CONCEPT Boostweek workshop English - music

Boostweek workshop English - music

During this workshop, you will...

... dive into lyrics: what does the singer want tell the world through their song? How do they do that?

... learn about writing lyrics while analyzing 

your favourite song

... write your own lyrics. 

... produce your own melody. 

Let's start by analyzing your favourite song... 

1: The meaning behind the lyrics

2: Structure & rhyming 

3 tasks

1: The meaning behind lyrics

Most singers try to write songs about topics that their listeners will resonate with. A LOT of songs are about love - ... or breakups - because many people experience this and thus will recognize themselves (or their stiuation) in the lyrics. 

Recently, more and more songs are about mental health, 

as this is a topic that is discussed more often.  

1: The meaning behind lyrics

However, not every song has to be incredibly deep or have a meaning. Sometimes people just write about something that happened to them (or someone they know), that they saw or that they are interested in. Songs can also be educational. 

Songs can literally be about anything: it's a way of expressing yourself. It's an artform!

The next slide will show a video in which Billie Eilish explains her song "idontwannabeyouanymore" and the meaning behind her lyrics. 

1: The meaning behind lyrics

This song is cleary very personal to Billie. She writes about a feeling, about her experiences and about battling anxiety and self-doubt. Many people will recognize themselves, their feelings and experiences, in this song, which makes it so popular. 

Task 1: find out the meaning behind your favourite song

1. Look up the lyrics to your favourite song.

2. Read the lyrics and answer the following questions: 

• What is the song about? 
• Is there a message the singer wants to give to their listeners? 
• Which part(s) of the song show this? 

3. Search online if you can find the singer explaining the song: does their interpretation of the song match with yours?

The next slides will show you an example of how I analyzed a song by Noah Kahan. 

... so what is the song about?

Noah sings to his loved one that it is bittersweet that this person is leaving: on one hand he loves this person and doesn't want them to leave, but on the other hand he thinks they'll find a better life somewhere else and encourages them to go far. It's about accepting that someone you love can leave and encouraging them to do what is good for them. 

2: Structure & rhyme

Before you can start writing your own song, we have to look at the structure of songs. 

Songs usually have: 

• Multiple verses (coupletten)
• A chorus (refrein)
• A bridge (a musical 'passage' that connects                               two parts of a song)

2: Structure & rhyme

An example of the structure of a song could be:

• Verse 1: Introduces the setting and characters, and establishes the mood or theme of the song
  
• Chorus: The most memorable and catchy part of the song, often repeated several times
  
• Verse 2: Continues the story or develops the theme further
  
• Chorus: Repeated
  
• Bridge: A change in melody and the introduction of a new idea or emotion
  
• Chorus: Repeated as the finale

This structure applies to the song "invisible string" by Taylor Swift. Click on the link on the next slide to listen to the song and look at the structure.  

genius.com

Task 2: 

What is the structure of your favourite song? Decide which part is the chorus, the verses and the bridge. 

Look up your song on https://genius.com/ to find out if you were correct. (Click the link on the next slide). There is an example on the slide after that. 

Note: sometimes song have a pre-chorus (part before the chorus) or post-chorus (part after the chorus) and/or an outro/intro. 

genius.com

Task 3: 

Sometimes, words in songs rhyme, but not always! Look at your favourite song: does every line rhyme? Mark them! If you choose to have rhyming words in your song, you can use a rhyme words dictionary like https://www.rhymezone.com/

When writing a lyric you have to choose your words very carefully. Try to find words that sound similar, those words usually sound very good together in a line (for example... will and still both have the "i" sound). Can you find similar sounding words in your favourite song? Mark them!

Look at the next slides for an example of the exercise. (Marked green = rhyming words, marked blue = similar sounding words)

Well done! You've analyzed your first song :)