HUMOUR
IN MUSIC
Lecturer: Tran Thi Phuong Hong
Students:
Tran Quang Anh – 4501701015
Luong Gia Huy - 4501701053
TABLE OF CONTENTS
01
02
Preface
Music
2.1. Definition of music
2.2. Genres of music
2.3. Power of music
04
COMEDY MUSIC
4.1. Definition
05
Famous Comedy
Musicians
03
Humour in Music
3.1. Humour in Music: Is it
possible?
3.2. Types of humourous
music
06
PARODY MUSIC
6.1. Definition
4.2. History
5.1. Tom Lehrer
6.2. Purpose
4.3. Techniques
5.2. Victor Borge
6.3. Examples
4.4. Examples of comedy
music
5.3. Alfred Yankovic
5.4. Bo Burnham
07
Funny music or
soundtrack:
Meme Music
08
HOW TO WRITE
09
CONCLUSION
A FUNNY SONG
7.1. Definition
7.2. Why is it so popular?
7.3. Examples
10
REferences
11
12
Reflection
Creative writing
01
PREFACE
We are Luong Gia Huy and Tran Quang Anh. Besides being
good brothers, the most important reason why we are
working together on this project is that we share the same
burning passion for music. As keen musicians, we soon
realised the importance of music in life and now, we want to
spread the enormous power of music in the least expected
aspect - humour.
This portfolio is dedicated to the illustration of humour in
music. We already know that music is ubiquitous. People
around the world listen to music because it can heal our
broken souls and can connect people. However, the fact that
music can also be humorous has always been neglected.
That’s why in this portfolio, we will pay this aspect the
attention it deserves.
We want to express endless thanks to our moms and dads,
who never stopped urging us to study music and have always
been supportive of our career. Without your support, we
could not be what we are today: competent and confident
musicians. We also thank our friends in “Tinh cam da nguoi
lanh” group, who carried us in other projects so that we
had time for this portfolio. Last but not least, we want to
pay credit to Ms Phuong Hong, our lecturer in Humour in
English Literature class for your insightful lessons.
02
LMUSIC
2.1. Definition of music
Ever since music came into life and made a lasting
impact on the citizens of this planet, many have set out to
give it a truly accurate definition.
Linguistically, music is defined as “sounds that are
arranged in a way that is pleasant or exciting to listen to”
(Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary). Music is for
singing or playing, with the accompaniment of musical
instruments. But then, as music comes across in different
variations in different corners of the world, it seems that
the meaning of music also varies according to each and
every man’s own perception of it.
In his article about music on Britannica, Epperson
(2022) introduces music as “art concerned with combining
vocal or instrumental sounds for beauty of form or emotional
expression, usually according to cultural standards of
rhythm, melody, and, in most Western music, harmony”.
Specifically, music has to itself many features that far
supersedes any other aesthetic elements in life: man-made,
meaningful and auditory. There is also another way to
understand music. That is, music is the organised sounds
produced by humans (Blacking, 1973) or in a more detailed
analysis of the subject matter, music is the purposeful
disposition of sounds arranged by human’s efforts
(Shelemay, 2001).
However, as we have mentioned above, the meaning of
music is not at all universal despite its ubiquitous nature
because for every listener, there is a distinct way of
defining music. Therefore, it is really challenging to put
together an exact definition of music. Even Aristotle (n.d.)
once said “It is not easy to determine the nature of music
or why anyone should have a knowledge of it.” So, if we,
for a moment, do not take account of any technical or
scientific facts when defining music, things will become way
more achievable.
2.2. Genres of music:
There are many genres of music in the world. Each has its
own distinctive feature, a regular number of ardent fans and
above all, its attractiveness. From the long-standing hip hop
and rock, to the trend of the new age – electronic music,
together, they constitute one of human’s best friends –
music.
In a survey conducted in 2018, data journalist
Felix Richter has shown that pop is the most favourite genre
of music, accounting for 64% of those surveyed (Richter,
2018). Rock ranks second at 57% while other genres of
music such as electronic, rap or blues only garner a modest
number of listeners.
Pop is arguably the mainstream genre of the music
industry. First, its melody is harmonious and thus, catchy to
hear. Second, the general and most popular theme of pop
songs is love, which is an interesting, captivating and
attention-drawing topic for most people, especially young
generations (Kamalnathan et al, 2019).
2.3. The power of music
Music is connective, emotional, and therapeutic. It connects
us, heals us, and makes us feel.
Connect
So, back to household vacations, or remembering young love,
or being in the ballpark. In these circumstances, the songs
have to do with really feeling attached. The bliss of a show
is not just that great songs are playing. As a matter of fact,
the last time we went to a performance in a big venue, we
could hardly listen to the songs - definitely not along with
headphones. Shows like this create unity.
Heal
Music is the very best studied art therapy, and helps to
decrease anxiousness, anxiety, injury, psychosis and also
stress and anxiety. Essential elements of song treatment are
the meaning of lyrics, improvisational music playing,
energetic listening, as well as songwriting. Music has
additionally been revealed to reduce pain, and also even
have a positive result on signs of stroke and also mental
deterioration. And for individuals with Alzheimer's disease,
its benefits may well be that singing as well as paying
attention to music improves state of mind, helps retrieve old
memories, as well as can also enhance our thought
processes.
Feel
It is undeniable that music evokes emotions, both positive
and negative ones. On top of that, particular tunes are
embedded in our memories.
