Задания к песне «Earth song»
Трудно переоценить значение песни в изучении иностранного языка. Ее можно использовать на любом этапе обучения. Учащиеся и младшей, и средней, и старшей школы с огромным интересом работают над песней на уроках. Главное, чтобы при подборе материала учитель учитывал возраст учащихся. Песня может быть использована также при изучении любых тем по иностранному языку. Здесь важно, чтобы тематика песни и тема урока совпадали. Работа с песней дает возможность изучать все виды речевой деятельности. При этом немаловажную роль играет правильный подбор заданий к песне. Знакомство с историей создания песни, с ее исполнителями позволяет развить социокультурную компетенцию учащихся, развить навыки говорения. Огромно значение песни и при отработке фонетических навыков учащихся, особенно если она звучит в исполнении носителя языка.
В данной статье приведены примеры заданий, которые можно использовать при работе над песней Майкла Джексона “Earth song”. Эту песню можно использовать при изучении таких тем как “Famous people”, “Environment”, “Animals in danger”, “Music”. В статье приведены некоторые факты из истории создания этой песни, которые интересно обсудить с учащимися до начала работы над самой песней. Эта информация может быть предложена учащимся в качестве доклада на уроке.
Some facts about the song
"Earth Song" is the third single from Michael Jackson's album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. It is the fifth song on the second disc of the album. It is a ballad that incorporates elements of blues, gospel and opera. Jackson had a long-standing history of releasing socially conscious material such as "We Are the World", "Man in the Mirror" and "Heal the World". However, "Earth Song" was the first that overtly dealt with the environment and animal welfare. The song was written and composed by Jackson; the task of production was split between Jackson, David Foster and Bill Bottrell.
"Earth Song" was accompanied by a lavish music video shot on four geographical regions. It centered around the destruction and rebirth of Earth and went on to receive a Grammy nomination in 1997. The song was a top five hit in most European countries. In the United Kingdom, it remains Jackson's best-selling single and was the country's 1995 Christmas number-one single. "Earth Song" was not released as a single in the United States. Jackson went on to receive recognition from various animal and environmental organizations.
The song was paired-up with the poem "Planet Earth" (previously released on Michael Jackson's This Is It, in 2009) and released as a song in the remix album Immortal in 2011. The single has sold 10 million copies.
"Earth Song" was written and composed by Jackson in a hotel in Austria; production of the song was a collaborative effort between Jackson, David Foster and Bill Bottrell. Andrae Crouch's Choir and Jackson engage in a back and forth chant as the song reaches its climatic finale. Jackson's intent was to create a song that was lyrically deep yet melodically simple, so the whole world, particularly non-English-speaking fans, could sing along. He conceptualized a song that had an emotional message. "Earth Song" is a ballad that incorporates elements of blues, gospel and opera. In the socially conscious track, Jackson issues a plea to God about problems ranging from war to endangered animals.
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Introduction to "Earth Song", penned by Jackson, it became the third single from HIStory. The singer mixes elements of blues, gospel and opera.
James Hunter of Rolling Stone stated, "The slow blues-operatic 'Earth Song' for all its noble sentiments, sounds primarily like a showpiece".
The Philadelphia Inquirer described the track as "a healing, rhythmic ballad that evokes religious imagery". A review in The Sacramento Bee was favorable, describing Jackson's vocal performance as "cool".
"Earth Song" remains Jackson's best selling single in the United Kingdom, where it sold 1.16 million copies as of November 2012. It debuted at number one, where it remained for six weeks throughout December 1995—beating the U2/Brian Eno project Passengers in competition to win the Christmas number one spot—and into the new year. During its stay at number one, "Earth Song" kept the first single released by The Beatles in 25 years, "Free as a Bird", off the number one position. In early December, bookmakers correctly predicted that Jackson would keep The Beatles off the top position and go on to attain the Christmas number-one single.
The song also took the number one position in Spain and Switzerland, peaking within the top five in almost every European state. In Germany, it was Jackson's first single to reach No. 1 of the German Singles Chart and by staying on the pole position for 5 consecutive weeks. Thanks to this, the song is the 10th most successful pop hymn ever in that country.
