Monthly Archives: May 2016

Music Appreciation: Storytelling: Sweet Child O’ Mine, by Guns N’ Roses

Period 6 ILA, Student Writing,

This following song is Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses, which is a classic rock song but also tells a story through the lyrics: “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses Lyrics: She’s got a smile it seems to me Reminds me of childhood memories. Where everything Was as fresh as the … Continue reading Music Appreciation: Storytelling: Sweet Child O’ Mine, by Guns N’ Roses →

Music Appreciation: Imagery: Best Day of My Life, by American Authors

Imagery, Hyperbole (0:13), Hyperbole (1:10). I had a dream so big and loud I jump so high I touched the clouds. I howled out at the moon with friends and then the sun came crashing in.

Explanation: These lines found in the popular 2014 song Best Day of My Life by American authors are two examples of hyperboles, or exaggerations. Their choice of words are not meant to be taken literally by audiences. I jumped so high I touched the clouds is used to demonstrate the idea that he reached the farthest he could to his dreams. The sun came crashing in is written to exaggerate the occurrence of sunrise.

 

Music Appreciation: Imagery Grenade By: Bruno Mars

Student Writing, , ,

Hyperbole  (0:42): “I’d catch a grenade for ya / throw my hand on a blade for ya / I’d jump in front of a train for ya / you know I’d do anything for ya” Explanation: In lots of music today, many artist including Bruno Mars incorporate hyperbole’s or also known as exaggerations in their music to … Continue reading Music Appreciation: Imagery Grenade By: Bruno Mars →

Music Appreciation: Hyperbole: Grenade, By Bruno Mars

Student Writing

Hyperbole: (0:39) I’d catch a grenade for ya  Throw my hand on a blade for ya  I’d jump in front of a train for ya  You know I’d do anything for ya Explanation: The song Grenade released in 2010 and immediately became a hit. At (0:39) Bruno Mars sings, I’d catch a grenade for ya, Throw my hand … Continue reading Music Appreciation: Hyperbole: Grenade, By Bruno Mars →

Music Appreciation: Imagery : Best Day Ever

Student Writing

Imagery, Personification (0:05) (1:01) Every Flower Every grain of sand is reaching out to shake my hand. Explanation: This song from the Nickelodeon TV Show Spongebob Squarepants, has a lot of personification. The first lyric of the song is, Mr. Sun Came Up and Smiled At Me. This is personification because the sun cannot smile. This gives human … Continue reading Music Appreciation: Imagery : Best Day Ever →

Music Appreciation: Imagery : Imagine Dragons Bleeding Out

Student Writing

  Metaphor(0:22)¨I’m bleeding out so if the last thing that I do is bring you down I‘ll bleed out for you¨ Explanation: This lyric is similar to many other that this band writes in the way that, it shows how they feel not whats actually happening. The singer is basically saying that he was in a … Continue reading Music Appreciation: Imagery : Imagine Dragons Bleeding Out →

Music Appreciation: Imagery: Wing$, by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

Period 6 ILA, Student Writing, , , , , ,

The song is Wing$, and the artists of the song are Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. Macklemore is a current hip- hop artist, and Ryan Lewis is the one who plays the piano. The song has a lot of imagery in it, specifically hyperbole and allusions, and I will refer to two different points in the … Continue reading Music Appreciation: Imagery: Wing$, by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis →

Music Appreciation: Storytelling (Teacher Model)

Period 6 ILA, , ,

While some songs create images using various sorts of figurative language (imagery), others tell stories in a straightforward narrative style. Here’s an example (video of live performance, followed by lyrics below): “1952 Vincent Black Lightning,” by Richard Thompson Lyrics: Oh, says Red Molly to James, “That’s a fine motorbike A girl could feel special on … Continue reading Music Appreciation: Storytelling (Teacher Model) →

Music Appreciation: Imagery: Space Oddity, by David Bowie

Period 6 ILA, Student Writing

Imagery, Hyperbole (1:58), Simile (3:55). I’m stepping out the door. I’m floating in the most peculiar way. I’m floating on my tin can. Explanation: This is a classic song by a well-known artist, David Bowie. This is one of his most widely-liked songs ever. At 1:58, he says two lines: I’m stepping out the door. I’m floating … Continue reading Music Appreciation: Imagery: Space Oddity, by David Bowie →

Madigan’s Letter Essay #8 – Unbroken

For Students, Letter Essays, Period 1 ILA, Student Writing, , , ,

During Spring Break, I finished reading Unbroken, a 473 page Informational/Autobiography book by the besting selling author of Seabiscuit and A Sudden Illness, Laura Hillenbrand, which tells of what it was like battling Chronic Fatigue Syndrome without her family and having to drop out of college, which I was surprised because she writes beautifully. Unbroken and … Continue reading Madigan’s Letter Essay #8 – Unbroken →