Related Texts: Songs

Just because a song has a word like “belong” or “alienation” in it, doesn’t mean it’s actually about belonging. You are better off thinking about the ideas behind songs you like than doing a word search for poems or songs. Looking at the video clips can also help you choose a song – look for important camera angles or the use of symbols.


Warning: If you chose a song, make sure it is something more than just a love song. Love songs are about relationships, not belonging, so they won’t add anything more to your argument - even if you’re saying that relationships create a sense of belonging, your related text has to add to your argument, not just mirror it.

For an outstanding example of the critical analysis of music look at the article Ervine, Janathon. (2008). Citizenship and Belonging in Suburban France: The music of Zebda” in ACME and international e journal for critical studies 7 (2) at http://www.acme-journal.org/vol7/JEr.pdf. It’s not an easy article, but if you skip straight to p.205, you can see an fantastic analysis of a song.



·        Anu, Christine. “My Island Home”. [Watch the viedo clip at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSFGK9HlEto] This song of homesickness describes the singer’s longing for her “Island home” while she is in the dry windy city. It describes “the importance of the community that represents your origins and is ‘home’ with all its connotations of warmth, love, closeness and community. If you live away from ‘home’, whatever that may be, it’s drawing power may affect your choices and behaviour” (from erudite HSC). One of the comments on Youtube makes an interesting point about the context of this song: “The song is about the Torres straight Islands. But you get a DJ to play this song overseas, Aussies stand side by side singing this song together.” Discuss the use of simple emotive words, the juxtaposition of city and island images and the repetition of key words. In the video clip, a nalyse the symbolism of the jewellery as well as the effect on the viewer of the water over the cityscape and the transition to symbols of freedom and island landscapes (When is she shown on the ground; when does she float like a cartoon across the screen?). Recommended for ESL and standard students.

·        Darkest of the Hillside Thickets (). “Big Robot Dinosaur”. [Listen online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoJB2mcnKwQ] A father and son nbond over their revenge on bullies. Analyse the way the childlike voice and clichéd metaphors characterise the protagonish and create the understated ending, as the way the robot is personified. In addition think about how the music contributes to the message through the style of music, the voice quality of the singer, the fade-out, and the voiceover at the beginning/end. Recommended for standard students.

·        Stevens, Cat. (). “Father and Son”. [Write about the song itself or the video clip. Watch itonline at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q29YR5-t3gg]The alternating perspectives of depict the tension between the voice of age nad the independence of youth. Compare the simple heartfelt language and rhyme schemes with the language of A Simple Gift and link them to the simplicity of the music (rhythm, melody, instrumentation). If you’re discussing the video clip, talk about the isolation of Cat Stevens sitting on the floor in the corner of a large white room, the characters of the old man and young girl and the symbolism of the chess board. Recommended for standard and ESL students.

·        Tears for Fears. (). “Destination Unknown”. [Ms Carmyn has a copy – if you find it online, let her know!] In this song, the singer is lost in a nameless place desperately trying to contact the listener. In addition to the extended metaphor of the title and emotive language, discuss the sparse instrumentation at the beginning, the constantly falling melody and the relentless rhythm. An excellent defintion of alienation.

·        Sondheim, Steven. “Send in the Clowns” from A little Night Music. A hauntingly beaultiful but ironic comment on the impossibility of two lovers ever belonging together because they’re always in different ‘places’ despite sitting together on the bed on stage. Discuss musical techniques such as instrumentation, melody and harmony as well as the lyrics. You can watch this song at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfREHtsEtvk (Catherine Zeta Jones) or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7FMU7ynpM8 (Bernadette Peters) or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE3dLzIYKs8 (Judi Dench). It’s a good idea to look at different interpretations (in the context of the plot of A Little Night Music – see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Little_Night_Music)and pick the one you think says most about belonging, because each performer sings it differently.

