Do Now Read independently for the next 10 minutes Take out Friday’s free write to be checked for participation
Odes/Villanelles Would anyone like to share? Hand in
Respond in your notebook… What makes certain music more “poetic” than others? Think of a song lyric that you consider to be poetic. Why do you consider these lyrics to be poetic?
Poetic elements in lyrics Rhythm Rhyme Using language in an interesting way/creativity Vivid/descriptive Tells a story Makes the listener FEEL something
GAME TIME: Is it hip hop or Shakespeare?
1. “To destroy the beauty from which one came”
2. “Maybe it’s hatred I spew, maybe it’s food for the spirit”
3. “Men would rather use their broken records than their bare hands”
4. “I was not born under a rhyming planet”
5. “The most benevolent king communicates through your dreams”
6. “Socrates, philosophy, and hypotheses can’t define me”
ANSWERS Jay-Z, You Must Love Me Eminem, Renegade Shakespeare, Othello “To destroy the beauty from which one came” Eminem, Renegade “Maybe it’s hatred I spew, maybe it’s food for the spirit” Shakespeare, Othello “Men would rather use their broken records than their bare hands” Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing “I was not born under a rhyming planet” Wu-Tang Clan, Impossible “The most benevolent king communicates through your dreams” Wu-Tang Clan, Triumph “Socrates, philosophy, and hypotheses can’t define me”
American Folk & Hip Hop Music Simple, repetitive beat Clear words, easy to hear/understand The focus is on the MESSAGE, not necessarily the sound of the music Notice there are no elaborate instrumental solos or indistinguishable screams Social commentary/spreading a message
Folk Music Older meaning 1960s United States Cultural changes: Vietnam War, Civil Rights Movement, feminism, rejection of traditional “conservative” lifestyle Major figures: Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, etc. Simple: one acoustic guitar, one voice
Bob Dylan Birth name: Robert Zimmerman 1941, Minnesota “Bob Dylan” is a stage name after Welsh poet: Dylan Thomas 1941, Minnesota Wrote civil rights/anti-war anthems in the 1960s Sold over 100 million records: one of the best-selling artists of all time
“Blowin’ in the Wind” (1963) Listen. Write down any initial comments/observations. Then I will give you the lyrics. Analyze the lyrics as you listen for a second time. Summarize the meaning of the lyrics. What message is the songwriter communicating? Notice any interesting rhythm/rhyme? Are there other literary devices? (figurative language, repetition, etc.) Favorite line(s) and why?
Hip Hop/Rap Music Rhythmic music (driving, repetitive beat) with rap (rhythmic/rhyming chanting/speech) Started in 1970s, block parties in NYC, African American youth Hip hop culture: DJing, breakdancing, graffiti, beatbox, “sampling” Early influential figures: Grandmaster Flash, Doug E. Fresh / Run D.M.C., LL Cool J / Public Enemy, A Tribe Called Quest
Nas Nasir Jones 1973, Brooklyn Sold over 25 million records since 1994
“I Can” (2003) Listen. Write down any initial comments/observations. Then I will give you the lyrics. Analyze the lyrics as you listen for a second time. Summarize the meaning of the lyrics. What message is the songwriter communicating? Notice any interesting rhythm/rhyme? Are there other literary devices? (figurative language, repetition, etc.) Favorite line(s) and why?
Assignment (due Thurs, 5/26) Find a song with poetic lyrics *Does NOT have to be a folk/hip hop song. Pick something that you like! You will be required to play at least 1 minute of the song for your classmates (so at least 1 minute of it must be clean/edited) After introducing/playing your song, you will spend a minute or two analyzing it for your classmates Summarize it. Highlight any interesting rhythm/rhyme, figurative language, repetition, etc. Explain why you chose this song. Be ready on Thursday to present and hand in analysis!
With remaining class time… Work alone, with a partner, or in a group (of NO MORE than 3 people) Write a poetic song inspired by either folk or hip hop style Your song must… Be at LEAST 20 lines song Include a chorus (of at least 2 lines) that gets repeated Include at least two distinct verses (these should be longer than the chorus; verses often have the same beat/melody, but different words) Include some rhyme Include at least 1 example of figurative language Hand in your song lyrics, an explanation of where I can find all of the required elements, and a summary/explanation of the meaning of your song