“Soundtrack of My Life”
A written exploration of one’s
self through connections to
specific pieces of music.
"A Day in the Life" by The Beatles on the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
album captured the confusion many young people, like me, felt in the late 1960’s as the
world and our lives seemed headed in very unpredictable directions. The Cold War
between the U.S. and Russia with the threat of a nuclear war scared everybody. The
Baby Boomer Generation, people born between 1945 and 1955, wanted world peace
and were being influenced daily by frightening television broadcasts and newspaper
headlines. As I lived through those moments, many Beatles’ songs dominated the
airways and most days in life at that time included hearing a Beatles’ song, if not several.
I had already developed a habit of reading the news each day and felt if I did not start
the day with a newspaper, something was missing or out of balance. There is no other
song that so clearly reminds me of the chaos of the late 1960’s.
I read the news today oh boy
About a lucky man who made the grade
And though the news was rather sad
Well I just had to laugh
I saw the photograph
He blew his mind out in a car
He didn't notice that the lights had changed
A crowd of people stood and stared
They'd seen his face before
Nobody was really sure
If he was from the House of Lords.
I saw a film today oh boy
The English Army had just won the war
A crowd of people turned away
but I just had to look
Having read the book
I'd love to turn you on
Woke up, fell out of bed,
Dragged a comb across my head
Found my way downstairs and drank a cup,
And looking up I noticed I was late.
Found my coat and grabbed my hat
Made the bus in seconds flat
Found my way upstairs and had a smoke,
and Somebody spoke and I went into a dream
I read the news today oh boy
Four thousand holes in Blackburn, Lancashire
And though the holes were rather small
They had to count them all
Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall.
I'd love to turn you on
Find songs that symbolize moments
in your life and explain the connections.
Create a timeline of your life,
mark each major event, important event or
just memorable event.
Then, choose between five and nine events that you
can connect to specific songs.
What events shaped your life?
Born:
2/10/1999
2004 in St. Petersburg!
“Walking on Sunshine” by
Katrina & The Waves
Parents
divorced
at age 5
BFF, Tina at
age 6
In 1st grade
Broken leg at age
7 – move to NY
Moved from New York to
AL at age 9 – still in a
“New York State of Mind”
by Billy Joel
Gymnastics 1st place team
age 8 – “We Are the
Champions” by Queen
Boyfriend dumped me
at 13…”Lonely” by Taio
Cruz
8th grade – back to FL new friends – new life: “New
Life” by Depeche Mode
Timeline format examples…
A simple timeline example….
2015…What goes around…
Does my future hold more than this?
You are going to create a soundtrack
of your life that represents those
important events you have selected.
What events do you choose?
Do any of these ideas ring bells…or call to mind songs?
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your first life lesson
relationships with close friends, or relatives, or pets
a significant illness or injury
your first success
entering elementary school or middle school
a boyfriend, girlfriend, or BFF
a developed skill or talent
tragic or unpleasant moments
a present or gift that had impact
a move to a different residence or school
a fight or conflict
cultural background, family makeup, or family history
a person, historical event, or idea that influenced you
a vacation or trip
What kinds of songs do I use?
• The songs must be of a school-appropriate
nature. No songs using profanity, sexually
explicit lyrics, or racially offensive lyrics may
be used.
• If a student argues that the only songs that
connect to his life are ones filled with
profanity, the best response would be, “How
sad for you! Pick songs that are appropriate
for the classroom and this assignment.”
Example of a song choice:
"I'll Be There” The Jackson Five
Third Album: 1969.
(Writers: Berry Gordy, Bob West, Hal Davis, and Willie Hutch)
You and I must make a pact
We must bring salvation back,
Where there is love, I'll be there. (I'll be there)
I'll reach out my hand to you
I'll have faith in all you do.
Just call my name and I'll be there. (I'll be there)
How would you explain the connection to
this song if you and your best friend knew
all the lyrics in first grade?
I'll be there to comfort you,
Build my world of dreams around you,
I'm so glad that I found you.
I'll be there with a love that's strong,
I'll be your strength,
I'll keep holdin' on.
Oh oh oh
Yes I will (holdin' on, holdin' on)
Yes I will
I'll be there with a love that's strong,
I'll be your strength,
I'll keep holdin' on. (holdin' on)
Yes I will
If you should ever find someone new
I know he better be good to you
Cause if he doesn't
Ill be there (ill be there)
Let me fill your heart with joy and laughter,
Togetherness, girl, is all I'm after,
Whenever you need me, I'll be there. (I'll be there)
Don't you know baby I'll be there
I'll be there I'll be there
I'll be there to protect you, (yeah baby)
With unselfish love that respects you.