·        Simon and Garfunkle. (). “Sounds of Silence”. This ballad describes a man walking down a dark street desperately trying to communicate with a world that is lost behind bright lights and city walls, so that people “talk without speaking” and :”hear without listening”. The words are simple but the metaphors are strong and full of paradoxes like that of the title. Discuss how the simplicity of the melody and instrumentation contribute to the theme of the song.

·        Simon and Garfunkle. (). “I am a Rock”. [Listen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVLFlkehGuU&NR=1 or watch a really old -1960s! - video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My9I8q-iJCI or] This ballad uses a powerful extended metaphor to describe the experience of alienation and loneliness. In addition to the lyrics, don’t forget to discuss the way the melody and performance emphasise particular words. You could also discuss how the simplicity of the instrumentation brings the message directly to the responder.

·        Sting. (). “Moon over Bourbon Street” from A Dream of Blue Turtles. [Listen to it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd-F2rpXXZc ] If you’re a fan of novels like Twilight, Fallen or Hush, you’ll enjoy this ballad about a New Orleans werewolf. While the lyrics are simple, they are very moving and carry a tone of intense regret. Discuss juxtapositions such as “sinner” and “priest”, and the paradox of “I must love what I destroy and destroy the thing I love.” Link the instrumentation (jazz trumpet) to the setting Don’t use the fans’ clips which show vampires (not a werewolf who’s monster only on nights with a full moon)! This goes very well with Edward Scissorhands or The Corpse Bride  and Bourbon street could be contrasted with the Forest of Arden in As you like it.

·        Linkin Park, “Somewhere I Belong.” This song defines alienation in a very concrete way, both in the lyrics and in the instrumentation and the alternation between melody and recitative (spoken lyrics). If you’re writing about this song watch the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcs5PRxEXq4 and analyse the effect of the apocalyptic staging and symbolism – Do the images allude to other texts? Why were they chosen?

·        Pink Floyd. “Another Brick in the Wall” This punk-rock classic describes the negative aspects of belonging – conformity. Watch the video about a young boy who gets into trouble for writing poetry instead of chanting mathematical equations at school, then dreams that school is a factory turning idenitical students into sausages until the kids fight back. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4SKL7f9n58. Wikipaedia has useful summaries at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Another_Brick_in_the_Wall , including analyses of techniques (but you will still need to link them to belonging before they will make sense in your essay!)

·        Lavigne, Avril. (). Skater Boy. [Watch it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqdbyyiwYbM] What happens when you give up your love because of peer pressure? This girl and boy find out the hard way. Discuss the use of colloquial language, juxtaposition and repetition as well as the upbeat rhythm and melody that contrasts so much with the story-line. You could also talk about the style of music chosen and how this communicates with the target audience (who can probably empathise with the protagonist).

·        Ash. “A Life less Ordinary”. [Watch the video clip at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3i10E7WKjlU] the thing that saves this from being just another love song is the imagery in the lyrics. Pay attention to the way the language becomes simpler as the song moves from metaphorical to literal, and link these changes to the harmony and instrumentation. If you’re writing about the video clip, think about what the cars may symbolise and discuss the clips that are cut between the car sequences. (Are they anything more than clichés? What pop culture references can you find?). Recommended for ESL or standard students.

·        Arrogant Worms “I want to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger” [Watch it online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10AOfXCyC3Y] This comedy song satirises the idea that we can learn to belong by changing our appearance to that of celebrities. Analyse the juxtaposition between the persona’s voice and the chorus of media voices in brackets. Contrast the bleak ‘message’ of the song with the “cutsy” voices and upbeat tune.

