“Jimi Thing” by Dave Matthews Band
Euphemism: “Sometimes a Jimi Thing slides my way”
The unfamiliar phrase “Jimi Thing” could be replacing something that society would find offensive or inappropriate.
Imagery: “I’m on my back/ Staring up at the ceiling”
This creates a mental visual image that assists the listener in seeing the world through the eyes of the narrator.
Alliteration consonance: “take a taste”
Ambiguity: “If you could keep me floating”
This could have either literal or figurative meaning. The narrator could be physically floating or just using the word “floating” to describe continuance despite hardships.
Ambiguity: “the end of this tunnel”
This could indicate either a real tunnel or some kind of a challenge that the narrator wants to overcome.
“Free Bird” by Lynard Skynard
Imagery: “There’s too many places I gotta see”
This creates a mental visual picture because the listener is able to imagine a variety of places in the world that the narrator wants to see.
Simile: “I’m as free as a bird now”
The narrator is so free that he is able to compare himself to a free bird.
Alliteration assonance: “leave here”
“Mrs. Robinson” by Simon and Garfunkel
Alliteration consonance: “Sitting… sofa… Sunday”
Hyperbole: “Look around you, all you see are sympathetic eyes”
This could be an exaggeration; even if one sees a lot of sympathetic eyes, there is a very small chance that nothing else is visible.
Allusion: “Joe DiMaggio”
Joe DiMaggio was a baseball player who is still famous today and is being referred to in the song.
Allusion: “Jesus loves you more than you will know”
This refers to not only Jesus Christ himself, but also the song that was written about him, which says, “Jesus loves me, this I know…”
Imagery: “Stroll around the grounds”
This allows the listener to imagine her wandering around, trying to find where she is comfortable.
Personification: “A nation turns its lonely eyes”
Although a nation is composed of individual people, a nation is not one individual person. In a way, it cannot turn its eyes if it is not a person.
Euphemism: “Put it in your pantry with your cupcakes”
This could be considered euphemism because by adding on the prepositional phrase, “with your cupcakes,” the writer makes this line sound more innocent.
Monday, June 14, 2010
new version of "Ain't It Good"
(based on "Ain't It Good" from the musical "Children of Eden," written by Stephen Schwartz)
Oh, look up there, on the calendar!
Is it the month of June?
On the twenty-second of this month,
We’ll be out before noon
We’ve been in school so long
That we can’t wait for it to end
The heat is broken, and our books are unattached
When school is closed, we won’t attend it
Ain’t it sweet to think about it,
The last day of junior year
Will it come?
We start to doubt it,
Though we know
It’s almost here
No more tests, and no more quizzes
They’ll release us from our pen,
Also known as N.H.S.
Though it’s good enough, I guess,
We get homework in excess
Where we’ve been
Ain’t it good?
Ain’t it good?
Ain’t it good to see the sun again?
When AP took over my life,
And I sold my soul to Ms. Madden,
There were times I’d truly wonder
If I’d have a life again (Wondered if I’d ever have…)
But (there’s) no year can last forever,
Though we feel so helpless now (oooo-oo!)
Soon we’ll all turn on our fans,
Have our tans and water bans,
Sounds like some good summer plans
For twenty-ten!
Ain’t it good (It will be good)
When smoke is clearing,
We can say summer’s begun,
And our hopes are reappearing,
Since all our struggles are almost done,
Should we, now, believe what we’re hearing?
We never thought we’d get a real vacation!
When it’s hard to concentrate,
It’s more difficult to wait,
And we all anticipate it,
Greater time!
Brother, ain’t it good, oh ain’t it good?
Ain’t it good to see the sun again, my Lord?
After all the days we stood,
Smelling dust and moldy books
Ain’t it good to see the sun again?
Oh, ain’t it good to see the shining summer sun again?
Oh, look up there, on the calendar!
Is it the month of June?
On the twenty-second of this month,
We’ll be out before noon
We’ve been in school so long
That we can’t wait for it to end
The heat is broken, and our books are unattached
When school is closed, we won’t attend it
Ain’t it sweet to think about it,
The last day of junior year
Will it come?
We start to doubt it,
Though we know
It’s almost here
No more tests, and no more quizzes
They’ll release us from our pen,
Also known as N.H.S.
