My Song

Reality

Last night I dreamed about you again
When we were together, how it made me feel
Then the scene started to rapidly change
And my vision became very real

I was yelling, you were screaming
We were getting in each others faces
Your bags packed themselves as you didn't kiss me goodbye
We were no longer in each others spaces

Hey, welcome back, haven't seen you in a while
Since things started going downhill
I haven't been the same since you left me here alone
And I love you still
But I've come back to reality

I always try to call you but I only get the machine
I realized my time isn't worth being spent on you
Throw your things away, but it starts to get so hard
I guess this is what my life is coming to

Hey, welcome back, haven't seen you in a while
Since things started going downhill
I haven't been the same since you left me here alone
And I love you still
But I've come back to reality

I feel alone whenever I'm around you
And too crowded when I'm not
Your silence makes me go insane
Your words make me want to run and hide
I know it's wrong, but I miss you like crazy
And maybe, just maybe
You miss me too

Hey, welcome back, haven't seen you in a while
Since things started going downhill
I haven't been the same since you left me here alone
And I love you still
But I've come back to reality
But I've come back to reality

Bruce Springsteen

Facts

·         Born on September 23, 1949 in Long Branch, New Jersey

·         Nicknamed “The Boss”

·         Known for his poetic lyrics

·         Inspired to take up music after seeing Elvis Presley on The Ed Sullivan Show