So, when you hear a song from a scene among your favorite
movies, it quickly takes you back to the same sensation you
had seeing that scene. I bet you can come up with one
immediately.
Think of exactly how you really feel when you're in the
ballpark as well as are singing the national anthem, as well
as tears involve your eyes; or in the seventh inning stretch
when you chime in to "Take me bent on the Ballgame," as
well as your splits well up, since you keep in mind singing it
with your daddy.
But can music be humorous?
03
HUMOUR IN
MUSIC
3.1. Humour in Music: Is it possible?
As mentioned above, music can evoke emotions
inside us. It can make us feel happy thanks to the uplifting
melody, for instance. We also do realize that sometimes,
music can make us laugh. Have you ever grinned from ear
to ear while listening to a song? Have you ever giggled
after listening to a part of a song’s lyrics? It is a high
chance that you have. So, practically, it is possible that
there is an amusing element in music. In fact, music is
meant to make people happy, so “It just takes one step to
enter the world of humour.” (Paterson, n.d.).
However, that leads us to another question to be
answered: in what ways can music be funny? Is it because
of the lyrics, the melody, or both? Or is there something
else in the recipe for a big laugh?
There are a number of ways to make music
humourous. To start with, it must be the lyrics. Music and
songs are conveyed through lyrics – an indispensable part of
a song. It is through the lyrics that we can get our message
across to the audience. Therefore, if we want to focus on
the lighter side of the song, we sure have to incorporate
funny elements into the lyrics first. According to Chris
Taverner, a popular English singer, lyrics can revolve around
your own story and experience (Taverner, 2021), and it
must be genuine because listeners will build a mental image
of the character and the story and thus, truths are always
easier to relate than made-up stories. Another factor that
can make music funny is the pace and timing of the lyrics
(Taverner, 2021). Also, a sudden change in context or
subject can also work.
3.1. Humour in Music: Is it possible?
Indeed, amusing music can also be due in large
part to the music itself. Melody can either accompanies or
contrasts the subject and lyrics of the song. Sometimes, we
have to adapt the melody to the lyrics in a way that is
funny. So, pauses and intentional melody are what makes
music funny.
Sometimes, music cracks us up not by the humour
in the lyrics or the melody, but by appearing in the right
context. This happens many times in movies and short, funny
videos, in which the choice of music at certain points in the
video is extremely crucial in adding humour to the video.
3.2. Types of humourous music
Humanity’s got absolutely creative minds, so it is
no wonder humour is embraced in various situations, creating
different kinds of funny music. One of the most well-known
and prominent types of humourous music is called comedy
music. It is also known as musical comedy. It also has
subcategories such as parody music, novelty song, comedy
rock and comedy hip hop. Parody music is a fundamental
part of the world of humour. Ever since Youtube was
started, parody music has taken the whole world by storm.
Parody music is not rare at all in any given country and
culture. Where there is music, there will be an urge to turn
original songs into a more hilarious version. In Vietnam,
parody music is especially popular among young generations.
The funny side of music does not stop there. There are
wittily, weirdly, satirically, melodically funny songs and
soundtracks that are made for entertainment and of course,
humorous purposes and are eventually brought into films or
videos to increase the level of comedy and give the audience
a real burst of laughter. They are often called “meme
music” - songs that make people laugh and often go with
an amusing short video. As Facebook and other platforms of
social media become more and more widely used, people
increasingly post funny videos which cover a tremendous
variety of topics but most notable in these videos is the
consistent presence of “meme music”.
Apparently, humour in music is not a far-fetched
thing. As a matter of fact, it has permeated every nook and
cranny of our society. Although there are many types and
subtypes of humourous music, we will only delve into some
typical representatives of its kind, namely comedy music,
parody music and funny songs and soundtracks known as
“meme music”.
04
COMEDY MUSIC
4.1. Definition
To begin with, we need to clarify what comedy music is and
where it came from. “Comedy music or musical comedy is a genre of
music that is comic or humorous in nature” (Wikipedia, n.d.).
Basically, comedy music is music that is made to be funny to listen to.
Along with that we also have comedy musicians, those who make
comedy music. Comedy music features a lot of genres, the two most
significant are rock and hip hop. Creating comedy music is no mean
feat, as it has to be simultaneously musical and funny.
Another viewpoint on comedy music states that it is a genre
of music that is comic but dynamic in many ways (Herron, 2021).
There are occasions when the musician in comedy music plays the main
role in creating funny moments. That explains why it is said that in
comedy music, the artist is actually a comic character. (Aroesti, 2021)
The world of comedy music is a strong one that has been growing for
many years. This industry is a perfect combination of music and
comedy, using artistic expression through humorous situations.
Nowadays, with the advent of video-playing platforms such as
Youtube, music in the form of videos, or in short, music videos, has
become the more prevalent trend than audio soundtracks. This impact
on the music world does not exclude comedy music. If you browse the
Internet for modern comedy music, it is very likely that they will
appear as music videos.
4.2. History
The history of comedic music dates back to ancient
Greek and Rome. Plays were given a more humorous spin to
impress and excite the audience using puns. After that,
comedy music was embraced by troubadours, wandering
minstrels and jesters in the Medieval area. Composers at the
time, thus, were free to make their work more comedic and
mockery (Herron, 2021).
Coming into the twentieth century, musicians like
Allan Sherman, Tom Lehrer, Spike Jones, and Stan Freberg
were one of the leading figures in the world of musical
comedy (McKeague, 2018), conveying their own comments
on social matters through their witty songs and
performances. Spike Jones, in particular, was one of the
most prominent pioneers of this musical comedy movement.
