My Personal Theme Song

Music has long been recognized for its therapeutic value. It is a well-known fact that music reduces stress and causes comfort. Music is said to soothe one’s soul. Personally, I associate music with events, people, and places. Music can affect the way I feel – it makes me smile when I’m down, and it can make me cry if it triggers some sad or moving memories. But most importantly, music gives me a way to express my deepest emotions.
 

I have many favourite songs. So why have I chosen this one? Because when I listen to it, something inexplicable happens deep inside my heart. It may be the optimistic melody that moves me and touches my heart. I may well be moved by the lyric, which expresses something I feel to the core of my being – that there’s no mountain high enough – that there are no obstacles I can’t overcome. I also like the allusion to friendship and a strong bond between people who can rely on each other regardless of the distance (… although we are miles apart… if you ever need a helping hand… I’ll be there on the double… as fast as I can). When I think about it, this is something I strongly associate with my family, friends, colleagues at work, PLN and the communities I participate in (mainly the #30GoalsEdu group).

 

As I always see the world through teacher-tinted glasses, I tend to see potential classroom activities everywhere I go. This is a song that can never make me feel depressed. On the contrary, it always gives me a little heads up when I hear it. That is why it is ideal as a warm-up or a lesson filler after a long, tiring day at school (I have the last Friday lessons in mind). It is suitable as a lead-in to speaking activities related to various topics, such as friendship, community, charity, volunteering, etc. In addition, students’ creativity can generally be fostered with lyrics of any kind – they can look at the lines and explore the rhyming pattern, and later make their own lyric or poem related to the topic. On a more bottom-up note, there are a few language features worth attention:

• (not) + adjective + enough
• the colloquial expression ‘ain’t’ + no, cause (because), ya (you), babe (baby)
• many frequent collocations (high mountain, low valley, wide river, no matter, in a hurry, count on me, make a vow, miles apart, on the double

So, stop and listen if you feel sad and blue. And if you’re happy, have a listen anyway.

http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/Xz-UvQYAmbg&source=uds

 

Listen Baby

Ain’t no mountain high.
Ain’t no valley low.
Ain’t no river wide enough baby.

If you need me, call me
No matter where you are
No matter how far,

don’t worry baby

Just call my name
I’ll be there in a hurry
You don’t have to worry

cause baby,
There aint no mountain high enough
aint no valley low enough
aint no river wide enough
To keep me from getting to you, babe

Remember the day
I set you free
I told you you could always count on me darling
From that day on, I made a vow
I’ll be there when you want me
Someway, somehow

cause baby,
Ain’t no mountain high enough
Ain’t no valley low enough
Ain’t no river wide enough
To keep me from getting to you, babe

oh no darling
No wind, no rain
Nor winter storm
can’t stop me baby
no no baby
Cause you are my goal
If you’re ever in trouble
I’ll be there on the double
just send for me
oh baby!

My love is alive
way down in my heart
Although we are miles apart
If you ever need a helping hand
I’ll be there on the double
Just as fast as I can

Don’t you know that there
ain’t no mountain high enough
Ain’t no valley low enough
Ain’t no river wide enough
To keep me from getting to you babe

Don’t ya know that there
Ain`t no mountain high enough
Ain`t no valley low enough
Ain`t no river wide enough
To keep me from gettin to you babe.

 

 

*Goal 3/ Cycle 4 Pick a Personal Theme Song