·        Beatles, The. (1966). “Eleanor Rigby” [Listen to the original online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51UH_u7WxCo] This song describes the loneliness of city dwellers who live side by side yet ignore each others’ lives. Although the lyrics are simple there as some lovely surrealistic elements such as “wearing the face that she keeps in the jar by the door” which could be linked to techniques that convey alienation in other texts. Make sure you also discuss musical elements such as the impact of the lone cello in the instrumentation. You could also listen to the Godhead’s cover version at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li580259YwU&feature=fvst . The video clip doesn’t add a lot, but you could discuss the costumes and setting and the alternation between the one singer and the crowd of “lonely people”. Does the change in musical style add or detract from the original song?

·        Pink. “So What.” [Watch online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJfFZqTlWrQ] While this song is not directly about belonging, the video and performance portray the anger of a break -up entailed examine a sense of loss: the belonging the marriage generated, the self esteem and identity involved. You could use this song if it parallels or contradicts a similar experience in your text. Discuss the very personal nature of this song (including first person and repetition) and the juxtaposition of power and vulnerability in the videoclip. There are also a number of visual puns (eg “you’re a tool”/singer with power saw) which could add to your argument.

·        Pink “Stupid Girl”. [Watch it online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wSyhXCPh5M]This song critiques popular representations of the ‘stupid girl’ in the media and the video explicity criticises the media’s role in sexualising young girls and creating body image problems such as bulemia. Discuss the juxtaposition of feminist ideas (eg “presendient”) with traditional ‘stupid girl’ roles (“dancing next to 50cent”), and the impact of casting Pink as both the ‘stupid’ girls with sexy moves and the intelligent feminist sining the song. Try to trace all the pop culture references in the video and discuss the way they are juxtaposed with the innocent girl in front of the television.

·        Swift, Taylor. “You belong to me”. [Watch online at http://www.metrolyrics.com/you-belong-to-me-lyrics-taylor-swift.html] This song works best with the video clip which shows the teen protagonist’s unrequited crush on a popular girl’s boyfriend. Discuss how the simple language and catchy pop style influence the target audience, as well as the film techniques such as setting, cinematography and how casting Taylor in both roles changes the meaning of the song. Recommended for ESL and Standard students.

·        Anastacia. “Left Outside Alone”. [Watch it online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzR5jM9UeJA&ob=av2e ]This love song contrasts being “left outside aone” with the expectation of a “fairytale” relationship. Be careful to focus on the singer’s experience of belonging, not her anger at her lost partner. You could analyse the connection between the colours and setting and the protagonist’s feeling of “cold” and not being “safe” to the characters in A Simple Gift. Pay attention to which parts of the song are sung in a high plaintive tone and which are in an introverted alto voice. Recommended for Standard students.

·        Bernstein, Leonard and Sondheim, Steven. “Somewhere” from West Side Story. [Watch online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BQMgCy-n6U].This is the pivotal moment in the Romeo and Juliet romance of the musical West Side Story – the equivalent to the balcony scene. The words are simple but heart-wrenchingly emotive, especially if you have watched the film and know exactly what happens next! Discuss the use of close-ups, the colours used to divide the protagonists as well as musical features such as the fact that it is a duet where two dinger harmonise together, the long lyrical phrases in the melody and the slight accelerandos (=speed up eg in “hold my hand and I’ll take you there”) that represent them looking forward to a future where they will belong together. You could also look at the way the meaning of the song changes when it’s given a political context such as the holocaust memorial video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZAHNH2FT90.

·        Coolio (). “Gangsta’s Paradise” [Watch it online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFK6H_CcuX8] This is a gangster’s defence of his life, looking back with regrets for what he didn’t achieve and pride for how he protects his “ homies.” Discuss the biblical allusion at the beginning, the expert use of rhythm in the lyrics, the use of slang as an indicator of belonging to a “gangsta” subculture and the way the tone alternates between regretful and threatening. Match this to the choice of musical style, especially the alternation between recitative (spoken melody) and melodic/harmionic sections. If you’re writing about the video clip, discuss the props, costumes and settings, and pay attention to the way the story is told through closeups, cuts and fades into black – it’s a different story to the lyrics so you have to explain how they link together.

