Table of Contents
Table of Contents Time by Pink Floyd..........................................................Stephanie Echevarria Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin...........................................Maria Uglvig Let You Go by SOJA..........................................................Domenico Peñaloza It’s My Life by Bon Jovi..................................................................Saori Ishida Shake It Out by Florence Welch...................................Macarena Duharte Shape Of My Heart by Sting.................................................Barbara Aveggio Ex Factor by Lauryn Hill......................................................................Soo Jin Lee Lights by Lions!........................................................................Giulia Hallqvist Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell.......................................Natalia Cuglievan Right Where It Belongs by N.I.N.............................................Alex Ferrando Beautiful Day by U2............................................................................Matias Rey Viva La Vida by Coldplay.............................................Gonzalo Vidaurrazaga Soul Meets Body by Death Cab................................................Franco Lozano Oh Very Young by Cat Stevens......................................................Sara Cadena Hey That’s No Way To Say Goodbye by Leonard Cohen........Tiffany Orillo
LETTER! EDITOR! ! !!from!! ! !!!!!!!the! ! ! ! !
T!
his! unit! was! not! about! convincing! students! that! music!is!poetry—they!need!no! convincing.! This! unit! also! had! little! to!do!with!music!itself.! ! Our! focus,! instead,! was! on! the! richness!of!language.!! ! While! planning! the! unit,! I! asked! myself:! would& it& be& possible& to& help& students& become& more& critical& and& appreciative& of& the& language& they’re& exposed& to& every& day?! ! Rather! than! passively! consuming!! language,! I! wanted! to!know!if!students! in! 9th! grade! could! objectively! scrutinize! song! lyrics! and! comment! on! the! effectiveness! of! what! the! writer!had!accomplished.! ! By! the! time! they! reach! this! level,! most! of! them! have! the! ability! to! catch!a!simile!like!a!fish!and!say,!“Mr.! Topf,! I! got! one!”! They! can! stare! personification! in! the! eye! and! devour! metaphors.! But! this! is! not! nearly! as! valuable! as! being! able! to! understand! why! certain! imagery! is! used,!and!whether!or!not!the!diction! is!effective.! ! That,! ultimately,! is! why! we! used! music! as! our! medium! for! exploration.! Since! students! are! incessantly! exposed! to! the! language! in!songs,!and!lyrics!range!a!great!! !
! ! ! ! ! deal! from! the! most! simple! and! superficial,!to!the!most!complex!and! profound,! it! was! easy! to! see! which! students! could! recognize! quality! language!immediately.! ! And! now,! simply! through! the! music! students! have! chosen! as! the! Best% Lyrical%Songs%of%All%Time,!it!is!clear! that! they! can! all! recognize! language! that! is! rich! in! imagery,! contains! purposeful! diction! and! structure,! and! conveys! a! compelling!tone.% ! They! have! also! dusted! off! the! lyrics!of!great!song! writers! from! the! past—Bob! Dylan,! Joni!Mitchell,!Leonard!Cohen—while! at! the! same! time! they! have! sorted! through! the! current! wordsmiths! of! our! time—Coldplay,! Florence! and! the!Machine,!Adele.! ! From!the!first!lesson!to!the!last,!this! has! been! one! of! the! most! fulfilling! units! to! teach! this! year,! and! I! am! extremely! proud! of! the! work! my! students! have! produced.! ! We! hope! you! enjoy! reading! our! magazine! as! much!as!we!enjoyed!producing!it.! ! Safaos!! ! Corey Topf ! ! ! !
Determining the true quality of language requires objective, critical analysis.
Led Zeppelin was first formed after the break of “The yard birds” [“Led Zeppelin”] in 1968, Jimmy Page then made “Led Zeppelin” where he set out to found musicians for this new band. They are too many known as one of the greatest rock bands of all time. Consisting of Jimmy Page, John Bonham, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones [Anthony Inverso]. Led Zeppelin was a very different band, yet their fame was incredible and their rankings were crazy. Stairway to heaven was named one of the best rock songs of all time yet Jimmy page and Robert Plant wrote it all it one go [“Led Zeppelin Song facts”]. One last amazing fact about Led Zeppelin is that they have 5 diamond albums, which means their albums had sales of more than 10 million each [“Led Zeppelin”]
C
ertainly you must have been asked what the greatest
lyrical song of all time. I personally have been asked many times and every single time without a doubt one song has popped into my head. This song is “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin. This song is simply astounding. It was released in 1971 and yet still is played all over the world. It is the eleventh most sold single of all time and ranked 31 on the Rolling Stones Best lyrical Songs of all time [Rolling Stones], If this isn’t enough in addition to that it was named the song with the best guitar solo of all time [“Stairway to heaven”].If this doesn’t tell you enough about how amazing this song is then you should listen to it right now. Let it take you away; let the song send a shiver through your body.
Nowadays it’s not very often we listen to a song on the radio and we realize that there is a deep meaningful message hidden. That’s what makes Led Zeppelin’s song stand out. It has a clear, meaningful message about our society today that makes us think about how we deal with life. “Stairway to Heaven” is teaching us about materialism in our society therefore we can relate because materialism is happening everywhere in our world. “Stairway to Heaven” is just one literary device used throughout this song to make people think, The metaphor “Stairway to heaven” is showing how easy people think it will be to get to heaven, and how they believe god will accept for buying their way out of all their problems. Throughout the song Led Zeppelin use provocative language and alliteration, repetition and personification to really make an impact on us. People today still believe that materialism will buy solutions to all our problems. Maybe this is one way to deal with life but “there are two paths you can go by” and “There’s still time to change the road you’re on” (Line 24-25). step closer to your Stairway To Heaven.
Now it’s not very often we listen to a song with a message like that even though one simple yet vital criterion for the best song of all time is a clear and important message and this is exactly what Led Zeppelin expressed through this song. Obviously this is just one outstanding thing, but yet many songs cannot meet these needs and therefore our musical generation today lacks many mind-blowing songs such as “Stairway to heaven”. Undoubtedly the majority of music played today all over the world is all similar. The lyrics are meaningless and the beat isn’t even respectable. Are you one of those people who give in to the charts just to be like everyone else? If you are, you are making the biggest mistake ever. Music wasn’t created to listen to what everyone else listens too. It was made for you, to change your life and that’s exactly what Led Zeppelin did to mine. When I heard those seven minutes of Stairway to Heaven it was the first song that actually made me think about the meaning. I believe it was the best song that could have done this. Remember “Stairway to Heaven” isn’t just any song. It’s the song. Maybe I should repeat myself; it was ranked 31 on the Rolling Stones Best lyrical Songs of all time [Metro Lyrics] and was on the charts for 259 days after release [“The Vital Statistics about Stairway to heaven”]. So now its time for you to ask yourself: What will I get out of this song? Will it change my life? Why did it change the lives of so many others? If you don’t have the answers for these questions - listen to the song. If you haven’t heard Stairway to Heaven, you haven’t heard music yet. The effect this song has on you will change the perspective you look at things from. If you want to shut yourself out from everything for just a bit then Led Zeppelin created your perfect escape. The question is – Are you ready to find your Stairway to Heaven?
