As writers, we don't simply create our works without a deeper purpose. Just as anyone else, we have something to say. The only difference is we use our craft to speak our thoughts, not only to ourselves but to our readers or listeners. While there are some songs out in the world that may have less depth and or seriousness to them, there are those out there that, like many of the readings we see in class, that are pulling the audience to a place where they begin to think about what is being said and even on their own lives. The author has their opinion on the subject, but they are trying to get their audience to see their line of thinking and come to terms with what the author says. The song I decided to share with you all is trying to present an opinion, a thought of the writer, and yet does it in a simplistic straightforward manner, while holding onto a slight poetic form or feel. While it is a much older song, we are going to look at Pink Floyd's "Time" off of their Dark Side of the Moon album, which may lead you to deeper thinking on your own life.
"Time" Pink Floyd
Ticking away the moments
That make up a dull day
Fritter and waste the hours
In an off-hand way
Kicking around on a piece of ground
In your home town
Waiting for someone or something
To show you the way
Tired of lying in the sunshine
Staying home to watch the rain
You are young and life is long
And there is time to kill today
And then one day you find
Ten years have got behind you
No one told you when to run
You missed the starting gun
And you run and you run
To catch up with the sun
But it's sinking
Racing around
To come up behind again
The sun is the same
In a relative way
But you're older
Shorter of Breath
And one day closer to death
Every year is getting shorter
Never seem to find the time
Plans that either come to naught
Or half a page of scribbled lines
Hanging on in quiet desperation
Is the English way
The time is gone
The song is over
Thought I'd something more to say
Home
Home again
I like to be here
When I can
When I come home
Cold and tired
It's good to warm my bones
Beside the fire
Far away
Across the field
Tolling on the iron bell
Calls the faithful to their knees
To hear the softly spoken magic spell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYiahoYfPGk
First off, when we listen to the beginning of the song, we hear a massive collection of clocks ticking and alarms going off, which plays along to the title of "Time". We are immediately given the sensation of the first couple of lines, "ticking away the moments that make up a dull day". Though with this large amount of ticking clocks, it gives the impression, of not only the time of one day or moment, but the time spent over an entire lifetime. Pink Floyd was trying to explain our mentality of wasting days away and almost having this belief when we are young that we are immortal and will live forever.
In our younger years we think we are in destructable and time is taking so long to pass. We put things off because we believe we are promised yesterday, as it states "You are young and life is long, and there is time to kill today". We have a habit of wasting hours away waiting for something to happen in our lives, instead of living. It isn't until we start to age and we see that "every year is getting shorter" and we're getting older, that we begin to realize how quickly time has wasted and passed us, when we believed it would last forever. As the song states, we start trying to catch up with time, but there is a realization that we cannot slow down time or catch up with it. Everyday is another day lost and we're "one day closer to death", until finally it's our last day. The song is trying to get the listener to realize how precious time really is. How quickly it can pass us by, and the years can easily pass without us realizing it, so that we can make a change to live our lives before it's too late.
Pink Floyd uses interesting techniques throughout this song, one of the main ones of course being the ticking clocks at the beginning of the song, however, there are also interesting visuals being used in the song. One visual we pick up on is that of a race.
"No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun, and you run and you run, to catch up to the sun, but it's sinking. Racing around, to come up behind you again."
Here, the sun is being personified, as we are in a race to fight the sun, a symbol of time. We are given the scene of a runner, starting a race who was too distracted to hear the gun start, while time has already been running. There is an attempt to catch up with the sun, but we find that as fast as we run, we can't beat time, let alone catch up with it, as it'll continually pass us on this race for life. We later get that reminder of a race with the comment "shorter of breath".
Even towards the end of the song, we see how even the author, while writing this piece, or feeling the effects of time catching up with them as he states, "the time is gone, the song is over, thought I'd something more to say". We feel that the author still has so much more to say on the subject, but because of time, because their song is over, they've lost that ability to time and cannot get it back.
As we can see in Pink Floyd's song, our writing does not have to be surfacing or even happy. There can be a seriousness to it, and we can use our craft to spread awareness to our audience. In the case of Pink Floyd, they used imagery and sound to create a line of thinking for their audience, techniques that we may be wanting to experiment with. However we decide to achieve it, there is power in our words and through what we write, we can make a strong statement that may even move other people to react.
-Adri
Friday, April 2, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Metaphorically Speaking...
Using Metaphors in Songs or Writing
The definition of a metaphor is a figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between two unlike things that actually have something in common. Metaphors are a great way to describe emotions by taking an actual thought and comparing it with a figure of speech that is commonly known to most people.
The song I'm going to analyze in this blog is titled "Everything" by Michael Bublé. This is actually one of my favorite songs because I am a huge fan of metaphors. In this song, there is an excessive use of metaphors but it really helps to define the meaning of what he is thinking. The lyrics basically speak to you through the metaphors. The main metaphor in this song is the end of the chorus as well as the title "You're Everything."
