"So Small" - Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood has become one of the greatest country singers of our time. Dating back to when she was a child, she loved to sing for her family and in school plays. In 2005, Underwood was a contestant on television's "American Idol" and instantly became a favorite among the fans. The finale to the show was on May 25, 2005 and Underwood was declared America's new idol. Following after, she signed onto 19 Recordings/ Arista Records and released her first hit single "Inside Your Heaven," which debuted as the best selling song in the nation. The song sold $170,000. Also, she broke BIllboard chart history as the first country artist ever to debut as Number One on the Hot 100. From that point on, she continued to produce music that her fans loved and had her first album "Some Hearts" drop only 6 months after winning American Idol. That album had hits such as "Dont Forget to Remember Me" and "Before he Cheats." Her second album was released in 2007 titled "Carnival Ride" with hit singles "Last Name", "So Small", and "American Girl". Underwood's hit "So Small" describes how no matter how angry or hurt you are, you should put those feelings aside because love is all that truly matters.
"So Small" contains many poetic devices that make the song sound stronger and helps the listener feel more connected to the lines. The first lines read, " What you got if you ain't got love? The kind that you just want to give away." This indicates that the song is written in 3rd person point of view. Underwood goes on to say, " It's okay to open up, Go ahead and let the light shine through." This is an example of hyperbole in the sense that light is not actually shining through the person, but rather figuratively. Opening up your emotions is like opening a door and letting light come through. The next lines read, "I know its hard on a rainy day, You wanna shut the world out and just be left alone." This is another example of hyperbole because you cannot literally shut a door on the world. No matter how much you want to avoid the earth and it's people, you are always going to be in it. This song has universal relevance in the lines "Cause sometimes that mountain you've been climbing is just a grain of sand." Everyone at some point in their life knows what it is like to overreact and make a bigger scene over something that is not that major to begin with. Underwood states in the chorus that, "When you figure out love is all that matters after all, it sure makes everything else, seem so small." The last part, "seem so small," is an example of alliteration. Following after, Underwood writes that life problems are so easy to make a big part of your life and, "Its like a river that's so wide it swallows you whole." This is an example of personification because a river is given the life like quality of swallowing something. A cliche' is seen in the lyrics, "Time's flying by, moving so fast." The expression that "time flies" is one that is very popular in today's culture. The last lines in the chorus is another example of hyperbole when it says, " And what you've been out there searching for forever, is in your hands." No one can hold forever in their hands, but this is a figure of speech that one can hold their future in the palms of their hands.
Carrie Underwood has made a large impact on today's country music. Her strong vocals make her stand out as an individualist and her beauty draws her fans in to watch her carefully. Since appearing on "American Idol" she has blossomed into a country superstar and nothing is going to hold her back now. She has tours all over the country with her fans going crazy for more. Her songs about love, hardship, cheating, etc are ones that everyone can relate to.

Reflections on Billboard

The first song I chose to reflect on on the Billboard top 100 is "Down" by Jay Sean and featuring Lil Wayne. This song is featured as number One on the chart. The beginning of the song indicates that the song is written in first point of view perspective with the lyrics "Baby are you down?" The singer, Sean, is after the heart of a girl and wants her to go out with him for the night. The poetic device hyperbole is shown through the lines " So come on and fly with me as we make our great escape." Sean is exaggerating that he wants this girl to drop everything for the night and go out to be with him. He obviously does not literally mean he and she can fly away. A oxymoron is seen through Lil Wayne's lines "I'm a battlefield of love." When one thinks of a battlefield they think fighting, weapons, war, death etc and saying "battlefield of love" is two contrasting ideas that do not normally fit together. Also, Lil Wayne's lyrics " I'm down like the economy" is an example of a simile because he is comparing himself as being "down" for the night like the present economy is suffering today. This song, although containing a famous rapper, is more popish sounding and says a lot of modern American culture. The song is upbeat with lyrics that are repetitive and easy to follow along with. "Down" is definitely a song that is way over played on the radio and a song that people can sing while traveling in their car. Just saying that this song is number One, says that music consumers download, listen, and like this song. Like I said before, the song is upbeat and featuring the major hip hop/rap artist of this time Lil Wayne.
The second song I chose to reflect on is "Use Somebody" by Kings of Leon. This song is featured as number Nine on the Billboard top 100. This song is written in first point of view perspective. The group expresses through their lyrics "You know that I could use somebody" that everyone in the world needs someone to love and care for. There is an example of assonance in the lines, " Countless lovers undercover of the street." Throughout the entire song, the band stresses that every single person has to be with someone in order to feel complete. This song has themes that have become very popular in modern American culture. The idea that one must find love to be happy is reoccurring in a lot of songs being written today. Success is measured by popularity and this band is becoming quite popular. Not only does America love this song, but many are hoping and many have seen them live in concert.
The last song I chose to reflect on is "You Belong with Me" by Taylor Swift. This song is featured as number Seven on the Billboard top 100. The song is written in first point of view perspective and tells the narrative of Swift trying to get the attention of the boy she loves. There is an example of hyperbole in the lines " And you've got a smile that could light up this whole town." Swift is over emphasizing that this boy has an amazing smile that is so white it could light up her entire town. Throughout the entire song, Swift repeats over and over again that this boy belongs with her over the snobby, high maitenence, and popular girl. This generation loves popish sounding songs involving teenage romance. Many of Swift's songs are about this topic, and that is why she is so popular and successful in the music business. Many kids want to be able to relate to a song to listen to over and over again and her songs are just that.