Just call my name, I'll be there. (I'll be there)
I'll be there to comfort you,
Build my world of dreams around you,
I'm so glad that I found you.
Just call my name, I'll be there (I'll be there)
Just look over your shoulders honey! Oh!
I'll be there, I'll be there,
Whenever you need me, I'll be there (I'll be there)
Don't you know baby,
I'll be there, I'll be there
Just call my name, I'll be there (I'll be there)
Oh oh oh oh I'll be there, I'll be there
An example of connecting a song and the lyrics:
In “Fifteen” by Taylor Swift, the chaos of a fifteen year-old’s life is described. “Cuz when you’re fifteen
and your first kiss / makes your head spin round.” The song writer tells listeners that even when a teen gets his or
her first kiss at that young age, the moment makes the kid feel on top of the world. This song reminds me of my
first boyfriend, because even though I wasn't supposed to date, we dated when I was only fifteen. He made me the
happiest girl ever. We were best friends before dating, so we knew everything about each other. When he kissed
me for the first time, I felt like the queen of the universe. She also explains high school life when she sings,
“laughing at the other girls who think they're so cool, / we'll be out of here as soon as we can.” When I first started
high school, I learned quickly that the social life is not at all how other people make that world seem. There are
teens who make fun of others, and there are teens who are the victims of jokes. I was both a victim and, at times, a
bully when making fun of others. Some teens want to grow up and move to adulthood quickly, while others enjoy
every minute. I want the moments to last.
'Cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you
“Fifteen” Taylor Swift (writer/artist)
Fearless (2008)
You take a deep breath and you walk through the doors
It's the morning of your very first day
And you say hi to your friends you ain't seen in a while
Try and stay out of everybody's way
It's your freshman year and you're gonna be here
For the next four years in this town
Hoping one of those senior boys will wink at you and say
"You know, I haven't seen you around before"
'Cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you
You're gonna believe them
And when you're fifteen feeling like there's nothing to figure out
Well, count to ten, take it in
This is life before you know who you're gonna be
Fifteen
You sit in class next to a redhead named Abigail
And soon enough you're best friends
Laughing at the other girls who think they're so cool
We'll be outta here as soon as we can
You're gonna believe them
When you're fifteen and your first kiss
Makes your head spin 'round
But in your life you'll do things greater than
Dating the boy on the football team
But I didn't know it at fifteen
When all you wanted was to be wanted
Wish you could go back and tell yourself what you know now
Back then I swore I was gonna marry him someday
But I realized some bigger dreams of mine
And Abigail gave everything she had to a boy
Who changed his mind and we both cried
'Cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you
You're gonna believe them
And when you're fifteen, don't forget to look before you fall
I've found time can heal most anything
And you just might find who you're supposed to be
I didn't know who I was supposed to be at fifteen
Your very first day
Take a deep breath girl
Take a deep breath as you walk through the doors
Example:
This song was used by a writer to make
a connection to the death of a close friend
who died during his year in the 7th grade.
"Fire And Rain”
James Taylor (writer and artist)
Sweet Baby James 1970
Just yesterday morning they let me know you were gone
Suzanne the plans they made put an end to you
I walked out this morning and I wrote down this song
I just can't remember who to send it to
I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again
Won't you look down on me, Jesus
You've got to help me make a stand
You've just got to see me through another day
My body's aching and my time is at hand
And I won't make it any other way
oh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again
I’ve been walking my mind to an easy time
My back turned towards the sun
Lord knows the cold wind blows it’ll turn your head around
Well, there’s hours of time on the telephone line
To talk about things to come
Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground.
oh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you, baby, one more time
again, now
Thought I'd see you one more time again
There's just a few things coming my way this time around,
Thought I'd see you, thought I'd see you fire and rain, now
Thought i'd see you just one more time again.
Example of explanation of song connection:
"Baby Blue" by George Strait, for me, captured my mother who died when I was 3 years
old. I have been told all my life that I have my mother's baby blue eyes. The first line of the
song’s refrain is “Baby blue was the color of her eyes.” Recently, I found out a George Strait's
music album was the last my mom bought, although not the one on which this song is found.
My mother has been described by members of my family as someone who acted like and
expected to be treated like a lady, yet had a teenager’s lively and naïve perspective on life.
George sang, “She looked so much like a lady / But she was so much like a child.” I can visualize
my mother when I hear those lyrics.