We see the use of excellent metaphors in the first verse several times. A great one that demonstrates an example of something people commonly know is "get away car;" it isn't actually a real thing but in society we know what it is, and refer to it when people are hurriedly entering a vehicle to drive away. Another great example is the "swimming pool on an August day." While swimming pool is an actual thing, the fact that he refers to it being on an August day makes it fittingly perfect and we are able to understand what he means due to past experience, movies, or simply other people talking about it. The last one of that verse is when he says "the perfect thing to say." There is no such thing as this but as people we commonly refer to this when we have said something that sounded "perfect" at that particular moment.
"You're Everything" by Michael Buble
Lyrics:
You're a falling star, You're the get away car.
You're the line in the sand when I go too far.
You're the swimming pool, on an August day.
And you're the perfect thing to say.
And you play it coy, but it's kinda cute.
Ah, When you smile at me you know exactly what you do.
Baby don't pretend, that you don't know it's true.
Cause you can see it when I look at you.
[Chorus:]
And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times
It's you, it's you, You make me sing.
You're every line, you're every word, you're everything.
You're a carousel, you're a wishing well,
And you light me up, when you ring my bell.
You're a mystery, you're from outer space,
You're every minute of my everyday.
And I can't believe, uh that I'm your man,
And I get to kiss you, baby just because I can.
Whatever comes our way, ah we'll see it through,
And you know that's what our love can do.
[Chorus:]
And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times
It's you, it's you, You make me sing
You're every line, you're every word, you're everything.
So, La, La, La, La, La, La, La
So, La, La, La, La, La, La, La
[Chorus:]
And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times
It's you, it's you, You make me sing.
You're every line, you're every word, you're everything.
You're every song, and I sing along.
'Cause you're my everything.
Yeah, yeah
So, La, La, La, La, La, La, La
So, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La
Now that you have read the lyrics, I think you should have established a good understanding of my statement above. Obviously this "you" (implied female) cannot actually be a line in a song, falling star, or a carousel and wishing well, but since we are familiar with all of these things, we understand his feelings towards her. Some really great writers use metaphors constantly to describe their emotions.
Suggestions:
When writing songs, I definitely believe it will be beneficial to have at least a few metaphors to help spice things up. Because metaphors use everyday expressions and real life feelings, listeners and readers are able to get a better connection the song. A line or a song that has a metaphor is love at first sight, metaphorically speaking.
To listen to this song, click the following link below:
- Amanda Bonbrisco
Finding Your Voice
Every writer wants to find their voice and be heard through their writing. Although you might not be a prize winning author you are "selling your unique perspective on life, your unique collection of beliefs, fears, hopes and dreams, your memories of childhood tribulation and triumphs and adult achievements and failures . . . your universe."
One way of achieving that is showing something the audience can not get from anywhere else, and the only thing in the universe that readers cannot get anywhere but from you is you.
Your own unique style is your voice through theme, plus personal observations, plus passion, plus belief, plus desire. Your voice and all of these things listed previous can be a powerful, frightening, and naked experience. You need to put yourself out there and gain feedback, your voice is your future in writing and the only way you can strengthen it
1. Read everything-the more you read, the more you will understand and can use all the different techniques and styles you encounter and learn about.
2. Write everything-try to write all different styles to learn which one fits out best, whats are your likes, what are you dislikes, and how you can transform yourself as a writer.
3. Imitate good writers- try to do short exercises where you sit down and not only copy the style of your favorite writers, but also some of their themes and passions. Get as much into their heads as you can.
4. Make lists-create one word lists of a number of different things to find that words that seem most passionate to you that you can use in your own writing. Frustrating things, surprising things, emotional, and all the good and bad. Do not look in the dictionary, pick words that have meaning to you personally as a writer.
5. Just get it on the page-When you are finding your voice, you are going to be doing a lot of experimenting. Some of what you write is going to be really bad and some of it will shock you with how good or a writer you really are. But the only way you will get any of the "good stuff " out is if you allow yourself to put whatever comes into your head down on the page.
The musical lyric that best distincts these qualities and speaks in their own voice is Rihanna through her song "Rude Boy". As you read this, pick through the different parts that you like and do not like. What is it about them that makes you feel that way? Does she use her own voice through slang? What type of words do they use, is it personal, and/or is it emotional? Pick it apart and then question your own findings. It will help you become a much stronger and more appreciative writer.
Come here, rude boy, boy; can you get it up?
Come here rude boy, boy; is your big enough?
Take it, take it baby, baby Take it, take it;
love me, love me
Tonight I'ma let you be the captain
Tonight I'ma let you do your thing, yeah
Tonight I'ma let you be a rider
Giddy-up, giddy-up, giddy-up babe
Tonight I'ma let it be fire
Tonight I'ma let you take me higher
Tonight, baby, we could get it on, yeah,
we could get it on, yeah
Do you like it?