Peñaloza 1 yBy: Domenico Peñaloza
"Let you go" by Soja is one of the best songs I've ever heard. We all have times were we are tying to explain how we feel: this song has helped me explain myself clearly to those who don’t understand how I feel. While listening to this song I feel it speaks to my soul and it expresses exactly how I feel. It helps me move on and realize that " I'm always thinking of [her]/ even when I don't want to" (line 6-7) This is a great song because many people can relate to it, heartbreaks are hard and this song speaks form the heart. When you love someone letting them go is as hard as loosing a part of yourself. Spending a long time with someone is beautiful but letting them go is just pain. I’ve been through this a couple of times and It isn’t nice specially the first days but this song makes you realize that you have to value a person as how they are not on there looks because a simple change of mind or a simple bad answer might change your entire life. With its impassioned tone the song conquers your emotions, it has deep and earnest thoughts and feelings. We all have that somebody that we have loved so long and after letting them go we realize how important this person is in our lives. Through the emotional lyrics "Let you go" explain exactly this feeling how we know we shouldn’t let go and we change our mind. Letting go isn’t the answer to everything but it opens different doors to other opportunities. “Should've been the first one to let you know” “Change your mind” (16-17) This two lines shows you that for some people letting go is to hard and they want it back. I can relate this to mine life because I once had to forget someone really close to me because there was nothing I could do. I thought it was going to be easy but I realized that everyone in your life is going to hurt you at one point you just have to find that one person that it is worth getting hurt for and fight for your friendship with that person and that is what I did. Sometimes people have more meaning than others and sometimes you think to yourself how could you live so song without knowing that person? A Great balance in your friendships is good at my age and listening to this song you will realize how important people can get to be in your life.
Peñaloza 2
Jacob Hemphill (Lead Singer), Boddy Lee (Bass), Ryan Berty(Drums), Kenneth Brownell (percussion) and Patrick O’Shea (keyboards). The story behind the creation of this band is very weird. Jacob has been inspired by music when he was very young by Bob Marley, Bob Dylan and more. Jacob the lead singer in SOJA meet Boddy Lee on the first grade. They instantly became best friends and though out middle school they meet the rest of the band crew. They started to play together Reggae and rock music for the talent show in they school and they won most of the times. On with they lives they new they had to stick together and become a very famous band as they are right now. They are full of success and they just released a new album called “Strength to survive” inspired by Bob Marley.
Its$My$Life$++++$$Bon$Jovi$$ By$Saori$Ishida$ ! You only live once. You only have one chance, not two chances, not one more opportunity, only ONE CHANCE
! ! !
to love your life right. You “ ain’t gonna live forever”(line
!
8)
! !
This is the theme of the song “Its My life” by Bon Jovi. But what is forever? How do we define it? Is it
! !
just a word we use to make us feel as if we have all the
!
time in the world? Or is it a word that people use
!
without ever really thinking about it?
! ! “Its my life" by Bon Jovi, is about living you life and not waiting a second of it because you only live once and you wont live forever. This song is about standing up for yourself, believing in yourself and being proud of yourself in everything you do. This song is one of the greatest lyrical songs of all times because, in my opinion, everyone that listens to this song can relate to it. It makes people reflect on their lives and encourages them to make the choice to live
their life right. Apart from this,!it thinks that anyone, no matter the age of the person can enjoy he lyrics and have fun listening to it. It makes everyone realize that it is up to them to decide what they want to do with their lives and. “Its my life” encourages people to be the driver and to steer their life in the direction they choose to go.!!
! !
!
Your “heart is like and open highway” (10) is a very
!
!
enjoyable simile that states a person needs to be open
!
to all the opportunities life puts in front of them.
!
Another quote from the song is “This is for the ones
! !
who stood their ground” (15) he is dedicating this song
!
for those who have fought to stay where they think
!
they belong and to make sure that people know that is
! where they will stay.
! ! The composer then ends the song by saying “I just want to live while I`m alive” (9) To me, this means living a life
! ! !
that has no limits and is open to all possibilities and that will be the best way a person can go through life.
! ! !
!
! Why choose this song when there are thousands of other songs out there to choose from? Many people say that you should live your life as you wish; it is something you know deep down but not something that you often think about.
!
The rhythm will make you want to jump out of your seat and start singing along dancing around the room and the whole world will start to fade and it will only be you and the music filling the environment.
!
!
! ! This isn’t a song about broken hearts, this isn’t a song about a girl who was left by her boyfriend, this is about each and every one of us as individuals, and with his husky and raspy voice Jon Bon Jovi encourages us to follow out dreams “It is now or never” (7)
!
The lead singer of the bad is names John Bonjovi, he was the one that created the band Bon Jovi (name was inspired by his last name) He used to skip school when he was 16 & 17 years old so that he could play music with his school band. He went through all this just to pursue his dream as a musician. He had to go through failing classes and almost failing his school year. The band’s trademark is that they usually compose songs about living life and standing up for your self. His most known songs are: " Its My Life " We Weren’t Born To Follow " Living on a Prayer " John BonJovi has a very popular saying and that is….! “Success is about falling nine times and getting up ten” (IMDB)
Bon J
ovi
EVERYBODY LOVES FLORENCE The English singer with her golden voice has to be one of the BEST vocalists and lyrical artist of the last decade. Florence Welch from Florence and the Machine takes us to another magical pop ride with her new song “Shake it out”. It has been recognized worldwide as the best song ever written and created an impact in many countries.
amazing
With her and astonishing voice all her fans went crazy when “Shake it out” was released, winning in 2012 as the best track in the Shockwaves NME Awards. Throughout this song you can notice that Florence is in a time of pressure and strain. Using amazing metaphors she continues expressing how she feels when she tells us that “every demon wants his pound of flesh.” (5) Telling us that regret and problem wants to have a part on her mind. Florence uses shockingly amazing literary devices to express what she is feeling. Stating that her regrets and problems will haunt her forever and she “can see no way” (line 3) of overlooking them and getting over the bad things she did in the past.
Behind those metaphors there is always a meaning. Florence loves to write. Her similes make you understand what she is feeling. For example, when she compares regrets with old friends she wanted to tell us that you will always remember your old friends just like you will remember the problems in the past and what they taught you. This song teaches the audience a meaning. It’s a song that will stay in your heart forever and make you realize that things are meant for a reason. Florence allows the audience to realize the importance of being able to “leave the past behind” (10) and learn from your mistakes. It teaches us that things are meant to happen and happen for a reason.
Florence continues impressing the world with her literary devices and unique style of writing that make this song exceptional and special in its own way. She uses an amazing metaphors and personification comparing the horse with her problems and regrets. She tells us that she is always “dragging that horse around” (12) meaning that she has spent most of her time trying to forget what she has done wrong but can no longer stop of thinking about it and drags the problem with herself all the time. (“songmeanings”) The earnest and intimate tone Florence uses to sing each part of Shake it out makes it more intense, as the lyrics become more powerful. The diction in this song is exceedingly exquisite. This hauntingly beautiful track is filled with emotions and detailed description that take you to a magical journey driving people crazy.
Shake it out is the song you´ve been waiting for. It has created a huge impact in thousands of countries and conveyed a breathtaking meaning that inspires people to realize that instead of holding grudges and anger inside us, we should try to move on since we don´t get anything positive from regretting our mistakes; we should learn from the past so we can have a better future. Florence Welch, states that grudges are bad for our souls and damage our lives. We cannot focus on things that we once did wrong because we learn from our mistakes. That's how life works. Instead, live life to its fullest because there are no second chances, no time outs and it’s too short to live with regrets so love the people who treat you right and remember that everything happens for a reason. It´s not late to listen to this song, if you haven´t you should because you are missing a song that will definitely change your life forever.
“I wanted to shake something out, shake out regrets, shake out those things that haunt you.”
“Singing takes over your whole body and your brain. It´s like coming back from a weird place every time you stop.” Florence Welch is a British singer. She is part of a rock band called Florence and The Machine. She was born in England and went to Alley’s School in London. When she was just a kid she was diagnosed with dyslexia. Despite her disastrous disease she didn´t give up. When she finished school she studied at Camberwell College of Arts. Later she dropped college to focus in music. (“Vigilant Citizen”) Later in her singing career she composed several songs that made her one of the best lyrical singers in history. Her unique style has made the world go crazy. The release of “Lungs” on 6july 2009 positioned her album as second in the K Album Chart. Later it went up to being the best album of 2009. (“Glamour Magazine”)
Florence continues impressing her fans when the “Drumming Song” was nominated in the Q Awards on 2009. (“Wikipedia”) Afterward the “Rabbit Heart” won as the best styling video in the UK Music Video Awards. “Dog days are over” won in the MTV Video Music Awards. Florence continued impressing the world when she launches “Shake it out” winning as the best track in the Shockwaves NME Awards on 2012. (“Ritmic”)
The authentic flavor of Hershey´s Now in a bottle!
