Assistance Please–Music, Anyone? January 25, 2007
Posted by aquiram in Assistance Please, Planning, Reflections.trackback
I often have bright ideas, but no time to search or plan for things.
So, I have to decided to start a series of posts about help I need/want. Since the Internet is so far reaching, I think educators must use it to the max in ways that help themselves and their students. This series of posts will be a search for lesson plans, adjustments to lesson plans, or other things. Today I have the following need:
I want themed music. I teach American History and Literature and I always think (way too late)
If I had music to go with this, it would make the experience much better.
But, because of time and the lack of it, I don’t get it done. So, today I will list some themes I could use some music for, all I am asking of you, is to offer suggestions. Because the blogosphere is filled with such an eclectic group of people, this opens up the possiblity of finding things I wouldn’t normally think of, or things I overlook. There is also a broad range of interests and likes, so I (and others, as you will be able to see the growing lists!) could potentially end up with an enriched listening experience.
The songs will be bought and burned to CD for my classes listening pleasure. Some will be used to study and examine, others as mood music.
So, here are some of the themes and a few songs I have for each already:
FREEDOM
Independence Day Martina McBride
Red, White, and Blue Toby Keith
Unwritten Natasha Bedingfield (*more personal freedom)
We Didn’t Start the Fire Billy Joel (thanks Redkudu!)
Where Were You Alan Jackson (thanks VWB!)
SOCIAL JUSTICE
(This one probably crosses over other categories, but…)
Mr. Wendel Arrested Development
I Hope Dixie Chicks
Sunday, Bloody Sunday U2 (thanks Melanie!)
Free Your Mind En Vogue
In the Ghetto Elvis
Old Coat Peter, Paul, Mary (thanks Debbie!)
Blowin’ in the Wind Bob Dylan (thanks Debbie!)
If I Had a Hammer Peter, Paul, Mary (thanks Debbie!)
WILD WEST
Blaze of Glory Bon Jovi
I Shoulda Been a Cowboy Toby Keith
Where Have All the Cowboys Gone Paula Cole
Indian Reservation Paul Revere and the Riders (thanks Debbie!)
CIVIL WAR
(I actually have a whole CD of this already with songs like John Brown’s Body, but am always looking for more)
NORTH VERSUS SOUTH
Dixie
Sweet Home Alabama Lynyrd Skynyrd
IMMIGRATION
On the Road Again Willie Nelson (humorous, but fitting I think)
America Neil Diamond
Che Guevara T-Shirt Richard Schindell (thanks Debbie!)
AMERICAN DREAMS
American Dreams Casting Crowns
American Pie Don McLean (thanks Redkudu!)
Living in America James Brown (thanks Redkudu!)
TURN OF THE CENTURY (1900)
The Legend of John Henry’s Hammer (thanks Debbie!)
1920’s/Great Gatsby
1930’s/Great Depression
It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got No Swing)
Woody Guthrie (thanks mtm!)
1940’s
1950’s
Mama Don’t Allow Austin Lounge Lizards (*Be aware there are other versions, but not about nuclear testing! Thanks Debbie!)
GRAPES OF WRATH
Brother Can You Spare a Dime
POETRY OF WHITMAN AND DICKINSON
WORLD WAR I / WORLD WAR II
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy Andrew Sisters
KOREAN WAR
VIETNAM WAR
Fortunate Son Creedence Clearwater Revival (thanks Melanie!)
8th of November Big & Rich
Green Berets
Waist Deep in the Big Muddy Pete Seeger (thanks Debbie!)
Peace Train Cat Stevens (thanks Debbie!)
CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
I Am Woman Helen Reddy (thanks Debbie!)
Abraham, Martin, and John Richard Holler (thanks VWB!)
Now, I open it up to you. Leave a song or two in the comments area and I shall add them to the lists for all to share! Also, any other themes you can think of and I may be adding others as I think of them.
The Vietnam song is ‘Fortunate Son’ by Creedence Clearwater Revival. Another you could add to the Social Injustice section is U2’s ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’.
Melanie–Now that you say it, it seems obvious (fortunate son) doesn’t it?? I forgot U2’s!