Boy, I want, want, want whatchu want, want, want
Give it to me, baby like boom, boom, boom
What I want, want, want is what you want, want, want
Nah nah-ah
Come here, rude boy, boy, can you get it up?
Come here, rude boy, boy, is you big enough?
Take it, take it, baby, baby, take it, take it,
love me, love me
Tonight I'ma give it to ya harder
Tonight I'ma turn ya body out
Relax; let me do it how I wanna
If you got it I need it and I'ma put it down
Buckle up; I'ma give it to ya stronger
Heads up; we could go a little longer
Tonight I'ma get a little crazy, get a little crazy, baby
Do you like it?
Boy, I want, want, want whatchu want, want, want
Give it to me, baby like boom, boom, boom
What I want, want, want is what you want, want, want
Nah nah-ah
Come here, rude boy, boy can you get it up?
Come here rude boy, boy is your big enough?
Take it, take it, baby, baby, take it, take it,
love me, love me
I like the way you touch me there
I like the way you pull my hair
Babe, if I don't feel it I ain't faking, no, no
I like when you tell me 'kiss you here'
I like when you tell me 'move it there'
So get it up; time to get it up: you say you a rude boy:
show me what you got now
Come here right now
Take it, take it, baby, baby, take it,
take it, love me, love me
Come here, rude boy, boy, can you get it up?
Come here, rude boy, boy, is you big enough?
Take it, take it, baby, baby, take it, take it,
love me, love me
One way of achieving that is showing something the audience can not get from anywhere else, and the only thing in the universe that readers cannot get anywhere but from you is you.
Your own unique style is your voice through theme, plus personal observations, plus passion, plus belief, plus desire. Your voice and all of these things listed previous can be a powerful, frightening, and naked experience. You need to put yourself out there and gain feedback, your voice is your future in writing and the only way you can strengthen it
1. Read everything-the more you read, the more you will understand and can use all the different techniques and styles you encounter and learn about.
2. Write everything-try to write all different styles to learn which one fits out best, whats are your likes, what are you dislikes, and how you can transform yourself as a writer.
3. Imitate good writers- try to do short exercises where you sit down and not only copy the style of your favorite writers, but also some of their themes and passions. Get as much into their heads as you can.
4. Make lists-create one word lists of a number of different things to find that words that seem most passionate to you that you can use in your own writing. Frustrating things, surprising things, emotional, and all the good and bad. Do not look in the dictionary, pick words that have meaning to you personally as a writer.
5. Just get it on the page-When you are finding your voice, you are going to be doing a lot of experimenting. Some of what you write is going to be really bad and some of it will shock you with how good or a writer you really are. But the only way you will get any of the "good stuff " out is if you allow yourself to put whatever comes into your head down on the page.
The musical lyric that best distincts these qualities and speaks in their own voice is Rihanna through her song "Rude Boy". As you read this, pick through the different parts that you like and do not like. What is it about them that makes you feel that way? Does she use her own voice through slang? What type of words do they use, is it personal, and/or is it emotional? Pick it apart and then question your own findings. It will help you become a much stronger and more appreciative writer.
Come here, rude boy, boy; can you get it up?
Come here rude boy, boy; is your big enough?
Take it, take it baby, baby Take it, take it;
love me, love me
Tonight I'ma let you be the captain
Tonight I'ma let you do your thing, yeah
Tonight I'ma let you be a rider
Giddy-up, giddy-up, giddy-up babe
Tonight I'ma let it be fire
Tonight I'ma let you take me higher
Tonight, baby, we could get it on, yeah,
we could get it on, yeah
Do you like it?
Boy, I want, want, want whatchu want, want, want
Give it to me, baby like boom, boom, boom
What I want, want, want is what you want, want, want
Nah nah-ah
Come here, rude boy, boy, can you get it up?
Come here, rude boy, boy, is you big enough?
Take it, take it, baby, baby, take it, take it,
love me, love me
Tonight I'ma give it to ya harder
Tonight I'ma turn ya body out
Relax; let me do it how I wanna
If you got it I need it and I'ma put it down
Buckle up; I'ma give it to ya stronger
Heads up; we could go a little longer
Tonight I'ma get a little crazy, get a little crazy, baby
Do you like it?
Boy, I want, want, want whatchu want, want, want
Give it to me, baby like boom, boom, boom
What I want, want, want is what you want, want, want
Nah nah-ah
Come here, rude boy, boy can you get it up?
Come here rude boy, boy is your big enough?
Take it, take it, baby, baby, take it, take it,
love me, love me
I like the way you touch me there
I like the way you pull my hair
Babe, if I don't feel it I ain't faking, no, no
I like when you tell me 'kiss you here'
I like when you tell me 'move it there'
So get it up; time to get it up: you say you a rude boy:
show me what you got now
Come here right now
Take it, take it, baby, baby, take it,
take it, love me, love me
Come here, rude boy, boy, can you get it up?
Come here, rude boy, boy, is you big enough?