Love You Out Loud

Rascal Flatts is debatably the most popular country group of this generation. The band is made up of Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus, and Joe Don Rooney. Levox and DeMarcus are second cousins who grew up in Ohio. Later on in life, DeMarcus moved to Nashville in 1992, and cousin LeVox followed in 1997. The duo began performing in clubs throughout Nashville. They were eventually joined by Rooney, who DeMarcus met while playing in a band for Chely Wright. Their first debuted album titled “Rascal Flatts” received much praise for its hits “Prayin for Daylight” and “I’m Movin On”. From there, Rascal Flatts never turned back and continued to write beautiful, heartfelt songs that country lovers couldn’t get enough of. Today, they have won multiple CMA awards for best vocal group and go on tours throughout the country. They use a wide range of topics in their lyrics, but are mostly known for their songs about love and relationships. Rascal Flatts’ song “Love You Out Loud” off their second album “Melt” (2002), illustrates how true love feels with the use of many poetic devices that bring the theme to life for whoever listens.
“Love You Out Loud” is written in first point of view perspective which helps the audience focus on the emotions of the group as they sing the song. The song begins with “ I have always been a little shy, I’ve always been the quiet type till now, and I never let my feelings show, I just never left anybody know, Just how much I was so deep in love, But now that you’re in my arms…” This stanza has rhyme scheme with the ending words “show” and “know”. The chorus’ first line is an example of hyperbole when it states “I’m gonna stand on a rooftop, climb up a mountaintop.” The group does not literally mean that they are going to climb up a mountain to express their love for someone. The group is over exaggerating that they would climb up a mountaintop, “Baby, scream and shout”, to convey that they want everyone to know how happy they are to be in love. The group goes on to say, “I want the whole world to know just what I’m all about, I love to love you out loud”. These lines contain alliteration with the examples of “whole word” and “love loud”. These lines also demonstrate how they are so full of love that they cannot help but express it for everyone to know. There are more examples of hyperbole and alliteration in the next two lines that read, “You keep bringing out the free in me, what you do to my heart just makes me melt”. The woman is not actually bringing out the free in the group, but she has such a prevailing effect on them that they are free spirited when around her. Another line that shows alliteration is
“Baby, I want the whole world to see, just how good your love looks on me”. The alliteration is seen in the words, “whole world” and love looks”. By the end of the song, the audience can be aware of and appreciate what the trio is expressing about love. They are trying to declare that when one falls in love, it is difficult to keep quiet because they are so crazy about the person they just want to express it for the public to observe.
Rascal Flatts has shown that you do not have to be a solo act to be successful in country music. They are heard on the radio everyday and millions attend their concerts nationwide. Their lyrics are so energetic to the public eye that many, even if not a big country fan, know the lyrics to some of their great hits. Throughout the years, Rascal Flatts has become an outstanding and popular band with lyrics of universal relevance that all can relate to. Whether about love, friendship, hardship, breakup, or hope, Rascal Flatts has a song to express what every person may be feeling during different obstacles in their life.

another video (hope at least one works!)