·         His mother bought him his first guitar at age 13

·         Married to Julianne Phillips for three years

·         Former member of the E Street Band

·         Best known for his album Born in the USA

·         Won 21 Grammy Awards, 2 Golden Globes, and an Academy Award

·         Ranked 23^rd greatest artist of all time by Rolling Stone

Songs

·         Born in the USA

·         Glory Days

·         Thunder Road

·         The River

·         Backstreets

Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZD4ezDbbu4

Top 20

1) Train. (2001). “Drops of Jupiter”. Drops of Jupiter. The subject of this song is the journey that people travel to find themselves, which is a very common journey that everyone goes through at some point in their lives. The lyrics flow perfectly from one topic to the next, although there are some random objects, such as “deep-fried chicken” and “best soy latte.” When first looking at the lyrics, it seems as though they are just rambling on about all the good things in life, but, paired with the vocals and instrumental setup, it transforms into a heartfelt song about the love of his life looking for herself, and forgetting him along the way.
2) Rascal Flats. (2006). “My Wish”. Me and My Gang. This song highlights his wishes to a happy life for everyone, no matter what troubles they have undergone. Anyone can relate to this song because everyone hopes to live their lives to the absolute fullest everyday. The delivery of the lyrics can move the listener to believe the sincerity of his wish.
3) The Script. (2008). “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved”. The Script. The sincere vocals of this song convey the message to never give up on true love no matter how unrealistic it may seem. This ballad uses the strong vocals in order to express the truthfulness behind the statement that he is making towards his love. The muted tones of guitar and drums as music help to assist in making sure that the message is the most prominent point in the song.
4) Allen, Kris. (2010). “The Truth”. Kris Allen. This song focuses on relationships that are falling apart, and both people being too afraid to end it. This idea is extremely relatable to today's society due to the fact that many relationships end after long periods of slowly falling apart. The lyrics, filled with intricate metaphors, paired with strong vocals create a heartfelt song that can move the listeners to feel the feelings that he is.  
5) Greenday. (1997). “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)”. Nimrod. Rather than being an average love song, this song is about taking every moment of life and living it to the fullest. The underlying guitar melody emphasize the smooth vocals and assist in conveying the message.
6) Coldplay. (2005). “Fix You”. X&Y. Using a dueling point of view, this song is about helping the one you love most when they feel they can do nothing more. The lyrics contain moving symbols to assist the listener in believing that any object is capable of helping them through anything.
7) Iglesias, Enrique. (2001). “Hero”. Escape. Strong vocals convey the message of assisting people in the roughest points of their lives. The soft guitar melody acts as to highlight the questioning lyrics and make them stand out.
8) Maroon 5. (2004). “She Will Be Loved”. Songs About Jane. Focusing on the controversial topic of being comfortable in one’s own skin, smooth vocals with backup from the band convey the extremely important message. The lyrics focus specifically on one insecure teenage girl, but it is alluding to the entire population.
9) U2. (2005). “City of Blinding Lights”. How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. Strong lyrics with many symbols express that everyone should own ones’ beauty. The harmonious backup of the band take some focus away from the perfectly crafted lyrics, but no too much as to lose the message.
10) Nickelback. (2008). “Gotta Be Somebody”. Dark Horse. The main idea of this song is to settle for nothing less than one's’ dreams due to the fact that every dream is achievable. The emphasis put onto certain phrases help express the message that they find extremely important to inform their audience of.
11) The Fray. (2005). “How to Save a Life.” How to Save a Life. The meaning of this song is ambiguous; it could mean multiple things. The general idea of this song is helping a friend in need. The lyrics of the song are set up as a narrative, telling a story about his friend. As the song reaches the chorus, the vocalists’ voice becomes more hostile and urgent, making the listener believe that it is a very important part of the song.
12) Thomas, Rob. (2009). “Her Diamonds”. Cradlesong. Conveying his message through powerful vocals, this song is about a failing relationship trying to mend itself. This song withholds an extended metaphor that is referred to several times. The vocalists’ smooth voice paired with the upbeat rhythm lead the listener to believe that it is a happy song, while underneath it has a deeper meaning of sorrow.
13) Plain White T’s. (2006). “Hey There Delilah”. All That We Needed. This song is simply a ballad to the women that he loves explaining that their lives with get better from here on out. Although his vocals give the song a sad connotation, the single guitar in the background help and lift the mood to make it seem as though they will beat all odds.
14) Powter, Daniel. (2005). “Bad Day”. Daniel Powter. The universal idea of this song is about acknowledging that you are having a bad day, and then realizing that you have to get over it. The vocals in this song paired with the music in the background leave the verses feeling depressed, then lifting up for a happy tone in the chorus.
15) Clarkson, Kelly. (2004). “Breakaway”. Breakaway. This song is about having a dream and then reaching it against all odds. This song may be an allusion to her experience on American Idol, because her goal was to win, and she did. The uplifting music sways the listener to believe that anything is possible.
16) Mars, Bruno. (2011). “Marry You”. Doo-Wops and Hooligans. Using an uplifting rhythm, this song is all about letting go and living in the moment. Throughout the song is a narrative between a guy and girl who were looking for something “dumb to do,” so they would get married.
17) Swift, Taylor. (2009). “The Other Side of the Door.” Fearless: Platinum Album. This song is about a fight between a couple for all of the wrong reasons. The vocals and background music lead the listener to believe that it is a happy song, while the lyrics hide the message that neither person in this situation is extremely happy.
18) Mayer, John. (2008). “Say”. Continuum. This song is about being able to stand up for oneself and get something of their chest. This is a relatable topic because many people are afraid to stand up for what they believe in, so he is telling them that it is okay. Through the guitar playing and the easy-going vocals, it makes it a very easy song to understand.
19) Bublé, Michael. (2009). “Haven’t Met You Yet”. CrazyLove. This song is about finding true love before you even know what is happening. It contains a significant narrative because it leads the listener to believe that he is talking to his love, rather than about her when he meets her in the future.
20) Underwood, Carrie. (2005). “Inside Your Heaven”. Some Hearts. This song is about getting closer to someone in order to assist them in their time in need. The strong vocals and powerful band make it easier to understand what the message is.

Fiction

Isla Deseoso

I stepped out of the concrete building, and breathed in a huge gulp of the freshest air I have seen in years. I would never land myself in there again. I strolled past the barbed wire fences. This would be the last time that I was escorted by anybody. I walked through the electrified gate. I was ready to be a new man; leave my past behind. I would start my new life with my new inheritance. While I was away, my great uncle Henry unfortunately passed away, leaving me with the millions that he kept tucked away in the bank for a rainy day. I was determined to not waste a single dime. I could now have anything, or anyone, I wanted.

The first time I saw her, I was breathless. I knew she would be mine. Any girl would be lucky to have me, but I’m not lucky enough to have any girl. She was the only one right for me. I started formulating a plan of how I would get her. How to tear her away from her past life, and make me the only thing she needed. How to cut her off from society so her world revolved around me, as if she was a planet and I was the sun. I can picture us living a long happy life on a tropical island I will buy for her, watching her hair blow in the beautiful tropical breeze. I will shower her with gifts. Jewels not even fit for a queen. She will not be able to resist me.

