Music--Our opinion of different types of music in English

At the beginning of the year my English class gathered in groups to write about different aspects of music in English. This is what they wrote.

The Benefits of Listening to English Songs
by Li Bowen, Zhang Kao, Zhang HaoQiang, Mi Yang, Qiao Liang

Have you noticed the phenomenon in China that more and more people have become more interested in English songs? They listen to English songs as they travel home each day and almost everywhere they go. As English is the most widely used language in the world, it seems a natural progression that gradually that English songs make their way into people's hearts. Actually, listening to English songs has three main benefits. It helps us to improve our language skills, gives us a topic of common conversation starter and gives us cultural insight.

Some students feel that English songs is a good tool to help us in the learning of English. In the past, students learned English mainly from textbooks often this was a boring, frustrating experience that needed patience, inner motivation and perseverance to ensure language learning continued. Recently, more and more learners tend to listen to English songs as a means to improve their English. Learners feel learning English in this manner is more enjoyable and relaxing. The variety of accents by the various singers means that students improve their listening skills. Songs also expose students to a wide vocabulary related to a theme.

Besides learning English, listening to English songs gives us a common topic of conversation with other speakers of English. Many Chinese students feel uncomfortable speaking to strangers in English, this is mainly because they are unable to come up with topics that they share in common with the English speakers from other nationalities. Music diffuses awkward and uncomfortable social situations and puts everyone in a friendly mood. Almost everyone has an opinion about music and songs so it is a great topic to start a conversation and a good way to get to know people better. People who like the same music find a common bond quickly and easily.

Because we live in a cross-cultural and complex global environment which can be quite confusing at times, listening to song and music in English gives inroads to understand aspects of Western cultural influences. Every song emerges out of a unique cultural context and has a story behind it. For example by listening to folk songs we learn of the icons and cultural significant symbols of that period in history. If we listen to many different types of music we become exposed to more and more aspects of culture.

It is no wonder that English music is becoming more popular nowadays. It helps us improve our English, meet speakers of English and enhances our cultural understanding. If there are so many benefits to listening to English music, why not try start listening now.

The Effects of Music in the Movies
by Du Fang, Yang Xiao, Wen Xi Xian, Zhou Bin, Zhao Kun

Music is to movies what salt is to food, Can you imagine watching a film without any tunes playing in the background? The emotional content would be missing in the atmosphere which normally sets the right mood and tone for the movie.

In some movies, music plays an important and central role. These are called musicals where characters burst out into songs and sometimes they even dance. In the movie, “Singing in the Rain” the hero bursts out into a song and dance routine in the rain after he meets the heroine to express his joy. It is a very moving scene and the songs make the movie special.

Background music helps the actor and actresses express themselves better and conveys their inner thoughts and emotions. In this way the music in the movies are almost a kind of language. Often the body language of the characters together with the background music express more than the words themselves.

The third most important effect that music has on a movie is that the music that was made popular with the success of the movie than becomes more popular than the movie itself. Some movies are remembered not so much for the stories but for its beautiful songs. We may not remember every segment of the movie Forest Gump but most will remember the music played in the background. Even the songs heard on television in the background are memorable.

Music really plays a fundamental role in movies. A good movie tends to have appropriate and suitable music that have haunting songs that help to convey the main themes of the movie.

A Brief Introduction to Three Categories of Songs
By Wang Chao, Fan Xinyu, Zhou Yuan Yi, Jiang Hai Yuan, Wu Bo

Do you like listening to English songs? How many English singers do you know? What kind of music do you like listening to? There are many categories of music among them. They bring enormous pleasure to listeners everywhere. The types of music my group enjoys most are pop, rock and hip hop.

Under the category of pop music there are many singers who continue to belt out songs that we continue to sing long after the singers are no longer popular. Pop songs, pop singers who are both young and old continue to entertain us. Pop songs capture our imagination and the range of songs we like include Hey, Jude, Yesterday and Norwegian Wood. Pop singers who we are familiar with are Backstreet Boys, Westlife and Michael learns to Rock. Regardless of age, pop singers sell albums the way other genres of music do not, notably are the older singer Michael Jackson and the young female artist Avril Lavigne. Michael Jackson is regarded by my group as the father of pop music. He was very popular in the 1970s and many of his songs have become classics that we still sing. Avril Lavigne is a Canadian female pop singer who became very popular at sixteen. She has since gone on to win music awards and a huge fan base. Pop songs are the most accessible genre which our group enjoys listening to most.