Take it, take it, baby, baby, take it, take it,
love me, love me
Deep Reflection, Understanding What Type of Writer You Are
I'm am going to start of today's lesson with a quote by Dawn Swartzendruber-Putnam who explains: "Reflection is a form of metacognition—thinking about thinking. It means looking back with new eyes in order to discover—in this case, looking back on writing. As Pianko states, ‘The ability to reflect on what is begin written seems to be the essence of the difference between able and not so able writers from their initial writing experience onward' (qtd. in Yancey 4)" (88).
Have you ever noticed that you have your own writing habits and teachers always ask you to break out of the box with your own writing? Have you ever reflected on your own writing habits? This could be a useful tool to help you and your teachers understand what type of writer that you are. Each individual writer has different habits and techniques that they use towards different audiences and each individual piece that they write. In order to first understand your own writing you must first analyze others writing to use as examples for your own work. Pay close attention to the different metaphors and styles while you read that are used so you can "extend the metaphor" describing your own self and your writing techniques.
A great example of a song that emphasizes deep reflection is Stevie Wonder's "Passionate Raindrops."
The day's been hot and sunny
Evening's about to take control
The sky is painting pictures
Stirring up love bliss in our souls
The breeze carries the fragrance
Of the sweetest symphony as it
blows through your hair
Better can be nowhere
Our voices turn to whispers
Blending with rhythms of the night
The nightingales sing a love song
Glancing down at us in their flight
The moisture brings forth magic
That permeates the midnight air
To kiss the love we share, are
Raindrops, passionate raindrops
The kind of rain that writes they're
So in love on our skin
Raindrops, that we hope wont stop
Cooling the red hot love that we are making
Raindrops, passionate raindrops
That brings out all the fire that we have within
Raindrops cover every spot
Right to the last drop
We want all of you and then
Let each drop a rain be a lifetime
that our love won't end
Somewhere in our doing
Trying to make our bodies one
We fall prey to moon dreams
Till awaken by the morning sun
Still disorientated I feel something
warm on my face
Coupled by your embrace
We gaze in awe and wonder
As if we can't believe it's so
Just that taste of heaven
Has got us longing for much more
We lie there impatient
Anxiously waiting foe the sun to go in
And the clouds to burst again, to give us
Raindrops, passionate raindrops
The kind of rain that writes they're
So in love on our skin Raindrops,
that we hope wont stop
Cooling the red hot love that we are making
Raindrops, passionate raindrops
That brings out all the fire
that we have within
Raindrops cover every spot
Right to the last drop
We want all of you and then
Let each drop a rain be a life
time that our love won't end
Have you ever noticed that you have your own writing habits and teachers always ask you to break out of the box with your own writing? Have you ever reflected on your own writing habits? This could be a useful tool to help you and your teachers understand what type of writer that you are. Each individual writer has different habits and techniques that they use towards different audiences and each individual piece that they write. In order to first understand your own writing you must first analyze others writing to use as examples for your own work. Pay close attention to the different metaphors and styles while you read that are used so you can "extend the metaphor" describing your own self and your writing techniques.
A great example of a song that emphasizes deep reflection is Stevie Wonder's "Passionate Raindrops."
The day's been hot and sunny
Evening's about to take control
The sky is painting pictures
Stirring up love bliss in our souls
The breeze carries the fragrance
Of the sweetest symphony as it
blows through your hair
Better can be nowhere
Our voices turn to whispers
Blending with rhythms of the night
The nightingales sing a love song
Glancing down at us in their flight
The moisture brings forth magic
That permeates the midnight air
To kiss the love we share, are
Raindrops, passionate raindrops
The kind of rain that writes they're
So in love on our skin
Raindrops, that we hope wont stop
Cooling the red hot love that we are making
Raindrops, passionate raindrops
That brings out all the fire that we have within
Raindrops cover every spot
Right to the last drop
We want all of you and then
Let each drop a rain be a lifetime
that our love won't end
Somewhere in our doing
Trying to make our bodies one
We fall prey to moon dreams
Till awaken by the morning sun
Still disorientated I feel something
warm on my face
Coupled by your embrace
We gaze in awe and wonder
As if we can't believe it's so
Just that taste of heaven
Has got us longing for much more
We lie there impatient
Anxiously waiting foe the sun to go in
And the clouds to burst again, to give us
Raindrops, passionate raindrops
The kind of rain that writes they're
So in love on our skin Raindrops,
that we hope wont stop
Cooling the red hot love that we are making
Raindrops, passionate raindrops
That brings out all the fire
that we have within
Raindrops cover every spot
Right to the last drop
We want all of you and then
Let each drop a rain be a life
time that our love won't end
Consider your own experiences on a previous essay or story you have written for a class. What were some of the things that frustrated you and what were the things that satisfied you in your writing? Each individual writer has their own different and unique writing habits, some good, some bad, and others to help improve YOUR writing style.
