9 October 2013 (Wednesday)

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!