"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.
Monday, May 31, 2010
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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