Today's class followed Murphy's Law (definition): First the computer equipment I use for the class was being used by another teacher. Then the room for the class was changed without my knowledge. In the end 6 students found the new room and I finally got the laptop, speakers and projector set up.
One student had been listening to music in her headphones before class and I asked her what song she was listening to. It was "Wake Up Call" (video, lyrics, song info) by Maroon 5 (info).
The next song was "Man I Need" (video, song info) by Jagwar Ma (info). I had heard this band's name before but had never heard their music. It's a good song.
By the way, Jagwar Ma will play a concert in Seattle on 10 December! In fact, it will be in the U-District, in a cool old theatre, The Neptune (info). Concert information here.
I told the class that one of my favorite ways to hear new bands is to check out CDs from the Seattle Public Library (website). It is free to check out books and CDs and DVDs -- you just have to go to a library and show your ID with proof that you live inside Seattle and you get a library card. Through the website you can put materials on hold and have them delivered to your nearest library, then you get an email when it is there and ready for you to pick up. What a great public service!!
The next song was "Scarborough Fair" (video, lyrics, song info). This song was famously covered by Simon & Garfunkel (info), but the student who chose this song prefers the version by Sarah Brightman (info).
The feeling of "Scarborough Fair" reminded me of one of my favorite romantics songs, "My Ain True Love" (video, lyrics, song info) by Sting (info) with Alison Kraus (info).
The next song was "Call Your Friends" (video, lyrics, song info) by Zebrahead (info). This song was chosen according to the theme of the day -- songs you listen to before going out to a party. The student who chose this song said he would like to go to a party like the one shown in the video, but he hasn't been to one like that yet.
At this point we talked about Halloween parties for a while.
The next song chosen was "No Sleep" (video, lyrics, song info) by Wiz Khalifa (info). Yes, it's the same student who chose Wiz Khalifa last week.
The next song was "Mr Saxobeat" (video, lyrics, song info) by Alexandra Stan (info).
I can't remember how we go to the next subject, but the student who loves Wiz Khalifa said he likes to dance the "C-Walk" (info). I didn't know what that dance is like so we watched a video which shows it: "Let's Make Some Love" (video). The student showed us some of his C-Walk moves at the front of the class.
With that, class was over for the week. Nothing seemed to work right today, but it was a fun class nonetheless. Next class we'll be in the regular room: HUB 337 . And since it's almost Halloween, the theme is naturally... songs about candy! Or scary songs/videos ;-) .
8 students today.
As I set up the computer one student told me that she had waited for days until I posted the notes from last week's class so that she could hear the song "9 Million Bicycles" again. Oops, sorry for the delay! Once she had the link she listened to the song at least 7 times in a row :-)
Before I talk about the music in the class I want to mention two upcoming music-related events:
1/ On Friday, 25 October the Seattle Art Museum has an after-hours party called "SAM REmix". They do this party only 4 times every year and it is very, very cool. It's hard to describe exactly what goes on, but there's a lot of music and a lot of interactive creativity + art. I highly recommend going with some friends! More info and tickets (it usually sells out) here.
2/ There will be many Halloween-themed parties in clubs around Seattle starting the weekend of 25/26/27 October, but the one I recommend for students is the FIUTS dance party at Nectar in the Fremont neighborhood on 30 October. More info here. (You must have ID showing you are 21+ to go to this bar.)
Now to the music we heard today!
The theme for today's class was "Songs that you listen to while doing homework". The first song was "Butterfly Lovers" (video, song info) which is a very famous Chinese classical piece. The student told the story behind the song, about how two people who couldn't be together in real life died and became butterflies. It sounds like a classic tragic love story! Very pretty music!
The next song chosen was "Right Here Waiting" (video, lyrics, song info) by Richard Marx (info). This song isn't exactly one which the student who chose it listens to while doing schoolwork, but since he heard it -- a week ago for the first time -- he has been listening to it repeatedly.
The next song was also not one for studying, just a favorite song: "This Plane" (video, lyrics, song info) by Wiz Khalifa (info). The student who chose this song is just a really big Wiz Khalifa fan and loves a lot of his songs.
The next song was back to our theme for the day: "Solitude" (video) by T-Square (info). This is a Japanese band from the 80's that only does instrumental music. The student first heard the band's music in a video game but finds it good music to study to.
The next song chosen was "Can't Find My Way Home" (video, lyrics, song info) by Blind Faith (info). The student who chose this song like rock music, but for studying likes the more mellow, less noisy music. He mentioned that he is amazed that the singer, Steve Winwood (info) sang such a deeply introspective song at age 21, the same age as the student is now himself.
The next song was "1/3 No Junjou Na Kanjou" (video) by Jani Lane (info). This song came from an album to benefit Japan after the 2011 tsunami. The album was all covers of songs by the band Saim Shade (info).
I mentioned that the singer of that song, Jani Lane, had sung in a glam metal band from Los Angeles in the 1980's, Warrant (info). They only had one song I liked, "Uncle Tom's Cabin" (video, lyrics, song info). I have to admit that the song they are most famous for was "Cherry Pie" (video, lyrics, song info) but I don't like that song. We talked for a while about how the style was for guys to have long hair in the 80's. Even I did!