He was renowned for being one of the first to add ridiculous
sound effects into his music to crack the audience up.
Since then, many such artists have put the name
on the world map and paved the way for the development of
comedy music till this day and age.
4.3. Techniques
In comedy music, the musician will use a variety of
techniques, both musical and non-musical, to incorporate humour
into their piece of art. Some of the most popular techniques
include comic text, parody, juxtapositions of syntactical elements,
tempo modifications, allusion to a famous comic character,
performance style and using instruments and sounds.
Comic text, or funny words, is the use of amusing lyrics
within a song. Actually, when we talk about comedy, it all boils
down, first, to the language that we use. The more witty and
smart choices of words we make, the funnier and more memorable
the music is. People have long used this technique, even centuries
ago, but in recent times, comic text is still able to maintain its
popularity among comedy musicians. Almost every comedic
songwriters nowadays essentially bases their sense of humour on
the lyrics of the song.
Juxtapositions of syntactical elements is a technique that
makes use of the surprise element in comedy. Unexpected moves
are definitely the starter of a big smile and juxtapositions of
syntactical elements is understood as the technique of “changing
the lengths of phrases, startling turns of melody and dynamics,
and contrasting textures” (Wikipedia, n.d.).
4.3. Techniques
Comedy music is a genre that musicians would
more often than not go off-beat. In other words, they will
change the tempo according to the lyrics of the song or to their
own preferences. For example, the tempo of the song can be
made faster to turn the piece of music into a race and create
hilarity. Unexpected change of tempo can create a dramatic
sense to the song, which can contrast starkly with, maybe, the
harmonious part moments earlier.
Alongside those mentioned above, comedy music also
needs the help of instruments and sounds to succeed. There are
certain instruments that are suitable for creating humour in
music. They include brass instruments like the trombone, violins
and guitars that can also generate funny sounds by gliding on
the frets from a low note to a higher one.
4.4. Examples
“Musical Fiction”
by Rudy Mancuso
Witty and lighthearted comedy music. A
clear example of the
tempo modification
technique
“Prejudice” by
Tim Minchin
2.
Rich comedy music in terms
of the comic text and
language used. His
performance style and piano
performance in the song also
complete the humorous work.
1.
4.4. Examples
The Fox (What Does
The Fox Say?) Ylvis
the most peculiar,
unique and extraordinary
3.
05
Lfamous comedy
musicians
5.1. Tom Lehrer
Tom Lehrer was among the founding fathers of
musical comedy. Though he created the majority of his
work in the 1950s and '60s — after which he
basically retired from musical comedy until the late
1990s—the classically trained Lehrer was and remains
an influential figure for both musical and political
comedians, infusing all of his work with razor-sharp
intelligence and a dark, sick sense of humour.
Perhaps the most famous of his songs, "The
Elements," was recently performed by Daniel
Radcliffe. This track, like many of his others, mixes
science and maths with humour in a comical tune
about the chemical elements on the periodic table
(Bromley, 2019).
5.2. Victor Borge
Victor Borge was born on January 9, 1909 in Denmark
into a Jewish family. Borge began piano lessons at the
age of two, and it was soon apparent that he was a
prodigy. He gave his first piano recital when he was
eight years old, and in 1918 was awarded a full
scholarship at the Royal Danish Academy of Music.
Borge played his first major concert in 1926 at the
Danish Odd Fellow Palæet (The Odd Fellow's Lodge
building) concert hall. After a few years as a classical
concert pianist, he started his now famous stand-up
act with the signature blend of piano music and jokes.
Talking about his style, Borge used physical
and visual elements in his live and televised
performances. He would play a strange-sounding piano
tune from sheet music, looking increasingly confused;
turning the sheet upside down or sideways, he would
then play the actual tune, flashing a joyful smile of
accomplishment to the audience (he had, at first, been
literally playing the tune upside down or sideways).
When his energetic playing of another song would
cause him to fall off the piano bench, he would open
the seat lid, take out the two ends of an automotive
seat belt, and buckle himself onto the bench, "for
safety".
5.3. Alfred Yankovic
Alfred Yankovic is an American singer, musician,
record producer, and actor who is known for humorous
songs that make light of pop culture and often parody
specific songs by contemporary musical acts. He also
performs original songs that are style pastiches of the
work of other acts, as well as polka medleys of several
popular songs, most of which feature his trademark
accordion (Wikipedia).
Yankovic's success comes in part from his
effective use of music videos to further parody pop
culture, the song's original artist, and the original music
videos themselves, scene-for-scene in some cases. He
directed later videos himself and went on to direct for
other artists, including Ben Folds, Hanson, the Black
Crowes, and the Presidents of the United States of
America. With the decline of music television and the
onset of social media, he used YouTube and other video
sites to publish his videos; this strategy helped to boost
sales of his later albums. He has stated that he may
forgo traditional albums in favour of timely releases of
singles from the 2010s onwards.
5.4. Bo Burnham
Robert Pickering Burnham was born in Hamilton,
Massachusetts, on August 21, 1990. He is one of the
youngest stand-up comedians ever to become popular. Bo
Burnham was performing at festivals and signing record
deals when he was barely out of high school — all
because he uploaded a few hilarious songs to Youtube
(Bromley, 2019).
Though propelled to fame by internet videos, Burnham
has become a regular on the club and festival circuit,
and his songs have made him a hit with college crowds.
