1. Do Now Read independently for the next 10 minutes
Take out Friday’s free write to be checked for participation

2. Odes/Villanelles
Would anyone like to share?
Hand in

3. 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?

4. Poetic elements in lyrics
Rhythm
Rhyme
Using language in an interesting way/creativity
Vivid/descriptive
Tells a story
Makes the listener FEEL something

5. GAME TIME: Is it hip hop or Shakespeare?

6. 1. “To destroy the beauty from which one came”

7. 2. “Maybe it’s hatred I spew, maybe it’s food for the spirit”

8. 3. “Men would rather use their broken records than their bare hands”

9. 4. “I was not born under a rhyming planet”

10. 5. “The most benevolent king communicates through your dreams”

11. 6. “Socrates, philosophy, and hypotheses can’t define me”

12. 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”

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. “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?

17. 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

18. Nas
Nasir Jones
1973, Brooklyn
Sold over 25 million records since 1994

19. “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?

20. 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!

21. 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