UNDERSTANDING SONGS
OBJECTIVES OF STUDY
Understanding the social function and language features of songs to learn the words, feelings, and rhymes in songs, according to the contexts. The objectives of the lesson are students are able to understand the words, feelings, and rhymes of songs.
Here are some points to learn:
1. Words in songs.
What does “a certain word” mean?
Songs are similar to poems. There are beautiful words in songs and poems. Some of the words are new for us. To help us understand the songs, we need to know the meanings of the difficult words. Looking up the dictionary will certainly help us know the meanings of the words and enrich our vocabulary.
2. Synonyms and antonyms.
Singing and reading the lyrics of songs will help up enrich vocabulary by trying to find the synonym and antonym of difficult words. We have to check the words in the dictionary and make notes.
3. Rhymes of the songs.
Learning the rhymes of the songs will help us learn how to pronounce the words. Pronunciation is an important aspect to learn when we learn a language. If we miss pronouncing words, others will not understand what we are saying.
4. The feelings of the singer.
Songs and the lyrics show how the singers feel. Songs can suggest happiness, sadness, ignorance, care, hopes, love, friendship, and others.
5. How to understand a complete song.
LEARN ABOUT IT!
We like listening to music in our free time. We can learn English from English songs. In this lesson, we learn words, feelings, and rhymes in songs.Here are some points to learn:
1. Words in songs.
What does “a certain word” mean?
Songs are similar to poems. There are beautiful words in songs and poems. Some of the words are new for us. To help us understand the songs, we need to know the meanings of the difficult words. Looking up the dictionary will certainly help us know the meanings of the words and enrich our vocabulary.
2. Synonyms and antonyms.
Singing and reading the lyrics of songs will help up enrich vocabulary by trying to find the synonym and antonym of difficult words. We have to check the words in the dictionary and make notes.
3. Rhymes of the songs.
Learning the rhymes of the songs will help us learn how to pronounce the words. Pronunciation is an important aspect to learn when we learn a language. If we miss pronouncing words, others will not understand what we are saying.
4. The feelings of the singer.
Songs and the lyrics show how the singers feel. Songs can suggest happiness, sadness, ignorance, care, hopes, love, friendship, and others.
5. How to understand a complete song.
To understand the songs, we have to able in determining the words in the context of the situation. There is some meaning of the word depend on the context of the situation as example Darling, just dive right in and follow my lead
The word ‘dive’ has some meaning such as ‘jump in’, ‘swim’, ‘ply’, move
DEFINITION
The song is a short poem or other sets of words set to music or meant to be sung or a single work of music intended to be sung by the human voice with distinct and fixed pitches and patterns using sound and silence and a variety of forms that often include the repetition of sections.
SOCIAL FUNCTION
The social functions of the song are:
a. To entertain the listeners.
b. To teach moral value through the lyrics of the songs.
c. To provide a way of managing the relationship between our public and private emotional life.
d. To express personal feeling and cultural values.
e. To give someone to not only shares their emotions with others but also to have an emotional connection that just can’t be experienced in any other way.
GENERIC STRUCTURE
The general structure of a song consists of verse-chorus-verse-bridge-chorus. It is better for us to learn more about the complete structure of songs.
a. Intro
The introduction establishes melodic, harmonic, and/or rhythmic related to the main body of the song.
b. Verse
It is the section of the song structure that tells the story. This is the exposition, describing the scene or the person, or an emotion. There are usually two or three verses in a row that have the same musical structure, the same rhyme, and poetic meter, but different words. The second verse builds on the picture painted in the first verse, etc.
c. Chorus of Refrain
A chorus is the most repeated section, so it’s the easiest remembered. A chorus is a summary of the song’s story. All the verses have been leading up to the chorus and are usually the part of the song people sing along with. A chorus can come at the beginning of the song structure; it can also start in the middle, or come at the end. In fact, some songs don’t have choruses at all. Some people are usually confused to differentiate between choruses and refrain. A refrain is any line that repeats in the song lyric, while a chorus is any group of lines that repeat.
d. Break
A break is actually a brief “rest” or “pause” for the core melody within a song used to add further dimension and excitement. It may include a quick instrumental solo or drum interlude or it may be a brief moment of silence or a combination of each of these elements.
e. Bridge
This is the part of the song that shifts. It can suddenly change tempo, or volume, or instrumentation. The bridge is the section that gives the audience time to reflect on the story or gives them the “climax” or conclusion of the story through verses and chorus. Bridges can be used to give the singer a break.
f. Outro or Coda
This is the end of the road for the song. It can repeat the intro, chorus or a refrain as an outro, or a bridge with an instrumental solo.
