Journal bethanie's Journal: [Maestra] Cool Tunage to Learn English By 11
These are the songs that I'm burning for my students. Just thought it might be fun to share with a bit of annotation.
Track 1: Livin' La Vida Loca (from Shrek 2)
Artist: Eddie Murphy / Antonio Banderas
Starting off with something I expect them to at least be familiar with. Personally, I think this version rocks WAY more than the original -- and there's just a touch of Spanish for fun.
Track 2: In These Shoes?
Artist: Kirsty MacColl
Another one with a little bit of Spanish, and just an all-around HOTT fucking song, anyway.
Track 3: Peaches
Artist: The Presidents of the United States of America
Suitable for any immigrant to Georgia, particularly our rural neck of the woods. Lots of repetition and incorrect use of reflexive pronouns (Gonna eat ME a lot of peaches) that we can discuss.
Track 4: Like a Prayer
Artist: Madonna
I had a specific request for some Madonna. This seemed good enough.
Track 5: Joy to the World
Artist: Three Dog Night
Hmmm... Somehow, this song just has universal appeal to me. Plus, singing about a bullfrog with wine? If that doesn't fuck them up, nothing will!
Track 6: Talkin' at the Texaco
Artist: James McMurtry
A very apt description of life around here. I think they'll enjoy the humor.
Track 7: I Loved You Yesterday
Artist: Lyle Lovett
A touch of Spanish in this one, plus it's romantic (which they said they wanted) and uses both preterite and present tense.
Track 8: The Lady in Red
Artist: Chris de Burgh
OK, OK, OK. TOTALLY cheese-a-rific, but they SAID they wanted slow, romantic songs. And really, is there any slower, more romantic song than this one? We'll listen to it and end up little puddles of melty goo in our seats. Or maybe we'll talk about the past perfect tense. That'll be fun.
Track 9: This Kiss
Artist: Faith Hill
Romantic and rockin', with some great vocab.
Track 10: Housework
Artist: Robert Palmer
Couldn't make a playlist without some Roberto, now, could I? This one is great for all kinds of "housework"-related vocab AND it has a little twist, if they're paying attention to their pronouns. We'll see who gets the joke.
Track 11: Coconut
Artist: Harry Nilsson
I can think of absolutely no legitimate reason to have this one on the list. The diction is bad, the vocab is confusing, it goes really fast... But dammit, I'm the teacher and I LIKE this song. So it's in.
Track 12: Sweet Caroline
Artist: Neil Diamond
Another sentimental favorite. I kinda wanna see if this works across cultures. If nothing else, we can go through the whole thing and write every "-ing" word and double negative correctly.
Track 13: True Fine Love
Artist: Steve Miller Band
Looking for a good beat, simple lyrics? DUDE. SMB *is* the answer! Plus, "get your rocks off" and "knock your socks off" are good idioms to know.
Track 14: Dancing Queen
Artist: ABBA
Reminds me of the quinceañeras. Maybe it will for them, too.
Track 15: Ironic
Artist: Alanis Morissette
Good narrative lyrics, good vocab, helps explain the concept of irony. Plus, she's like... GOD.
Track 16: South of the Border (Down Mexico Way)
Artist: Chris Isaak
Another track with a bit of Spanish, and romantic. Plus... Chriiiiiisssss.... ... ... ...
OK. I'm back. Anyone got a Kleenex?
Track 17: Let's Call the Whole Thing Off
Artist: Harry Connick, Jr.
How fun to play with the either/either/neither/neither thing with ESL students!
Track 18: Better Than Anything
Artist: Natalie Cole & Diana Krall
Great tune, one of my favorites -- and AWESOME vocab. We could do a whole week of review and discussion on this song alone.
Track 19: Somewhere Over the Rainbow/It's a Wonderful World
Artist: Israel K
Beautiful version, optimistic & all that shit. Plus reminds me of Robin Williams' character in Good Morning Vietnam, and who wouldn't want to be THAT kind of ESL teacher?
Track 20: Ev'ry time We Say Goodbye
Artist: Simply Red
A little Cole Porter to tie things up. I remember when I was 14 and heard this song (THIS version, as a matter of fact) and thought, "WOW. *That's* a good song!" Of course, I had no idea it was a cover. Silly silly silly me.
Track 1: Livin' La Vida Loca (from Shrek 2)
Artist: Eddie Murphy / Antonio Banderas
Starting off with something I expect them to at least be familiar with. Personally, I think this version rocks WAY more than the original -- and there's just a touch of Spanish for fun.
Track 2: In These Shoes?
Artist: Kirsty MacColl
Another one with a little bit of Spanish, and just an all-around HOTT fucking song, anyway.
