Favorite Elvis song

[Veronica]

I'm going to have my students write a review of an Elvis song. Suggestions?


Veronica

[Zen]

In The Ghetto (just because it's so cheesily melodramatic)
or
A Little Less Conversation ( I do really like this one)

[rubywagon]

Suspicious Minds

[crazycanuck]

A little less conversation
or
Jailhouse Rock..(the tv footage makes me *swoon*..dang he was sexy in the early 60's..)

:o When i hear the word "Elvis"..all i can think of is Stockard Channing during the "Sandra Dee" scene in Grease :o :cool:

[XMcShiftersonX]

Well, my favorite Elvis song is "Baby, Let's play house"... but as far as the appropriateness of that for a class situation, hmmmm :rolleyes:

[NbyNW]

Why not give them a few to choose from?

I gained a new appreciation for Can't Help Falling in Love after my HS choir sang the French song that it was derived from. That was a loong time ago. There's a research project for ya!

[SheFly]

I'm with Zen - LOVE In the Ghetto.

A few years ago we were in Vegas with friends, and went to a cheesy Elvis impersonator show. My friend was ASTOUNDED that I knew EVERY word to EVERY song he sang. I grew up in a house where Elvis and John Denver got put on the turntable Sunday mornings while my dad was making breakfast :D.

(Yes, I know all the words to John Denver's songs, too :o).

SheFly

[Fredwina]

Hmm so many to choose from
1.In the Ghetto
2. Suspicious Minds (although this is a near tie)
3. Kentucky Rain
4 Teddy Bear

[PamNY]

Blue Moon of Kentucky would be my choice. Elvis doing a Bill Monroe song is cool.

[Fredwina]

or more to the point , what are you hoping to teach them? That could help narrow the list

[Veronica]

This assignment is really going to be about exposing them to something they may not have an awareness of.

It would not surprise me if 20 of them have never heard an Elvis song and if ten of them said, "Elvis, who?"

I'm also using these writing assignments to expose them to Beethoven and Mozart. :)

Veronica

[Crankin]

Veronica, your posts are making me miss teaching!
The part of teaching I really loved.

[PamNY]

I'm also using these writing assignments to expose them to Beethoven and Mozart.

Which Beethoven and Mozart are you using?

Mussorgsky might be nice for them, or something like the Ravel concerto for left hand (can't remember #). Years ago, Leonard Bernstein did "Young People's Concerts" and The Great Gate of Kiev was so much fun.

I'm sure there are better examples which I ought to remember but can't right now.

[Veronica]

I haven't picked the Mozart yet. But I'm going to use Beethoven's 5th. The part from Fantasia. I haven't decided if I'm going to show them the Fantasia bit or not. Kind of depends on the kind of class I have.

Yes, I'm doing all this planning for students I don't even have yet. :p

Veronica

[malkin]

What grade are they in?

[malkin]

I saw 10 in the paper vs. plastic thread...

Teach them some skills for choosing a topic--The song I like might not be one that I could say anything about; I'd have an easier time writing aboout 'Good Luck Charm' because I could say something about sexism in the 1950s or 'Viva Las Vegas' because I could write about advertising and gambling and organized crime.

[Veronica]

I'll be teaching a 4th/5th combo this year.


Veronica

[Fredwina]

I would say that would probably rule out "a little less conversation" as it was mainly the post-humus remix that was a hit, unless you want to use both versions to make it more accessible original(you tube) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvlxRvhCB_A) remix(youtube) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0vXxH1IEmQ)
Then you also run into whether you want "rockabilly" Elvis , "Hollywood" Elvis, or "Vegas(fat)" Elvis. I like rockabilly Elvis, myself, By YMMV :p

[Veronica]

I'm leaning towards "Blue Suede Shoes". I can see kids enjoying that.

Veronica

[NbyNW]

... but do you want to read umpteen papers about the same song?

[Veronica]

... but do you want to read umpteen papers about the same song?

It's for a daily writing prompt - it's practice. I won't read them all. They'll share with partners or in a group, or I'll have volunteers read them aloud.

Teachers don't grade everything you know. It's like sports - you have practices and then you have the games.

Veronica

[NbyNW]

That sounds like a wonderful exercise! I wish more people had that kind of opportunity develop critiquing skills in a setting that is hopefully constructive and safe.

[malkin]

Daily writing is the best!
For 5th grade my daughter had a terrific teacher who assigned daily writing, and it was really useful for the kids. A group of snooty parents ganged up on her (the teacher) and complained that she wasn't correcting the papers. As former writing teachers, Brewer and I rallied to her defense, and she stuck to her guns, but she gave up on daily journal writing the following year.

[Aggie_Ama]

Hmm so many to choose from
1.In the Ghetto
2. Suspicious Minds (although this is a near tie)
3. Kentucky Rain
4 Teddy Bear

Minus Teddy Bear your list is mine! I love Kentucky Rain, my favorite. But in the Ghetto is a seriously close second and it seems unfair to call Suspicious Minds 3rd.