Below Are Some Forms of Song’s Structure
Intro-verse-verse-chorus-break-verse-verse-break-bridge-break-out
Verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus.
LANGUAGE FEATURES
The following are the language features of songs.
a. Imagery. Imagery describes about feelings and emotions. Sebuah lagu biasanya berusaha menggambarkan perasaan yang dirasakan si penulis.
b. Rhythm. Ritme disini digunakan untuk menciptakan mood. Misalnya, apabila kita sedang bersedih dan mendengarkan lagu dengan ritme slow, maka kita akan terbawa suasana dengan lagu tersebut. So, rhythm creates mood!
c. Figures of speech
1. Metaphor, comparing two things that are not alike to suggest that they actually have something in common. Sekilas memang kedua hal yang dibandingkan tidak berkaitan, tetapi sebenarnya ada kesamaan antara dua hal tersebut.e.g. “Time is a thief” or “Her haisr was silk”
2. Simile, compares two things using “like” or “as’’. Suatu hal digambarkan dengan hal yang mirip dengan menggunakan kata ‘like’ atau ‘as’ e.g. “My love is like a red rose”.
3. Hyperbole, a dramatic language. Big exaggeration, usually with humor. Suatu hal digambarkan secara berlebihan, terkadang menggelitik karena terlalu berlebihan.
e.g. “That math homework took me 8 million years to finish”.
e.g. “That math homework took me 8 million years to finish”.
4. Personification, an object appear like a person. Objek (bukan manusia) memiliki kemampuan seperti manusia. e.g. “The wind whisper” or “The snowflakes danced in the wind”.
5. Alli titration, the repetation of the same beginning sound in a series of words. Perulangan bunyi suara yang terdapat di awal setiap kata. e.g. “Peter Parker pick a pack of pants punctually”
EXAMPLE OF THE SONG
For the example of the song which we will be discussed is the song entitle of Perfect- Ed Sheeran
I found a love for me
Darling, just dive right in and follow my lead
Well, I found a girl, beautiful and sweet
Oh, I never knew you were the someone waiting for me
'Cause we were just kids when we fell in love
Not knowing what it was
I will not give you up this time
But darling, just kiss me slow, your heart is all I own
And in your eyes you're holding mine
Baby, I'm dancing in the dark with you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song
When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my breath
But you heard it, darling, you look perfect tonight
Well I found a woman, stronger than anyone I know
She shares my dreams, I hope that someday I'll share her home
I found a love, to carry more than just my secrets
To carry love, to carry children of our own
We are still kids, but we're so in love
Fighting against all odds
I know we'll be alright this time
Darling, just hold my hand
Be my girl, I'll be your man
I see my future in your eyes
Baby, I'm dancing in the dark, with you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song
When I saw you in that dress, looking so beautiful
I don't deserve this, darling, you look perfect tonight
Baby, I'm dancing in the dark, with you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song
I have faith in what I see
Now I know I have met an angel in person
And she looks perfect, no I don't deserve this
You look perfect tonight
There are some skills that we can study from the song.
1. After reading the script of the song above you can analyze the structure of the song. What is the structure of the song above?
2. We can improve our skill in term of vocabularies skill. Learn about synonym and also antonym of the words in the song above.
a. Synonym
· Deserve=receive
b. Antonym
· Give=accept
3. The ability of doing translation is very essential in understanding the songs. After you able to find the meaning try to translate every single sentence in the song such as I found a love for me= Aku menemukan cinta untukku
4. The ability in determining the meaning of the whole of the song. After doing translation the reader tries to comprehend the meaning or what is the background story and the objective of the song.
5. The feeling of the song arises after you understanding the meaning of the song and know the background why this song was presented or made. The feeling deep of love arise by listening this song. Another song songs have other feeling might full of anger, sad, happy and many other. Could you find the song which could make us sad?
Translation of the song
I found a love for me
Ku temukan sebuah cinta untukku
Darling, just dive right in and follow my lead
Kasih,tempuhlah dan ikuti langkahku.
