Need songs for students to interpret, suggestions?
For their second essay, one of the options my students have is to interpret a song (as well as a book, movies etc). The specific song on the assignment list is "American Woman".
So in order to explain to them how to do this, I need an example of a song to use. However, I want to make sure they can't use the song I provide as an example. They can do any Canadian song from the 1959-1972 time period.
So I guess I'm looking for an American (or British) song from that time, or a more contemporary Canadian song.
Suggestions?
They need to look for things like what the lyrics could mean, relate them to the time period, etc.
Help? Please? I was thinking Bob Dylan...Beatles would be way too abstract.
__________________
McMaster Combined Honours Cultural Studies & Critical Theory and Anthropology: 2008
McMaster Honours English with a minor in Indigenous Studies: 2010
Carleton University Masters of Arts in Canadian Studies: 2012 (expected)
We are people of this generation, bred in at least modest comfort, housed in universities, looking uncomfortably into the world we inherit. -- Port Huron Statement
11-12-2010 at 03:42 PM
#2
giftedchick
Elite Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,381
Thanked:
74 Times
Liked:
300 Times
marvin gaye - whats going on--1971--- lot of social issues there
__________________ IRS - International Reggae & Soca Show
Mondays 8-9PM - CFMU 93.3
Well, if you aren't looking for anything subtle...
I think this version was technically recorded outside of that time period, but you could use the original as well. I think the lyrics are a bit more interesting/prescient in this version, but either would work.
But otherwise I might suggest
It's a bit less obvious, but its about his girlfriend getting an abortion.
I think a couple of songs from Pink Floyd's The Wall would be really great to use as examples.
You could use Nobody Home, Comfortably Numb, a reall obvious one would be to use Another Brick in the Wall (possibly all 3 parts, but Part II is the more known one.), and you could use others like In the Flesh (note, not In the Flesh? a song on the first C.D) and Mother.
But in all honesty, you'd be better looking at the entire album, which I assume you don't want to do. If you're looking for just one, than I would suggest Nobody Home.
If you're looking for some Canadian examples, I would use Joni Mitchell. She also fits in your time period.
Two songs I would use would be River
Or Big Yellow Taxi (the song she is mainly known for)
Of course you could also use Rush - "The Thinking Mans band"
The Trees is a really good song to use, IMO
Tom Sawyer
Finally, you could use Neil Young. He has a lot of song you could use. I believe most fit your time period as well - he's also Canadain
Old Man
Heart of Gold
Comes a Time
__________________
Sit vis vobiscum
Last edited by Deegs14 : 11-12-2010 at 06:34 PM.
11-12-2010 at 07:02 PM
#8
britb
Mr.Spock is not dazzled.
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,630
Thanked:
86 Times
Liked:
611 Times
House of the Rising Sun?
It might in out of the period, but its got enough depth, I think.
11-12-2010 at 07:03 PM
#9
lizziepizzie
aka Mrs. Henry Cavill
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,830
Thanked:
103 Times
Liked:
423 Times
I can't think of a song from that time exactly, but the song "The Future" by Canadian Leonard Cohen might be a really good choice. I had to analyze that in one of my classes once way back when. It has a lot of really good allusions. I actually read it as a poem in one of my classes (but obviously it's a song) and did an assignment on it with one of my friends. The song is FULL of stuff you can pull from it. Good luck!
__________________
11-12-2010 at 07:18 PM
#10
britb
Mr.Spock is not dazzled.
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,630
Thanked:
86 Times
Liked:
611 Times
Big bands/groups at the time include: Rolling Stones, Elvis, Bob Dylan, The Doors (LIGHT MY FIRE!), Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Johnny Cash and the Who (canadians!)
Hopefully that's a decent starting point
11-12-2010 at 07:25 PM
#11
lizziepizzie
aka Mrs. Henry Cavill
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,830
Thanked:
103 Times
Liked:
423 Times
Quote:
Originally Posted by britb
Big bands/groups at the time include: Rolling Stones, Elvis, Bob Dylan, The Doors (LIGHT MY FIRE!), Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Johnny Cash and the Who (canadians!)
Hopefully that's a decent starting point
Those are great suggestions. Look into Bob Dylan, he's probably got some great songs to choose from.
__________________
11-12-2010 at 07:35 PM
#12
micadjems
Awesome Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,091
Thanked:
145 Times
Liked:
382 Times
Oooh! My dad told me about the origins of "American Woman" one time...
as the story goes, Guess Who were at a club, and Burton Cummings was smoking out back. The owner of the place told Randy Bachman to start playing or they werent getting paid but no one knew were Burton was, so Randy just started playing a simple riff. Burton heard the band and ran in and started making up lyrics off the top of his head (he's awesome like that).
Also, BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD! FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH!! woo, protesting!!
__________________
Jackie Howe
B. Eng Society (Materials), Minor in Theatre & Film '11
11-12-2010 at 07:37 PM
#13
Deegs14
Cogito, ergo sum
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 407
Thanked:
49 Times
Liked:
156 Times
Quote:
Originally Posted by britb
Big bands/groups at the time include: Rolling Stones, Elvis, Bob Dylan, The Doors (LIGHT MY FIRE!), Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Johnny Cash and the Who (canadians!)
Hopefully that's a decent starting point
The Who isn't a Canadian band, they're English.
__________________
Sit vis vobiscum
11-12-2010 at 07:44 PM
#14
reeves
Jedi IRL
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,782
Thanked:
105 Times
Liked:
557 Times
Quote:
Originally Posted by britb
the Who (canadians!)
...
You mean British? :|
__________________
Mark Reeves
Humanities I Victory Lap!
11-12-2010 at 07:50 PM
#15
lorend
MacInsiders VP
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,615
Thanked:
912 Times
Liked:
506 Times
The Who = British. The Guess Who = Canadian.
I can't use anything Canadian from the time period above because my students can use it as well. Thus why I said American/British from 1959-1972 or Canadian after that time period.
I'd have loved to use Neil Young or CSNY for example...but can't. :(
__________________
McMaster Combined Honours Cultural Studies & Critical Theory and Anthropology: 2008
McMaster Honours English with a minor in Indigenous Studies: 2010
Carleton University Masters of Arts in Canadian Studies: 2012 (expected)
We are people of this generation, bred in at least modest comfort, housed in universities, looking uncomfortably into the world we inherit. -- Port Huron Statement
McMaster University News and Information, Student-run Community, with topics ranging from Student Life, Advice, News, Events, and General Help.
Notice: The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the student(s) who authored the content. The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by McMaster University or the MSU (McMaster Students Union). Being a student-run community, all articles and discussion posts on MacInsiders are unofficial and it is therefore always recommended that you visit the official McMaster website for the most accurate up-to-date information.
woo, protesting!!