The song was only released to radio in the U. S.. In 2006, "Earth Song" reached number 55 on the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles chart, following the Visionary: The Video Singles campaign, whereby 20 of Jackson's hit singles from the 1980s–1990s were reissued in several European countries.
Jackson received the Genesis Award: 1995 Doris Day Music Award, given each year for animal sensitivity. In 2008, a writer for the Nigeria Exchange noted, "'Earth Song' drew the world's attention to the degradation and bastardization of the earth as a fall out of various human activities".
Jackson walking in a burnt down forest. This section of the music video was simulated in a corn field.
The music video for "Earth Song", directed by fine art photographer Nick Brandt, was expensive and well-received; it gained a Le Film Fantastique: Best Video Award in 1996, the 1995 Doris Day Music Award at the Genesis Awards and a Grammy nomination for Best Music Video, Short Form in 1997. The production had an environmental theme, showing images of animal cruelty, deforestation, pollution, poverty and war. Jackson and the world's people unite in a spiritual chant—"Earth Song"—which summons a force that heals the world. Using special effects, time is reversed so that life returns, war ends and the forests regrow. The video closes with a request for donations to Jackson's Heal the World Foundation. The clip was shown infrequently in the United States.
The video was filmed in four geographic regions. The first location was the Amazon Rainforest. Natives of the region appeared in the video and were not actors. The second scene was a war zone in Karlovac, Croatia. The third location was Tanzania, which incorporated scenes of illegal poaching and hunting into the video. No animals were harmed in the making of the "Earth Song", as the footage came from documentary archives. However, a poacher killed an elephant within a mile of the shot. The final location was in Warwick, New York, where a safe forest fire was simulated in a corn field.
The music video of the song also included on the video albums: HIStory on Film, Volume II, Number Ones and Michael Jackson's Vision.
In 1996, Jackson performed "Earth Song" at the BRIT Awards in the United Kingdom; he was there to collect a special "Artist of a Generation" award. Jackson sang while dangling off the edge of a high rise crane lift. Below, a chorus of backing performers joined in and many of them began to physically embrace Jackson upon his descent. In response to the performance, Jarvis Cocker ran onto the stage without permission, lifted his shirt and pretended to break wind, before giving Jackson the insulting V-sign. The Pulp frontman had been there with his band, who had been nominated for three Brit awards. Cocker was subsequently questioned by police over claims he had assaulted some of the child performers, but he was later released without charge. The singer explained that he found the performance offensive, claiming that Jackson had portrayed himself as Christ-like and could do as he pleased because of his immense wealth and power. Jackson condemned Cocker's behaviour as "disgusting and cowardly". The incident is referred to in the book Politics and Popular Culture by John Street, Professor of Politics at the University of East Anglia. He says:
"But to read popular culture as a straight forward text is to take a very narrow view of its meaning, and hence of its political message. As we have noted, the text's meaning will depend on how it is heard and read. Michael Jackson may have intended his 'Earth Song' to be an exercise in compassion; others–like Jarvis Cocker–saw it quite differently. One reason these alternative readings emerge is because of the way the performance of popular culture engages more than a literal text, it employs gestures and symbols, tones of voice, looks and glances, all of which might tell a different story".
The song has been covered by Russian singer Sergey Lazarev for his 2005 album Don't Be Fake.
On Earth Day 2006 the band Fossils covered "Earth Song" in Bengali exclusively for the news channel CNN IBN.
The song was covered by Haley Reinhart in the tenth installement of American Idol
In 2011, Scots-Born Singer/Songwriter 'Nemo Shaw' produced a new version of 'Earth Song' which was released by the small indie label 'Revibe'.
The song, along with a 3-D short film that was to be featured in Jackson's series of comeback concerts This Is It, was performed as a tribute to Jackson. Jennifer Hudson, Carrie Underwood, Smokey Robinson, Celine Dion and Usher all sang the song together, while the video played in the background. The film was shown in its original 3-D format during the broadcast.