“An uncle of mine emigrated to Canada and couldn't take his guitar with him. When I found it in the attic, I'd found a friend for life�
Sting the bass and lead singer of this
By: Barbara A i
"Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner” also known as Sting, due to having the sufficient personality to use a sweatshirt with stripped lines that has given him his nickname and artistic name, is known for his deep musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and profound lyricist skills. He was born in October 2nd 1951, in Wallsend, north- east England (Osvart). As an artist, Sting has also been a professional and successful individual who has embodied himself being an activist, actor, philanthropist, and English teacher (“Sting”). As a matter of fact, his music carrier started when a fellow musician Phoenix Jazzmen re-named him Sting after far sighting his striped sweatshirt. His “new life” began by evolving a professional touch in the bass guitar, playing with local outfits such as The Newcastle Big Band, The Phoenix Jazzmen, Earthrise and Last Exit. When Punk rock exploded, jazz-fusion was destined to collapse, however, Stewart Copeland, “Curved Air” drummer, attended to Newcastle, where Last exit had done a visit. Stewart noted the charisma of the bass player, Sting. After months, they got together, and Sting left his teaching job and
moved to London. Copeland, Sting and guitarist Henri Padovani, started rehearsing and together they named their band “The Police”, making Sting the bass and lead singer of this classic. With Copeland’s brother as manager, they were surprised with their first song, “Roxanne”. As a member of this legendary crew he attained sixteen “Grammy Awards”(“Sting”) and was venerated in the inventive world of arts. The band slowly broke down, causing Sting to release his first solo “The Dream Of The Blue Turtles” being of it a revelation. After sharing his new solo, it was easy to proof that Sting hadn’t lose his ability to convey a message through his inspiring songs. Starting his new carrier, Sting released a major quantity of solo albums such as “The Soul Cages” “Mercury Falling”, ‘Ten Summoner's Tales”, and “Brand New Day” receiving three Oscar nominations for three selected songs. He performed in Dubai, Venezuela and Colombia. Most recently he prepared a tour across North America, in June and July, continued in Europe, and ended up in Australasia. Now he is currently living in New York (“Biography”).
Shape of my Heart
ong time ago, a hero named Superman rotated around Earth saving lives everyday. As known and brilliant as he is, that did not make him a real and powerful hero; however, a composer named Sting fulfilled his image as a hero being capable of doing anything related to music, mending a glorious song together and being the best lyricist of all times. “Ten Summoner's Tales” was an album written out of an inspiration that insignificantly Sting had, when dreaming at a lake house he visited in 1992, after observing the inspiring garden it included (“Biography”). “Shape of my Heart”, being part of the album, is an inspiring and intimate song leaving a poignant and universal message defying the mystical logic and luck of chance, because the actions you perform are not always to win or to be recognized. It is for your own satisfaction (Groban). The song title “Shape of my Heart”, implies mystery, how other gamblers detect him and represent him as a human, what they think about him, so maybe it is similar to your personality. Throughout the song, the artist uses strong imagery and profound metaphors related to playing cards explaining his opinion about each suit. He shares with us, the audience, the following line, "I know that the spades are the swords of a soldier / I know that the clubs are weapons of wars" (Lines 9,10), divulging the idea that he expects people to see him different, because he doesn’t identify himself with any of the suits, nor hearts, diamonds, spades or clubs as he clearly mentions the title of the song at the end of each stanza, “that’s not the shape of my heart”. (Line 21)
On the other hand, having such an inspiring tone and word choice also makes the message be understood form distinct points of view. Throughout the song, its notable the perspective Sting has regarding the way he thinks people describe his shape, elaborating this message through a selected variation of words that enhances the lyrics imagining how humans judge by the outside as mentioned in line 26 “For those who speak know nothing” (Line 26). Further on, the imagery of the lyrics maintains a clear message that “the mask [he] wears is one” (line 25) picturing a situation of truth reveling who he actually is and represents. As Cheyennewilson speaks the message is the following: “Shape of my heart is written or an attempt of a communication from death to life. The mask he wears is one. Those he plays never suspect. Not even when you commit suicide do you think that you will actually do the deed” (Cheyennewilson). You might all think that this post is a little crazy, however thanks to the popularity of the song, it is easy and simple to note that people around the world have different opinions, but maybe you may connect to any message. Apart from this, as personal and intimate the tone is, lots of people may connect to this song. Due to the fact that this song is about poker players, you may notice if you have traveled to “Las Vegas”, which by the way an amazing and entertaining place, that gamblers don’t share emotions. They are stuck to a wooden table with a green mantle and all they do is play, play with a just one face, with only one mask to identify the player. But behind that poker face there are feelings that might be looking for an specific logic such as Sting try’s to elaborate in “Shape of my Heart” (Groban).
Shape of my Heart As mentioned, “Shape of my Heart” is part of an album named “Ten Summoner's Tales”. As a popular production, this deeply written music explores themes of love and mortality, being of it an album containing number one hits around the U.S, and mentioned in the “Rolling Stone Magazine”, Mercury Prize and Grammy Awards, so BUY IT! In fact, “Shape of my Heart” was ranked 57 in the UK singles chart (“Ten Summoner’s Tales”). This song has such a deep message that it transports you to a world of satisfaction, but now a days the artistic part and lyrics of compositions are not ranked for the message they convey, but for the rhythm and repetition they have. Stings composition has value due to the profound lyrics it owns and the unique rhythm it has. If you haven’t listened to the song “SHAPE OF MY HEART” do not wait until the last minute because your true path to be content with yourself will start after typing into YouTube “Shape of my Heart by Sting”, because after listening to it you will ask yourself, what is the real shape of my heart?