Though it’s good enough, I guess,
We get homework in excess
Where we’ve been
Ain’t it good?
Ain’t it good?
Ain’t it good to see the sun again?
When AP took over my life,
And I sold my soul to Ms. Madden,
There were times I’d truly wonder
If I’d have a life again (Wondered if I’d ever have…)
But (there’s) no year can last forever,
Though we feel so helpless now (oooo-oo!)
Soon we’ll all turn on our fans,
Have our tans and water bans,
Sounds like some good summer plans
For twenty-ten!
Ain’t it good (It will be good)
When smoke is clearing,
We can say summer’s begun,
And our hopes are reappearing,
Since all our struggles are almost done,
Should we, now, believe what we’re hearing?
We never thought we’d get a real vacation!
When it’s hard to concentrate,
It’s more difficult to wait,
And we all anticipate it,
Greater time!
Brother, ain’t it good, oh ain’t it good?
Ain’t it good to see the sun again, my Lord?
After all the days we stood,
Smelling dust and moldy books
Ain’t it good to see the sun again?
Oh, ain’t it good to see the shining summer sun again?
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Another Poetic Song
"Beautiful Disaster (Live)" performed by Kelly Clarkson
This song is not found on the list, but it is full of poetic devices. There are so many devices that the song received a 197 based on the rating sheet. First of all, the title of the song is a paradox because disasters and beautiful things are usually imagined in contrast rather than comparison. Comparisons in the forms of similes and metaphors are also contained in the lyrics. There is a lot of characterization as she describes this one man throughout the song. Examples of alliteration consonance, such as "magic and myth," and alliteration assonance, such as "exquisite extreme," are also used numerous times. One example of verbal irony, which is located in the last verse, is "He's never enough,/ And still he is more than I can take." The heart of the man whom she is describing is personified in the line, "And more heaven than a heart could hold." These poetic devices, among others used in the song, serve to convey the message that one can still love others despite the fact that no one is perfect, and one should not refuse to love someone because he or she is not perfect.
This song is not found on the list, but it is full of poetic devices. There are so many devices that the song received a 197 based on the rating sheet. First of all, the title of the song is a paradox because disasters and beautiful things are usually imagined in contrast rather than comparison. Comparisons in the forms of similes and metaphors are also contained in the lyrics. There is a lot of characterization as she describes this one man throughout the song. Examples of alliteration consonance, such as "magic and myth," and alliteration assonance, such as "exquisite extreme," are also used numerous times. One example of verbal irony, which is located in the last verse, is "He's never enough,/ And still he is more than I can take." The heart of the man whom she is describing is personified in the line, "And more heaven than a heart could hold." These poetic devices, among others used in the song, serve to convey the message that one can still love others despite the fact that no one is perfect, and one should not refuse to love someone because he or she is not perfect.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Worst. Song. EVER.
"Crank Dat Soulja Boy" ~ Soulja Boy
This is arguably the worst song (if you want to call it that) ever written. Based on our class song rating sheet, it received a negative 320. That includes the five points that I awarded it for humor; this song is a joke. The vocals display no hint of talent, and to say that the song is repetitive would be an understatement. Many of the words sound like they are missing letters, so only parts of these words are heard.
When I was completing this assignment, I was convinced that every bad song has allusions. If the lyrics are weak, the songwriter tends to throw in a few allusions just so that the lyrics won't be all bad. Soulja Boy includes allusions to Bathing... I'm sorry, Bathin'... Apes, Robocop, Rubberband Man, Superman, Roosevelt, and...um... himself. Even when the allusions are used, they don't make sense, much like the rest of the lyrics, which mainly consist of random words put together that mean absolutely nothing. Because of phrases such as "Superman dat oh," the song sounds like something that someone wrote in their sleep. Even that may be giving this song too much credit; it should not be compared in any way to Paul McCartney's "Yesterday." However, Soulja Boy does use alliteration consonance: "lean to the left," "super soak," AND "do dat." (clever, I know)
This song has an abundance of poor word choices, some of which are not even real words.
"Haterz get mad cuz..." Haterz? Cuz? Really?
"And he's gon' crank it up fo' sho'" Wow, he managed to finish more than half of the words in this line!
