It's that time! Comment on this post with an intro to one of the songs we're singing at the concert. Good intros TELL THE AUDIENCE SOMETHING INTERESTING, such as the background of the artist/composer, a story about the song, insight into our process of learning the song, or something interesting to listen for when we sing the song. Alternate Homework option: Draw a beautiful cover for the program. Theme: Who Am I?
Rumin S.
ReplyDeleteThis song, known as "I'll Make a Man Out of You", is from the well-known Disney movie called MULAN. In this song, Shang is preparing his army for war. He advises his men to be swift, strong, and smart...or they'll never survive. In this song, watch for ways Shang uses similes to describe the character his army should be in. Hope you enjoy! :)
Isabel J.
ReplyDeleteOur next song, “Some Nights” by the band Fun, questions our theme, “Who am I?”. While trying to find yourself, decisions on what kind of person you want to be is brought up. There are many choices that may be hard to come back from, and choices that may involve leaving your past behind. This is what songwriter, Nate Ruess, sings about during his song. Previously he sang Indie music, though his audience appeared to be minimal, and after ten years, he began to grow tired of the genre. Stepping out on a limb, Ruess tries performing a pop-rock kind of tune, hoping to appease a larger audience, though he had to leave a lot behind. Throughout his song, Ruess questions his choices, but in the end he realizes more good has come out of the decision, though his past is still clear in his mind. “Some Nights” brings, to take chances, to have faith in yourself, and to look at the glass half full, into the concept of finding out who we are.
Sarah M.
ReplyDelete"I Am the River", our next piece, is beautiful and flowing like a river just like the title might suggest. We learned the refrains for this song first, because each one is different. Listen for the changing harmonies under the same words, "I am the river and I am like you." The rest of the lyrics are a metaphor for our path through life and the different ways we all act at times. I hope you enjoy our rendition of "I Am the River."
Rose B.
ReplyDeleteOur next piece will be "I'll Make A Man Out of You." This piece is from the Disney movie Mulan. In most Disney movies, princesses wait patiently for their princes to save them or marry them. Mulan, however, is quite different. The main character, Mulan, goes to war in her father's place pretending to be a man, in order to bring honor to her family. This song takes place when Mulan's general, General Shang, is preparing his men (and Mulan) for war. He demands that they be men, ordering them to be swift, forceful and strong. This is my personal favorite song, not only because Mulan is such an excellent movie, but also because this song fits in perfectly with our theme of "Who Am I?" Singing this song will be the girls from both the 6th and the 7th and 8th grade choruses. Watch for our dance to this song, choreographed by Clare. We hope you'll all enjoy "I'll Make a Man Out of You"!
Tamara K.
ReplyDeleteOur next song is "I'll Make a Man Out of You" from the disney princess movie Mulan. Mulan is a courages women who goes to war in place of her injured father. She must practice and train in the identity of a man and hope no one notices that she is actually female. In the movie, this song is sung by General Shang, the leader of the army. This song is my absolute favorite song in the entire universe because I grew up on this movie. My siblings and I still listen to it today, and enjoy it just as much as we used to (if not more). We have a choreographed dance that goes with this song done by Clare Donohoe. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the greatest song in the universe, "I'll Make a Man Out of You"!
Aleah C.
ReplyDeleteA darker song that we have prepared is "Wayfaring Stranger" that was arranged by Robert De Cormier. This song is an American folk song with a spiritual element from the early 1800's. It is about a person who is stuck in a dark world and how they a going to meet their parents "over Jordan". In this context Jordan is the River Jordan which this person is crossing to reach a place to find people who have died, possibly to heaven or the underworld. This river has been referenced in the Bible as an obstacle in life. Well, without further ado here is "Wayfaring Stranger".
"I am the River" is a quiet song with a great melody. It's a song about how everyone has those moments when they feel like hiding. But they also have moments where they bring out their inner self and "flow through the world..." just like a river. So now if you ever see a really quiet person...don't be fooled! They have an inner self that they're hiding that's just as loud as anyone else's. Please enjoy, "I am a River."
ReplyDelete-Grace C.
The next song we will be singing is “Strangers Like Me,” from the movie Tarzan. During this song, Tarzan, who has lived in the wild all his life, becomes friends with a group of scientists visiting the jungle. One scientist, named Jane, teaches Tarzan to behave like a normal human being instead of a wild animal. Along the way, Tarzan gets to know Jane, and he soon falls in love with her. The song “Strangers Like Me” is very exciting, and we try to sing it with lots of energy and spirit. We have had fun learning this song, and we hope you enjoy listening to it!