Make a Change
Visit: http://www.techoclub.org/
The Techo Club at Colegio FD Roosevelt:
Our goal is to mitigate the effects of poverty in our local community through the construction of emergency homes, while educating our community about the vicious cycle of poverty in Peru and breaking down prejudices and stereotypes that plague our society
Ex-factor Lyrics that sink deep in your heart People say that love is the “one word [that] frees us of all the weight and pain of life” (Sophocles) But love isn’t always such a beautiful thing. There are people that have gone through painful break ups, or could tell countless love stories. If you happen to be one of these people, then this is the song for you! Throughout the song the lyricist “Ex-factor” by Lauryn Hill is a Another factor that makes the gives us more hints for the lyrics of this song so great is the song about someone that can’t readers to understand the literary devise. In the song she forget about her recently message very clearly, such as in describes their love as a “battle” crumbled relationship, and that and that “[they] both end up lines 31 and 32: “Cause no one's expresses her intimate and with scars” (4). This simile hurt me more than you, and no earnest feelings towards the shows the readers how hard and one ever will”. Here, she’s situation. In the middle of the dangerous it is and how much showing that she loves him so pain and damage it causes them song she says, “I keep letting much but as things aren’t the both. Their battle is also said to you back in, How can I explain way she wants them to be, it be a “Silly game” (9) which is myself, As painful as this thing hurts her. And what about when metaphorically saying that their has been, I just can't be with no love is not taken seriously she says “You said you'd die for one else” (Lines 25-28) Doesn’t enough. With these lines you me”(38)? Now she’s even this line just transfer her sorrow can tell that Lauryn Hill shows a feeling betrayed in a way, as the and impassion into your heart? very devoted feel and tone guy is turning his back on her, towards her beloved one. Breaking up with someone is and acting differently than one thing, but not being able to before. This crumbles down her forget them is just tragic. heart and gives her great agony. It’s not just the literary devices, but the interesting It’s very hard to write lyrics and make them word choice of the song that makes the song great. She says sound real and transfer all the emotions when “Tell me, who I have to be, to you haven’t gone through them. And in this get some reciprocity” (5-6). case, Lauryn Hill actually has been through The word reciprocity refers to such complications with love. How tragic the practice of exchanging would have been her experience that she even things with others for mutual wrote a song about it? benefits and privileges between countries or It all started 16 years ago, in 1996 when she organizations. Using this kind met Rohan Marley. He was the son of Bob of vocabulary for love, gives Marley, AND a married man. Despite this, they the song a different feeling still decided to form a family and had five and tells the readers that she children(Farley). So her story of a prohibited thinks this love somewhat like love with Rohan Marley was transferred right a negotiation. Overall, “Exto the song. By reading through the lyrics, you factor is a song which transfers its message to us can rapidly capture the palpable feelings of through different literary Hill’s love story. devices and word choice. Lauryn Hill hasn’t had a typical nor normal life compared to all the other women around her, but that is the factor that made the lyrics so amazing. So, whenever you’re having problems with your girlfriend or boyfriend, think of the message that Hill has left us, and remember to tell them “No one can love you more than me, and no one ever will” (15,16)
Written by Soo jin Lee
And the lyricist
Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill, the American singer, rapper, and record producer, born on May 26th of 1975, has been involved in the music industry ever since 1991. (Raftey) Hill started her career at the age of 15, forming a group called “The Fugees”. She began to write poems and used them in her rap. This group was so popular that their first album, Blunted on Reality ranked on the 49th place on the US Hot 100 Albums. Their infinite popularity never seemed to cease. Their second Album “The Score” including songs such as “Ready or Not” and “Fu-Gee-La” was a Grammy winner (Checkoway).
She even started her acting career, first with minor roles on television shows such as “As the World Turns”, but later even co-starring in Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit back in 1993(Raftery).
Then was when she finally came with her first solo album. It was inspired by the book “The Miseducation of the Negro” by Carter G. Woodson. This was with the intention of raising awareness of racial controversy and to make African Americans to gain self-esteem. She once said, “There are a lot of young black girls who I meet in my travels who don’t have a lot of self-esteem, so if I communicate to them that they’re beautiful no white person should find fault in that. It doesn’t mean that young white girls aren’t beautiful,” (Teen People, April 1999) because they are just as beautiful.” She dedicated everything into it by composing and writing lyrics for every single track in the album. (Adaso) The album was released in 1998 and it was very successful, selling over 423,000 copies just in the first week, topping the Billboard 200 album chart for four weeks and the R&B album chart for six. In the Grammy awards on February 1999, Hill won five trophies from her eleven nominations, which includes Album, of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, and Best R&B album. The popularity of the album went on for years and over the next decade, over 18 million copies were sold! (Bush)
Joni Mitchell “Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got till it's gone.�
Joni
Mitchell was born in Fort Macleod, Alberta, Canada in November 1943. She is currently 68 years old and lives in Toronto, Canada. At the age of eight she got Polio, which inspired her to sing considering that once she was cured, she couldn’t continue with the athletic life she once had. Her career as a singer started in bars and in nightclubs in Western Canada and when she finally moved to US, some of her songs were published such as Urge for Going and Both Sides Now. In 1968, she recorder her first album called Joni Mitchell. Then, in 1969, she won the Award for Best folk Performances and her first Grammy. Her songs were recognized due to the fact that they included great symbolism and imagery (“Joni Mitchell”). Her success continued when she published her third album Ladies of the Canyon in 1970 and later published Blue on 1971 which was one of her most know albums world wide. On 1974, she published Court and Spark which was an album she published with the collaboration of Tom Scott, which was a famous saxophonist (“Joni Mitchell Biography”).
This particular album is distinct to her original style since it changes from folk music to jazz. Court and Sparks received important recognitions including place 101 on The Rolling Stone magazine and the Greatest 500 Albums of all Times. On the early 1980 Joni Mitchell married Larry Klein after working with him a year and a half. She continued writing songs and publishing albums such as Wild Things Run Fast and Dong Eat Dog, which were released in October 1985. Nine years later, on her fifteenth album, Turbulent Indigo, she won a Grammy. She continued won the music industry until, in 2002, she declared her retirement, however in 2006, she stated that she was going to continue with her career and that she soon will release a new album (Wikipedia).
Imagery is also visible when Joni Mitchell refers to humans as the “big yellow that took my old man” (17). On this metaphor, Earth is represented as the old man that has history and wisdom, and how he is being assaulted by humans. This is another example of why Joni Mitchell is the best lyricist ever, due to the fact that by comparing two things than we can easily relate, we can clearly understand how harsh we are being on Earth.
Joni Mitchell Technology has a tremendous impact on our civilization. Is this progress in our society more important than nature? Is all the damage we do to paradise really worth it? These are the questions Joni Mitchell wanted us to ask when she wrote “Big Yellow Taxi.” It is an evocative song written in the late sixties with profound metaphors, wonderful symbolism and vivid imagery. Throughout the entire song we can clearly understand her feeling towards the environment and her perception of destruction of wildlife. It is her message and the way she crafts it that makes it one of the best songs in history. Figurative language deepens the entire song making it the best lyrical song ever written. Throughout the record, we can see how humans are discounting the fact that nature is vital for our society by “[paving] paradise and [putting] a parking lot”(1). With this deep metaphor we can see how nature is being damaged and destroyed. We are replacing nature, which is referred as paradise, by constructions and materialistic things such as parking lots (“Song Analysis-Big Yellow Taxi”). Also, the alliteration used, vividly describes the song and makes us notice the different emotions involved in the lyrics. Another example of figurative language that enhances the song and makes it be the best lyrical ever, explains that we “don’t know what we’ve got till it’s gone” (34). Once nature is obsolete, it will be too late to regret it. This wise stanza demonstrates how thoughtful Joni Mitchell felt about the environment and how she sees the consequences of our destruction. The deep figurative language used, makes us understand the importance of valuing nature, making this song not only lyrically the best but providing a vital message for society. Humans continue showing their obsession with economy when Joni Mitchell says “Hey farmer put away the DDT I don’t care about the spots in my apples.” (11). This example of imagery demonstrates the quality of the lyrics in song. How an insignificant action such as putting fertilizer on a tree changes our perception of the environment. Although nature has “imperfections” such as spots in the apples, it is not necessary for us to change it. We need to respect nature the way it is.
Natalia Cuglievan
Big Yellow Taxi is a wonderful song that has been performed by several artists such as Counting Crows, Amy Grant, Pinhead, Gunpowder and many more. Due to its profound meaning, many artists are interested on performing it. The poignant message it has, inspires many artists and makes them reflect about the Earth and how we are destroying nature. Some achievements Big Yellow Taxi has received have been Australia Aria Single Chart on position 6 as well and being on U.S Billboard Hot 100 on position 67 and later position 24, among others. “(Big Yellow Taxi-Counting Crows”) Another positive aspect of the song, is the fact that it has different perceptions. Since there are a variety of literary devices that enrich it making it brilliant, many people have different perspectives of it. For example, Ilo says “This song is about living every moment to it’s fullest and appreciating everything ...because tomorrow something you love could be gone and you never know how important something is to you until its gone” (”Big Yellow Taxi Lyrics-Song Meanings”). Another opinion consists on “The overall message is not taking things for granted. She goes into how the environment is being exploited and wasted by people, and transitions into connecting what we are doing to the environment to someone she loves” (“Big Yellow Taxi Lyrics-Song Meanings”). As a result, the fact that song can be interpret in various ways makes it lyrically richer consequently one of the best songs ever written. Big Yellow Taxi is a remarkable song from which you will learn the importance of the environment and how humans are harassing it. The various positive aspects it has, enriches the song making it the best song ever written. It has been recognized world wide, and so make sure you listen it, because if you don’t, you will be missing on
t
a to p h i .
