Song Meaning
Important Questions:
1. HOW DO WE EXTRACT MEANING / UNDERSTANDING FROM MUSIC ?
2. WHAT ARE WE ACTUALLY HEARING IN THE MUSIC THAT WE CAN POINT TO AND SAY "THAT'S WHAT MAKES ME FEEL THIS MESSAGE THIS WAY"
- Anything we watch / read / listen to has to be relatable to us .
- We have to be able to understand some kind of meaning or message from it -
- If we exert the energy of actually doing it than we need some kind of payoff - the meaning / understanding is the payoff - That's where the ENTERTAINMENT occurs
Lets expand this idea to other forms of media , such as Literature and Film
Books/Articles:
????? If we read and book/article , what is it in the article that expresses the meaning / message ?????? I.E. How do we know what it's about ?
What about this article Article ? Can we get the same meaning from it ?
Film/Movies
If we watch a film, what are the characteristics in the Film that expresses the meaning / message ????? I.E. How do we know what it's about ?
What about this Film ?? Can we get the same meaning from it ?
We wouldn't put forth the effort because the PAYOFF isn't big enough
*** The Payoff is based in part on our level of prior knowledge and background about the article/movie/song.... Think about our homework....******
Activity :
You WILL hand this in !
Answer the following Questions for the listening examples :
1. Give an Emotion you think the song is expressing - stick to the overall impression you get from the song. (See emotion Wheel)
2. What genre of Film/Story would this song be ?
3. Do you think this story has a happy or sad ending ?
4. In a couple sentences / bullet points, what is the story this song is telling ?
5. What are you hearing MUSICALLY that makes you give these answers?
2. What genre of Film/Story would this song be ?
3. Do you think this story has a happy or sad ending ?
4. In a couple sentences / bullet points, what is the story this song is telling ?
5. What are you hearing MUSICALLY that makes you give these answers?
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Example 1 :
Lyrics
Example 2:
Example 3:
Glassworks:
Sukiyaki:
Homework : Song Analysis
Pick a song that is meaningful to you . You will analyze the meaning of this song and find supporting musical characteristics . This will take the form of a short paper or article. for length reference, think 1.5 - 2 pages double spaces size 12 font. Pay attention to these instructions/requirements. I will look for them when grading !
Introduction: Synopsis
Paragraph 2 : Lyrical Examples
Paragraph 3 : Musical Characteristics
Introduction: Synopsis
- Talk about your relationship to this song, and why it is meaningful to you.
- This should lead into your synopsis of the meaning/message - In a few sentences, say what you think the meaning of the song is
Paragraph 2 : Lyrical Examples
- Give Lyrical examples from the song that express this meaning to you. You should have at least 4-5 quotes that you think are important/pivotal to the message of the song, or else hit home with you personally.
Paragraph 3 : Musical Characteristics
- Find the exact moment in the song where your important lyrics happened - Go back and listen to these moments, and for each try to find musical characteristics happening at the same time in the song that support the meaning of your lyrics.
- Think back the list we made in class of musical characteristics convey meaning in music ! You should be able to find a few musical characteristics for each lyrical example