Music Resources
A streaming playlist can be found under the Arts | Music page. It is believed to work in most modern browsers, including on mobile devices. Otherwise, the downloadable MP3 files are included here too. Roll over the song title and click to expand each entry to see the lesson plans.
[highlight color=”blue”] Natacha Atlas [/highlight]
[expand title=”Mon Amie la Rose”]
(P) 1998 Mantra Recordings LTD.
[expandsub1 title=”Teaching resources”]Natacha Atlas chante cette chanson intitulée “Mon Amie la Rose”. Les paroles évoquent une très belle rose qui s’est fanée pendant la nuit. Elle semble être abandonnée. En une seule nuit sa beauté a disparu et elle est devenue vieille. Elle dit que Dieu lui a fait courber la tête et perdre ses feuilles. La rose semble symboliser l’espoir et la brièveté de la vie : un jour elle était jolie et le lendemain elle n’était presque rien.
1. Aimez-vous cette chanson? Pourquoi?
2. Quel en est le message ?
3. Est-ce un message universel ?
Natacha Atlas sings the song, « My friend the rose ». The lyrics describe a very beautiful rose that wilts during the night. The singer uses personification in order to express the rose’s feelings through Natacha’s voice. The rose seems to be abandoned and depressed. In one night, its beauty disappears and in turn, grows old. The rose seems to symbolize the hope and the brevity of life: one day it is pretty and the next it is hardly anything.
1. Do you like this song? Why?
2. What is the song’s message?
3. Is this a universal message?
Lyrics
On est bien peu de choses. Et mon amie la rose me l’a dit ce matin. À l’aurore je suis née, baptisée de rosée. Je me suis épanouie. Heureuse et amoureuse. Au rayon du soleil.
Je me suis fermée la nuit. Me suis reveillée vieillie. Pourtant j’etais trés belle. Oui j’etais la plus belle. Des fleurs de ton jardin.
Ou est bien peu de choses. Et mon amie la rose me l’a dit ce matin. Vois le dieu qui m’a faite. M’a fait courber la tête.
Et je sens que je tombe. Et je sens que je tombe mon coeur est presque nu j’ai le pied dans la tombe. Déjà je ne suis plus. Tu m’admirais que hier et je serais poussière. Pour toujours demain.
On est bien peu de choses. Et mon amie la rose morte ce matin. La lune cette nuit, a veillé mon amie. Moi en rêve j’ai vu. Eblouissant les nuits.
Son âme qui dansait. Bien-au déjà du vu. Et qui me sourait. Croit celui qui peut croire. Moi j’ai besoin d’espoir. Sinon je ne suis rien.
On est bien peu de choses et mon amie la rose me l’a dit ce matin. Vois de dieu qui m’a faite. M’a fait courber la tête. Et je sens que je tombe.
Et je sens que je tombe mon coeur est presque nu. J’ai le pied dans la tombe. Déjà je ne suis plus. Tu m’admirais que hier. Et je serais poussière. Pour toujours demain.
[/expandsub1]
[/expand]
[highlight color=”orange”] Aalli Soatak [/highlight]
[expand title=”Raise Your Voice”]
From La Bande Son, bande originale du film, « Le Destin » de Youssef Chahine. Copyright 1997. Distribution-France: Sony Music.
[expandsub1 title=”Teaching resources”]Cette chanson nous invite à lever la voix et à nous laisser entraîner !
1. Quels sont tous les rôles attributés à la voix dans cette chanson?
2. Pourquoi est-il important de danser ?
This song encourages us to raise our voices and let ourselves be swept away!
1. What roles are attributed to the voice in this song?
2. Why is it important to dance?
Lyrics
Raise your voice with songs
Songs are still allowed
And there is still time for many, many other songs in our life.
Raise your voice with songs
Songs are still allowed, allowed.
Raise your voice with songs
Songs are still allowed, allowed.
And if one day you are about to break
You must tell yourself that you are standing
Like a palm tree looking towards the sky, towards the sky.
And no defeat and no breaking
And no defeat and no breaking
And no fear, and no, no dream built in a vacuum, in a vacuum.