Big Yellow Taxi
i FRUIT
U2 The Band
April, 2012
No Line in the Horizon
+
Group Consists of
The picture you can see below is the photo of their 12th album called No Line in the Horizon it was released on February 27, 2009. First album since
Bono (vocals and guitar), The Edge (guitar, keyboards and vocals), Adam Clayton (bass guitar), and Larry Mullen, Jr. (drums and percussion). (“100 Greatest
the one before that was 5 years ago. The greatest music gap for U2 ever. This album is mentioned; because it was the first that U2 had other music writers other than themselves (“The
Artists U2”).
background: making No Line on the Horizon”)
1
2
+
Bono: “Music can change the world because it can 3 change people”
Bono’s Part in the band
As he is the main vocalist, he is what the people hear, his voice is the one the fans imitate and this makes you think more of yourself. Being the lead singer gives you a type of personality that is much superior to the others, so when Mullen said that he was going to be the band leader, Bono interfered and denied that.
Lasts Forever
It is very hard to be a successful band for 40 years in a row. “U2” has done an amazing job of being such an attractive band for all audiences. I am attracted to this band because I move to their music. For 40 years they have been making people listen to their music. Although they had a rough time in the year 2000.
The Bands Origins U2 was formed in 1976, thanks to Larry Mullen who is now the drummer; he posted a note on the schools notice board. Six people went to try out. There in their kitchen, Paul Hewson (Bono) on the vocal leads, David Evans (The Edge) on guitar, and Adam Clayton who was a friend of David. So this is the humble story of how this amazing band begun. (Wikipedia.com)
22 Grammy’s The Band “U2” has won more Grammy’s than any other band, this is a number of 22 Grammy’s, more than “The Beatles” and “The Rolling Stones”, can you just imagine that, it is purely amazing they should really feel honored. Even more honored after being inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005, they were ranked number 22. ("U2’s stars enter rock Hall of Fame” )
The Best Lyrical Song Ever
Beautiful Day
Summer 2012
Whenever you wake up and you have pending things to do you want to kill yourself for not having them done, this sometimes happens to me and it’s the worst. That’s when “Beautiful Day” rings a bell in your head. You must hear it when you are depressed and maybe sing it too In those lines mentioned above you can see the analysis, that was made that will help you understand why this is the best song ever.
Just close your eyes and imagine you are having a horrible day, nothing is working out as you planned it would, your life is falling apart and you just want all of it to end. Don’t worry because the song “Beautiful Day” by U2, will cheer you up but only if you listen closely. What the song intends to do is give a message to all the people that are not rocking life, to just look at the bright side of life to become a positive person again. In the first place, this is the greatest lyrical song ever because the message helps people worldwide. By just understanding the song and hearing the lyrics, you can get help from Bono. There are some lines that are just the key to the message. The first line starts in line 5 and lasts the whole stanza which is… “You’re out of luck (5), And
the reason that you had to care (6), The traffic is stuck (7), And you’re not moving anywhere” (8). In this part of the song you can read that Bono is describing the beginning of a bad day, which usually happens to all of us. Bono’s message is that he understands our frustrations, because he has some too.
To point out another line that sends a message that he is having a bad day is… “You’re on the road (19), But you’ve got no destination”(20). These lines have a message, and it is very depressing; it says that you have nowhere to go but you are travelling, which means that you don’t have someone to count on or you don’t have a home, which is indeed very blue. Although this song is good, it is not here to depress you, it is here to make you happier. In the same fashion these are more lines in the song that are meant to be there to cheer people and encourage them to have a better day. “And see the bird with a leaf in her mouth (38), After the flood all the colors came out” (40). This is the other part of the song that makes your day happier. It tells you to just look to what is good around you the positive things. “After the flood all the colors came out” (40), this metaphor, means after the problems occurred the solutions or positive feelings appeared. This is what the song is making you go through. In conclusion to this article what makes this song great is its motifs and what it does to people with its message, you can see that this song was made to help you move on. You can also see the positive side of life in your body or way of being, if you don’t have any physical or mental disadvantages then be happy and grateful about it, you’ve got nothing more to ask for.
“Viva la Vida” - Coldplay Why is “Viva la Vida” the best lyrical song ever?
Have you ever imagined loosing all of your power in a matter of seconds? Probably not, but “Viva la Vida” by Coldplay is all about this. It is story about a king, who doesn’t manage his power wisely, and, precipitously, lost it.
By: Gonzalo V
We know that Viva la Vida is a really cool and popular song with a wonderful presentation, but when analyzing it, you truly understand the power of its lyrics. The message transmitted by the author in this song is that you can have copious power and authority, but in a couple of seconds, in a decision taken in an instant, you can loose it all. The king had everything under control. “[He] used to rule the world / Seas would rise when [he] gave the word / Now in the morning [he] sleeps alone / Sweeps the streets [that he] used to own”(lines 1-4).
This verse represents how he had everything under power and in a blink of eyes he ends up “sweeping up the streets he used to own”. The connotation of the sea is power because it is massive and hard to control. However, to demonstrate all the power this king had, he said that he could control the sea with a couple of words. He didn´t manage this power wisely, “I used to roll the dice / Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes”(5-6), as time passed, the king lost it little by little as he gambled with his authority.
Aside from its great composition and lyrics, we also need to appreciate its great imagery and structure. When Christ Martin wrote this song, he decided to use many literary devices to make the message powerful and clear. We can see how this song is structured; it begins by telling us all the power he had, then how he managed it, which was the main reason why he lost it. Finally, it tells us that he is not important any more, that “Saint Peter won´t call his name [again]”, symbolizing that he doesn´t appear in the list anymore; he has no possibilities. Further, he used metaphors, symbolism, and hyperboles in order to convey a meaningful message (‘Coldplay: Viva la Vida Meaning’).
He didn´t worry too much about his power, when suddenly “[He] discovered that [his] castles [stood] / Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand”(11-12). This hyperbole explains that the base of his kingdom was really weak, that everything could collapse easily. He had everything under control, but “for some reason I can't explain / I know Saint Peter won't call my name/ Never an honest word / But that was when I ruled the world” (38-42). He doesn´t know why he lost his power because it happened so fast. Line 39 is a metaphor that represents that he is not on the list any more, that he has no option. Everything changed in a couple of seconds, just because of one sole decision.
Viva la Vida is also one of the greatest songs ever because it won the song of the year Grammy Award in 2009 (‘Viva la Vida – Coldplay’) after being released in July 2008, also being the bestselling album with 6.8 million copies sold. It´s now rated with a 4.5/5 score in the iTunes Store. They even won the award for Song of the Year at the 29th Annual ASCAP Awards in London. Now, after analyzing “Viva la Vida” we can truly comprehend the value of power, and how important decisions are, because in matter of seconds, things can change radically.
The actual drummer of Coldplay, Will Champion, was a guitarist before joining the band.
15% of Coldplay’s profit as a band is donated to charity.
In its debut week at the US, Viva la Vida and Death all Or His Friends sold 722,000 copies
(‘Viva la Vida and Death or all His Friends – Coldplay’)
Coldplay´s band name has changed five times.