·        Cake. (). “Sheep go to heaven”. [Watch it on line at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0mx5ERj1eI]. This off-beat song works best in tandem with the video which shows groups of “same” people slowly becoming mixed up so that they ‘belong’ together. Thank about why the song starts with a set of greetings card clichés, how the aggressive tone of the singer and insistent rhythm create a context for the lyrics, and discuss the biblical reference (sheep and goats) they are satirising.

·        Muttonbirds. (). “Anchor me”. [Watch the Muttonbirds version online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPIhhqM4b4s or the Greenpeace version at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ99ouGxgkg]This song argues that a relationship can create a sense of belonging strong enough to “anchor” the persona against the pain and horror of his life. Discuss the extended metaphor of the sea, the biblical and Shakespearean (The Tempest) allusions and the symbolism of the images in the video clip. This original video emphasises shifting blue light and floating images, but also literal images such as the boat, the shark, the car in the rain and people floating “up” and “down” while the Greepeace video uses clichéd symbols such as a dove and rainbow juxtaposed with symbols of  industrial pollution to give the song a far less personal context. It your argument dicusses macro and micro experiences of belonging, you could discuss the way the videos reinterpret the context of the song. Recommended for advanced students.


Songs

·        Bread Belonging by. Belonging nec for creativity = life

·        Oh Father by Madonna

·        This used to be my playground by Madonna

·        Don’t cry for me Argentina by Tim Rice (You need context here.)

·        Treaty by Yothu Yindi

·        Beds are Burning by Midnight Oil

·        No Bravery by James Blunt. It’s about loss and change caused by war. War destroys people, homes etc and with that goes a sense of who you are and where you belong. Make sure it allows you to connect with your prescribed text.

·        Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Greenday (song).

·        Where we belong - Steven Curtis Chapman

·        Don't Forget to Remember Me - Carrie Underwood

·        Front Porch Looking In - Lonestar

·        Where I Belong - Rachel Proctor

·        Blessed - Martina McBride

·        Songbird - Eva Cassidy

·        Home - Marc Broussard

·        A Boy's Best Friend - White Stripes

·        A Change is Gonna Come - Sam Cookie

·        Alabama - Neil Young

·        American Idiot - Green Day

·        Ashes to Ashes - David Bowie

·        Bengali in Platforms – Morrissey

·        Black and Blue - Louis Armstrong

·        Bohemian Rapsody – Queen

·        Bourgeois Blues – Leadbelly

·        Chimes of Freedom - Boy Dylan

·        Chop Suey - System of a Dawn

·        Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd

·        Creep – Radiohead

·        Dead and Gone - T.I. Ft. Justin Timberlake

·        Dinner at Eight - Rufus Wainwright

·        Drowning - Hootie and the Blowfish

·        Dumb – Nirvana

·        Everyday People - Sly and The Famly Stone

·        From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea - The Cure

·        Going to a Town - Rufus Wainwright

·        Hook Me Up - The Veronicas

·        Jaded – George

·        Katie - Missy Higgins

·        Manifest Destiny – Jamiroquai

·        Society - Eddie Vedder

·        Special Ones – George

·        The Fool on the Hill - the Beatles

·        The Way It Is - Bruce Hornsby

·        You Belong With Me - Taylor Swift

·        Sense of seloning soroya – list of metaphors love as belonging , sonme work, some ominous (Opiate)

·        Unholy matrimony – extended metaphors not belonging

Treaty, Yothu Yindi
Beds are Burning, Midnight Oil

No Bravery, James Blunt.

If I were a boy, Beyonce

Viva La Vida, Coldplay

Chasing Pavements, Adele

All across the world, Silverchair

Scar, Missy Higgins

Lyrics to Peter Allen's "I still call Australia home": http://www.lyrics007.com/print.php?id=TkRBNU1EZ3c

·        http://anniesenglish.com/?page_id=32

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