Track 3: Peaches
Artist: The Presidents of the United States of America
Suitable for any immigrant to Georgia, particularly our rural neck of the woods. Lots of repetition and incorrect use of reflexive pronouns (Gonna eat ME a lot of peaches) that we can discuss.
Track 4: Like a Prayer
Artist: Madonna
I had a specific request for some Madonna. This seemed good enough.
Track 5: Joy to the World
Artist: Three Dog Night
Hmmm... Somehow, this song just has universal appeal to me. Plus, singing about a bullfrog with wine? If that doesn't fuck them up, nothing will!
Track 6: Talkin' at the Texaco
Artist: James McMurtry
A very apt description of life around here. I think they'll enjoy the humor.
Track 7: I Loved You Yesterday
Artist: Lyle Lovett
A touch of Spanish in this one, plus it's romantic (which they said they wanted) and uses both preterite and present tense.
Track 8: The Lady in Red
Artist: Chris de Burgh
OK, OK, OK. TOTALLY cheese-a-rific, but they SAID they wanted slow, romantic songs. And really, is there any slower, more romantic song than this one? We'll listen to it and end up little puddles of melty goo in our seats. Or maybe we'll talk about the past perfect tense. That'll be fun.
Track 9: This Kiss
Artist: Faith Hill
Romantic and rockin', with some great vocab.
Track 10: Housework
Artist: Robert Palmer
Couldn't make a playlist without some Roberto, now, could I? This one is great for all kinds of "housework"-related vocab AND it has a little twist, if they're paying attention to their pronouns. We'll see who gets the joke.
Track 11: Coconut
Artist: Harry Nilsson
I can think of absolutely no legitimate reason to have this one on the list. The diction is bad, the vocab is confusing, it goes really fast... But dammit, I'm the teacher and I LIKE this song. So it's in.
Track 12: Sweet Caroline
Artist: Neil Diamond
Another sentimental favorite. I kinda wanna see if this works across cultures. If nothing else, we can go through the whole thing and write every "-ing" word and double negative correctly.
Track 13: True Fine Love
Artist: Steve Miller Band
Looking for a good beat, simple lyrics? DUDE. SMB *is* the answer! Plus, "get your rocks off" and "knock your socks off" are good idioms to know.
Track 14: Dancing Queen
Artist: ABBA
Reminds me of the quinceañeras. Maybe it will for them, too.
Track 15: Ironic
Artist: Alanis Morissette
Good narrative lyrics, good vocab, helps explain the concept of irony. Plus, she's like... GOD.
Track 16: South of the Border (Down Mexico Way)
Artist: Chris Isaak
Another track with a bit of Spanish, and romantic. Plus... Chriiiiiisssss....
OK. I'm back. Anyone got a Kleenex?
Track 17: Let's Call the Whole Thing Off
Artist: Harry Connick, Jr.
How fun to play with the either/either/neither/neither thing with ESL students!
Track 18: Better Than Anything
Artist: Natalie Cole & Diana Krall
Great tune, one of my favorites -- and AWESOME vocab. We could do a whole week of review and discussion on this song alone.
Track 19: Somewhere Over the Rainbow/It's a Wonderful World
Artist: Israel K
Beautiful version, optimistic & all that shit. Plus reminds me of Robin Williams' character in Good Morning Vietnam, and who wouldn't want to be THAT kind of ESL teacher?
Track 20: Ev'ry time We Say Goodbye
Artist: Simply Red
A little Cole Porter to tie things up. I remember when I was 14 and heard this song (THIS version, as a matter of fact) and thought, "WOW. *That's* a good song!" Of course, I had no idea it was a cover. Silly silly silly me.
Save the Rush (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
"And the meek shall inherit the earth..."
We've taken care of everything
The words you hear the songs you sing
The pictures that give pleasure to your eyes
Its one for all and all for one
We work together common sons
Never need to wonder how or why
We are the Priests of the Temples of Syrinx
Our great computers fill the hallowed halls
We are the Priests of the Temples of Syrinx
All the gifts of life are held within our walls
Look around this world we made
Equality our stock in trade
Come and join the b
Re: (Score:2)
There's just one little kink in this whole "Rush" business -- I don't like them.
If I don't like them, there's no way in HELL I'm gonna spend $ on buying their music to copy to disc for my students. Besides the fact that I just don't want to fucking hear that noise.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Great. (Score:2)
And ya know what? That’s not even ironic.
I think I actually HAVE this mix disc. (n/t) (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:1)
I actually created a MediaSource playlist of it since I had all the songs anyway. It amuses me and frightens my young, young co-workers at the office.
Not that I'm old, but my assistant is freaking nineteen. Scary.
Re: (Score:2)
But when they're 19 and they're already working as your assistant, it's OK to call them "flunkies."
Actually, you can keep doing it until they turn 30.