He has produced several comedy specials and wrote and
directed the film "Eighth Grade."
Inspired by legendary comics like George Carlin
and Richard Pryor, Burnham performs satirical and very
politically incorrect songs about race, gender, and
sexuality. For some of the best examples, check out one
of his Netflix originals “How the world works”.
06
PARODY MUSIC
6.1. Definition
Parody music, or musical parody, involves
changing or copying existing (usually well known)
musical ideas, and/or lyrics, or copying the particular
style of a composer or performer, or even a general
style of music (Wikipedia, n.d.).
In music, parody has been used for many
different purposes and in various musical contexts: as
a serious compositional technique, as an
unsophisticated re-use of well-known melody to
present new words, and as an intentionally humorous,
even mocking, reworking of existing musical material,
sometimes for satirical effect.
6.2. Purpose
Parody is more frequently used when it comes
to political announcements, for example, in the U.S.A.
Parody is in no way, shape or form fundamentally
ironical, and may some of the time be finished with
deference and energy about the subject in question,
without being a remiss snide assault. It is also used
as a communicative dialogue bridge between cultures
or at times subcultures.
6.3. Examples
White and Nerdy - "Weird Al" Yankovic
Weird Al,” Yankovic wrote this song. It
revolves around the lines that a Man ‘can’t roll with
the gangsters’ because he is too ‘White and
Nerdy’.
This refers to all the Nerds out there who are more
concerned about computer programs, Video games,
Comics, Fancy dresses like superman or watching the
Star Wars movies hundreds of times. This is one of
the biggest hits of the century and was considered to
be one of the funniest songs ever made.
6.3. Examples
Look at this Instagram - College Humour
It revolves around how the social App
Instagram is used. It is used to make other people
jealous of how awesome your life is. At least that is
how Nickelback portrays it to be. The way her picture
is so cute or the food she ate is delicious. The fact
that her vacation at the beach was magnificent or the
dress she bought was beautiful is how the whole song
is written to be. Instagram users are made fun of in a
harmless way about how they seem obsessed with their
puppies or kittens.
6.3. Examples
"Shape of You - Parody” - Bart Baker
In this hilarious rewording version of Shape of
You, Bart Baker has completely transformed the
original version into something you have never heard
before.
07
Funny music
or
soundtrack:
Meme Music
7.1. Definition
Generation Z’s open-minded attitude and their
tendency to make jokes without taking themselves too
seriously has made way for a rebirth of less-serious music.
Meme music has risen up among the younger generation and
they have given it the right to exist as a “real” and
“serious” genre among all the others.
In recent years, niche styles of memes have
progressively become expressed in the form of videos or
songs. This can be attributed to the rise of platforms like
Vine, which allowed users to create short six-second videos.
Many comedic vines started trends of repeating certain
relatable phrases or using snippets of existing songs as
punchlines.
Even after Vine’s extinction, phantoms of its
influence still remain on popular platforms like TikTok — an
app that allows for even longer video post lengths. And
these types of platforms have paved the way for the
emergence of meme songs.
7.2. Why is Meme Music popular?
Meme songs are essentially everything that “serious” songs
aren’t. Often the lyrics are what distinguish the two the most. The
composition of the instrumental backing track generally just sounds like
any other song on the radio. In fact, the beat is part of the reason why
these songs are likely to be accepted as “real.” If you fail to decode
the lyrics, it sounds like anything else that’s popular these days. They
are generally characterised by self-aware, funny, self-deprecating and
relatable lines. Meme songs tend to sound the same as other popular
songs, but they also tend to stand out lyrically. Essentially, the formula
is more or less a combination of a good beat and relatable and/or selfaware lyrics.
7.3. Examples
The Harlem Shake - DizastaMusic
Link: DO THE HARLEM SHAKE (ORIGINAL) - YouTube
From TV studios and political offices to sports teams and
popular bands, the Harlem Shake video meme features an abrupt cut
from one singular dancer to a whole group of senseless, wild dancing. It
was great in 2013, and it's still meme-able now.
A Thousand Miles - Vanessa Carlton
Link: A Thousand Miles - Remix Compilation - YouTube
This is as simple as meme songs get: a video that can be
added to a song, at a specific spot. The pre-chorus of Vanessa Carlton's
"A Thousand Miles" has a highly recognizable rhythmic pattern that can
be overlaid with other meme-able sounds.
08
LHOW to write a
funny song
You don’t have to be a musician to be able to write
a funny song. As guitarists and songwriters, we would love to
provide some tips based on our own experiences as well as other
experts’ advice.
First, it is well-advised that you use the technique of
comic text. Trying to implement puns and wordplay into your
songs because that will leave a good impression on the
audience.
Second, an element of surprise is always too good to
dismiss. The crux of a funny song, or of anything funny in
general, is that it takes listeners aback by saying or doing
unexpected things.
Third, telling a story through your song is a good idea
to take into consideration (Taverner, 2021). As UK musician
Chris Taverner points out, it is a genuine, real-life story that
grasps the most of the audience’s attention because it
encourages people to feel and share.
Last but not least, any starter in this field does need
to seek inspiration from other renowned artists. Doing so helps
give you more idea concerning how you should deliver your
message, what kinds of techniques fit you best or what genre of
music you would like to base your funny masterpiece on.