The next song was "Truth Of Touch" (video, song info) by Yanni (info). The student who chose this song loves Yanni's music, the songs touch her emotionally very deeply.
Somehow we talked about Michael Bolton (info) and I said I think he is "cheesy", then I had to explain what this word means. It's a classic American term -- we use it very often! -- but it's kind of hard to explain. I describe it as "trying too hard and not being very creative about it". We often say a joke is cheesy or a guy is telling a cheesy story. It's not a serious insult. We watched a little bit of the Michael Bolton video "Said I Loved You But I Lied" (video, lyrics, song info) and as the students watched the video they understood what cheesy means. Another great example of cheesiness is that video for "Cherry Pie" by Warrant above.
With that the class was over! If you need inspiration for songs to introduce to the class next week, think of your favorite songs to listen to before going to a party. But, as always, any songs you want to share with the class are welcome!
A big class today -- 14 students!! It is a very interesting mix of people from all around the world coming to the classes this quarter. And they are quite talkative, which is good!
Since there were so many new students we did some quick introductions then went straight into the music. The theme I had suggested was "Songs that remind you of when you first came to America."
But before we heard the first song there was an advertisement for the new movie "Gravity" (info). I mentioned to the class that the best movie theater in Seattle to see visually rich films is called the Cinerama (website). It is downtown at 4th Ave & Lenora St. I want to see "Gravity" so will try and organize a class trip to see it in the next week.
The first song chosen was "Someone Like You" (video, lyrics, song info) by Adele (info). The student who chose it said it was simply the first song she heard when she arrived in Seattle (she was in a store when she heard it).
The next song was "The Time Of My Life" (video, lyrics, song info) from the movie Dirty Dancing (info). The student who chose it said this song represents the dreams that many people have when they come to America and he hope to have this song in mind when he arrives back in his country after spending a year in America.
I mentioned that the movie "Dirty Dancing" is a movie every American knows and if the students want to see some typical American culture, and see something all Americans know, they should watch this movie.
The next song was "Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall" (video, lyrics, song info) by Coldplay (info). The student who chose it said he heard this song in the airplane as he flew to Seattle.
The next song was "Empire State Of Mind" (video, lyrics, song info) by Jay-Z (info). The student who chose is said she wants to go to New York City and this song reminds her of that place. We talked about impressions of what New York is like, both from students who have been there as well as students who want to go there. One student had been in the Twin Towers 6 months before 9/11.
In "Empire State Of Mind" Jay-Z refers to being the new Frank Sinatra (info) and he refers to a line from "New York, New York" (video with lyrics, song info) so I had to play a bit of that "classic" NY song.
The next song chosen was "Next Year" (video, lyrics, song info) by the Foo Fighters (info). The student who chose this song said the lyrics matched his situation when he came to the US. I can see that!
The next song was "Seasons Of Love" (video, lyrics, song info) from the musical Rent (info). The student who chose this song had seen the Broadway production of Rent in New York and she said the musical inspired her to be more open and accepting.
The lyrics citing big numbers and comparing them to life and love in that song reminded me of a song that someone recently posted on the Language Of Music Facebook group: "Nine Million Bicycles" (video, lyrics, song info) by Katie Melua (info). I didn't know this song until it was posted on Facebook but I think it's a very sweet love song.
The last song of the day was "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" (video, lyrics, song info) by Avril Lavigne (info). This song is, of course, a classic, originally written and sung by Bob Dylan (info) but the student who chose it today said he was surprised at how well Avril Lavigne sang it so that's why he chose this version.
With that class was over for the day. It was fun!
My suggestion for songs to think of for next class is songs you listen to while doing your schoolwork/homework. But of course any song that is on your mind that you want to share with the class is welcome.
See you Wednesday!
11 students today, all new!
Most of the time in the class was spent with me introducing myself and the class, then the students introducing themselves. So today's class was a bit light on actually listening to music.
Once the introductions were over we listed to some songs. We started with "Change" (video) by Monkey Majik (info). The student who chose this song likes that it mixes traditional music and rock. I like how the Yoshida Brothers (info) do this! But the story of the band is also very interesting: apparently the band is two Canadian guys who moved to Japan and as a way to learn Japanese they decided to write songs in Japanese! Great idea!
The next song was "Govinda" (video, lyrics, song info) by Kula Shaker (info). The student who chose it like how the song mixes cultures, in this case Indian and UK rock.
The next song was "Somebody I Used To Know" (video, lyrics, song info) by Gotye (info). This song was a big hit over one year ago, but the student who picked it had only heard it recently -- at karaoke! She was intrigued by the video.
The last song of the day was "Don't Break My Heart" (video, lyrics, song info) by UB40 (info). The student who chose this songs has liked this song for many, many years. He feels the singer is truly singing the song from his heart.
With that our time for the week was over. I hope to see the students again next Wednesday!
PS. After class I saw that a Japanese band is playing a small club (Chop Suey, website) in Seattle this Tuesday, 8 October. The band is "Guitar Wolf" (info). I don't know if they are popular in Japan, but the club they are playing in is very small -- might be a great chance to see a famous Japanese band in a small club. You have to be 21 years old or older to get into Chop Suey, though!