Good Writing Habits
1. Write every day as much as you can. Whether it be a little bit or a lot...put it all down. Thoughts throughout the day, experiences good or bad, or anything that pops in your head. The more you write, the better you will become.
2. Write on note cards instead of on paper. Write down each individual thought (process) on individual note cards that way your are not forced into a sequential rut. You can choose to put them in any order you want and rearrange them easily this way allowing relentless possibilities you may not have noticed before.
3. Separate your "work life" (the process of whatever you are writing) from your personal life. Do not always write your papers at home, school, or work. Go outside to write, it might change how you feel about your writing and allow you endless opportunities that might not have come to you by staying at home (in the box). You are stepping out of your comfort zone while you write, possibly allow your writing to step out of the box.
Bad Writing Habits
1. "Trying to sound like dead people." Most English teachers want us to sound like Thomas More or Jane Austen in our writing in being grammatically correct,having a point supported with evidence, or having a scholarly tone, ect.... They want us to mimic these classic writers because that is what they believe "good writing" is. But the truth is that in today's world, that's not what you see anymore. Don't get me wrong, they were amazing writers back in their time, but copying their writing is handicapping our own writing. If you are wanting to make a connection to our times, study some of the more popular writers of today's time such as Stephen King or Seth Godin. Learn all the different techniques, the old and the new to become more well rounded and find out which style works best for you.
2. Staying detached from your own work is also bad in my opinion. Readers want to hear what you have to say, not what you quoted from thousands off others opinions. They want to hear your voice, your slang, your stances! Take a risk with your writing, but know the audience to whom you are speaking. They will appreciate your writing much more when you speak from your side on their level.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Finding Your Audience
All writers before actually writing their content must think about what kind of direct audience which they are trying to reach. If you were writing a new scientific theory, scientists and researchers would be the direct audience. If you were to write about making a change in schools, the direct audience would be school board members, teachers, staff, and the school's students.
Although most audiences are quite obvious, sometimes the direct audience is not always one exact person or group mentioned within the text. Some people may want their work to reach everyone as an audience.
Most song writers have the tendency to write about what they are feeling at a particular moment, or in a time from the past. This is actually a great way for song writers to find their audience. Rather than thinking of an age group or certain listeners, they talk about common emotions that make their songs popular because people enjoy listening to people that are able to relate to them, especially in music.
You might be thinking there isn't any way for them to want to have an audience, but of course they do! They want YOU to listen to their music, like it, and buy it; therefore, they are going to write about anything that could be real, or it could just be they are trying to suck you in to liking their work.
The following song is a perfect example of a little bit of both. This songwriter is writing about emotions and trying to get people that way, but she also discusses an actual age group. In this song, we are able to see how famous pop/country singer and songwriter, Taylor Swift, writes her music. Since her directed audience are those who are concerned with emotions, feelings, and are young teenagers similar to herself, she reaches out to them by writing about teenagers and high school, and feelings those of that age may experience.
"Fifteen" by Taylor Swift
Lyrics:
You take a deep breath and you walk through the doors
It's the morning of your very first day
And you say hi to your friends you ain't seen in a while
Try and stay out of everybody's way
It's your freshman year and you're gonna be here
For the next four years in this town
Hoping one of those senior boys will wink at you and say
"You know, I haven't seen you around before"
'Cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you
You're gonna believe them
And when you're fifteen feeling like there's nothing to figure out
Well, count to ten, take it in
This is life before you know who you're gonna be
Fifteen
You sit in class next to a redhead named Abigail
And soon enough you're best friends
Laughing at the other girls who think they're so cool
We'll be outta here as soon as we can
And then you're on your very first date and he's got a car
And you're feeling like flying
And you're momma's waiting up and you're thinking he's the one
And you're dancing 'round your room when the night ends
When the night ends
'Cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you
You're gonna believe them
When you're fifteen and your first kiss
Makes your head spin 'round
But in your life you'll do things greater than
Dating the boy on the football team
But I didn't know it at fifteen
When all you wanted was to be wanted
Wish you could go back and tell yourself what you know now
Back then I swore I was gonna marry him someday
But I realized some bigger dreams of mine
And Abigail gave everything she had to a boy
Who changed his mind and we both cried
'Cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you
You're gonna believe them
And when you're fifteen, don't forget to look before you fall
I've found time can heal most anything
And you just might find who you're supposed to be
I didn't know who I was supposed to be at fifteen
Your very first day
Take a deep breath girl
Take a deep breath as you walk through the doors
To view this song go to the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb-K2tXWK4w
-Amanda Bonbrisco
Writing for a Musical
After seeing Amanda's post on songs v. short stories, the thought came to mind on where these two concepts meet. In the case of a musical, we have a story, or a scene of a story, being told to us through song. It is not done in the same manner as a artist or a band would write a song however. In that manner of writing, it is very similar to poetry in that the writer has to compress an idea or thought into only a few minutes. They rely heavily on figurative language and other ways to depict what they are attempting to say without spelling it out clearly for the reader, or listener. When we look at songwriting for a musical, there can also be usage of figurative language to add a deeper meaning to a concept, but there is the ability to be more straightforward. Because the song goes along witha scene, we are allowed the chance to depict everything that is around us and what is going on, in a more literal term, over making the reader/listener figure out for themselves what is going on. It can be written more as a conversation that is simply sung over spoken. For this example, I thought we would look at "Poor Thing" from Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. A musical that may not immediately be thought of, for it's grotesqueness and darkness, but nonetheless, a great piece with interesting songs.