Target provided free 3-D glasses to customers a week before the Grammy Awards. Paris and Prince Jackson, Jackson's oldest children, appeared shortly after the performance to accept Jackson's Lifetime Achievement Award, where they both gave a short speech. This was the first time the children had spoken publicly since the memorial service that was held for Jackson on July 7, 2009
Listen to the song and fill in the gaps:
Michael Jackson - Earth Song
What about (1)…………..
What about (2)…………..
What about all the (3)…………
That you (4) …………we were to gain
What about killing (5)……………………
Is there a time
What about all the things
That you said was (6)……………….
Did you ever stop to notice
All the (7) …………………… we've shared before
Did you ever stop to notice
The (8)…………………… the weeping shores?
Aaaaaaaaah, Oooooooooh
Aaaaaaaaah, Oooooooooh
What have we done to the (9)………………………..
Look what we've done
What about all the (10)………………………………
That you pledge your only son
What about flowering fields
Is there a time
What about all the (11)…………………………..
That you said was yours and mine
Did you ever stop to notice
All the (12) dead from war
Did you ever stop to notice
The (13)………………………. the weeping shores
Aaaaaaaaah, Oooooooooh
Aaaaaaaaah, Oooooooooh
I used to dream
I used to glance (14)…………………….
Now I don't know where we are
Although I know we've drifted far
Aaaaaaaaah, Oooooooooh
Aaaaaaaaah, Oooooooooh
Aaaaaaaaah, Oooooooooh
Aaaaaaaaah, Oooooooooh
Hey, what about (15)…………………
(What about us)
What about the seas
(What about us)
The heavens are (16)…………………..
(What about us)
I can't even breathe
(What about us)
What about (17)………………………..
(What about us)
I have given you
(What about us)
What about nature's worth
(ooo, ooo)
It's our planet's womb
(What about us)
What about (18)………………………..
(What about it)
We've turned kingdoms to dust
(What about us)
What about (19)……………………….
(What about us)
Have we lost their trust
(What about us)
What about crying whales
(What about us)
We're ravaging the seas
(What about us)
What about (20)……………………………
(ooo, ooo)
Burnt despite our pleas
(What about us)
What about the holy land
(What about it)
Torn apart by creed
(What about us)
What about the (21)……………………………………
(What about us)
Can't we set him free
(What about us)
What about children dying
(What about us)
Can't you hear them cry
(What about us)
Where did we (22)………………………………
(ooo, ooo)
Someone tell me why
(What about us)
What about baby boy
(What about it)
What about the days
(What about us)
What about all their joy
(What about us)
What about the men
(What about us)
What about the (23)………………………….
(What about us)
What about Abraham
(What about us)
What about (24)………………………………..
(ooo, ooo)
Do we give a damn
Aaaaaaaaah, Oooooooooh
Aaaaaaaaah, Oooooooooh
2. Are these sentences true (T) or false (F)? Correct the false information
1) Did you ever stop to notice All the fields we've shared before
2) Did you ever stop to notice The laughing Earth the smiling shores?
3) Did you ever stop to notice All the children dead from war
4) What about elephants (What about us) Have we lost their trust?
5) What about children crying (What about them) Can't you hear them cry
3. Find the sentences with the verbs
1) in the Present Simple Tense
2) in the Past SimpleTense
3) in the Present PerfectTense
4) in the Present ContinuousTense
4. Find the sentences where
1) Participle 1 is used
2) Complex Object is used
5. Find all the new words and translate the song
6. Sing the song together with the singer
Ответы к заданиям
1.
1) sunrise
2) rain
3) things
4) said
5) fields
6) yours and mine
7) blood
8) crying Earth
9) world
10) peace
11) dreams
12) children
13) crying Earth
14) beyond the stars
15) yesterday
16) falling down
17) everything
18) animals
19) elephants
20) forest trails
21) common man
22) go wrong
23) crying man
24) death again
4.
1) (F) Did you ever stop to notice All the blood we've shared before
2) (F) Did you ever stop to notice The crying Earth the weeping shores?
3) (T)
4) (T)
5)(F) What about children dying (What about us) Can't you hear them cry
Литература
1. http://vivere. *****/
2. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Michael_Jackson
3. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Earth_Song
Приложение
Michael Jackson - Earth Song
What about sunrise
What about rain
What about all the things
That you said we were to gain
What about killing fields
Is there a time
What about all the things
That you said was yours and mine
Did you ever stop to notice
All the blood we've shared before
Did you ever stop to notice
The crying Earth the weeping shores?