“Just a puppet on a lonely string. Oh, who would ever want to be a king?” (‘Coldplay Quotes’)
The truth about them… Early Career: After creating the band on 1996, on 1998, Coldplay released their first album, Safety EP. Only 500 copies of this album were produced, it wasn´t public, just for family and friends to receive feedback (‘Coldplay’). In 2000, they made their first tour, The Carling Tour. After this tour, they began to be known by the media, and they release a single, Yellow. Inspired by the Yellow Pages, they became popular with this single. “Coldplay´s social activism, interaction with media, is one of their vital keys to success” (Vidaurrazaga)
The four band members are: Chris Martin (vocalist) Jon Buckland (guitarist) Guy Berrymam (bassist) Will Champion (drummer) Albums: Safety EP Brothers and Sisters Mylo Xyloto Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends X&Y Live 2003 A Rush of B-Sides to Your Head Clocks A Rush of Blood to the Head Blue Room Parachutes
DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE __________
Death Cab for Cutie is an American alternative and indie rock band formed in Bellingham, Washington in 1997. The band consists of Ben Gibbard (vocals, guitar, piano), Chris Walla (guitar, production, keyboards), Nick Harmer (bass) and Jason McGerr (drums).
Taking the name Death Cab for Cutie from a 1960s rockabilly song from Neil Innes about a girl named Cutie who gets in a taxi accident after cheating on her boyfriend, the group started as an opening for the singer/songwriter Ben Gibbard (O’Connor). In 1997, while going to Western Washington University and playing guitar with the group Pinwheel, Ben Gibbard wrote and recorded a series of songs that he eventually recor ded and performed with his friend Chris Walla. Heartened by the success, Gibbard and Walla recruited their college friends Nick Harmer and Nathan Good for the group’s first album, Something About Airplanes (Gorman). (Ben Gibbard singing live)
Shortly after the release of Airplanes, drummer Nathan Good left the band, and was replaced by Michael Schorr. With him on the band from 2000-2001, they recorded the albums: We Have the Facts and We’re Voting Yes and The Photo Album. After a turbulent tour in 2002, Gibbard and Walla nearly broke the band up after a tense show in Baltimore, but the band members decide to take a temporary pause. In 2003, Death Cab reconvened with Jason McGerr replacing Michael Schorr in the album Transatlanticism.
Because of this successful album, their music landed on television shows and cracked the Billboard Top 100. In the aftermath of this success, the group signed with major label Atlantic and in 2005 they released the album Plans, which continued the group’s successful run, cracking the Billboard Top Ten and selling over a million copies. It was followed in 2008 by Narrow Stairs, which hit Number One on the Billboard charts.
Gibbard
has said in interviews that the opening track of the album was chosen specifically for its line “I descended a dusty gravel ridge,” and that the remainder of the record carried out that journey. In 2011 the band released their latest album Codes and Keys (Rolling Stone).
Discography:
Greatest Hits: ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
No Sunlight Soul Meets Body I Will Follow You into the Dark Cath… Crooked Teeth I Will Possess Your Heart You Are a Tourist The Sound of Settling Grapevine Fires Title and Registration
▪ Something About Airplanes (1998) ▪ We Have the Facts and We’re Voting Yes (2000) ▪ The Photo Album (2001) ▪ Transatlanticism (2003) ▪ Plans (2005) ▪ Narrow Stairs (2008) ▪ Codes and Keys (2011)
__________________________________
Did You Know?
1. In 2003 while Death Cab For 2. Ben Gibbard married 3. After their album Narrow Cutie were in a break, Ben the actress Zooey Stairs they released a Gibbard started a band called Deschanel in 2009. single “Meet Me On the The Postal Service with Equinox” from the producer Jimmy Tamborello Twilight: New Moon and released the album Give Up. Soundtrack in 2009.
“Soul Meets Body” By: Franco Lozano
Groups like U2, Bon Jovi, Linkin Park, and Coldplay have always been known for their great songs and incredible lyrics. You shouldn’t count this indie rock band from Bellingham, Washington called Death Cab For Cutie out. In my opinion, this group is one of the best alternative rock bands out right now. They have released seven albums, and many great songs, but nothing compares to the song “Soul Meets Body” from the fifth album called Plans, which turned out to be a breakthrough for them and for indie music.
After listening to “Soul Meets Body” by Death Cab for Cutie, you feel enlightened by the unique melody and upbeat rhythm accompanied by lyrics of loss and wonderment of the song. It teaches how
“Soul Meets Body” by Death Cab For Cutie, one of the best songs ever written in time.
people can’t shake away the thought of your loved one dying someday. Therefore, you want to live where that doesn’t occur and feel fresh; you “want to live, where soul meets body” (Line 1). You get the idea that you still can be with that person as souls and never actually lose each other. This song makes you understand that there’s a different world in your soul “Where [you] send [your] thoughts to far off destinations” (6) and the only thing you want to do is be with that person. Eventually, your love is so strong, that “if the silence takes you/then I hope it takes me too” (18-19), meaning that if you’re loved one dies, you want to die with her. “Soul Meets Body” is a message to people that after our demise “there are still roads left in our shoes” (27), and you still have a life ahead of you. It’s the perfect combination of love and reflection (Leahey). The tone in songs is really important as well, it’s what makes the listener connect with the song and feel the importance and meaning of it. By listening to “Soul Meets Body” one realizes the importance of feeling at total peace and focusing entirely on thoughts that are pure. You get that feeling during the whole song with the earnest lyrics of it. Ben Gibbard, the bands singer, never truly loses his presence in the song. Whether it is a quite breakdown or a heavily
strummed part, he can keep on singing with a hypnotizing voice accompanied by the tender and lovelorn lyrics. His impassioned and intimate tone connects with you and the only thing you want to do is keep listening to the song and feel what Gibbard is feeling. The incredible thing of this song is that you don’t know what’s coming next, you just let the relaxing and peaceful words and melody take you in their own journey (Woods). Another thing that is truly remarkable in this song is its imagery. Almost every stanza contains a metaphor or meaning. For example, in lines 17-18 Gibbard says: “So brown eyes I hold you near, cause you’re the only song I want to hear”. This is a metaphor saying that her eyes are like a song and she’s the only thing he wants to hear. The whole song is deep and meaningful and if you really connect with it, you understand every metaphor it throws at you. You feel the warmness of the song through these metaphors by feeling “the sun wrap its arms around you” (2) and making you feel like “in [your] head there’s a greyhound station” (5). These metaphors make you understand the deepness of the song. Saying that in your head there’s a greyhound station is like saying that you can escape in your mind to different places. Also, saying that the sun is wrapping its hands around you is like saying that you feel warm and needed. By listening to these metaphors you sense the mood change and true meaning of this phenomenal
song.
“Soul Meets Body” has peaked at number 5 on the U.S. Modern Rock Track chart and it stayed there for 14 weeks. Additionally, Elisa Bray, of “The Independent” said that the song is “one of their best melodies” and that “a melody softly soaring through my atmosphere” sums up the effect of the song on its listener. Furthermore, Mike Diver, author of “Drowned in Sound” stated that the song has an element that “leaves a bitter aftertaste that lingers long after the sound of silence settles” (Diver). Everyone who has listened to “Soul Meets Body” has felt the same way. They have felt the connection with the song and understood its deep meaning beyond its incredible melody. This is a song great in, not only music but also lyrics. It’s really an amazing song full of emotion and significance. It’s truly one of the best songs ever written in time.
“Oh Very Young”
!!!!!