"Poor Thing" - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
Helena Bonham Carter (Mrs. Lovett)
There was a barber and his wife.
And he was beautiful,
A proper artist with a knife,
but they transported him for life,
And he was beautiful
He had this wife, ya see.
Pretty little thing, silly little nit,
Had her chance on a moon on a string.
Poor thing
Poor thing
There was this judge, ya see.
Wanted her like mad,
Everyday he sent her a flower
But did she come down from her tower?
Sat up there and sulked by the hour
Poor thing
Ah, but there was worse yet to come
Poor thing!
Well, Beadle calls on her all polite
Poor thing
Poor thing
The judge, he tells her is all contrite
He blames himself for her dreadful plight
She must come straight to his house tonight!
Poor thing!
Poor thing!
Of course when she goes there
Poor thing!
Poor thing!
They're having this ball all in masks
There's no one she knows there!
Poor dear!
Poor thing!
She wonders, tormented and drinks
Poor thing!
The judge has repented, she thinks
Poor thing!
"Oh where is Judge Turpin?" she asks
He was there alright
Only not so contrite
She wasn't no match for such craft you see
And everyone thought it so droll
They figured she had to be daft ya see
So all of them stood there and laughed ya see
Poor Soul!
Poor thing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVPWoh8Iric
As we can see, this song isn't written about some abstract idea or leads the listener to dive deeper into themselves, but however, effectively moves the story along. It gives an opportunity in the movie to also create background information, adding all the important aspects of the past, without adding extra pieces that would only slow down the piece. If we read through the lyrics, we understand that the story is about a barber and his wife, but we are spared unneeded information of their life together, as the song is centered around the Judge's attack of the Barber's wife. While it is being sung from a different character, we get a sense that we are almost there, watching the story as it unravels. It is more of a story being told to us, in a conversational manner.
While there may not be a lot of use of figurative language, as it really isn't needed, there are other techniques being used and through the voice, we can sense the tone of the singer, Mrs. Lovett. Two of the main techniques work together; repetition and tone. Throughout the song we see a repetition of the phrase "poor thing". Through the repetition, we are told that the circumstances for the wife continue to get worse, and is rather unfair or brutual to the wife. The intention is to have sympathy for the wife for the outcome of her situation. However, when we listen to Mrs. Lovett tell the story, we sense a lack of sympathy at times. She is after the Barber's heart and therefore, in her voice we can sense the jealousy she has for her.
Another interesting effect in the song is the length of each line. Like poetry, the lengths of the lines help to determing the pace of the poem, or song. If we start at the beginning of the song, it is slow paced. Mrs. Lovett explains every scene with average sized lines and only returns to her phrase "poor thing" at the end. However, as the song and scene climax, the lengths of the lines become shorter. Every other line begins to become only a 2 word phrase: "poor thing". The reader/listener is given the sensation that the song and story have sped up, as the music inclines, and it gives the audience the sense of the rising action. The audience can also understand that there is a tension building up.
While many of us may not be writing musicals anytime soon, it is still good to know the difference between typical songwriting to musical writing. Musical writing is typically going to explain a certain scene or story within the piece. It has the ability to be more literal, and can be used to create flashbacks, background information, future scenes, and so on. While figurative language can be used as well, a useful technique can be watching the length of the lines, such as in "Poor Thing". For added dramatic effects this can be helpful to set the pace and overall feel for the audience.
-Adri
"Poor Thing" - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
Helena Bonham Carter (Mrs. Lovett)
There was a barber and his wife.
And he was beautiful,
A proper artist with a knife,
but they transported him for life,
And he was beautiful
He had this wife, ya see.
Pretty little thing, silly little nit,
Had her chance on a moon on a string.
Poor thing
Poor thing
There was this judge, ya see.
Wanted her like mad,
Everyday he sent her a flower
But did she come down from her tower?
Sat up there and sulked by the hour
Poor thing
Ah, but there was worse yet to come
Poor thing!
Well, Beadle calls on her all polite
Poor thing
Poor thing
The judge, he tells her is all contrite
He blames himself for her dreadful plight
She must come straight to his house tonight!
Poor thing!
Poor thing!
Of course when she goes there
Poor thing!
Poor thing!
They're having this ball all in masks
There's no one she knows there!
Poor dear!
Poor thing!
She wonders, tormented and drinks
Poor thing!