She was with another man. They were drinking coffee at Starbucks. I was three tables away. He finished his coffee, gave her a kiss, and left. She sighed, ordered another cup of coffee, and then started to read a book she pulled from her bag. I looked at her, and there was no ring. He was only a boyfriend. He would soon be her ex. I could tell that she didn’t like him that much. It seemed as though a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders when he left. I decided that now would be a perfect opportunity to make my move. I got up from my table and sat in the empty seat across from her. I watched her read, engrossed in her book for a few minutes, until she realized I wasn’t leaving.

“Do you mind?”

“Not at all. My name is Seamus, and you are? I couldn’t help but see you sitting here all alone. No girl as pretty as you should be alone,” I replied

She started to blush. “My name is Claire. And, actually, I’m not alone. I have my book. So you can just leave.”

“I saw your friend here just a few minutes ago. Why don’t you like him, f you don’t mind me asking?”

She stared at me, shocked from that incredibly rude question I just asked her. “What do you mean ‘why don’t I like him?’ Of course I like him. I love him. He is my boyfriend of seven years. Why am I even telling you this?”

“Claire, I tend to pick up on things that others don’t. For example, I saw your face when he left. No one should look that heartbroken if they are happy. And yes, why would you open up to a complete stranger about your relationship? Because you’re not happy.”

She seemed confused by this idea, as if the thought of being unhappy for seven years is unrealistic. She finally put her book down, and slowly sipped her coffee. As she thought about it a bit longer, her face changed from confusion, to frustration, to sadness. She burst into tears. I grabbed her by the arm and rushed her into the bathroom so we didn’t attract anymore attention.

In between sobs, she tried to talk. “Your right, I’m not happy. I haven’t been happy for seven years. I don’t know how to get out. Trevor has been so sweet to me. He’s kind gentle and everything I have ever wanted. But I don’t deserve him. Everybody knows it. I don’t know what I’m supp-”

“Stop it,” I interrupted, my voice becoming urgent. “Avoid him. Never speak to him again. Come with me on the new island I just bought, La Isla Deseoso. Come with me. Get away.”

A huge smile spread across her face. “Okay. Yeah, let’s do it! This is so crazy! I have never done anything so spontaneous. This is so exciting!”

“Go to your house, pack as much clothes as you can fit, and meet me outside the airport in the hours.”

With these parting words, we went our separate ways. I rushed to my penthouse apartment and started up my computer. The first thing I had to do was buy an island. Then, I bought all the clothing and accessories a girl could ever want. I bought anything that we would ever need. We were never leaving that island.

When we met at the airport, it was early evening, the sun was setting, and it was starting to rain. This was the last time she would ever see New York. After a long ride on my private jet, we landed on the island and went into the brand new house. It was better than we could have imagined. I led her to her new room, fully stocked with everything she would ever need, and then some. Later that night, we sat down at the table for our first of many dinners together.

“This was a mistake. I should have never come here. The only thing that I know about you is that your name is Seamus.”

“Everything happens for a reason, Claire.”

“I should have never said what I did about Trevor. I was just frustrated.”

“You can’t take back what you said. You meant it. You hate Trevor because he has been making you miserable for the past seven years. Don’t have any regrets; they will only haunt you forever.”

“Why are you talking like this? Your making me scared. I don’t understand what you’re saying,” she was starting to sound nervous.

“Don’t dwell on your past. It will only make all of this harder on you.”

“Make what harder on me? I want to go home. When are we going home?”

“Go to bed, Claire. It has been a long day. A big change happened. It was a long flight. We switched time zones. You are extremely tired. Go to bed.”

“Where are we even? You never told me where we were going. Seamus, you’re really starting to scare me.”

“Claire, I’m going to tell you one more time, go to bed. There is nothing you need to worry about. You are safe here with me.”

I attempted to stay calm as she nervously disobeyed my orders. She sat at the table as I got up to clean the dishes. She sat at the table as I went to the television room to watch a movie. She sat at the table as I went to the bathroom to take a shower. She sat at the table as I turned down her bed and laid out her pajamas. She sat at the table as I moved about the house, performing my nightly routines. She sat at the table for hours. I don’t understand why she sat at the table. Was she not happy with her new home? Was she not happy with me? How could I make her happy?