Overall, writing a funny song is by no means
child’s play. However, it is not entirely rocket science at
all. All you need is a little inspiration, a little observation, a
little imagination and a little practice. In case writing from
scratch is too hard, there is also another way leading to a
successful funny song. Parody music. It is way easier to
reuse the melody of a popular song and rewrite the lyrics to
convey your own message and values. Indeed, we have done
just exactly the same. As a product for a project in
American Studies, our group had to talk about America’s
society in a creative way, so we chose to put our ideas into
a parody, remade from the work of Bo Burnham. The
original version is entitled “How the world works”, and our
parody version goes with the title “How America works”.
As we have said, it is always easier to make parody music.
Our work can be viewed here and we hope it can be an
inspiration for anyone who wants to make comedy music.
Link: Official MV How America Works - YouTube
09
CONCLUSION
Not everything can go together and succeed as a
perfect combination, but we think this idea is with the
exception of humour and music. If we separate the two
things, we are to have two of the most influential and
beneficial things for humanity. Humour fosters positivity,
creativity and strength to overcome difficulties and sadness.
So does music. Traditional proverb has it that “laughter is
worth ten times the medication”. It is also common
knowledge that listening to music helps ease our minds off
sadness and negativity. Needless to say, humour and music
have therapeutic power. Then what’s better than a
combination of the two? The elixir of life is definitely made
up of humour in music. Overall, humorous songs bring human
laughter and joy. Whether it is comedy music, parody music
or “meme music”, it is worth listening to, because for
every minute of funny music that you listen to, you have
collected a considerable amount of joy and happiness to your
own well-being.
10
REferences
●
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https://europeanjournalofhumour.org/ejhr/article/view/2
91/pdf
● What Are Comedy Musicians | Comedy Music | Мusic
Gateway. (2021, November 12). Music Gateway.
Retrieved May 14, 2022, from
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11
LREFLECTION
We have to admit that it has been immensely challenging to
put this portfolio together. Although this topic is not too rare to find
relevant documents and materials, we still struggled to put the pieces
together to provide an insightful yet comprehensive analysis. However,
after all, we think it is a relief to know that we have found the way to
make this portfolio work and conveyed our passionate love for music into
this work.
It is a precious experience for us to work together like this.
As best friends, we had no difficulty assigning tasks or communicating
and working together. The only problem may well lie in the fact that our
schedules clash and it was relatively difficult at some points for us to
find the time to co-work on this project.
We are also grateful to Ms. Hong and to what we have learnt
in Humour in English Literature class. The knowledge we gain from class
lessons, groups’ presentation, activities as well as creative writings is
obviously a helping hand for us while completing this work.
The world of humorous music is so vast that we have yet
been able to explore every bit of detail of this art. However, we believe
that with an insightful look into the world of comedy music, parody
music and other kinds of funny music, we have built up an extensive
knowledge for ourselves in this specific subject of humour in music and
also provided a detailed and informative discovery into it. We are music
enthusiasts and musicians as well, which means we take a keen interest
in this topic and it goes without saying that we would love to delve into
this topic even more thoroughly in the future.
12
CREATIVE WRITING
12.1. Creative Writing 1: How do you use your five senses everyday?
Luong Gia Huy
Some people are becoming more and more greedy. The
moment they have one thing, they will go after something else, because
in their point of view, the grass is always greener on the other side of
the fence. Those people barely cherish what they have in their hands
until it disappears. That thing could be a friend, a family member, a
significant other, a special gift, or anything alike. However, there are
certain things that people also take for granted- our five senses. Those
born without one or more of these senses may find it difficult to live.
Yet, some born with all five senses may still find it difficult to live
truly. I am, certainly, well aware that I don’t belong to the latter
group of people, because I try to make use of all my senses from
morning till night.
At dawn, the rooster in my backyard garden will begin to
crow and that’s when I use my first sense of the day: sight. I manage
to open my eyes and see, trying to bring myself out of any lovely
dreams, or nightmares, that I am having. Trying to open my eyes to see
and get out of bed and walk to the bathroom helps me realise that not
all senses are easy to summon though. Sometimes I succeed while there
are days when it all fails, which prompts me to switch to another sense:
touch. To be more specific, when my eyes refuse to open, I have to use
my hands, touching walls and cupboards and doors to define orientation
and locate the bathroom. Only after all the early morning mess can I get
access to the other three senses: smelling the fresh morning air, tasting
the first sip of morning water, hearing my mom’s grumbling about my
staying up late and poor eating habits since I often eat out, which is
considered by my mom to be unwholesome.
Apart from the morning mayhem of waking up all the senses,
other times during the day seem just fine. I use my ears to listen to
songs that I like, and doing so is really therapeutic for me as it helps
me relax a lot. In fact, I am a guitarist and my goal is to be able to
differentiate between different genres and different pitches, so I use my
hearing sense even more often than any other senses. I also try to listen
more to other people rather than trying to dominate the conversation
with my own talking. I used to talk more and listen less, but as I grow
up, it dawns on me that we should talk less and listen more, because
one is born with only one mouth but two ears, and only by listening and
sympathising can make people love each other more as there must be
“ear” in every “heart”.
Additionally, I use my eyes to see and hands to touch my
beloved family members. It is a fortune to be able to wake up every
morning and see your parents and siblings and cousins right in front of
you. Life is full of imponderables, and we will never know what we may
have today and not have tomorrow.
I love to smell the cooking of my mom in the kitchen with all
these fried garlic and seasonings, and consequently, savouring every
taste of her food. I also have a special gift for my nose. Every time I
smell, I can tell which season it is, which memories are related to this
specific time in the past.
