Analyzing song lyrics

Here you can find several ways to work with song lyrics and music videos, analyzing them with students in terms of emotions, communication, and sex.

About the project

Gender roles - Socialization - Emotions - Communication - Sex

Connection to the Education Policy: Social skills

Type of material: Projects

Target audience: Students and staff aged 9-16

Topics:Mental and social well-being, Equality, Communication, Stereotypes

Music – emotions, communication, and sex

Students can be divided into small groups or this can be an individual project.

  • Each group/student selects a song (domestic or foreign) that pertains to love, heartbreak, or sex in some way. Students should carefully read the lyrics and examine the content. What is the author saying? Is there a story behind this and what is it? How do interactions manifest in the song? What feelings are being expressed? How do the roles of genders appear?
  • The teacher selects two to three pop song lyrics and two to three rap song lyrics. Students should collectively read the texts and compare the feelings, interactions, and the story within them. Is there a difference? What is the main difference? Are the genders discussed in different ways?
  • Ask students to find music videos that address in some way the body, love, heartbreak, or sex. What are the representations in the video, is everyone heterosexual? Do women have different roles than men, and if so, how? Are women dressed differently than men? How is the body language of the people?

 

After all have reviewed the project, it's smart to discuss the overall results with the group. Students can present their findings in writing, orally, or in any other way the teacher/youth center staff considers effective to complete the process.