Music Review

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What do we look for in a good song? We look for a connection. In Natasha Bedingfield’s 2004 release of Unwritten, we can connect. This song not only has a catchy beat, it has profound message. A message that both young and old can identify with.

When the song begins, her first verse explains that life is “unwritten and undefined.”
She uses key phrases like “staring at the blank page before me…” and “reaching for something in the distance so close you can almost taste it, release your inhibition,” which immediately provide an attitude of “the sky is the limit.” The slate is blank and we can write our own story.

As she embarks upon the second verse, her lyrics continue to speak to us. She goes further to talk about needing to “break tradition” and “make mistakes” – both valuable life lessons.

Immediately these messages are intensified in the chorus:
“Feel the rain on your skin…no one else can feel it for you…only you can let it in…no one else, no one else can speak the words on your lips…today is where your book begins, the rest is still unwritten.”
The chorus instantaneously becomes more upbeat and again she captures the attention of her listeners with a sign of hope. It is clear that it is up to us to write our book or live our life because it is “unwritten.”

Our youth can especially relate to this song. It was featured in the teen movie The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. A movie about four young girls making their way though life.

In a culture where youth are under so much pressure to "fit in" and be “popular” we need more artists who provide pure songs our youth can relate to as well as more songs that couple a meaningful message with a hit song.

Assignment 1
We all connect to different music. Find an appropriate popular song that personally connects to you.
In your journal, respond to the following questions:
• What does the song means to you personally?
• What emotion does the song evokes in you?
• What specific lyric speak to you (quote them)?
• What is the message or theme of the song?
Be specific and use strong word choice and precise examples.

Assignment 2
As Natasha Bedingfield’s song “Unwritten” was used in the movie The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants to strengthen its message, most movies have songs that are used to enhance their plot. Today you get to choose the songs to be used in the movie production of one of the books you read this year.
• Choose a book that we read as a class this school year.
• Consider the message of the book and the different high points, action points, etc.
• Compile a soundtrack for this book
• You should chose several appropriate songs that capture the plot of the book (make sure all of your songs are appropriate).
• Create an outline that details the plotline of the book.
• At each point in the plotline, insert a song that you feel would appropriately accompany that specific scene.
• Make sure to write a detailed description of each scene, the song that will be inserted into each scene, and a short rationale as to why you feel the song works in this specific location.