"Now watch me you." When people use the phrase,"Now watch me..." they usually end it with a VERB.
"at yo local party"- I'm not even sure if it means "your" local party or not.
"they be lookin'"- That's not a grammar violation or anything...
"Im'a," "wanna," "tryna," ...enough said.
This is arguably the worst song (if you want to call it that) ever written. Based on our class song rating sheet, it received a negative 320. That includes the five points that I awarded it for humor; this song is a joke. The vocals display no hint of talent, and to say that the song is repetitive would be an understatement. Many of the words sound like they are missing letters, so only parts of these words are heard.
When I was completing this assignment, I was convinced that every bad song has allusions. If the lyrics are weak, the songwriter tends to throw in a few allusions just so that the lyrics won't be all bad. Soulja Boy includes allusions to Bathing... I'm sorry, Bathin'... Apes, Robocop, Rubberband Man, Superman, Roosevelt, and...um... himself. Even when the allusions are used, they don't make sense, much like the rest of the lyrics, which mainly consist of random words put together that mean absolutely nothing. Because of phrases such as "Superman dat oh," the song sounds like something that someone wrote in their sleep. Even that may be giving this song too much credit; it should not be compared in any way to Paul McCartney's "Yesterday." However, Soulja Boy does use alliteration consonance: "lean to the left," "super soak," AND "do dat." (clever, I know)
This song has an abundance of poor word choices, some of which are not even real words.
"Haterz get mad cuz..." Haterz? Cuz? Really?
"And he's gon' crank it up fo' sho'" Wow, he managed to finish more than half of the words in this line!
"Now watch me you." When people use the phrase,"Now watch me..." they usually end it with a VERB.
"at yo local party"- I'm not even sure if it means "your" local party or not.
"they be lookin'"- That's not a grammar violation or anything...
"Im'a," "wanna," "tryna," ...enough said.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
3 poetic songs
"Mad World" by Tears for Fears
The creator of the website was justified in choosing to include this song in the list of poetic songs. Most of the song is imagery, as the narrator describes his experiences and thoughts. Using a metaphor, people's daily lives are compared to "daily races going nowhere." The narrator conveys the message that people rush needlessly everyday, even though they are not rewarded for their needless rushing. It is ironic that the narrator says, "I find it kind of funny/ I find it kind of sad/ The dreams in which I'm dying/ Are the best I've ever had," for several reasons. First, it is contradictory to find something both funny and sad. Second, dreams about one's own death are commonly thought of as nightmares rather than the best dreams. The narrator uses the phrase "no tomorrow." This is a hyperbole because although he feels that he has no chance of a future, the future never stops becoming the present. Additional examples of hyperbole in this song are "drown my sorrow" and "look right through me." Both alliteration consonance and assonance are also employed to enhance the messages that the narrator gives about his sad and hopeless feelings.
"Dust in the Wind" by Kansas
Although this song is shorter than many others, it is definitely poetic enough to be included in the list. Imagery is used to help the listener to create a mental picture as a representation of the message of the song. The metaphor in the song compares us and our dreams to "dust in the wind." They are compared because they both do not stay forever. Various uses of alliteration, along with the hyperbole "all we do crumbles to the ground," exaggerate this message.
"Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen
This song is also a good choice to include in the list of poetic songs. It is almost all imagery, allowing the reader to create mental visual pictures. Alliteration and allusions to the Bible, such as "the holy dove," are included to support the messages about praising the Lord, hence the name of the song. Personification is used in the phrase, "the moonlight overthrew you." There are always multiple interpretations, but it may be related to "the baffled king" in the first verse. "Broken hallelujah" is an example of hyperbole because a word that is not a physical object cannot be physically broken.
The creator of the website was justified in choosing to include this song in the list of poetic songs. Most of the song is imagery, as the narrator describes his experiences and thoughts. Using a metaphor, people's daily lives are compared to "daily races going nowhere." The narrator conveys the message that people rush needlessly everyday, even though they are not rewarded for their needless rushing. It is ironic that the narrator says, "I find it kind of funny/ I find it kind of sad/ The dreams in which I'm dying/ Are the best I've ever had," for several reasons. First, it is contradictory to find something both funny and sad. Second, dreams about one's own death are commonly thought of as nightmares rather than the best dreams. The narrator uses the phrase "no tomorrow." This is a hyperbole because although he feels that he has no chance of a future, the future never stops becoming the present. Additional examples of hyperbole in this song are "drown my sorrow" and "look right through me." Both alliteration consonance and assonance are also employed to enhance the messages that the narrator gives about his sad and hopeless feelings.