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/2028028/v2169263

video link

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2931z_elton-john-the-one_music

Bernie Taupin pics

Bernie Taupin

Interesting Facts:
Bernard John “Bernie” Taupin was born at Flatters, a farm house, between the village of Anwick and Sleaford in the southern part of Lincolnshire, England.
Taupin's mother and his maternal grandfather "Poppy" taught him an appreciation for nature and for literature (particular narrative poetry), both of which inform his early lyrics.
As a child, he had an intense interest with the American Old West.
In 1967, he answered an advertisement for talent placed in the New Musical Express by Liberty records A&R man Ray Williams.
He began to collaborate with Elton John in 1967 and wrote songs for him.
Taupin's lyrics include such memorable tunes as "Rocketman", "Tiny Dancer, "Candle in the Wind, "Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me", "Daniel", and 1970's "Your Song", their first hit.
Together, Bernie Taupin and Elton John have collaborated on 30 albums together.
Taupin has been married four times, Maxine Feiblman 71-76, Toni Russo 79-91, Stephanie Haymes 93-98, and Heather Lynn Hodgins Kidd 04-present.
Has two daughters with Heather, named Charley Indiana and Georgey Devon.
Taupin and John’s next album is due out in 2010.


Timeline:
1950- Bernard John “Bernie” Taupin was born on May 22 at Flatters, England.
1950-1967- Taupin attended Catholic Schools, however began partying before age18. He worked part time meaningless jobs.
1967- Taupin answered an advertisement and thus at age 17 began his collaboration with singer Elton John.
1967-1977- Taupin wrote numerous songs for John such as their number one hit “Your Song” in 1970.
1977-1979- Taupin took a short break from working with John and began to collaborate with other artists.
1980-1991- Taupin resumed work with John, and wrote hits such as "I'm Still Standing," "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues" and "Sad Songs (Say So Much)."
1990-2000- Taupin wrote more hits including "The One," "Simple Life," "The Last Song" and "Believe."
1991- Taupin and John starred in a film documentary “Two Rooms” which described the John/Taupin writing style, which involves Taupin writing the lyrics on his own and John then putting them to music, with no further interaction between the two. This however was a process that was to change considerably over the years as their collaborations became far more intimate in their work.
1997- Taupin rewrote his lyrics for "Candle in the Wind" to memorialize Diana, Princess of Wales, shortly after her death in a car accident on Aug. 31 of that year.
2006- Taupin and John had their first Broadway musical open in March 2006 with Lestat: The Musical.
2007- On 25 March, Taupin made a surprise appearance at John's 60th birthday celebration at Madison Square Garden, discussing their 40-year songwriting partnership together. John told the audience that without Taupin there probably wouldn't be an Elton John as the public has come to know him.
2008- present- Taupin and John are currently working on their next album together.


Song Analysis:
Bernard John “Bernie” Taupin is famous for his beautiful lyrics to almost all of Elton John’s smash hits. John has described Taupin’s importance by saying that without Taupin there probably wouldn't be an Elton John as the public has come to know him. Taupin has collaborated on more than thirty albums with John with so many hits that one cannot remember them all by name. One of Taupin’s best hits arguably is the song “The One” off the 1992 album titled “The One”. I chose this song because it has always been one of my favorite songs by Elton John and I had no idea before that John had not written it but rather his partner Bernie Taupin. Taupin’s “The One” features many poetic devices that helps capture the image of what love means within the lyrics. The song begins with a man watching a woman dancing in the ocean and running through the soft sand. This example of imagery helps the reader observe that this woman is care free and gentle spirited. Taupin goes on to say that she is “A spirit born of Earth and water”. This is an example of hyperbole because Taupin is over exaggerating that point that this woman is pure and resembles beauty in nature. Taupin agrees that when you truly love someone “The hammer hits” and “The pieces finally fit”. These are both examples of alliteration within the lyrics. In the chorus Taupin writes, “When stars collide like you and I, no shadows block the sun”. This is another illustration of hyperbole because people do not actually collide like stars. He is trying to say that the connection between he and this woman is so strong and powerful that it sheds light onto the world. Taupin adds that for each man that is in a state of confusion, “Until he walks along the beach and sees his future in the water, a long lost heart within his reach”. These lines contain many poetic devices such as more alliteration when he says “long lost heart”. Furthermore, there is more hyperbole because no one can literally see their future in the water. Taupin is illustrating that when you love someone so much they are the most important influence in your future and you have to reach out and grab them when you can.


Contributions:
Bernie Taupin is perhaps one of the greatest songwriters of all time. Almost everyone can relate to the lyrics in his songs whether about love or hardship. Elton John songs are on the radio every day, and most people can sing lyrics to his most popular songs. John brings the music to life, but Taupin is the man with the pen and paper writing the lyrics down as the first step to an excellent song. Everyone should know that Bernie Taupin is a genius lyricist whose songs are universal.