All in all, I value my five senses, and I am thankful that I
have them all to use and cherish this life.
Tran Quang Anh
Five senses are defined as the five doors of perceptions. In
other words, there are five different ways humans understand this
beautiful world. It can be seen that the hectic life nowadays makes it so
easy to forget how lucky we are to have a normal body to make sense of
everything around us. Therefore, get an insight into how our sensory
systems work and we will feel deeply grateful to Mother Nature for the
joys of life she brings, won’t we?
First, let’s talk about the eyes, “the windows to a soul.”
They are like our high-resolution built-in cameras that help us capture
every moment of life: It is with our eyes that we had the first sight of
our beloved parents; it is with our eyes that the world is seen colourful:
The sun spreading his love with his lively red sunshine; the sky at night
is like a blanket, tucking the world into bed. On top of that, it is thanks
to the eyes that we can read others’ emotions. All the happiness or
sorrow can be read by observing the eyes. However, they are so
multifunctional that they grow vulnerable with time, so it’s crucial that
our eyes are tenderly cared for.
I am the kind of person who can live without music. With my
ears, I can indulge myself in all the pop, jazz and rock songs and sit
back after a stressed-out working day. It is the best way for me to
ameliorate all the pressure put on my shoulders. I consider myself a
blessed individual who wakes up to the familiar sweet soft voice of Mom,
and is lured into a sound sleep by my favourite piece of music every
night!
Food is an indispensable part of life and we would
miss all the satisfaction it brings without our tongue. Of all
the culinaries in this whole world, the ones dished by my
parents are by far the most delicious. I can’t imagine one
day without my mother’s prepared lunch for my days at
university. Without the tongue, the food would be tasteless
and serve as a charger for our “batteries”, no more, no
less!
Besides, the noses are important, too. With them,
we can smell pleasant odours, such as the fragrance of
beautiful flowers and delicious dishes (this do wonders for a
foodie like me). There are also unpleasant smells that make
us alert and run away from danger.
Last but not least, the skin is as vital. Humans
feel a sense of love and intimacy through skinship. A touch
can relieve sadness from a friend. A touch can also arouse
the feelings of a couple. It is the handshake that secures
allies and friendships, making the world a better place to
live with a great sense of community.
I consider myself a lucky person to be born healthy
and fulfilled with all the five doors to the world. They are
the way I enjoy my life, and I will make the most of them!
12.2. Creative Writing 2: Out of curiosity you would like to know
what life was like in the past or will be like in the future, you asked Doctor
Emmett "Doc" Brown- an eccentric scientist in the American 1985 science
fiction movie "Back to the future" who invented a time machine- to send you
back to the time your parents were at your age now and became their best
friend or send you to the future to become your future son's/ daughter's best
friend.
Luong Gia Huy
I would like to begin this story of mine with an abject apology to
all my family and friends and teammates for being completely useless in
recent weeks. Honestly speaking, I basically feel drowsy and need more sleep
so I really struggle to work decently. All of that lethargy is entirely due to
the peculiar journey I have been pursuing every night, lately – a trip to the
future. Here, my dear friends, you can find my explanation and excuse for
my inactivity and I hope that the values within what I am writing now will
make you think again before rebuking me.
For those who don’t know me, I am Huy, a 20-year-old young
man majoring in English Language Teaching at Ho Chi Minh City University of
Education. In short, I am studying to teach. In the last few months I found
myself disorientated with my school life, so I decided to do something out of
the ordinary. I wanted to travel to the future using the time traveller of
Doctor Emmett "Doc" Brown, so I asked him to use it and he said the
machine was at my complete disposal. “Great!”, I thought. “I will travel
to the year when my future son is at the same age as me to see what he
will be doing then.” Now, if you are thinking that I am a maniac, you are
right. I am insane. Looking back, I don’t know how I could be so audacious
making that decision, defying the law of time and almost screwing everything
up. Anyway, it was a worthwhile journey and I am glad that I lived to tell
the tale.
When I set up my desired destination and time that I want to
travel to in the future, I thought that I would simply be dropped off in
a bush from a distance, watching my son and maybe giving him some
secret help. “Simply as that”, I thought. Or so I thought. On the way,
the time machine began to introduce some rules that I needed to know.
“Why on earth could you not give clear rules from the beginning so
people can take that into account before deciding to step on you or
not?”, I said. Of course it did not reply. It continued to give me rules.
The first rule, which is the most nonsense one, is that the machine will
not tell me who my son is and it is my responsibility to figure out, on
my own, who and where he is. Now you can imagine how fed up I was
with that stupid piece of metal. Anyway, I believe that is something I
am totally capable of. People often say the apple does not fall far from
the tree, so I hope it would take me less than no time to spot my son.
The second rule is that I should try to disguise myself as
someone of the same age and befriend my son instead of coming to him
and saying “Hey, son, I am your dad”. If he recognizes me or in
whatever ways knows that I am his dad, I will be stuck forever in that
future world, which is something I don’t like. I still love this present
life and am yet to have an aspiration for marriage or children. The third
rule, which is more relieved to hear than the first one, is that the time
machine will drop me at a place where my son will most likely be.
It dropped me in a school yard during break time with around 200
students. “Fine”, I said to myself. “I will be able to find him”. In my opinion,
he could well be sitting on a bench somewhere revising his lesson for the next
class. I glanced my eyes around trying to find my blood. I could not find him.