"Dust in the Wind" by Kansas
Although this song is shorter than many others, it is definitely poetic enough to be included in the list. Imagery is used to help the listener to create a mental picture as a representation of the message of the song. The metaphor in the song compares us and our dreams to "dust in the wind." They are compared because they both do not stay forever. Various uses of alliteration, along with the hyperbole "all we do crumbles to the ground," exaggerate this message.
"Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen
This song is also a good choice to include in the list of poetic songs. It is almost all imagery, allowing the reader to create mental visual pictures. Alliteration and allusions to the Bible, such as "the holy dove," are included to support the messages about praising the Lord, hence the name of the song. Personification is used in the phrase, "the moonlight overthrew you." There are always multiple interpretations, but it may be related to "the baffled king" in the first verse. "Broken hallelujah" is an example of hyperbole because a word that is not a physical object cannot be physically broken.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
war songs
"Sunday Bloody Sunday" by U2
This song could apply to countless situations. At the time it was written, the lyrics specifically applied to the conflicts in Northern Ireland. Part of this conflict involved the murder of multiple civil rights activists, which is now known as "Bloody Sunday."
"All for You Sophia" by Franz Ferdinand
This song was written about the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, whom the band named itself after. Although it wasn't written about a war, it was written about an event that caused a war. There were seven "Black Hands" who were there to carry out the murder, and the seventh, Gavrilo Princip, shot the Archduke, triggering World War I.
This song could apply to countless situations. At the time it was written, the lyrics specifically applied to the conflicts in Northern Ireland. Part of this conflict involved the murder of multiple civil rights activists, which is now known as "Bloody Sunday."
"All for You Sophia" by Franz Ferdinand
This song was written about the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, whom the band named itself after. Although it wasn't written about a war, it was written about an event that caused a war. There were seven "Black Hands" who were there to carry out the murder, and the seventh, Gavrilo Princip, shot the Archduke, triggering World War I.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Allusion, Allegory, & Ambiguity
"Don't Fear the Reaper" by Blue Oyster Cult
This song includes an example of an allusion, which is a reference to a historical figure, thing, or event. The narrator refers to "Romeo and Juliet," a well-known Shakespeare play. In the play, Romeo and Juliet plan to be "together in eternity," and their plan results in the two of them dying together. In the song, the narrator explains that "like Romeo and Juliet...men and women everyday redefine happiness."
"The Battle of Evermore" by Led Zeppelin
This song is an allegory because like a fable, it tells a story using representations. It includes fictional characters, such as "ring wraiths," "the dragon of darkness," and "the queen of light." This assists the narrator in describing the battle between good and evil and the struggle "to bring the balance back."
"Roundabout" by Yes
This song presents examples of ambiguity. For instance, "Catching the swirling wind the sailor sees the rim of the land" has its literal meaning along with different possibilities of other meanings. The listener could imagine a sailor sailing to land or someone seizing opportunities to achieve a goal.
This song includes an example of an allusion, which is a reference to a historical figure, thing, or event. The narrator refers to "Romeo and Juliet," a well-known Shakespeare play. In the play, Romeo and Juliet plan to be "together in eternity," and their plan results in the two of them dying together. In the song, the narrator explains that "like Romeo and Juliet...men and women everyday redefine happiness."
"The Battle of Evermore" by Led Zeppelin
This song is an allegory because like a fable, it tells a story using representations. It includes fictional characters, such as "ring wraiths," "the dragon of darkness," and "the queen of light." This assists the narrator in describing the battle between good and evil and the struggle "to bring the balance back."
"Roundabout" by Yes
This song presents examples of ambiguity. For instance, "Catching the swirling wind the sailor sees the rim of the land" has its literal meaning along with different possibilities of other meanings. The listener could imagine a sailor sailing to land or someone seizing opportunities to achieve a goal.
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