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Help! I need a pop song for my school festival.
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Smithington



Joined: 14 Dec 2011

PostPosted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 11:01 pm    Post subject: Help! I need a pop song for my school festival. Reply with quote

I have to select and teach an English pop song to my grade 4-6 students (elementary school). Being someone who generally despises pop music I don't know where to begin. I'll end up shooting myself if I have to listen to one pop song after another until I find an appropriate one. Death by Justin Bieber and Katie Perry. Confused

Is there a kind soul out there who can spare me hours of torture and recommend a decent (and inoffensive) pop song?

Thanks for any suggestions.
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Seoulman69



Joined: 14 Dec 2009

PostPosted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 11:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Can't go wrong with the Beatles. Hello Goodbye, All Together Now, etc.
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Lucas



Joined: 11 Sep 2012

PostPosted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 11:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Can't go wrong with the Beatles. Hello Goodbye, All Together Now, etc.


Boring!

I can only think of Lemon Tree as a worse option.

Although your P would prob love it! Rolling Eyes
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edwardcatflap



Joined: 22 Mar 2009

PostPosted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 11:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Boring!

I can only think of Lemon Tree as a worse option.

Although your P would prob love it!


The Beatles are used a lot because they pronounce the words quite clearly, the lyrics are often high frequency, simple and inoffensive e.g. 'hello, goodbye' , some of the songs were actually designed for kids e.g. 'yellow submarine' and they have very easily picked up melodies for the kids to sing along to. I agree they're a safe choice but not a bad one. Lemon Tree would be a bad choice because they'll have almost certainly done it in class before. Don't fall into the trap of picking a song to do with kids because you like it or it's trendy at the time. Think of the audience.
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Lucas



Joined: 11 Sep 2012

PostPosted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 11:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_q8L8Tksd8

This is a popular one at the moment - if you edit out the two bad words (easily done).
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Seoulman69



Joined: 14 Dec 2009

PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 12:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

edwardcatflap wrote:
Quote:
Boring!

I can only think of Lemon Tree as a worse option.

Although your P would prob love it!


The Beatles are used a lot because they pronounce the words quite clearly, the lyrics are often high frequency, simple and inoffensive e.g. 'hello, goodbye' , some of the songs were actually designed for kids e.g. 'yellow submarine' and they have very easily picked up melodies for the kids to sing along to. I agree they're a safe choice but not a bad one. Lemon Tree would be a bad choice because they'll have almost certainly done it in class before. Don't fall into the trap of picking a song to do with kids because you like it or it's trendy at the time. Think of the audience.


Looks like I don't need to reply to Lucas's inane comment. Cheers, Edward!
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joeteacher



Joined: 11 Jul 2007

PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 12:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I do a lot of pop songs with my students, some are real hits (some big surprises) and some are big misses. Some hits:

Wonderwall, Isn't she lovely, Hey Ho (Lumineers), Let It Be, Hey Jude, Sweet Child O Mine, Falling Slowly (Glen Hansard), Rolling in The Deep, Someone Like You, Don't Worry Be happy, Louie Louie, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, Lucky Strike (maroon 5), Sing (Travis).

Isn't She Lovely was performed for the school with just the kids and my guitar. The principal, a mean old SOB, actually hugged me after. The kids seemed to like that one.
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lithium



Joined: 18 Jun 2008

PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 11:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Though it has a country feel to it, "Friends in low places" was quite easy to understand.
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andrewchon



Joined: 16 Nov 2008
Location: Back in Oz. Living in ISIS Aust.

PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 3:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://youtu.be/rbNfxTtJp0M

This is a chant, words are very simple if you take out interludes. I'm pretty sure you can find a violinist amongst your students. In the video it's performed by six men but many can do it.

Come to think of it, you could turn this into a Harlem Shuffle. Very Happy (This song came out long before that)
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Smithington



Joined: 14 Dec 2011

PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 4:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lucas wrote:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_q8L8Tksd8

This is a popular one at the moment - if you edit out the two bad words (easily done).


For elementary school kids? Surely you jest. That song would go over with the school like a bullet to the head.
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EZE



Joined: 05 May 2012

PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 7:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

What's up with Lemon Tree? I had never heard it until I got to Korea, but it seems like the #1 pop song of all-time here. We sing it at my school.

"I put myself into bed where nothing ever happens...but maybe anyhow I'll get another toy." Laughing
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andrewchon



Joined: 16 Nov 2008
Location: Back in Oz. Living in ISIS Aust.

PostPosted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 5:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Try singing this to tune of 송아지 (song about a calf)

Benghazi, Benghazi,
fun to hunt a witch.
Obama is muslim,
Allah akhbar, yea. Laughing

or this one:

Syria, Syria,
let's bomb Syria.
Aleppo is soon to fall,
Assad won't go yet. Cool
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denverdeath



Joined: 21 May 2005
Location: Boo-sahn

PostPosted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 7:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

This is probably the best. Short and sweet. Make sure you have them turn the volume up a bit, please.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPicpF3Wzf8
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nicwr2002



Joined: 17 Aug 2011

PostPosted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 5:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My school is using One Direction's song, what makes you beautiful..........
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EZE



Joined: 05 May 2012

PostPosted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 7:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lucas wrote:
I can only think of Lemon Tree as a worse option.

Although your P would prob love it! Rolling Eyes


The kids love Lemon Tree, though. It's probably the safest bet, truthfully. The kids, especially the girls, where I teach also like the Westlife song "My Love."

At my previous school, a teacher from Australia who used to be a DJ in Vanuatu played the song "Doctor, Doctor" by Robert Palmer and the kids really liked it.
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