English 12 Music Critical Analysis

1. English 12Music Critical Analysis Please take out your notebooks. 

2. Brenda’s Got a Baby - Tupac He left her and she had the baby solo, she had it on thebathroom floorAnd didn't know so, she didn't know, what to throw away andwhat to keepShe wrapped the baby up and threw him in the trash heepI guess she thought she'd get awayWouldn't hear the criesShe didn't realizeHow much the the little baby had her eyesNow the baby's in the trash heep ballingMomma can't help her, but it hurts to hear her callingBrenda wants to run awayMomma say, you makin' me lose pay, the social workers hereeverydayNow Brenda's gotta make her own wayCan't go to her family, they won't let her stayNo money no babysitter, she couldn't keep a jobShe tried to sell crack, but end up getting robbedSo now what's next, there ain't nothing left to sellSo she sees sex as a way of leaving hellIt's paying the rent, so she really can't complainProstitute, found slain, and Brenda's her name, she's got a baby I hear Brenda's got a babyBut, Brenda's barely got a brainA damn shameThe girl can hardly spell her name(That's not our problem, that's up to Brenda's family)Well let me show ya how it affects the whole communityNow Brenda really never knew her moms and her dad was ajunkyWent in death to his arms, it's sadCause I bet Brenda doesn't even knowJust cause your in the ghetto doesn't mean ya can't growBut oh, that's a thought, my own revelationDo whatever it takes to resist the temptationBrenda got herself a boyfriendHer boyfriend was her cousin, now lets watch the joy endShe tried to hide her pregnancy, from her familyWho didn't really care to see, or give a damn if sheWent out and had a church of kidsAs long as when the check came they got first dibsNow Brenda's belly is gettin biggerBut no one seems to notice any change in her figureShe's 12 years old and she's having a babyIn love with the molester, who's sexing her crazyAnd yet she thinks that he'll be with her foreverAnd dreams of a world with the two of them are together,whatever

3. Minority Report – Jay Z Sure I ponied up a mill, but I didn't give my time So in reality I didn't give a dime, or a damn I just put my monies in the hands of the same people that left my people stranded Nothin' but a bandit Left them folks abandoned Damn, that money that we gave was just a band-aid Can't say we better off than we was before In synopsis this is my minority report Can't say we better off than we was before In synopsis this is my minority report [Verse 2 - Ne-Yo]So many times I'm, covering my eyes Peeking through my fingers Tryin' to hide my, frustration at the way that we treat (Seems like we don't even care) Turn on the TV, seein' the pain Sayin' such a shame Then tryin' to go on with my life Of that, I too, am guilty (Seems like we don't even care) So we send a lil' money, tell 'em it's alright To be able to sleep at night You will pay that price While some of these folks' lost their whole life (Seems like we don't even care) Now it wasn't on the nightly news no more Suddenly it didn't matter to you no more In the end almost nothing changed What the hell, what was that for? (Seems like we don't even care) [Outro: News Excerpts] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fxLI0xvI9k [Intro: News Excerpts][Verse 1 - Jay-Z]People was poor before the hurricane came But the down pour poured is like when Mary J. sang Every day it rains, so every day the pain But ignored them, and showed em the risk was to blame For life is a chain, cause and effected Niggas off the chain because they affected It's a dirty game so whatever is effective From weed to selling kane, gotta put that in effect Wouldn't you loot, if you didn't have the loot? Baby needed food and you stuck on the roof Helicopter swooped down just to get a scoop Through his telescopic lens but he didn't scoop you The next five days, no help ensued They called you a refugee because you seek refuge The commander-in-chief just flew by Did he stop? No, he had a couple seats Just proved jet blue he's not Jet flew by the spot What if he ran out of jet fuel and just dropped hu,That woulda been something to watch Helicopters doing fly-bys to take a couple of shots Couple of portraits then ignored 'em He'd be just another bush surrounded by a couple orchids Poor kids just 'cause they were poor kids Left 'em on they porches same old story in New Orleans Silly rappers, because we got a couple Porches MTV stopped by to film our fortresses We forget the unfortunate 