Aaaaaaaaah, Oooooooooh
Aaaaaaaaah, Oooooooooh
What have we done to the world
Look what we've done
What about all the peace
That you pledge your only son
What about flowering fields
Is there a time
What about all the dreams
That you said was yours and mine
Did you ever stop to notice
All the children dead from war
Did you ever stop to notice
The crying Earth the weeping shores
Aaaaaaaaah, Oooooooooh
Aaaaaaaaah, Oooooooooh
I used to dream
I used to glance beyond the stars
Now I don't know where we are
Although I know we've drifted far
Aaaaaaaaah, Oooooooooh
Aaaaaaaaah, Oooooooooh
Aaaaaaaaah, Oooooooooh
Aaaaaaaaah, Oooooooooh
Hey, what about yesterday
(What about us)
What about the seas
(What about us)
The heavens are falling down
(What about us)
I can't even breathe
(What about us)
What about everything
(What about us)
I have given you
(What about us)
What about nature's worth
(ooo, ooo)
It's our planet's womb
(What about us)
What about animals
(What about it)
We've turned kingdoms to dust
(What about us)
What about elephants
(What about us)
Have we lost their trust
(What about us)
What about crying whales
(What about us)
We're ravaging the seas
(What about us)
What about forest trails?
(ooo, ooo)
Burnt despite our pleas
(What about us)
What about the holy land
(What about it)
Torn apart by creed
(What about us)
What about the common man
(What about us)
Can't we set him free
(What about us)
What about children dying
(What about us)
Can't you hear them cry
(What about us)
Where did we go wrong
(ooo, ooo)
Someone tell me why
(What about us)
What about baby boy
(What about it)
What about the days
(What about us)
What about all their joy
(What about us)
What about the men
(What about us)
What about the crying man
(What about us)
What about Abraham
(What about us)
What about death again
(ooo, ooo)
Do we give a damn
Aaaaaaaaah, Oooooooooh
Aaaaaaaaah, Oooooooooh
Перевод песни Earth Song (Песня Земли)
Что с рассветом, что с дождем,
что со всеми теми вещами,
которыми, как ты сказал, мы обладали?
Что с полями сражений, есть ли еще время,
что со всеми теми вещами,
которые, как ты сказал, были твоими и моими?
Ты когда-нибудь переставал замечать
всю ту кровь, что мы пролили прежде?
Ты когда-нибудь переставал замечать
эту кричащую Землю, эти плачущие берега?
Что мы сделали с миром, посмотри, что мы сделали.
Что со всем тем миром,
который ты завещал своему единственному сыну?
Что с цветущими полями, есть ли еще время?
Что со всеми теми мечтами,
которые, как ты сказал, были твоими и моими?
Ты когда-нибудь переставал замечать
всех этих детей, погубленных войной?
ты когда-нибудь переставал замечать
эту кричащую Землю, эти плачущие берега?
Я привык мечтать,
я привык смотреть вверх на звезды,
а теперь я не знаю, где мы,
я только знаю, что мы уплыли далеко...
Эй, что с завтрашним днем? (Что с нами)
Что с морями?
Небеса падают вниз
, я даже не могу дышать.
Что с истекающей кровью Землей,
чувствуем ли мы ее раны?
Что с самой природой,
это лоно нашей планеты.
Что с животными?
Мы превратили царства в пыль.
Что со слонами,
мы потеряли их доверие?
Что с кричащими китами?
Мы опустошили моря.
Что с тропическими лесами,
сожженными вопреки нашим мольбам?
Что со святой землей,
раздираемой на части разными вероучениями?
Что с простым человеком,
можем ли мы дать ему свободу?
Что с умирающими детьми,
неужели ты не слышишь, как они плачут?
Где мы сбились с пути?
Кто-нибудь, скажите мне, почему?
Что с младенцами?
Что с этими днями,
что со всей их радостью?
Что с человеком,
что с плачущим человеком?
Что с Авраамом?
А что со смертью?
Неужели нам наплевать?