Raise your voice with songs
Songs are still allowed, allowed.
Your song in the midst of the crowd
Is moving my heart towards happiness,
Is healing my heart that was hurt, that was hurt.
With your song in the midst of the crowd,
You are moving my heart towards happiness,
You are healing my heart that was hurt, that was hurt.
Will you dance?
Yes, I will dance;
Despite of myself, I dance,
Despite of myself, despite of myself I dance.
We will tie your dream to my dream,
Despite of myself, I dance,
Despite of myself, despite of myself I dance.
Will you dance?
Yes, I will dance;
Despite of myself, I dance,
Despite of myself, despite of myself I dance.
We will tie your dream to my dream,
Despite of myself, I dance,
Despite of myself, despite of myself I dance.
And no defeat and no breaking
And no defeat and no breaking
And no fear, and no, no dream built in a vacuum, in a vacuum.
Raise your voice with songs
Songs are still allowed, allowed, allowed, allowed.
[/expandsub1]
[/expand]
[highlight color=”green”] Khaled [/highlight]
[expand title=”Abdel Kader”]
Copyright 1993 Barclay.
[expandsub1 title=”Teaching resources”]La chanson parle d’un homme qui a un chagrin d’amour après être tombé amoureux d’une fille. Il est triste parce que la fille l’a quitté et il n’est plus entouré de ses bras. Il prie son maître, Abdel Kader, de pouvoir « recommencer » et d’oublier son chagrin.
1. Discutez la fonction du souvenir dans cette chanson.
2. Y-a-t-il toujours de l’espoir ?
The song, « Abdel Kader » speaks of a man who is heart broken after falling in love with a women. He is sad because the girl left him and he can no longer be wrapped in her arms. He prays to his master, Abdel Kader, for the chance to start anew and therefore forget his heartache.
1. Discuss the function of memory in this song.
2. Is there always hope?
Lyrics
Abdel Kader, my master, my guide
Ease my pain, make me strong
Help me through the dark night of my soul
O sweet girl of my homeland
Why is my heart so troubled
While yours is at peace? In spite of love’s many pleasures
She’s turned away and left me
After a night of bliss
Abdel Kader, keeper of the keys
Keeper of my soul
I have left heaven and come back to earth
Away from her arms
I pray life is long enough to let me start over
Heal me and turn away from my pain
[/expandsub1]
[/expand]
[highlight color=”purple”] Dawud Wharnsby Ali [/highlight]
[expand title=”Lift the Veil”]
Copyright 1999 Sound Vision LP. From the Sound Vision documentary ‘Hijab: An Act of Faith’
[expandsub1 title=”Teaching resources”]Attention !! Cette chanson ouvre de nouvelles perspectives sur le voile!
1. Comment cette chanson présente-telle de nouvelles perspectives sur le voile?
2. Que pensez-vous de ce message ? Pourquoi ?
Caution!! This song opens up new perspectives on the veil!
1. How does this song present new perspectives on the veil?
2. What do you think of this message? Why?
Lyrics
They say, “Oh, poor girl, you’re so beautiful you know
It’s a shame that you cover up your beauty so.”
She just smiles and graciously responds reassuringly,
“This beauty that I have is just one simple part of me.
This body that I have, no stranger has the right to see.
These long clothes, this shawl I wear, ensure my modesty.
Faith is more essential than fashion, wouldn’t you agree?
This hijab,
This mark of piety,
Is an act of faith, a symbol,
For all the world to see.
A simple cloth, to protect her dignity.
So lift the veil from your heart to see the heart of purity.
They tell her, “Girl, don’t you know this is the West and you are free?
You don’t need to be opressed, ashamed of your femininity.”
She just shakes her head and she speaks so assuredly,
“See the bill-boards and the magazines that line the check-out isles, with their phony painted faces and their air-brushed smiles?
Well their sheer clothes and low cut gowns are really not for me.
You call it freedom, I call it anarchy.”
This hijab,
This mark of piety,
Is an act of faith, a symbol,
For all the world to see.
A simple cloth, to protect her dignity.