Well, I found a girl, beautiful and sweet
Nah, aku menemukan seorang gadis, cantik dan manis
Oh, I never knew you were the someone waiting for me
Oh, aku tak pernah tau kaulah orangnya yang menantikanku
'Cause we were just kids when we fell in love
Karena kita masih anak anak ketika kita jatuh cinta
Not knowing what it was
Tidak mengerti apa cinta tersebut
I will not give you up this time
Aku tak akan membiarkanmu menyerah kali ini
But darling, just kiss me slow, your heart is all I own
Tapi kasih ,ciumlah aku secara perlahan ,perasaanmulah segalanya yang ku punya
And in your eyes you're holding mine
Dan dalam tatapanmu kaulah milikku
Baby, I'm dancing in the dark with you between my arms
Sayang, aku menari di kegelapan bersamamu pelukanku
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song
Bertelanjang kaki diatas rumput, mendengarkan lagu kesukaan kita
When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my breath
Ketika kau berkata kau tampak kacau,aku berbisik dengan pelan
But you heard it, darling, you look perfect tonight
Tapi kau mendengarnya,sayang ,kau terlihat sempurna malam ini
Well I found a woman, stronger than anyone I know
aku temukan wanita, lebih tangguh dari siapapun yang ku kenal
She shares my dreams, I hope that someday I'll share her home
dia mimpinya sama denganku ,aku berharap kelak aku bisa satu rumah
I found a love, to carry more than just my secrets
Ku temukan cinta,untuk membawa lebih banyak dari sekedar rahasiaku
To carry love, to carry children of our own
Tuk membawa cinta,tuk membawa anak-anak kita sendiri
We are still kids, but we're so in love
Kita masih anak-anak, tapi kita begitu mencintai
Fighting against all odds
Berjuang menghadapi semua rintangan
I know we'll be alright this time
Aku tau akan menjadi lebih baik saat ini
Darling, just hold my hand
Kasih,peganglah tanganku
Be my girl, I'll be your man
Jadilah kekasihku,aku akan jadi kekasihmu
I see my future in your eyes
Aku melihat masa depanku di matamu
Baby, I'm dancing in the dark with you between my arms
Sayang, aku menari di kegelapan bersamamu pelukanku
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song
Bertelanjang kaki diatas rumput, mendengarkan lagu kesukaan kita
When I saw you in that dress, looking so beautiful
Ketika aku melihat mu memakai gaun itu,terlihat sangat cantik
I don't deserve this, darling, you look perfect tonight
Aku tidak memungkiri itu,saying kamu telihat sempurna malam ini
Baby, I'm dancing in the dark with you between my arms
Sayang, aku menari di kegelapan bersamamu pelukanku
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song
Bertelanjang kaki diatas rumput, mendengarkan lagu kesukaan kita
I have faith in what I see
Aku yakin dengan apa yang ku lihat
Now I know I have met an angel in person
Sekarang aku tau aku bertemu malaikat berwujud manusia
And she looks perfect, no I don't deserve this
Dan dia terlihat sempurna, tidak, aku tidak layak
You look perfect tonight
Kamu terlihat sempurna malam ini
KEY POINTS
Song is a short poem or other set of words set to music or meant to be sung.
The social functions of song are:
a. To entertain the listeners.
b. To teach moral value through the lyrics of the songs.
c. To provide a way of managing the relationship between our public and private emotional life.
d. To express personal feeling and cultural values.
e. To give someone to not only shares their emotions with others, but also to have an emotional connection that just can’t be experienced in any other way.
The structure of songs: Intro-verse -chorus -verse- Intro-verse -chorus -verse.
The following are the language features of songs.
a. Imagery
b. Rhythm
c. Figure of Speech
· Metaphor
· Simile
· Personification
· Alli titration
LET'S PRACTICE
Ed Sheeran-Photograph
1. Rearrange the song below in good order!
Loving can hurt sometimes. Loving can hurt. It is the only thing that makes us feel alive. When it gets hard. You know it can get hard sometimes. But it's the only thing that I know.
Times forever frozen still. Where our eyes are never closing. We keep this love in a photograph. We made these memories for ourselves. Hearts are never broken.
Wait for me to come home. So you can keep me. Of your ripped jeans. Inside the pocket.
You won't ever be alone. Holdin' me closer. 'Til our eyes meet.
You won't ever be alone. Holdin' me closer. 'Til our eyes meet.
Remember that with every piece of ya. And it's the only thing we take with us when we die.
And it's the only thing that I know (know). I swear it will get easier. Loving can heal. Loving can mend your soul.
Our hearts were never broken. We keep this love in this photograph. Where our eyes are never closing. Times forever frozen still.
Inside the pocket. So you can keep me.
2. It is the only thing that makes us feel alive. The word It refers to ….
3. Identify some modal verbs in the script!
3. What is the translation of the song above?
4. What is the meaning of the song above?
5. What is your feeling after understanding the meaning of the song above?
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