for Dwayne.
Today began with "Black Cat" by (I think) May Day---she didn't give me the lyrics and I didn't have a clue what they were saying--I'm open to different types, but I need to know what the words are!
Then:"A Letter to Me" by Brad Paisley, "Smile" by Uncle Kracker, "Every Step I Take"--the rap version, "Do I?" by Luke Bryan (this was presented by a young mother of a 5 month old boy--she lives with her boyfriend who is actually "the best thing to come along" for her in her life--but it bothered me that she's already asking herself the questions in this song), "Long Black Train" by Josh Turner, "Backwoods" by Justin Moore, and then we ended with "Lucy" by Skillet and "Dicey's Song" by Allen Jackson.  These two were in memory of Lexi--the girl we lost in Feb.--J. was one of Lexi's two closest friends.  And yes, I teared up majorly.
So far the most of one type is country, which I happen to like.  I do like some of Guns and Roses songs so that didn't bother me nearly as much as some thought it would.  However, I couldn't take more than one song of Dwayne's in a class period!  Shine Down was cool and the rap version of "Every Step I Take" is one I'm familiar with and like. "Black Cat" wasn't particularly pleasing to my ears, but "Lucy" was.  As for "Imagine," does anyone not like that song?
 I recently heard "Smile" on CMT's Countdown and liked it.   The other country songs I know and like.  Two more days to go.  This period is actually a stress buster right now.
Just thought I'd share.

Ooops, I forgot Dylan!  How I could forget him, I don't know!  Seriously, my brother Roy was into Dylan big time and I grew up on his songs, so I was pleased to have him represented.
Also, please excuse my slang and butchering of the English language.  I'm one exhausted English teacher who is tripping over her own words.

3 comments:

  1. that's a lot of songs.

    how about "school's out for summer" by Vincent Damon Furnier (aka. alice cooper)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Those are some good song choices - I am pleasantly surprised.

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  3. Bless your heart! I love the song choices.

    I had the kids analyze the actual meaning of some of the songs they sooooo love. Some kids were actually quite shocked when they realized what the lyrics were saying. They like the beat, the melody, and forget to think about what is being said.

    Are you about done?

    ReplyDelete

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