Music in class。

[Paul]

Ok a number of my teachers like to have a song of the month, one in particular wants me to pick her songs for the rest of the year. Alright, I thought rubbing my hands together, but then thought again, let's do this right. While I am not a Lady Gaga fan in particular, this song here is in my opinion, appropriate and right for the kids in JHS to hear. It's got a great message. I have to say that I actually like this tune.

Now then, what kind of music do you guys use in class, if any. Or if you were given the chance to pick something to play for the kids to enjoy and get some fun in their classes what would you choose. This is the thread for that!



Oh my teachers like to have it in English, with Japanese lyric translations on the side. If you got something, please post the video, and maybe links to the lyrics please.

http://www.metrolyrics.com/born-this-way-lyrics-lady-gaga.html

[Kanashibari]

Cannibal Corpse - Meat Hook Sodomy
Carcass - Regurgitation of Giblets
Autopsy - Ridden With Disease

and a great English class/school/work anthem......

Venom - Welcome to Hell!!!

[Paul]

Ok that made me . I don't want to demotivate the kids.

[Kanashibari]

I teach in an all-girl school. I try to make them imitate Chris Barnes.

[Paul]

Come on you gotta have something better. Please. I dont want to bore the hell out of my kids with glam rock.

[azuhlLt.]

Queen - Tie your mother down.

[Otaku]

sniff sniff...my JTEs only wanna do the songs from the textbooks, which were chosen by those textbook-making rejects wanting to re-live their youth. I'm sorry but MJ, Amy Grant and The Beatles just don't do it for me ever since I found my penis back in the 80s.

[azuhlLt.]

I love trying to introduce the kids to music from outside of Asia. I asked today what bands people liked, all Japanese bands/artists. I moved onto non-asian artists, they were all pop, MJ, 'Lady' Gaga...

I know they're young, but if they don't get exposed to decent music now, when will it happen? Anyway, my JTE chose The Beatles to play to them...they liked it, but wouldn't admit it. Pfffft, kids.

Next week...Queen.

EDIT: "od" to "of".

[Kanashibari]

Yeah, unfortunately that's what modern Japanese society is all about today. There's really very little influence from counter-culture on the mainstream nowadays, where pop culture is very rigidly and strictly institutionalized.
As a teacher, I try to encourage my students to break out of the box and think for themselves, develop their own identity, and develop their own likes and dislikes without having to follow everyone else. It's actually easier for me to do that now, in a private school, as by Japanese standards, this school would probably be considered grossly alternative (meaning acting, music, and art are given just as much importance as everything else, and the Native English Teacher is in charge of his/her own classroom).
In public schools, it was more difficult, but I was usually able to reach out to a few of the alienated yanki/problem kids, encouraging them to study so that they might one day help change society, channeling their anger in a positive way and showing them how some of us adults have been in their position before.

It's weird: in Canada, mainstream/pop culture and music is generally defined by status quo popularity and exposure alone, while in Japan, it's more like the stuff the average Japanese citizen is COMMANDED to like.
Everyone MUST praise garbage like Koda Kumi, AKuBi 48, Exile, or Arashi, because it's apparently the "pinnacle of Japanese artistic acheivement", which is a load of crap.....
It's all a factory-produced product created not by artists, but by salarymen sitting around their meeting tables.
In fact, Japanese Music TV ONLY plays J-pop and nothing else!!! Same 5-10 songs a month that all have the same shallow messages.

At least in Canada, Muchmusic usually plays a variety, with whole hours dedicated to punk, hip-hop, metal, techno, etc. so at least they respect/acknowledge they have an alternative audience as well as a mainstream one.
Ask a class of Canadian kids their favorite singer/band/artist, they'd probably give varying answers depending on taste.....

However, in Japan, any kind of alternative music/art/culture/people/movements are just plain not respected or tolerated.

.....rant over.

[Richard_BenoitEnglipedia Drone]

Alright, I thought rubbing my hands together, but then thought again, let's do this right. While I am not a Lady Gaga fan in particular, this song here is in my opinion, appropriate and right for the kids in JHS to hear. It's got a great message.

I checked into the lyrics of "Born this way" and most of it is good, and the overall message is good for the age group, but then she starts talking about being "gay, lesbian, or transgendered". While I agree it is ok for people to chose, and for JHS kids to understand when they get older they can chose their lifestyle and should not be discriminated against for it, I am not sure I would be comfortable bringing this baggage into English class. Just a thought.

On the other hand a teacher of mine is going to try Gaga's "The Edge of Glory."

Not surprisingly another song about death in the Japanese class room. At least they can listen to something that was recorded while most of us were alive!

[Richard_BenoitEnglipedia Drone]

It's weird: in Canada, mainstream/pop culture and music is generally defined by status quo popularity and exposure alone, while in Japan, it's more like the stuff the average Japanese citizen is COMMANDED to like.
Everyone MUST praise garbage like Koda Kumi, AKuBi 48, Exile, or Arashi, because it's apparently the "pinnacle of Japanese artistic acheivement", which is a load of crap.....
It's all a factory-produced product created not by artists, but by salarymen sitting around their meeting tables.
In fact, Japanese Music TV ONLY plays J-pop and nothing else!!! Same 5-10 songs a month that all have the same shallow messages.

At least in Canada, Muchmusic usually plays a variety, with whole hours dedicated to punk, hip-hop, metal, techno, etc. so at least they respect/acknowledge they have an alternative audience as well as a mainstream one.
Ask a class of Canadian kids their favorite singer/band/artist, they'd probably give varying answers depending on taste.....