The judge has repented, she thinks
Poor thing!
"Oh where is Judge Turpin?" she asks
He was there alright
Only not so contrite
She wasn't no match for such craft you see
And everyone thought it so droll
They figured she had to be daft ya see
So all of them stood there and laughed ya see
Poor Soul!
Poor thing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVPWoh8Iric
As we can see, this song isn't written about some abstract idea or leads the listener to dive deeper into themselves, but however, effectively moves the story along. It gives an opportunity in the movie to also create background information, adding all the important aspects of the past, without adding extra pieces that would only slow down the piece. If we read through the lyrics, we understand that the story is about a barber and his wife, but we are spared unneeded information of their life together, as the song is centered around the Judge's attack of the Barber's wife. While it is being sung from a different character, we get a sense that we are almost there, watching the story as it unravels. It is more of a story being told to us, in a conversational manner.
While there may not be a lot of use of figurative language, as it really isn't needed, there are other techniques being used and through the voice, we can sense the tone of the singer, Mrs. Lovett. Two of the main techniques work together; repetition and tone. Throughout the song we see a repetition of the phrase "poor thing". Through the repetition, we are told that the circumstances for the wife continue to get worse, and is rather unfair or brutual to the wife. The intention is to have sympathy for the wife for the outcome of her situation. However, when we listen to Mrs. Lovett tell the story, we sense a lack of sympathy at times. She is after the Barber's heart and therefore, in her voice we can sense the jealousy she has for her.
Another interesting effect in the song is the length of each line. Like poetry, the lengths of the lines help to determing the pace of the poem, or song. If we start at the beginning of the song, it is slow paced. Mrs. Lovett explains every scene with average sized lines and only returns to her phrase "poor thing" at the end. However, as the song and scene climax, the lengths of the lines become shorter. Every other line begins to become only a 2 word phrase: "poor thing". The reader/listener is given the sensation that the song and story have sped up, as the music inclines, and it gives the audience the sense of the rising action. The audience can also understand that there is a tension building up.
While many of us may not be writing musicals anytime soon, it is still good to know the difference between typical songwriting to musical writing. Musical writing is typically going to explain a certain scene or story within the piece. It has the ability to be more literal, and can be used to create flashbacks, background information, future scenes, and so on. While figurative language can be used as well, a useful technique can be watching the length of the lines, such as in "Poor Thing". For added dramatic effects this can be helpful to set the pace and overall feel for the audience.
-Adri
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Rethink What is Normal - Experiemental Essay
As a student in college you know that there are several other things that you could be doing other than trying to put together that 5 page paper the last night before its due. Your sitting there at midnight staring at a blinking cursure with nothing coming to mind wondering how your ever going to pull it together. Your friends are all out partying and having a good time, and you wish that you could be right there with them. All of a sudden an idea pops into your head, and you begin to write...
How to jumpstart your creative process and get started on your essay/story with Bright Eyes's song "A Scale, A Mirror and those Indifferent Clocks:"
(Read through the lyrics first stated below first)
Here is a scale, weigh it out
And you will find, easily
More than sufficient doubt
That these colors you see
Were picked in advance
By some careful hand
With an absolute concept of beauty
They are smeared and these blurs
Come in random order
To color the eyes of your former lovers
Hers were green like July
Except when she cried
They were red
Now I know a disease
That these doctors can't treat
You contract it the day
You accept all you see
Is a mirror and a mirror is all it can be
A reflection of something we're missing
And language just happened
It was never planned
And its inadequate to describe where I am
In the room of my house
Where the light has never been
Waiting for this day to end
And these clocks keep unwinding
And completely ignore
Everything that we hate or adore
Once the page of a calendar is turned it's no more
So tell me, then, what was it for?
Oh, tell me, what was it for?
One way to start the creative process that many students do not think about is "yes, go out and have a good time." Go out with your friends and do whatever comes to mind however, take a pen and paper with you." Although your parents would not recomend this if you have that paper to finish and times ticking down before its time to turn it in, let them know that this experience that you are having with your friends could help you get an "A" on this paper and become a better writer. It might take some reasuring, but I'm sure they are willing to give it a try. After all that convincing, and your out with your friends, talk to them about your paper and posible ideas. It helps to openly discuss fresh ideas you might have or your friends might have to help you get your creative juices flowing. They can give you feedback as to whether or not it is a good topic to go with and discuss with you all the possibilities on the elaboration process and different places you could go with your paper. Sometimes this is an easier way to construct the begining steps of research to find what you really want to write about, instead of staring at your "Google Search" that brought up millions of ideas that you could waste hours going through or just chosing one that you do not care about just to get it done. Talking with your friends can help you find a topic that you really care about, and can make the process more enjoyable for you.