Thanks for being the first to offer help!!!
Hi again! I also found a site that might be able to fill in some of your time gaps…
http://kclibrary.nhmccd.edu/music-2.html
Good luck!
Umm, don’t want to be too critical, but the Ballad of the Green Beret belongs in the Vietnam War period. The Green Beret were created by President Kennedy in the 1960’s to combat insurgencies.
Leo–
I knew that when I pushed the publish button and have edited this thing 5 times and kept forgetting to fix it! Thanks a bunch for the reminder!
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Ale…
For the Depression, Woody Guthrie’s songs
Social Justice – “In the Ghetto,” Elvis Presley; “Old Coat,” Peter, Paul and Mary; “Blowin’ in the Wind,” Bob Dylan; “If I Had a Hammer,” Peter, Paul and Mary.
Turn of the Century (industrial revolution) – “”The Legend of John Henry’s Hammer,” (several people do this song).
Vietnam – “Waist Deep in the Big Muddy,” Pete Seeger; “Peace Train,” Cat Stevens.
Wild West – “Indian Reservation,” Paul Revere and the Raiders.
Immigration – “Che Guevara T-shirt,” Richard Schindell.
Civil Rights Movement – “I am Woman,” Helen Reddy.
1950’s (nuclear testing) – “Mama Don’t Allow,” Austin Lounge Lizards (no other version of this song is about nuclear testing).
Here’s a list of some of the songs I use, for various units.
American Woman - Lenny Kravitz version
American Girl - Tom Petty
Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Born in the USA - Bruce Springsteen
Living in America - James Brown
America - West Side Story
American Pie - Don McLean
America - Simon and Garfunkel
We Didn’t Start the Fire - Billy Joel
And the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has a whole page of ideas for teachers. You might find something there: http://www.rockhall.com/programs/plans.asp
Thanks for all the great suggestions!
Keep Them Coming!!
Check out the lists!
I’m a little late in commenting on this ..am trying to catch up with all your posts…but am so glad someone mentioned Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire…have even worked with teachers who had students “compose” lyrics for the events after the end of the song as an extension type assignment
What about Alan Jackson’s Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)…THE anthem for 9-11 as far as I am concerned—five years later and it still is hard for me to hear sometimes
How about the folksong Abraham, Martin & John by Richard Holler for Civil Rights & 1960’s turmoil
vietnam songs:
I Feel Like I’m Fixing To Die by Country Joe And The Fish
Ohio by Neil Young
What Are Their Names by David Crosby
I myself am trying to find a good one on the subjec for my EFL students!
great idea this blog!
Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then) — The Decemberists (battle of bull run)
James K. Polk– They Might Be Giants (Some errors, but it helps remeber Polk’s administration)
MR WENDEL BY ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT SONG.BUT I CANT EVER FIND THE LYRICS. I FEEL LIKE ITS BEEN FORGOTTEN BECAUSE OF THE JUNK CALLED MUSIC TODAY. OH, YOU WANT TO HEAR MUSIC THAT REALLY HAD POLITICAL MEANING AND IMPORTANCE LISTEN TO ANY ALBUM BY THE CLASH.
someone mentioned the civil rights movement?
what about Judy Collins (or Malvina Reynolds) :”it isn’t nice”
and songs by Tom Paxton (I was told by my “country fan friend”!)
Johnny Horton an older country singer has a whole CD of history songs like North to Alaska (gold rush), Battle of New Orleans, and Sink the Bismark.
Music of the Civil War:
Home, Sweet Home
The Last Hope
Washington Greys March
Jim Along Josie
Ain’t I Right
Live Humble
Follow the Drinking Gourd
The Battle Hymn of the Republic
The Battle Cry of Freedom
I Wish I Was in Dixie’s Land
The Bonnie Blue Flag
Un Ballo in Maschera Quickstep
The Vacant Chair
When Johnny Comes Marching Home
Two great songs for teaching about Vietnam are;
‘Traveling Soldier ‘by The Dixie Chicks
“Riding with Private Malone” - sorry don’t know singer/songwriter -
I use these before I start and poetry unit which includes poems from Vietnam soldiers (some found posthumously)