Hopeless, I wandered to the furthest part of the school yard with fewer students,
trying to find myself some air to breathe. I had no air to breathe. That part of the
yard was being used for a soccer match, and I looked at the young man who was
shouting the loudest. “That’s him”, I thought. “That has got to be him.” I love
soccer and wherever there is a soccer match, I will be there and shout as loud as I
can during the game. Well, like father, like son. I heard his teammates calling him
“Jack”, so that means Jack is his name. I paused for a second and wondered why
my wife and I would choose this name for him in the future. First, I hate that
name. Second, I don’t want my son to step on a plane with his friends and greet
them. Because then, they will greet him back. “Hijack”. I noted to myself that
when I get back home, I will write my very first rule in the note “Reminder for
your future”: never name your son Jack. Then I asked to join the team. As a keen
player, I won the admiration of everyone in the game, including my son. The next
thing I knew, he wanted to be friends with me. “Mission accomplished”, I yelled
inside my head.
After a few days and a few matches, I talked to my son more often. I
asked him to go out and have drinks and indeed became a really close friend for
the time being. I definitely will add the second rule in my note: teach your son not
to talk to strangers too quickly. Indeed, a few football matches cannot tell whether
someone is good or not. Those with bad intentions can strike up conversation as
easily as that. It’s a blessing for him. I am his dad, and my intentions are not
that bad. During the time we chatted, I heard him complain about his dad, also
known as “me in the future”. He said he was feeling depressed because his dad
would not let him love the girl he loves. I asked why and he said his dad did not
like her. At that moment, I thought maybe in the future, I have my reasons for
doing so. I asked my son whether he tried to explain or persuade his dad. He said
he did, but his dad would not want to listen, and he was sad about that. Now I
know what the third rule is in my note: never refuse to listen to your children.
I realise that this trip is quite worthwhile. I have
had the chance to know more about me, my family, or
specifically my son in the future. I have been thinking about
what he said to me all these nights about his love issue and
it dawned on me that, as parents, the vital thing we should
do is to allow our children to speak, and never refuse to
listen. Only then can they feel happy and cared for.
Coincidentally, I looked back into my past, and I suddenly
remembered, in those years of my seventeen, I faced the
same issue. It seems like I tend to do exactly the same
thing my dad did to me, as my son told me, but it also
seems like, with a more open mind, we can avoid hurting
our children.
Tran Quang Anh
Ho Chi Minh City, March 3rd, 2045
Still do I think this is a dream. I am here in the future,
twenty-three years ahead, befriending my own son-to-be, Duong.
However unreal this feels, I have to accept the truth that I’m helping
my 18-year-old future son’s dealing with his fragile relationship
(mostly because of his poor ability to control his emotions). He’s sitting
right next to me, crying over his overreaction to his girlfriend’s new
low-necked dress.
“I don’t wanna make a fuss, but the dress is so revealing.
I’m just protecting her from people with vicious intentions,” he
explained.
I totally agree. He never meant to go off on his girlfriend,
as he is madly in love and always has her best interests at heart. I used
to have the same issue with my ex-girlfriend over what she wore. We
then broke up because of my trying to impose my will upon her. Now I
understand that in a healthy relationship, no one should try to make the
other think or do as they wish. True love should be associated with true
freedom.
“Well, I know that you are down in the emotional dumps,
Duong,” I give him a pat on the back. “However, you should pull
yourself together and carefully listen to this friend’s words. Will you?”
He finally manages to sit up and swiftly wipe his tears, his
eyes still being red. Honestly speaking, I feel so proud of him. My
future son grows up into a thoughtful and caring gentleman, and what
kind of parents do not take pride in that son?
“If I were you, I would intrinsically act the same way you
did. It’s man's nature to protect our women,” slowly I explain. “But
you did the wrong thing shouting at her. Are you aware of that?”
“Definitely, bro. No sooner had I shouted at her than I
immediately regretted that. I really wish I could have taken those words
back,” said my son. Again, he makes me proud.
“It’s okay now that you realise your fault. There’s no
point in making a mountain out of a molehill. Your girlfriend is simply
enjoying her sense of confidence when she puts on that dress. Also, it’s
not so revealing, isn’t it?”
He keeps silent, seemingly thinking about something.
“In a relationship, it’s crucial that you understand each
other. Now tell me, do you really love her?” I ask.
“I do. I’m in love, and when I’m in a relationship, I
always want to picture a further future, one with commitment,” Duong
replies.
“That’s the point. If it’s commitment that you look for,
you have to put yourself in her shoes. Girls always feel insecure about
their appearance,” Duong tries to cut in, but I continue, “However
gorgeous they are in our eyes.”
“I get it now. I was too pushy. Now I will take her out to a
meal and apologise. Thank you for the wise advice. You are the best!”
Duong says.
“Definitely my brother. The best way to steal a woman’s
heart is one through the stomach!”
Now I’ve felt assured of my future son, I’m ready to go back to the
present.
12.3. Creative Writing 3: Imagine overhearing a conversation between 3
objects/ things/ animals that have come to life.
Luong Gia Huy
I have a lot of hobbies and interests. I like to play the
guitar, relax with my dog sitting beside me, and read books. In fact, I
have just got myself a new book called Pride and Prejudice, but I am
having a hard time with study and work so reading it is a luxury I
cannot afford, at least at this moment in time. The guitar and the book
happen to be situated in my room, right next to my bed. And the dog,
well, he is situated in whatever nook and cranny of the house as long as
he wants to, and my room is glad to be one of his regular stops.