Now time for the pen and paper I asked you to bring earlier. During your experience out write down several different ideas, adjectives, metephores, and so forth that come to mind. Write down descriptions of the different atmospheres around you, the attitutes of the surrounding people in those atmospheres, or anything that stands out to you. What are some of the sensuous details about these different things? It does not have to be complete sentences or full ideas, just anything that your mind deems interesting; it does not even have to relate to the paper. Jot it all down! This is the easiest way to "break out of the box" as many teachers ask you to do, and help you break out of your comfort zone because this is a new way to help create your paper.
Now when you get home take a risk with this paper, do not be afraid of shock. You are not who you think you are! What I mean by that is students always write to please their teachers, afraid of doing anything wrong, and it hinges their ability to write the way they want to. They can not break out of that box! They always research and regurgitate back what they read, just repeated in their own personal way. But this is not really what "personal" really is. Look at that paper and use it to develope your topic that your actually going to enjoy writing about; you have your own personal touch, your own personal experiences (Not those of others found on google.) They are all writen there right in front of you. Use your experiences as examples, your list of adjectives to help describe, others interactions to help with your character development. You have studied it now elaborate on it. You should have so many ideas coming to you that you do not even know where to start. Just begin writing, get it all down and worry about cleaning it up later. When you enjoy writting something and its not forced out, it makes your writting that much strogger and your teacher will enjoy reading something that you enjoyed to write.
Now go back and reread the lyric again and you will find the author's experiences all through it giving it that personal touch that a reader enjoys so much more. You now understand how the author got it to that point and can use this process to aid you in any future papers you may encounter. Now go get your creative juices flowing!
How to jumpstart your creative process and get started on your essay/story with Bright Eyes's song "A Scale, A Mirror and those Indifferent Clocks:"
(Read through the lyrics first stated below first)
Here is a scale, weigh it out
And you will find, easily
More than sufficient doubt
That these colors you see
Were picked in advance
By some careful hand
With an absolute concept of beauty
They are smeared and these blurs
Come in random order
To color the eyes of your former lovers
Hers were green like July
Except when she cried
They were red
Now I know a disease
That these doctors can't treat
You contract it the day
You accept all you see
Is a mirror and a mirror is all it can be
A reflection of something we're missing
And language just happened
It was never planned
And its inadequate to describe where I am
In the room of my house
Where the light has never been
Waiting for this day to end
And these clocks keep unwinding
And completely ignore
Everything that we hate or adore
Once the page of a calendar is turned it's no more
So tell me, then, what was it for?
Oh, tell me, what was it for?
One way to start the creative process that many students do not think about is "yes, go out and have a good time." Go out with your friends and do whatever comes to mind however, take a pen and paper with you." Although your parents would not recomend this if you have that paper to finish and times ticking down before its time to turn it in, let them know that this experience that you are having with your friends could help you get an "A" on this paper and become a better writer. It might take some reasuring, but I'm sure they are willing to give it a try. After all that convincing, and your out with your friends, talk to them about your paper and posible ideas. It helps to openly discuss fresh ideas you might have or your friends might have to help you get your creative juices flowing. They can give you feedback as to whether or not it is a good topic to go with and discuss with you all the possibilities on the elaboration process and different places you could go with your paper. Sometimes this is an easier way to construct the begining steps of research to find what you really want to write about, instead of staring at your "Google Search" that brought up millions of ideas that you could waste hours going through or just chosing one that you do not care about just to get it done. Talking with your friends can help you find a topic that you really care about, and can make the process more enjoyable for you.
Now time for the pen and paper I asked you to bring earlier. During your experience out write down several different ideas, adjectives, metephores, and so forth that come to mind. Write down descriptions of the different atmospheres around you, the attitutes of the surrounding people in those atmospheres, or anything that stands out to you. What are some of the sensuous details about these different things? It does not have to be complete sentences or full ideas, just anything that your mind deems interesting; it does not even have to relate to the paper. Jot it all down! This is the easiest way to "break out of the box" as many teachers ask you to do, and help you break out of your comfort zone because this is a new way to help create your paper.
Now when you get home take a risk with this paper, do not be afraid of shock. You are not who you think you are! What I mean by that is students always write to please their teachers, afraid of doing anything wrong, and it hinges their ability to write the way they want to. They can not break out of that box! They always research and regurgitate back what they read, just repeated in their own personal way. But this is not really what "personal" really is. Look at that paper and use it to develope your topic that your actually going to enjoy writing about; you have your own personal touch, your own personal experiences (Not those of others found on google.) They are all writen there right in front of you. Use your experiences as examples, your list of adjectives to help describe, others interactions to help with your character development. You have studied it now elaborate on it. You should have so many ideas coming to you that you do not even know where to start. Just begin writing, get it all down and worry about cleaning it up later. When you enjoy writting something and its not forced out, it makes your writting that much strogger and your teacher will enjoy reading something that you enjoyed to write.
Now go back and reread the lyric again and you will find the author's experiences all through it giving it that personal touch that a reader enjoys so much more. You now understand how the author got it to that point and can use this process to aid you in any future papers you may encounter. Now go get your creative juices flowing!
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