4. Jesus Walks– Kanye To the hustlers, killers, murderers, drug dealers even the strippers(Jesus walks with them)To the victims of Welfare for we living in hell here hell yeah(Jesus walks with them)Now hear ye hear ye want to see Thee more clearlyI know he hear me when my feet get wearyCause we're the almost nearly extinctWe rappers are role models we rap we don't thinkI ain't here to argue about his facial featuresOr here to convert atheists into believersI'm just trying to say the way school need teachersThe way Kathie Lee needed Regis that's the way I need JesusSo here go my single dog radio needs thisThey say you can rap about anything except for JesusThat means guns, sex, lies, video tapesBut if I talk about God my record won't get played Huh?Well let this take away from my spinsWhich will probably take away from my endsThen I hope this take away from my sinsAnd bring the day that I'm dreaming aboutNext time I'm in the club everybody screaming out(Jesus Walks)God show me the way because the devil trying to break me down(Jesus Walks)The only thing that that I pray is that my feet don't fail me now(Jesus Walks)And I don't think there's nothing I can do now to right my wrongs(Jesus walks with me... fades)I want to talk to God but I'm afraid because we ain't spoke in so long Yo, We at warWe at war with terrorism, racism, and most of all we at war with ourselves(Jesus Walks)God show me the way because the Devil trying to break me down(Jesus Walks with me) with me, with me, with me [fades]You know what the Midwest is?Young & RestlessWhere restless N***** might snatch your necklaceAnd next these N***** might jack your LexusSomebody tell these N***** who Kanye West isI walk through the valley of the shadow of death isTop floor the view alone will leave you breathless Uhhhh!Try to catch it Uhhhh! It's kinda hard hardGetting choked by the detectives yeah yeah now check the methodThey be asking us questions, harass and arrest usSaying "we eat pieces of s*** like you for breakfast"Huh? Yall eat pieces of s***? What's the basis?We ain't going nowhere but got suits and casesA truck full of crap rental car from AvisMy momma used to say only Jesus can save usWell momma I know I act a foolBut I'll be gone 'til November I got packs to move I Hope[Hook x2](Jesus Walks)God show me the way because the Devil trying to break me down(Jesus Walks with me)The only thing that that I pray is that my feet don't fail me now(Jesus Walks)And I don't think there is nothing I can do now to right my wrongs(Jesus Walks with me)I want to talk to God but I'm afraid because we ain't spoke in so long

5. One Tribe – Black Eyed Peas I don't need no leader that's gonna force feed A concept that make me think I need to Fear my brother and fear my sister And shoot my neighbor or my big missile If I had an enemy to, if I had an enemy to If I had an enemy then my enemy is gonna try To come and kill me 'cause I'm his enemy There's one tribe y'all, one tribe y'all One tribe y'all, we are one people Let's cast amnesia, forget about all that evil Forget about all that evil, that evil that they feed ya Let's cast amnesia, forget about all that evil That evil that they feed ya, remember that we're one people http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LlGNAX_PQw One tri, one tri One tribe, one time, one planet, one race It's all one blood, don't care about your face The color of your eye or the tone of your skin Don't care where you are, don't care where you been 'Cause where we gonna go is where we wanna be The place where the little language is unity And the continent is called Pangaea And the main ideas are connected like a spear No propaganda, they tried to upper hand us 'Cause man, I'm loving this peace Man, man, I'm loving this peace Man, man, I'm loving this peace

6. Same Love – Macklemore It's the same hate that's caused wars from religionGender to skin color, the complexion of your pigmentThe same fight that led people to walk outs and sit insIt's human rights for everybody, there is no difference!Live on and be yourselfWhen I was at church they taught me something elseIf you preach hate at the service those words aren't anointedThat holy water that you soak in has been poisonedWhen everyone else is more comfortable remaining voicelessRather than fighting for humans that have had their rights stolenI might not be the same, but that's not importantNo freedom till we're equal, damn right I support it(I don't know)And I can't changeEven if I triedEven if I wanted toMy loveShe keeps me warmWe press play, don't press pauseProgress, march onWith the veil over our eyesWe turn our back on the causeTill the day that my uncles can be united by lawWhen kids are walking 'round the hallway plagued by pain in their heartA world so hateful some would rather die than be who they areAnd a certificate on paper isn't gonna solve it allBut it's a damn good place to startNo law is gonna change usWe have to change usWhatever God you believe inWe come from the same oneStrip away the fearUnderneath it's all the same loveAbout time that we raised up When I was in the third grade I thought that I was gay'Cause I could draw, my uncle was, and I kept my room straightI told my mom tears rushing down my faceShe's like "Ben you've loved girls since before pre-k tripping, "Yeah, I guess she had a point, didn't she?Bunch of stereotypes all in my head.I remember doing the math like, "Yeah, I'm good at little league"A preconceived idea of what it all meantFor those that liked the same sexHad the characteristicsThe right wing conservatives think it's a decisionAnd you can be cured with some treatment and religionMan-made rewiring of a predispositionPlaying God, aw nah here we goAmerica the brave still fears what we don't knowAnd God loves all his children, is somehow forgottenBut we paraphrase a book written thirty-five-hundred years agoI don't knowAnd I can't changeEven if I triedEven if I wanted toI can't changeEven if I tryEven if I wanted toMy loveShe keeps me warmIf I was gay, I would think hip-hop hates meHave you read the YouTube comments lately?"Man, that's gay" gets dropped on the dailyWe become so numb to what we're sayingA culture founded from oppressionYet we don't have acceptance for 'emCall each other faggots behind the keys of a message board A word rooted in hate, yet our genre still ignores itGay is synonymous with the lesser