One night, I was having a broken sleep. I was tossing and
turning trying to tell my mind that my body was really exhausted and it
needed to rest instead of continuing to maintain activity during midnight
like that. For a quick moment I thought I heard something – something
that may only exist in the world of magic. My guitar, my new book and
my dog were chatting, in whispers – for fear of waking me up and
sending chills down my spine, I guess. Objects that can talk are not new
in the magic world. But then this is the world of the mortals, of
ordinary people, so without a doubt, chills were sent down my spine.
Despite that, I managed to pull myself together and tried to listen to
them, because I wanted to know what they were talking about: me, my
family, a plan to escape, or worse, a plan to kill me like in some horror
movies. The last scenario is very important, because if they did have
that intention, I would love to be able to hear it to make my escape
move precisely.
The more I listened, the more I realised that the social
whirls of life have transformed me into someone new. Here is the
conversation that I managed to jot down quickly first thing that morning:
Dog: Night is always so peaceful.
Book: Yeah, sure. It’s when you can relax.
Dog: For you two only. At night, I am supposed to be
outside, keeping watch of the house. But don’t worry, I can hear
footsteps. Should there be a burglar, I will bark.
Guitar: Well actually I have been relaxing for almost 4
weeks.
Dog: What do you mean by that?
Guitar: My master, Mr. Huy, has not touched me for 4
weeks. No music has been played. Sometimes I thought I was nothing
more than a broomstick. Brown, static, left standing upright by the wall.
That’s it.
Book: That is sad. I may be in the same boat as you, my
dear wooden friend. Master bought me from a fair a month ago and I
started to feel that I am the result of his impulse buying only. He
hardly flips a page. Bookshelf is meant to be my place but I need to get
some air, pals. I need to be turned over and over and read and
digested.
Dog: Oh poor you.
Book: Tell me about it. I am hurt. My book’s title is Pride
and Prejudice, but I see no pride in my master’s eyes. Maybe what he
saw when he bought me was the word “prejudice” only. You know, the
stereotype that books have to suffer: being bought and tossed to the
shelf.
Guitar: Me too. He was a keen player. Used to be. He just
suddenly stops playing it. I wonder why.
Dog: What happened to our master?
Guitar: I don’t know. He must have been really busy.
Book: I think so. I left early in the morning, coming home at
around 10 p.m with a tired face. Like his energy has been drained.
Dog: Right. When I jump at him, all I receive is a quick
stroke on the head and off he goes to his bed.
Guitar: He was indeed too occupied with work and study. He
had a lot of online meetings every night after work.
Book: I heard that too. How drudgery and tiresome his study
life is.
Guitar: How detrimental it is when you have to do something
you don’t like. He used to be a wild guitar player with maximum
pleasure when playing the guitar. I wonder where all that went.
Dog: I guess he needs time. And he needs to find himself
back. He used to be full of beans. I heard he told his friends that he
lost confidence.
Guitar: In what?
Dog: In everything, he said.
Book: He used to be the most confident person in this world.
Dog: Where is my master…
Yeah, that’s true. That’s me recently. I am tired. And
what the book, the guitar and the dog said was right. I lost myself. I
lost my confidence after a few failures in study, in teaching and so on. I
used to be energetic. But I think I am too tired to be the life and soul
of any party now. I need a rest, a break from all these hectic runs of
life. I hope I will bounce back, stronger than before. But before that, I
think I will go and get myself some sleep. Batteries have to be
recharged, then so do I.
Tran Quang Anh
It’s Sunday evening and I’m making some last preparations
for tomorrow’s trip to Dalat. I’m about to iron some clothes when
something absurd happens. If you put a million dollars right in front of
my eyes, I still wouldn’t believe what’s going on right now. My tee, a
pair of pants and a pair of socks are talking with each other! I decide to
hide behind the door listening to them.
T-shirt: Our owner never seems to bother ironing us. We’re
always found in the most terrible state. My arms are twisted, and my
body is wrinkled.
Pants: He doesn’t give us proper attention either. Sometimes
he wears the same pair of pants for a week on end. Imagine the smell!
Socks: You guys even live in a better condition compared to
us. He won’t put us in the washing machine until we start to look dirty
and stink!
Pants [sighs]: That’s true. I also feel sorry for his mom,
too.
T-shirt: Completely agree. She’s the most wonderful woman
on earth. She always finds a way to take good care of us.
Socks: How about going on a strike, everyone? We won’t straight up
ourselves when ironed and won’t wash ourselves when in the washing
machine anymore.
T-shirt and pants: But why? It’s our duty to brighten up
the owner’s appearance. We are his skin. People tend to look at us first
when they meet him.
Socks: That’s why we are indispensable to him.
We’ve served him enough. It’s time we stopped supporting
him unconditionally unless he changes in the future!
T-shirt: You have a point, socks. But what if he
wears another set of clothes?
Pants: It shouldn’t be a matter. I have strong
connections with all other clothes in the wardrobe. I will tell
them to do likewise.
All: Okay deal! Let’s see what he can do without
our support.
Panic is all I can feel at this very moment. I never
expected clothes can talk. On top of that, they are pointing
out my defects. It’s true that I’m too lazy to take good
care of my clothes and leave the burden for my mom. Now
that they even try to protest me, I have to improve myself,
take good care of my mom and my clothes. In the future, I
will prove myself deserved.