UNDERSTANDING SONGS 10

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.

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”.  
 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.

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?