“Music is part of God's universe” Cat Stevens (“Cat Stevens Quotes”)
!!!!!Cat!Stevens!was!born!in! London,!England!on!July!21,! 1948.!His!parents!owned!a! restaurant!where!he!learned!to! play!the!piano!as!a!child.!His! family!lived!in!a!small!apartment! over!the!restaurant!place,!which! was!surrounded!by!the!glitz,! glamour,!and!the!nearby!theatre! presence!of!the!West!End!this! was!a!very!strong!influence!on! the!young!musician!during!his! childhood!(“Cat!Stevens”). !!!!!Although!he!was!raised!Greek,! his!parents!decided!to!send!him! to!a!Catholic!school.!The!mixture! of!the!two!religious!influences! helped!him!acquire!a!strong!
ethical!conscience.! !!!!!When!Stevens!was!8!years!old! his!parents!divorced!but!they!sQll! lived!in!the!same!home.!Even!in! the!midst!of!the!disorder,!the! young!man!revealed!a!natural! talent!for!arQsQc!abiliQes.!In! 1963,!influenced!by!the!Beatles! he!persuaded!his!father!to!buy! him!a!guitar!(“Biography!Yusuf”).! Cat!Stevens!quickly!began! wriQng!and!playing!his!own! songs. !!!!!Cat!Stevens!aWended! Hammersmith!Art!College,!there! he!performed!and!this!was!one! of!his!first!steps!towards!his! future!career.!A!year!later!he! became!officially!a!songwriter,! and!changed!his!name!to!Cat! Stevens. !!!!!During!this!Qme,!he!sold!his! hit!"The!First!Cut!is!the!Deepest"! for!$40.!The!song!was!a!total! success,!making!it!to!No.!18!on! the!UK!Singles!Chart.!A!year! later,!when!Stevens!was!18,! Mike!Hurst!persuaded!the!arQst! to!Decca!Records.!Cat!Stevens! soon!released!his!first!album! called,!Ma#hew'and'Son,!which! highlighted!the!hits!"I!Love!My! Dog,"!"Here!Comes!My!Baby,"!
He also won the ECHO Awards, Germany 2007 Won ECHO Special Award category (contribution to the music industry) 2007 Got nomination for ECHO Award category International Pop/Rock Male Artist of the Year for "An Other Cup"
Ivor Novello Awards 2007 Won Ivor Novello Award category Outstanding Song
and!the!Qtle!track,!which! registered!at!Number!2!and! helped!to!increase!his!famous! career.!(“Cat!Stevens”) !!!!!!Even!though!Stevens!was! starQng!to!experience!some! aWainment!as!a!pop!star,!he! desired!to!release!some!of!his! other!tracks.!Decca!denied,! demanding!that!he!had!been! chosen!to!aWract!a!teen! audience!and!should!conQnue! like!that.!The!disappointment! brought!Stevens!into!a!misery,! and!the!star!began!to!drink! alcohol!to!lessen!his!suffering.! The!tensions!of!his!work!and!his! wild!partying!lifestyle!took!a! huge!impact!on!his!health,!and!in! 1968!they!spoWed!tuberculosis!in! his!body.!A!threeemonth!period! in!the!hospital!gave!the!arQst! Qme!to!reflect!upon!his!path!and! reconsider!his!what!he!really! wanted!to!do!with!his!life. !!!!!While!Cat!Stevens!had!been! quite!a!success!in!the!release!of! Tea'for'the'Tillerman!and!"Wild! World”!which!made!him!a!true! star!in!the!U.S.!His!album!went! high!in!rankings,!and!brought!a! new!interest!to!his!earlier! recordings.
Q Awards 2009 Won Q Award category Classic Songwriter
Top 10 Songs 1. “Oh Very Young” 2. “Sitting” 3. “Father and Son” 4. “How Can I Tell You?” 5. “The First Cut Is The Deepest” 6. “Silent Sunlight” 7. “The Hurt” 8. “Can Keep It In” 9. “Wild World” 10. “Morning Has Broken” !!!!!Stevens!experienced!more!success!with! "Moon!Shadow,"!"Peace!Train"!and! "Morning!Has!Broken,"!and!he!recorded! tracks!for!the!film!Harold'and'Maude.!His! next!album,!Catch'Bull'at'Four!(1972),!was! part!of!the!top!charts,!making!it!his!most! successful!American!release.!He!later! released!his!tenth!album!named,!Izitso,! which!was!a!total!boom!(“Cat!Stevens”).! !!!!!Some!Qme!later,!Stevens!was!swimming! in!the!beach,!were!he!almost!drowned.! Facing!imminent!death!led!the!arQst!to!make! an!assurance:!“If!divine!intervenQon!could! save!him!from!drowning,!Stevens!would! devote!his!live!to!honoring!God”.!According! to!Cat!Stevens,!the!wave!pushed!him!to! shore!as!if!they!were!an!answer!to!his! prayers.!For!his!birthday,!his!brother!gave! him!a!copy!of!the!book,!Koran,!which!was!a! big!influence!on!the!musician!(“Cat! Stevens”). !!!!!In!1977,!Stevens!decided!to!change!his! name!to!Yusuf!Islam!and!converted!himself! into!a!Muslim.!Being!part!of!a!new!religion,! Stevens!announced!that!he!stop!recording! music.!The!following!year,!A&M!Records! released!Back'to'Earth,!a!backlog!of! previously!recorded!tracks.!The!release! experienced!mild!success!(“Cat!Stevens”) !!!!!In!1979,!Stevens!married!Fawzia!Ali,!and! founded!a!Muslim!school!near!London.!He! lived!a!quiet!life!dedicated!to!his!family!and! belief,!and!wasn't!heard!from!unQl!the!late! 80s.!In!1989,!Cat!Stevens!claims!he!was! misunderstood!in!his!choices!and!life.!As!a! result,!Stevens'!music!was!detached!from! the!radio!frequencies!in!the!US!and!was! banned!from!the!music!industry. In!the!mide90s,!Stevens!released!spiritual! and!Islamic!music!albums.!But!these,! combined!with!his!humanitarian!efforts,! couldn't!make!him!forget!his!earlier! humiliaQon.!Although!he!strongly!criQcized!
the!terrorist!acts!of!September!11,!2001,!he! was!placed!on!a!"no!fly"!list!which!prevented! him!from!entering!the!United!States!(“Cat! Stevens”). !!!!!Stevens!finally!returns!to!record!none religion!music!in!2004.!That!same!year,!he! released!a!charity!track!with!Ronan!KeaQng,! and!gave!a!live!concert!in!London.!In!2005,! he!was!named!"Songwriter!of!the!Year"!and! awarded!"Song!of!the!Year"!by!the!ASCAP! for!his!hit,!"The!First!Cut!is!the!Deepest."!In! 2006,!he!also!released!his!album!An'Other' Cup!and!received!another!ASCAP!award!for! "The!First!Cut!is!the!Deepest,"!(“Cat! Stevens”). !!!!!Despite!his!past,!the!arQst’s!work!remains! popular!all!over!the!world.!In!2007,!he!was! also!awarded!the!Mediterranean!Prize!for! Peace,!the!ECHO!award,!and!an!honorary! doctorate!by!the!University!of!Exeter!all!in! recogniQon!for!his!work!in!understanding! the!Islamic!and!Western!cultures.!A!year! later,!he!was!nominated!for!inducQon!into! the!Songwriters!Hall!of!Fame.!Stevens!is!sQll! married!to!Ali,!with!whom!he!has!five! children.!The!family!lives!currently!in!London! (“Cat!Stevens”).
“The%words%of%the%songs%speak% for%themselves”%6%Cat%Stevens%(“Cat Stevens Quotes”)
e!Sara!Cadena
Won the ASCAP/PRS Awards 2006 Won ASCAP/PRS Award category Songwriter of the Year 2005 Won ASCAP/PRS Award category Song of the Year for "First Cut Is the Deepest"
One of the Best Lyrical Songs EVER
“Oh Very Young” Do we really value everything we have in our life? Do people enjoy every hour, minute or second of their lifetime? Many artists are great, they have a future to follow and fans to entertain but most of them fall into the world of drugs and alcohol which ruins their whole lives and makes them stop reflecting on what they really want for their future. NOT Cat Stevens. He is a hero and one of the best lyricists of all times. You might have heard “Remember The Days Of The Old School Yard”, “Wild World”, “Father and Son” or “Oh Very Young”. Not only are these high ranked and trendy songs but they all have a message about life, time or peace. During the years 2006 – 2009, Cat Stevens won various ASCAP awards for his excellency in writing songs, winning in categories such as songwriter of the year and song of the year (“Cat Stevens”). “Oh Very Young” by Cat Stevens, is not only the best lyrical song ever but also it is composed by a unique artist that does not value material things like any other but enjoys helping the community , organizations and charities such as UNICEF. He even founded an Islamic school in London called Islamia Primary School making it the first government funded Muslim school in England.