However, in Japan, any kind of alternative music/art/culture/people/movements are just plain not respected or tolerated.

.....rant over.

I would say that mainstream pop takes way too much air time as well on TV. There is a ton of other good J-music, heavy metal, rap and techno etc but it just isn't on your main stations. Gotta go and look for it, which is kinda sad.

[Paul]

Alright, I thought rubbing my hands together, but then thought again, let's do this right. While I am not a Lady Gaga fan in particular, this song here is in my opinion, appropriate and right for the kids in JHS to hear. It's got a great message.

I checked into the lyrics of "Born this way" and most of it is good, and the overall message is good for the age group, but then she starts talking about being "gay, lesbian, or transgendered". While I agree it is ok for people to chose, and for JHS kids to understand when they get older they can chose their lifestyle and should not be discriminated against for it, I am not sure I would be comfortable bringing this baggage into English class. Just a thought.

On the other hand a teacher of mine is going to try Gaga's "The Edge of Glory."

Not surprisingly another song about death in the Japanese class room. At least they can listen to something that was recorded while most of us were alive!

RIchard to each his or her own on that line, and that is meant in all seriousness. If you look at the video I posted the Japanese translation is done very well. The kids are faced with gay, lesbian, and transgendered folks almost every time they watch a Japanese variety show on TV, Haruna Ai, Chris, and the rest of the cast and crew that fit the bill. I think it is better to hear it in a song like Gaga's and let them work with it. The teachers just play the songs and video, and let the kids try to learn to sing along. I actually love it.

[Paul]

Next week...Queen.

Which? Fat Bottomed Girls, Bicycle Race?

I will probably be picking this one as well from MJ.

[Richard_BenoitEnglipedia Drone]

hmmm yeah, I guess when you bring up how many transgendered folks are on TV DURING THE DAY. They aren't exactly as puritanical as us folks. There exposure almost daily is far more weighty than the song lyrics!

[Richard_BenoitEnglipedia Drone]

Nice Job with the MJ pick too.

[Paul]

I guess when you bring up how many transgendered folks are on TV DURING THE DAY.

I don't follow why this part is all capitalized. Me the maybe?

[Paul]

Nice Job with the MJ pick too.

Thank you, these are the kinds of songs I want to pick and the teacher is cool with it. Looking for some more as we speak.

[Kanashibari]

It's weird: in Canada, mainstream/pop culture and music is generally defined by status quo popularity and exposure alone, while in Japan, it's more like the stuff the average Japanese citizen is COMMANDED to like.
Everyone MUST praise garbage like Koda Kumi, AKuBi 48, Exile, or Arashi, because it's apparently the "pinnacle of Japanese artistic acheivement", which is a load of crap.....
It's all a factory-produced product created not by artists, but by salarymen sitting around their meeting tables.
In fact, Japanese Music TV ONLY plays J-pop and nothing else!!! Same 5-10 songs a month that all have the same shallow messages.

At least in Canada, Muchmusic usually plays a variety, with whole hours dedicated to punk, hip-hop, metal, techno, etc. so at least they respect/acknowledge they have an alternative audience as well as a mainstream one.
Ask a class of Canadian kids their favorite singer/band/artist, they'd probably give varying answers depending on taste.....

However, in Japan, any kind of alternative music/art/culture/people/movements are just plain not respected or tolerated.

.....rant over.

I would say that mainstream pop takes way too much air time as well on TV. There is a ton of other good J-music, heavy metal, rap and techno etc but it just isn't on your main stations. Gotta go and look for it, which is kinda sad.

Well, as a music fiend, I think looking for music and not having it fed to you by MTV should be encouraged, but at least in most western countries, metal, punk, rap, techno, industrial, goth, etc. is still on the air. In their own little niche hours of course, but the public is still exposed to it, and a variety of musical choices. However, most high school kids in Japan don't get the chance to be exposed to any of that stuff, so being able to pick and choose what they like is very limited.

I actually take risks when introducing kids to foreign music..... I tended to get very positive receptions when Bauhaus, the Cult, or Echo & the Bunnymen were brought into class, with quite a few students asking me what kind of music that was, and the students tended to be much more interested in lyrics that were abstract rather than literal, as in pop music.
Luckily enough, one of my third grade girls is now interested in Slayer

[Richard_BenoitEnglipedia Drone]

Slayer? HAHAHA! That's a five thumbs up rating my friend!

[moolooman]

The guitar on MJ's Black or White is none other than the legend himself, Slash.

Anyhow, I agree with everything said here. The way everything here musicwise seems to be a homogonised pot of all sound the same crap.

But A-Chan is so pretty.

[azuhlLt.]

Next week...Queen.

Which? Fat Bottomed Girls, Bicycle Race?

I will probably be picking this one as well from MJ.

...all of them! I think 'I want to break free' is my favourite, but not really appropriate for the kiddies. Maybe, 'Somebody to love'?

EDIT: Apologies about the formatting on this, will try and correct.

[himitsu]

I think Disney is always a good idea (Pocahontas Colors of the wind is wonderful)

[pakalikaPakalika]

I've ran green day, the eagles, MJ.

[jeisensei]

I always use classic rock myself. My favorite is Paint it Black.

[Kanashibari]

I'm using the Mephisto Walz cover of that for Halloween!!!

[mangakk]

It's BEATLES next week. We don't really do music in our English classes. Sigh!!!