“Baby Blue” Strait George
Album: If You Ain't Lovin'..You Ain't Livin' (1988)
Songwriters: Aaron Barker
She looked so much like a lady
But she was so much like a child
A devil when she held me close
An angel when she smiled
She always held it deep inside
But somehow I always knew
She'd go away when the grass turned green
And the sky turned baby blue
Baby blue
Was the color of her eyes
Baby blue
Like the Colorado skies
Like a breath of spring she came and left
And I still don't know why
So, here's to you and whoever
Holds my baby blue tonight
She brought color to my life
That my eyes have never touched
When she taught me how to care
I've never cared so much
I try not to think of her
But I fall asleep and do
And go away where the grass turns green
And the sky is baby blue
Baby blue
Was the color of her eyes
Baby blue
Like the Colorado skies
Like a breath of spring she came and left
And I still don't know why
So, here's to you and whoever
Holds my baby blue tonight
Baby blue
Was the color of her eyes
Baby blue
Like the Colorado skies
Like a breath of spring she came and left
And I still don't know why
So, here's to you and whoever
Holds my baby blue tonight
Example of explanation of a song connection:
Frank Sinatra is considered a classic performer, an oldie, and a goodie by people of all ages, but
appreciated more by the older generations. Nevertheless, I decided to choose one of his many beloved songs,
“Young at Heart,” to describe my younger sister, our relationship, and a little bit of me. Originally an
instrumental called “Moonbeam,” written by Johnny Richards, Carolyn Leigh contributed the lyrics, and Frank
Sinatra lent his charismatic voice to the mixture, creating a wonderful, wonderful piece of music. The song is
a pop standard, a ballad, and included in many soundtracks of movies, and many covers have been created,
although, in my opinion, none of them can even come close to the original. Immediately, Sinatra’s nostalgic
voice reminds listeners that “fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you, / if you’re young at heart,”
reminding me of my sister, Tiffany, and her happy-go-lucky, princess-adoring ways. This can be infectious, and
often, even I am led to believe “you can go to extremes with impossible schemes. / You can laugh when your
dreams fall apart at the seams, / and life gets more exciting with each passing day.” My sister and I share our
dreams with each other, and I have often laughed, not at but with , my sister when she describes her desire to
to meet and fall in love with a prince. Sinatra truly captures the glorious merrymaking of youth, of innocence,
and of happiness I share with my sister.
“Young At Heart” Frank Sinatra
(Released as a single in 1954: "Young at Heart" / "Take a Chance"
Songwriters: Johnny Richards and Carolyn Leigh
Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you
If you're young at heart
For it's hard, you will find, to be narrow of mind
If you're young at heart
You can go to extremes with impossible schemes
You can laugh when your dreams fall apart at the seams
And life gets more exciting with each passing day
And love is either in your heart or on it's way
Don't you know that it's worth every treasure on earth
To be young at heart
For as rich as you are it's much better by far
To be young at heart
And if you should survive to 105
Look at all you'll derive out of being alive
Then here is the best part, you have a head start
If you are among the very young at heart
And if you should survive to 105
Look at all you'll derive out of being alive
Then here is the best part, you have a head start
If you are among the very young at heart
Example of explanation of a song connection:
Some people are initially drawn to song titles and then to the lyrics. Although I have only been caught in a
compromising position a couple times, The Everly Brothers' hit song, "Wake Up Little Susie," could have been
played at many times in my life! “We’ve both been sound asleep,/ wake up, little Susie, and weep /The movie’s
over, it’s four o’clock,/ and we’re in trouble deep.” My name is Susan, and as a teenager, I did fall asleep during a
movie and get home long after my curfew. Now, as an adult, I rise with the dawn or earlier, which I got from
Gramma on my mom's side of the family. Since I get up so early and because my husband is a dyed-in-the-wool
night owl, I have fallen asleep at many inopportune moments due to exhaustion; the two different biorhythms do
not mesh well. The funniest time had to have been at a live performance of Riverdance in Seattle's Paramount
Theatre, a glorious auditorium with beautiful acoustics. We were sitting quite near the front, had wonderful views
of the leaps, and could clearly see the movement of lines of Irish dancers, but I fell asleep. Unfortunately, I have
been told that my mouth gaped open and unpleasant sounds were emitted in the form of snoring. I nearly died of
embarrassment. I made sure to get some caffeine during the intermission and kept from ruining the rest of the
evening for the other patrons. At that moment and many other times over the years, my husband or other
members of my family delight in whispering in my ears, “wake up little Susie.”
The Everly Brothers. “Wake Up Little Susie” (Single: Wake Up
Little
Susie /Maybe Tomorrow). Songwriters: Felice and Boudleaux
Bryant. New York, NY:Cadence, 1957.