ReplyDelete-Emily M.
The song "I'll Make A Man Out Of You" is from a classic Disney movie, Mulan. The lyrics were written by David Zippel and the music created by Matthew Wilder. In the movie, Mulan is fighting as a soldier in the place of her injured father and struggles to become a man, for she is secretly a girl. General Shang, the head of the army, is the main lead in this song, and is basically telling Mulan to man up or go home. He doesn't believe that she has any clue about war, and is determined to make a man out of her. In addition, we added some fun choreography that go along with the lyrics. Enjoy!
ReplyDelete-Winnie C
This next song is called "I wanna be like you." It is about a monkey who sees mankind and wants to become human. He tries his best to follow the ways, and is trying to show it. He says "He won't peel bananas with his feet," and "Learn some etiquette." This song was sang and written by The Monkees. We have some scat solos, and same ukelele and celo! (And listen for the Monkey Noises at the end.) Enjoy!!!!
ReplyDelete~Emily E
The next song we will be singing is called "Strangers like me." This song was became well known from the favorite disney movie "Tarzan." It is during this songs that Tarzan's curiosity about his true identity really shines through. He sees the ways of the humans and realizes how truly alike they are. During the song learns more about who he is and who he'd like to become, which is a message that is true of not only Tarzan, but everyone. This song is passionate, exciting, and all around fun to sing and listen to, so without further adue, we hope you enjoy "strangers like me."
ReplyDelete~Adela M.
Our next song is one that you've probably heard before: "Some Nights" by the band Fun. This song works really well with our theme, "Who am I?" because this song is about choices that the singer made in his past that may or may not have been good but have definitely affected who he is as a person today. In the song, the singer tries to figure out what he really thinks and what he really "stands for". He is essentially having a little existential crisis, which is what our whole concert is about! Our version of this song is a little different from the one on the radio, and it includes the melody and three harmony parts, as well as a group of soloists singing the verses. We hope you enjoy "Some Nights"!
ReplyDelete~Emma R
We will now sing "You Walk With Me" by David Yazbek. This song comes from the Broadway musical The Full Monty. The overall set of the musical is about six men who come together in an effort to make some money and end up becoming friends. During the play the characters are faced with challenges and they help one another overcome them. At this point in the musical one of the characters, Malcolm's mother has died and he is at the funeral. Malcolm sings this song to express his sadness and is later joined by one of his friends Ethan.
ReplyDelete-Lillian J.
The next song we will be singing will be "I'll Make a Man Out of You". It's from the Disney movie "Mulan". This song is my favorite. It is about a girl who shows that she can do anything that a man can do. I find it very empowering, since it is sung by only girls in our chorus. And just wait: there's also choreography! This piece was choreographed by a student in the 7th and 8th grade chorus! So, please, sit back and enjoy "I'll Make a Man Out of You!"
ReplyDelete~Nalini K.
The next song that we have for you is I'll Make A Man Out Of You from the classic Disney movie, Mulan. In this Mulan takes the place of her elderly father when he is called to war. The only problem is that she is a girl. So she dresses up like a boy and goes to train. Most of this song is sung by General Shang telling the "boys" to toughen up and that they are acting like girls. Mulan ends up being the best. This song is sung by only the girls in both choruses. This piece was also choreographed by our very own Clare Donohoe. So please, sit back and enjoy!
ReplyDelete~Ashlyn K.
Our next song is Some Nights by Fun. This song is very popular and probably is a song you have already heard paying on the radio. The melody of the song is very beautiful and the harmonies are additionally. Another thing that is interesting about this song is that unlike most pop songs this song is very meaningful and its lyrics are just as important as the melody itself. This song is definately the most "fun" to sing and we hope you enjoy it as much as we like singing it! So please sit back and enjoy the 7th and 8th grade's chorus version of Some Nights
ReplyDelete-Izzy L.
Our next song is called, "Strangers Like Me", from the popular Disney movie, "Tarzan". Tarzan had been raised his entire life as a gorilla, but being a human, has always questioned why he is so different. One day, he stumbles upon a young scientist named Jane Porter, and realizes that she is in fact a human as well! He sings this song, "Strangers Like Me", to her while thinking of who he truly is. This song is upbeat and exciting, while maintaining a sense of mystery. Please enjoy our version of "Strangers Like Me"!
ReplyDelete~Lucy Z.