PART I: Chunking
We will apply what we learnt about Intonation & Stress:
- Pick one of the following Lyrics and print it out:
- Mark all the pauses with a forward slash (please note there’ll probably be a pause at the end of every line as it is a song). All the words between slashes are chunks of information that should be read in one go.
- Underline the content words (nouns, main verbs, adverbs, adjectives, and stressed words). Mind that you don’t need to understand the lyrics for the purposes of this exercise.
- Make sure you can pronounce all the content words by looking them up in a dictionary. Alternatively, you can use this Text-to-speech Reader to hear full sentences; or try this Online Converter to see the transcription of full sentences.
- Mark the linked words and those that are pronounced together using arrows, and practise saying them very quickly. You may want to try the technique of back-chaining, starting from the last sound and working up to the whole sound bit by bit. For example with ‘Where do you come from?’ you drill ‘fr∂m’ ‘k∧mfr∂m’ ‘dz-k∧mfr∂m’ ‘whe∂-dz-k∧mfr∂m’, until you get it right.
- Read the lyrics out loud -as if it was a poem- until satisfied: stressing all the content words and gliding over function words (articles, determiners, auxiliaries, linking words, and prepositions). Remember not to make unnecessary pauses and be mindful of your pronunciation.
PART II: Chanting
- Now listen to the video clip by clicking on one of the following links:
- A1: What can I do (The Corrs) – Video clip
- A2: Enjoy the silence (Depeche Mode) – Video clip
- B1: Spending my time (Roxette) – Video clip
- B2: Dear Jessie (Madonna) – Video clip
- C1: Brand new day (Sting) – Video clip
- Listen to and repeat every single line by pausing the song and miming the original intonation. Remember not to make unnecessary pauses, and be mindful of your pronunciation.
- Film yourself singing the song, upload it on YouTube, and go viral 🙂
PART III: Rapping
- Below are a few clips with short rap verses:
- When the lights go out (Five) – Video clip
- All rise (Blue) – Video clip
- American boy (Estelle) – Video clip
- Try rapping these verses until you get them right.
- WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT:
- When I flick the switch, make your hips wanna dip
Now I can get you off ’cause I’m ready and equipped
Now swing for me baby, give me all that you got
Never wanna stop ’cause you make me feel hot
I know what you wanna do and that I feel the same way too
Give you what you want through the days and the nights
Yeah, it’s about time that we turned out the light
- When I flick the switch, make your hips wanna dip
- ALL RISE:
- So step back ’cause you don’t know this cat
I know deep down that
You don’t want me to react
I lay low
Leaving all my options open
The decision of the jury
Has not been spoken
Step in my house
You find that your stuff has gone
But in reality to whom
Does the stuff belong?
I bring you into court
To preach my order
And you know that
You overstep the border
- So step back ’cause you don’t know this cat
- AMERICAN BOY:
- Who killing them in the UK?
Everybody going to say “You, K!”
Reluctantly, because most of this press don’t fuck with me
Estelle once said to me, “Cool down, down
Don’t act a fool now, now.”
I always act a fool ow, ow
Ain’t nothing new now, now
He crazy, I know what you thinking
Ribena, I know what you’re drinking
Rap singer, chain blinger
Holler at the next chick soon as you’re blinking
What’s your persona about this Americana rhymer?
Am I shallow ‘cause all my clothes designer?
Uh, dressed smart like a London bloke
Before he speak his suit bespoke
And you thought he was cute before
Look at this pea coat, tell me he’s broke
And I know you ain’t into all that
I heard your lyrics, I feel your spirit
But I still talk that ca-a-ash
‘Cause a lot of wags want to hear it
And I’m feeling like Mike at his baddest
Like The Pips at their gladdest
And I know they love it
So to hell with all that rubbish
- Who killing them in the UK?
- WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT:
- Do you want to create your own rap lyrics? Try out this Rap Generator.