“You’re not happy,” I said as I sat back down at the table.

“No, I’m not,” she replied.

“How can I make you happy? This is now the only means for my existence, your happiness. Tell me, how I can make you happy?”

“Let me go home.”

“No, Claire. I’m sorry.”

“Fine. When can I go home?”

A smile crept across my face as I replied, “Never.”

“Rock n’ Roll Band” vs. “Have a Cigar”

Some songs may have similar meanings or content, but the way that it is delivered may change the whole tone of the idea. Although both “Rock n’ Roll Band” by Boston and “Have a Cigar” by Pink Floyd have a similar main idea of bands rising, Boston utilizes local imagery and reminiscent tone to express that journey a band took to “be a sensation,” while Pink Floyd incorporates cunning imagery and arrogant tone in order to show that people are not always “what [you] think.”

The tone used in both “Rock n’ Roll Band” and “Have a Cigar” very different, although both songs are about the journey a band takes as it is rising to the top. In the song by Boston, the tone is very reminiscent of how the band came to be famous, and what it was like for them on the voyage. They started out “on the road to try to make ends meet” and were soon “getting pretty good at the game.” “A man came to the stage one night” and said that they were “outta-sight” and he has “great expectations” for them. They were remembering how they got to where they were today and how fun the ride was. In the song by Pink Floyd, the tone is very arrogant because of the manager who wants to use them for their money. The manager starts by telling them that “the band is just fantastic,” but then starts to wonder “which one’s Pink.” After their great success, he tells them that the need to get and album out because they “owe it to the people” and also that they are “so happy they can hardly count.” It seems as though he is trying to help them be successful, but he is only trying to get money out of them. The tones used throughout both songs are very contradictory.

In both “Rock n’ Roll Band” and “Have a Cigar,” imagery is used, but with different connotations. In the song by Boston, the imagery is influenced heavily by the idea of local color. Then their band was just starting up, they were “just another band out of Boston” who were “playin’ in all the bars, sleepin’ in [their] cars/ and [they] practiced right on out in the street.” Soon, they were “dancin’ in the streets of Hyannis,” and noticed that everyone was standing “in line and didn’t seem to mind/ you know everybody knew [their] name.” They were finally “playin’ for a week in Rhode Island” where they had a chance to “sign a record company contract.” Throughout the whole song, they are mentioning places that they have been and what they did there. Meanwhile, in the song by Pink Floyd, the imagery seems very cunning. The manager tells them that they are “never gonna die,” which is obviously false, since it is impossible to live forever. After their first huge success, he tells them that “everybody else is just green/ have you seen the chart?” Throughout the whole song, the manager is feeding them lies of impossible things to happen.

Both “Rock n’ Roll Band” by Boston and “Have a Cigar by Pink Floyd contain imagery and tone, but they have extremely different content. “Rock n’ Roll Band” is the reminiscent song about the way that a band climbed their way to the top. “Have a Cigar” is the manipulative story that shows that although people seem like one thing on the outside, they might be different underneath. Both of these songs have very strong examples of contradictory tone and imagery, in order to show the journey taken by different people.

Funny the Way It Is

Many people have struggles that they fight with everyday just so they can survive. Other people have things handed to them, and will never lift a finger a day in their lives. The world is full of completely different people, with completely different life experiences. Expressing the misfortunes of others in “Funny the Way It Is,” the Dave Mathews Band utilizes contradicting irony, natural symbolism, and oxymoronic narrative in order to suggest that it is “funny the way it is” that everyone is so different.

            The song contains various different examples of narrative, and most of these examples start out with a very positive feeling and end feeling dark and sad. As he is “lying in the park on a beautiful day,” he says that he can see “sunshine in the grass, and the children play.” This is a very happy representation of the mood of the song, and the mood of the man it is talking about. He soon begins to here “siren’s passing, fire engine red” because “someone’s house is burning down on a day like this.” Now, the song swiftly changes from being happy and carefree, to be dark and dismal. The scene is set up very uplifting, but soon takes a turn for the worse into something tragic. Oxymoronic narrative is a big device used throughout the song, along with symbolism that has a very natural connotation.

            As he is “standing on a bridge,” he can see the “water passing under [him].” He then starts to think about how “it must’ve been much harder when there was no bridge just water.” In this case, the water could be symbolic of his problems, rushing toward him with no end. The bridge could be symbolic of his way to deal with his problems, or how to get around them. He is looking back on a time when he had no way to deal with his problems, and they came rushing towards him all at once.