Cat Stevens is one of those impatient strivers and dreamers of everlasting truths that sends evocative messages through his music. “Oh Very Young” is one of the songs where CAT Stevens successfully conveys the message about the brevity of life, how your time is as valuable as gold and you must not waste it but enjoy it as much as possible. This line in the lyrics “…you are only dancing on this earth/for a short while…”(Lines 3-4) clearly says it. The word “dancing” on this earth means that people take many steps through life, the movements in the dance are the different actions humans make these may be good or bad but even so it might be from the mistakes that you learn and live life to the fullest. Many literary devices are found throughout his song which to help him explain deeper the message Stevens wants to send. Cat uses similes, such as “they will vanish away/like your daddy’s best jeans/denim blue fading up to the sky”(7-8), to explain that new things aren’t valued, used or appreciated the time you have them and the day that you know you will loose it forever, that’s when you realize about your mistakes. Don’t you think that it is as if Cat Stevens wants to send a warning? Please enjoy life so you don’t regret it your mistakes in the future when you can’t undo your actions.
think about life and remember those happy times in the past. For example Wendy, she lost her daughter on 9/11 and she heard this song come on the radio, “oh very young what will you leave us this time, you are only dancing on this earth for a short while”. When she hears it, she thinks of her and the joy that she brought to her life. It was a short time for you to be dancing in this world, and it does make the goodbye harder still (Wendy). People really believe in this song and inspire themselves and their lives to look forward on their future. “Oh Very Young” has spread a message throughout the whole world, it has impacted people in a positive way and has made them realize the importance of enjoying every second to the very best. Three years ago I had the chance to access a club near my house and do all the sports it offered. Even enjoy the pool and all its recreation activities but I became apathetic, I was always lazy to go, never even cared to go on the weekends. Two months later we weren’t members anymore and we couldn’t go back. How much I regret not enjoying those moments and opportunities is inexplicable. Life Lesson: Be a risk-taker enjoy every second in life to very best. Make Cat Stevens your hero!
There are many people that value this song and make them
“Oh very young / What will you leave us this time / You’re only dancing on this earth / For a short while / And though your dreams may toss / And turn you now / They will vanish away / Like you daddy’s best jeans / Denim blue fading up to the sky...”(1-9)
!
Tupac Shakur
!!
By Jorge Mufarech
He had a tough life from beginning to end but this never stopped him from accomplishing the great things he did. Tupac Shakur was born the 16th of June of 1971 on East Harlem, New York City. Since then, he spent his entire live moving from Ghetto to Ghetto having a very harsh childhood. The day 2Pac moved to Baltimore, Maryland his live was changed forever. Since it was the place were he discovered rap music and started to practice it. A few years later, Tupac moved to Oakland, California were he started his musical carrier. But the musical carrier did not come by itself. Tupac became famous really fast for two main reasons. His incredible artistic talents and his violent behavior. As his musical talent increased also did his thug life. Between the 1990´s1994´s Shakur was sent several times to jail due to raping and several assaults. When he came out of jail he was shot 5 times in a mugging. This brought him close to his end. But Tupac was saved, not for long though. After Recovering from the injuries, Tupac was sentenced for four more years of jail. But he was never able to complete these since 2 years later, while attending a box match; he was shot by a person who lays unknown until today. Shakur died six days after being shot but this did not stop him, or his intentions. The day he died, his fame grew greater by the day. Even today, many musical artists have either been inspired or been taught using Tupac’s technics. Most impressive is that Tupac had predicted this with one of his final quotes, “In my death, people will understand what I was talking about”.
!
Have! you! ever! been! left! out! and! excluded! from! a! group! just! because! you! are! unique! and! don’t! share! the! same! equalities! from! the! rest?! Have! you! ever! been! witnessed! the! case! where! someone! else! was! going! through! this?! And! if! you! have,! you! probably! think! to! yourself,! ”why! is! society!so!tempted!to!discriminate!and! categorize! humans! just! because! we’re! all!not!the!same?”!Tupac!Shakur’s!song! “Changes”! is! a! masterpiece! written! twenty!years! ago,! which!talks!about! a! problem! that! has! followed! humanity! all!over!history.!Racism.! ! To!start!off,!Tupac!opens!the!song!with! a! powerful! sentences! that! originates! when! he! realizes! that! “[He! see’s]! no! changes,![he]!wake!up!on!the!morning! and! [he! asks! himself],! is! live! worth! living!should![he]!blast![himself]?”!(2L 3).! Tupac! had! always! known! that! the! mater! of! life! and! death! would! catch! any! ones! attention.! He! used! this! theory!to!lighten!up!his!first!lines!in!a! way! that! would! hook! you! and! makes! you!want!to!hear!more!about!the!song.! ! !
! Tupac! does! a! great! job! at! combining! his! personal! opinion! about! this! problem! and! incorporating!his!own!life!and!experiences! such! as! when! he! says! “Instead! of! war! on! poverty! they! got! war! on! drugs,! so! the! police! can! bother! [him]”! (57L58).! Tupac! explains! how! the! government’s! priorities! consist! on! sending! their! forces! to! arrest! Afro! Americans! doing! drugs! instead! of! helping!poor!people!around!the!area.!! ! Tupac! was! known! as! one! of! the! greatest! rappers! of! history! by! his! impacting! word! choice! and! ability! to! create! original! and! interesting! rhymes! that! made! the! catchy! tune! of! the! sung! be! stuck! in! your! head.! “Changes”!is!a!song!that!will!make!want!to! replay!it!until!you!know!all!the!lyrics!to!it.! “Changes”,! was! one! of! his! best! records! representing! these! writing! techniques,! which! will! persuade! you! as! you! read! or! hear! the! piece.! Tupac! Shakur! shifts! from! an! emotional! appeal! to! a! testimony! and! from!analogy!to!hyperboles.!He!uses!irony! and! repetition! to! reinforce! the! message.! He!manages!to!include!all!of!these!writing! technics! yet! build! up! a! solid! structure,! which! conveys! such! a! powerful! message! that!after! hearing!to! the!song!it!will!make! you! want! to! “start! making! changes”! ! (16)! and!“take!the!evil!out!of!the!people”!(32).!!! !
Many! famous! rappers! today! have! used! many! of! Tupac’s! genius! songs! as! inspiration! to! create! other! beautiful! tunes.! His! ability! to! express! a! strong! message! in! the! form! of! music! has! impregnated! many! people! all! over! the! world.! Leading! him! to! becoming! commonly! known! among! the! public! really! fast.! As! well! as! some! people! saw! Tupac! as! a! poet,! others! saw! him! as! a! gangster,! almost! every! person! who! has! heard! his! music! agrees! that! Tupac! was! an!incredible!lyricist!that!knows!what!to! say!and!how!to!say!it.! ! Years! gone! by! and! as! Tupac! had! predicted,! he! passed! away.! This! did! not! stop! his! aim! and! purpose! to! influence! people! and! tell! the! audience! things! that! they! needed! to! hear.! Tupac! once! said,! “When! I! die,! people! will! start! to! understand! what! I! was! talking! about”.! This!was!true,!because!after!Tupac!died,! people!stopped!seeing!him!as!a!gangster! and! most! of! the! bad! perceptions! of! him! changed! into! good! ones.! Since! then! many! changes! have! been! done! towards! racism! including! the! fact! that! the! actual! U.S.!president!is!an!Afro!American!which! 20! years! ago! was! thought! to! be! almost! impossible.! !