So lift the veil from your heart to see the heart of purity.
Lift the veil from your heart and seek the heart of purity.
[/expandsub1]
[/expand]
Copyright 1989-Phonogram-France.
[expandsub1 title=”Teaching resources”]There is no right or wrong. The truth is hidden. Circumstances change over time, but the one who speaks last will always be right.
Il n’y a ni bien ni mal. La vérité est cachée. Les circonstances changent avec le temps mais la personne qui parle la dernière « a raison sans conditions. »
1. Who is the last one to speak?
1. Qui est le dernier à parler?
2. How does this song deal with the issue of the veil?
2. Comment est-ce que cette chanson traite du problème du voile?
3. What does the artist say about young people?
3. L’artiste. que dit-elle aux jeunes? Quel est son message ?
[/expandsub1]
[/expand]
[highlight color=”orange”] Gilbert Massala [/highlight]
[expand title=”Genève”]
Copyright 1995.
[expandsub1 title=”Teaching resources”]À vous de décider pourquoi l’Afrique se trouve à Genève !
It’s up to you to decide why Africa finds itself in Geneva!
Pourquoi est-ce que l’Afrique est à la fois riche et pauvre selon l’avis du compositeur?
À votre avis, qu’est-ce que le refrain veut dire?
Quels mots utilise-t-il pour décrire l’Afrique?
Quel est le message de la chanson ?
Pourquoi est-ce que Marsala interpose des parties parlantes (sans chanter) dans la chanson ?
À votre avis, est-ce que les répétitions pendant la chanson sont utiles pour le message ou inutiles ?
What is the author’s goal? Why does he write a song with such emotional lyrics?
What does the refrain “à Genève l’Afrique est riche / à Genève l’Afrique est developpée” mean?
What words does Gilbert Massala use to describe Africa ?
Does this song have political undertones or is it merely an emotional song Africa ?
Is there a correlation between the tone of the music and the lyrics? What was the composer’s intention with the combination of the tone and lyrics?
What do you learn/take from this song? Do you believe the composer was successful in conveying his message?
[/expandsub1]
[/expand]
[highlight color=”green”] Djur Djura [/highlight]
[expand title=”The Wheel of Destiny”]
Copyright 1993.
[expandsub1 title=”Teaching resources”]Ecoutez attentivement les paroles de cette chanson. Pouvez-vous les écrire ?
Listen carefully to the lyrics of this song. Can you write them?
• Pourquoi est-ce que l’auteur-compositeur de la chanson utilise la voix des enfants ?
• Comment est-ce que le ton arabe de la chanson affecte la réaction de l’auditeur ?
• Quel est le but de l’auteur- compositeur de la chanson ? Pour utilise-t-il les voix d’enfants avec un ton arabe ?
• Does the combination of Arab undertones create a specific and sought after (by the author) reaction from the listener? What is the effect of this on the song?
• In your opinion, do the voices of children elicit empathy more than the voices of an adult would? Do you believe this was an intentional action by the songwriter to elicit this different emotion?
• What is the message of this song? Does it have a direct relation to “the veil”?
• Is this song an uplifting or depressing song? What is the reason for its either uplifting or depressing tone? Why does the author use this tone for this song?
[highlight color=”purple”] Djur Djura [/highlight]
[expand title=”You Must Act”]
Copyright 1993.
[expandsub1 title=”Teaching resources”]Traduisez la chanson en français avant de répondre aux questions.
Translate this song into French before responding to the questions.
• Pourquoi l’auteur- compositeur de la chanson utilise-t-il les instruments de musique qu’il a choisis ?
• Est-ce que cette chanson présente un point de vue politique spécifique sur la controverse du voile ?
• Quelle est le rôle des voix de femmes dans cette chanson ?
• Does this song have political undertones or is it only a song discussing the situations and the need to act in order to preserve their culture?
• Is the message of the songwriter effectively conveyed in this song through the lyrics?
• If this song was performed by children how would the message or reaction of the listener change? If it was performed by men?
• Are the lyrics of this song difficult to interpret or is the message clearly conveyed?
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.