This week, students read "The Weary Blues" by Langston Hughes; then listened to instrumental songs by such artists as Josh Rouse, Todd Rundgren, John Cale, Stereolab, Chris Stamey, Lonesome Bob, and The Beach Boys, and wrote poems based on what the music made them think of/feel/imagine, or what they heard.
The titles of poems are taken from the song titles, which they did not know when they were writing. (To hear songs that inspired students, click on the links above titles, below.)
Download 07_kiss__movement_3.m4a
Kiss: Movement 3 (after John Cale)
Music is sad
someone is dead
people cry
The person is buried
he bangs the coffin
it's too late
he still bangs
people leave
he still bangs
everyone is gone
he bangs to death
Pedro Antonino 404
Breathless (after Todd Rundgren)
It sounds as if it's a
roller skating contest and the
2 people are impressing the
judges with their moves
Mariana Beltran 404
Download 12_2_drinks_on_an_empty_stomach.m4a
2 Drinks on an Empty Stomach (after Lonesome Bob)
It makes me
feel how many
people have problems.
And they start
to get better.
And still have
problems that
can't be solved.
That they drink
commit crimes
and smoke. And
then they get
into jail for
the problems.
Alejandro de la Cruz 403
Download 03_dr. Strangelove's Assistant.m4a
Dr. Strangelove's Assistant (after Chris Stamey)
This song is like a
cartoon song. The song
is so funny. It makes
me feel like I was at
a circus and that clowns
are throwing at each
other pies. Also it makes
me feel that I was a
TV show with my little
cousin about clowns throwing
each other stuff.
Itzel Garcia 407
Download 16_lets_go_away_for_awhile.m4a
Let's Go Away for Awhile (after The Beach Boys)
Some kids are looking at the stars they
start falling in love it's a special moment
for them they were about to kiss their
parents catch them, the parents whack
them.
Brian Garduño 403
Download 10_transoma_five_live.m4a
Transoma Five (after Stereolab)
This makes me feel happy. I feel I'm
free, that I could fly and that I
could do what ever I wanted without
getting in trouble.
Ivan Gil 407
Download 03_dr. Strangelove's Assistant.m4a
Dr. Strangelove's Assistant (after Chris Stamey)
It makes me feel very funny. I hear
a guitar. I imagine me in a carnival.
I imagine my brother dancing very funny
well it's not funny it's hilarious. It makes
me feel like a nerd. It makes me
picture myself in a candy shop. I feel
like a gorilla. I feel like I'm in the
zoo. It makes me feel like I'm being
chased by a lion. I am in the candy
shop but with my grandma and my
grandpa and my grandma.
Ruby Guzman 407
Download 12_2_drinks_on_an_empty_stomach.m4a
2 Drinks on an Empty Stomach (after Lonesome Bob)
riding on a motorcycle
your friend on a bicycle
riding fast
not being last
but first
without thirst
no worries
not being sorry
for the friend that
you kicked
Kevin Marin 403
Young Lungs (after Stereolab)
Lost in the morning day
not knowing what to do
Making me sleep and
suddenly jolt out of bed
to an unusual craziness
I feel being watched
and trying to escape
But then I'm in Africa
with wild animals hearing
the wind singing while blowing
Trumpets are whistling
wildly
Janet Morales 403
Download 10_transoma_five_live.m4a
Transoma Five (after Stereolab)
This song makes
me feel like if
I am the cool one
and I am walking
down the hall
and everybody gets scared
of me but then
I slipped on a
banana and I started
to run away from
everybody and they're chasing
me watch I am running
I look back and I
bump into a locker but
I stand up and act
like it never happened.
Mayra Nevarez 407
Download 16_lets_go_away_for_awhile.m4a
Let's Go Away for Awhile (after The Beach Boys)
I'm in an elevator changing numbers
up and down I get to a beautiful
place quiet peaceful at last I see
water and green.
Yesenia Pimentel 403
Download 11_la_costa_blanca.m4a
La Costa Blanca (after Josh Rouse)
a barnyard with sheep
and cows and all sorts
of animals running around
anywhere and there's someone
in the middle of it all
playing the guitar
Elizabeth Salgado 404
Download 07_kiss__movement_3.m4a
Kiss: Movement 3 (after John Cale)
The Titanic about to fall everyone
screaming help but no one is there
everyone drops in the water one by one
as they are trying to put people in the
life boats as fast as they could go
as some people are left behind and
the people in the life boats float
away as they go farther and farther
Tanya Sanchez 404
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