7. Little Lady – Ed Sheeran ft. Mikill Pane Little lady, your trembling with fear Your skinny frame kinda resembles a deer You’re sitting facing the detective, oh dear The meddling nurse couldn't just leave it, She’s only gone and made it much worse calling police in, She’ll never know the gravity of the damage she's caused You’re causing scandal going mad in the ward now The coppers trying to calm you, telling you he won't let no one harm you The same question he keeps trying to ask you, who you working for? He’s talking to you like you're worth more than a dirty whore You’re having a conversation you could be murdered for You’re learning more about exactly why you need to help bring him or her to court It’s kicking knowledge you ain't ever heard before Just before he leaves, he reassures you that he knows that it's hard He underlines a mobile number you can phone on his card Begs you to use it He’s useless if you're gonna be stupid 'cos an answer hasn't come from your bruised lips, you’re on your own You’ve gotta go and give your pimp what you owe You reach your door and then it dawns that you've been followed home Before you turn around you feel a cold blade on your throat And then a voice says 'where you been b****? I wanna know.' No prizes for guessing who it is, resistance would be foolishness You open the front door, he boots you in There’s something new in him, he's silent now that fills you with terror Get your alibi straight, you could be killed for an error He towers over you; the 6 inch knife catches the sunlight At this point your life flashes before your eyes Your handbags dropped and all the contents are all over the floor Despite the mess there's only one thing that's caught his eye And in the moment of rage, he brutally murders his niece And dumps her body in the boot of his Merc in the street. Little lady left this earth in the worst way All because she got a card on her 13th birthday We're all under the upper hand And go mad for a couple grams And we don't wanna go outside, tonight. 'Cos in the pipe she'll fly to the motherland and Sell love to another man It’s too cold outside, for angels to fly. For angels to fly Fly fly for angels to fly To fly to fly, Angels to die Listen Little lady, this is just the worst way to spend your birthday It’s 30 degrees, Thursday You work late, you was with a perv making dirty fake love in his Mercedes Lady the word 'rape' sums up events that take place every night You wanna get up but you know your legs will ache if you try Then you remember that your punter went crazy last night You drag yourself to the mirror to check your face then you cry Forget the visit to the clinic you was booked in for You’ll make a trip to the Whittington were they'll look at your jaw They’ll be inquisitive and ask about your business for sure They’ll know you’re fibbing if you tell them you got hit by a door But young woman The pimp see's you as nothing but a dumb hooker Medical attention could be fatal 'cause the **** wouldn't ever let a doctor near someone that’s getting dough for him 'cause next you got poxy authorities sticking their noses in (Chorus) She's just under the upper hand Goes mad for a couple grams And she don't wanna go outside, tonight. 'cos in the pipe she'll fly to the motherland and Sell love to another man It's too cold outside, for angels to fly, For angels to fly. Little lady, your mind you've made up your injuries you can't hide with make-up You need some medical advice, you make up A little lie to say just In case the doc opens his eyes and don't decide to play dumb With any luck you'll see the same dude who stitched your top lip Last year when your pimp just lost it He wouldn't recognize you if you stared him in the face anyway 'cos all the heroin is making you age But you're a heroine for taking the strain of being a prostitute and punching bag The funds you have left go where you’re from using MoneyGram Mother had to get you out the motherland to study That was all she struggled to have a single daughter with the upper hand But little does she know you're never coming back She put you in her brother's hand only for him to formulate another plan He’s the f****** cause of your appalling state the summer, Fancy that you came to London to get pimped by your Uncle, damn.

8. Time to analyze! • Now take one of these songs and analyze it using your music critical analysis sheet. Here is an example for Minority Report, by Jay Z Literal Description:Minority Report talks about when Hurricane Katrina hit, people took pictures, and reported on the story, but didn’t help. Jay Z talks about how he gave money, but not time, and so he feels as if he may as well have done nothing. It talks about how poor people are largely ignored, and when they are no longer on the news, the problem no longer exists to the public. Analysis: The song does not benefit the dominant class, it actually critiques it, making them look self serving, greedy, and shallow. The author is a part of the dominant class – he has money and influence. He talks about how he did the people affected by Katrina wrong as well by giving money and thinking that was enough. The values presented are those of community and brotherhood. The author has disdain for people of wealth and their treatment of the poor. The media, the president, and other influential people have the power – the victims have none. Conclusion: People in power know that the lower class is being marginalized, but are not doing much to change the pattern – though this song shows some remorse coming from people of the upper class for past behaviors, and common practices.