There are two rock groups that are popular with us, these are U2 and Lankin Park. When it comes to rock music, we immediately think of Beatles, John Lennon and Rolling Stones. Rock songs continue to inspire later generations of listeners and influence to musicians and artists that come later. Apart from Beatles who are still considered the best band ever, U2 deserves to be considered the most successful rock band today. Songs like “With or without you”continue to haunt us because of its depth of meaning. Another band Linkin Park continues to produce rock music that is energetic and stylistic. The four guys from South California after much struggle managed to release the album Hybrid Theory in 2000 and they go on to produce Meteora and Minutes to Midnight. These albums impressed and moved many of the rock fans in our group.

Hip hop is a category of music that is filled with black singers like 2-Pac, Jay-Z and 50 cents. Regarded as the greatest hip hop singer, Tupac Shakur, staged named 2-Pac, was bought up in East Harlem from a family caught within the violence and gang wars. Even when he became a famous rapper, his life was characterised by struggles with the law. His songs reflect the struggles of the blacks and expressed the concerns of his community. In September 1999, he was shot and died from four bullets in a drive by shooting. This gave him a mythical hero/martyr status making him an icon of the hip hop world. Shawn Corey Carter, or Jay Z, is not only a hip hop artist but also a businessman. He famous not only for his music, his music companies such as Def Jam Recordings and Roc-A-Fella records but also for his marriage to Beyonce Knowles who used to be the lead singer of the girl's group Destiny's Child. His life reflects how multi-faceted and multi-talented a hip hop artist can be. Like other hip hop artist, Curtis James Jackson III, or 50 cents, grew up in a rough neighbourhood and his teenage mother was drugged and gassed to death when he was eight. He started out as an amateur boxer before he became a rapper and has been quoted saying, "I was competitive in the ring and hip-hop is competitive too... I think rappers condition themselves like boxers, so they all kind of feel like they're the champ" Although his life is wrapped in controversy and feuds with other singers, the albums that he produces reaches tremendous commercial success.

Although most hip hop artists are black, there is one exception to our list. He is an artist whom our group thinks is the third greatest in the field of hip hop—Marshall Bruce Mathers III or Eminem. He has won both the Academy and Grammy Awards and is a record producer. He writes songs that can be quite personal such as “ When I am gone” for his daughter and that are semi-autobiographical such as the songs for the album and movie “8 miles”. He once said, “ I don't want to be the second Tupac.” By this I think he means that he does not want to be involved in the underworld that characterised Tupac's life.

Pop, rock and hip hop are music genres that my group really enjoys and the songs affect us greatly. Who will forget the words to the famous Beatles song “ All you need is love” in the timeless message that will last for a long time to come.
Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.There's nothing you can do that can't be done.
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game
It's easy.
There's nothing you can make that can't be made.
No one you can save that can't be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time - It's easy.

Christmas Carols
by Wang Wei Bin, Jin Yiping, Wu Lingxue, Yang Zhenlei, Luan Bo

“Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way.” This popular Christmas carol is part of our fondest childhood memories. The song is so sweet and it helps create a joyous atmosphere as people celebrate Christmas. Where do Christmas carols come from and what role do they play in our lives.

The word carol came from a Greek dance called a choraulein, which was accompanied by flute music. The dance later spread throughout Europe and became especially popular with the French, who replaced the flute music with singing. People originally performed carols on several occasions during the year. By the 1600's, carols involved singing only, and Christmas had become the main holiday for these songs.

Most of the carols sung today were originally composed in the 1700's and 1800's. They include "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing." The words of the famous carol "Silent Night" were written on Christmas Eve in 1818 by Joseph Mohr, an Austrian priest. Franz Gruber, the organist of Mohr's church, composed the music that same night, and the carol was sung at midnight Mass. "O Holy Night" was introduced at midnight Mass in 1847. Adolphe Adam, a French composer, wrote the music. Popular nonreligious carols include "Jingle Bells" and "White Christmas." (Taken from http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_origin_of_Christmas_carols)

Christmas carols are part of the Christmas tradition and people sing Christmas carols at home and in public places. The music helps to create the atmosphere in preparation for Christmas. People are reminded to cherish their family, think of others and love one another during Christmas. In recent times, Christmas carols have become a means to sell things and promote consumerism. Santa Claus encourages the buying and giving of presents during Christmas. Songs about Santa encourage children to expect presents from their parents and relatives.

Hence, Christmas carols may be written a long time ago but they play an important function in promoting the spirit of Christmas. In the words of Scrooge from the book “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, “I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone!". The songs of Christmas like the ghost remind us to care for others at Christmas.