            Along with natural symbolism and oxymoronic narrative, this song also contains contradicting irony. As he is sitting outside, a car drove by. On the radio, the “war song is playing “why can’t we be friends?” This statement is ironic because a song title that has the word “friends” in it would usually be about friendship, but it is described as a “war song.” “Somebody’s going hungry and someone else is eating out” is a speculation that he makes, meaning that while someone is suffering greatly in their life, another person could be at their highest point. When he listens to music, he realized that “somebody’s heart is broken and it becomes your favorite song.” By this, he indicates that someone’s misfortunes in life can lead to someone else’s pleasure. The idea that “one kid walks 10 miles to school, another’s dropping out” is ironic because one kid is trying so hard to succeed in life that he is going the distance, while the other kid does not have to try to succeed, but he chooses to fail. “on a soldier’s last breath his baby’s being born” is ironic because it seems as though this soldier is giving up his live in order to institute life in his child. Contradicting irony is a common theme throughout the song.

Expressing the misfortunes of others in “Funny the Way It Is,” the Dave Mathews Band utilizes contradicting irony, natural symbolism, and oxymoronic narrative in order to suggest that it is “funny the way it is” that everyone is so different. The contradicting irony compares the misfortunes of people compared to the pleasures of others. The natural symbolism reminds him of a time when his problems were too difficult to deal with. The oxymoronic narrative shows that things may seem happy, but not everywhere around you is as happy. “Funny the Way It Is” is used to show how unfortunate some people are, while others are extremely lucky.

Song Analysis 1: Man In The Mirror

The world would be a better place if everyone desired to make it better. In oreder to make the world a better place, you must start with yourself. Focusing on things that he would like to change in the world, Michael Jackson uses natural personification, dependent imagery, and open-minded characterization in “Man in the Mirror” in order to “make the world a better place” you must “take a look at yourself, and make that change.”

Natural personification is used throughout the song in order to convey the desires in changing the world to make it a better place. As he is walking down the street, the “wind is blowing my mind,” suggesting, through his word choice, has the ability to put thoughts in his head. These thoughts that the wind are putting into his head may be how to change the world due to the sights on the streets. As he continues on his way down the street, he starts to think of “a summer’s disregards,” implying that the summer does not care about the matter at hand. Later on, Jackson is describing that he has been held captive by “a selfish kinda love,” although love cannot only care about itself. by this, Jackson is trying to convey the message that the love generated towards him was meant for no one else but him, therefore blocking out the world and ignoring the people more in need of that love. The desires to change the world to make it a better place throughout the song can be seen in natural personification, as well as dependent imagery.

Dependent imagery truly shows why he wants to change the world. At one point, he is walking and he sees “the kids in the street/ with not enough to eat.” Expressing his concern about the children without enough food, he implies that something should be done to change this. When Jackson is talking about how he plans to make the world a better place, he decides that he is “starting with the man in the mirror,” referring to himself. Jackson believes that in order to make a change in the world, you must start with yourself to make that change first, and others will follow. Imagery is used throughout the song in such a manner as to make it look dependent, along with characterization which seems to have a connotation of open-mindedness in order to express the changes he would like to see in the world.

Jackson’s optimistic disposition in the song can be characterized by open-mindedness. As he is walking down the street, he wonders “who am I to be blind/ pretending not to see their needs,” referring back to seeing the starving kids in the street. He is asking himself why he chooses not to notice the needs of these children when they are so apparent, implying that something should be done about this. When Jackson is thinking about changing the world, he decides that he must start “with the man in the mirror,” conveying that in order to make that change that you want to see, you must start with yourself. Thinking to himself about what must be changed, he realized “that there are some with no home,” suggesting that instead of worrying about his own problems, he must worry about people who have it worse than him. Open-minded characterization can be seen throughout the song in order to assist in showing the theme of desire.
Focusing on things that he would like to change in the world, Michael Jackson uses natural personification, dependent imagery, and open-minded characterization in “Man in the Mirror” in order to “make the world a better place” you must “take a look at yourself, and make that change.” Jackson expresses his desires to improve the world throughout the song to show that change can happen as long as anyone is willing to start with themselves and make that change.