Wake up, little Susie, wake up
Wake up, little Susie, wake up
We’ve both been sound asleep, wake up, little Susie, and
weep
The movie’s over, it’s four o’clock, and we’re in trouble deep
Wake up little Susie
Wake up little Susie, well
Whatta we gonna tell your mama
Whatta we gonna tell your pa
Whatta we gonna tell our friends when they say “ooh-la-la”
Wake up little Susie
Wake up little Susie, well
I told your mama that you’d be in by ten
Well Susie baby looks like we goofed again
Wake up little Susie
Wake up little Susie, we gotta go home
Wake up, little Susie, wake up
Wake up, little Susie, wake up
The movie wasn’t so hot, it didn’t have much of a plot
We fell asleep, our goose is cooked, our reputation is
shot
Wake up little Susie
Wake up little Susie, well
Whatta we gonna tell your mama
Whatta we gonna tell your pa
Whatta we gonna tell our friends when they say “oohla-la”
Wake up little Susie
Wake up little Susie
Wake up little Susie
“Found Poetry”
• From your songs’ lyrics, you need to create a “found
poem.”
• "Found poems” are essentially built from lines or
phrases taken from other texts.
• The poems are original as poems; their themes and their
orderings are invented by the poet in contrast to the
original text. Words can be dropped but not added.
• Your “found poem” will be built from the lyrics within
your song choices.
An example of a “found poem” using lines from
the following songs:
“Young At Heart,”
"Fire And Rain,”
“Fifteen,” and
"I'll Be There”…
DREAMS…
* Note the color coding
indicating which lines
go with which songs.
Your very first day,
Let me fill your heart with joy and laughter.
Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you;
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end.
You can go to extremes with impossible schemes;
build my world of dreams around you.
You're gonna believe them;
there's just a few things coming my way this time around.
For as rich as you are it's much better by far to be young at heart,
with unselfish love that respects you.
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend;
well, count to ten, take it in.
“Soundtrack of My Life” requirements
Portfolio:
cover (artwork)
paragraph explanation of the cover
timeline
essay
A “found poem”
list of songs with writer (s), artist, and album -(a bibliography)
visual artifact
(mash-up/medley – optional).
a verbal 2 to 5 minute presentation of your soundtrack
“Soundtrack of My Life” essay:
Lead: create a brief autobiography as
an introduction. Where are you now in
your life? What is important to you?
How do you view the world, and your
place in the world, societal group, your
environment, your family, and/or your school?
How do you see yourself?
Next, explain your soundtrack in an
overview paragraph to the listeners:
What is this soundtrack (create a title
and explain the purpose for the title) and
how does the music capture you? Do you
have a theme expressed or several? How has
this project allowed you to see yourself differently?
Have you created a picture of how you see yourself or
how others see you? Is this soundtrack specifically about
you or have you reflected the time in which you live?
In the body of the discussion,
introduce each event and relate a song
to that event. Each event and song
combination results in one or two paragraphs
of the soundtrack. Organize your discussion
(chronologically, by significance of individual
events, by musical style), and/or find an organizing
principle with which you are comfortable.
For each song, identify the name of
the song, the album, the year released,
the artist, and the songwriter (if different
from the artist). What does the song reveal
about you, the kind of person you are, and/or
the way you view the world. What specific
line (s) connect to your life? Put the line or portion
of the line in quotation marks within your sentence
as you explain. Give clear examples and conclude each
paragraph. (Create a bibliography for the portfolio!)
In your conclusion, sum up how
the project defines you and explain how
the soundtrack captured your essence. In
entirely new/different language, summarize
what you have said about yourself by
creating the soundtrack. How has
this soundtrack defined you? Your final sentence
should be the most important of the entire discussion.
Bibliography
The Beatles. "A Day in the Life." Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club
Band Songwriters: John Lennon and Paul McCartney. London,
England: Parlophone: 1967.
Sinatra, Frank. “Young At Heart.” Released as a single
"Young at Heart" / "Take a Chance." Songwriters:
Johnny Richards and Carolyn Leigh. New York,
NY: Capitol, 1954
Strait, George. “Baby Blue.” If You Ain't Lovin'..You Ain't Livin'.
Songwriter: Aaron Barker. Nashville, TN: MCA, 1988.
Swift, Taylor. “Fifteen.” Fearless. Songwriter: Taylor Swift.
Nashville, TN: Big Machine, 2008.
Taylor, James. "Fire And Rain.” Sweet Baby James. Songwriter:
James Taylor. Burbank, CA: Warner Bros., 1970.
The Everly Brothers. “Wake Up Little Susie” Released as a single “Wake Up Little
Susie” / ”Maybe Tomorrow”. Songwriters: Felice and Boudleaux
Bryant. New York, NY:Cadence, 1957.
The Jackson Five. "I'll Be There.” Third Album. Songwriters: Berry
Gordy, Bob West, Hal Davis, and Willie Hutch. Detroit, MI:
Motown, 1969.