"I Wanna Be A Millionaire So Freakin' Bad"

So, I'm cruisin' along this summer, singin' loud to the tunes emanating from my car stereo.  I'm feeling fee and easy as my husband is not in the car to remind me that I cannot sing on tune when trying to sing with the radio.  Whatever.  No one sings on tune with the radio.  So, I am serenading myself and feelin' real good when I hear it: a song that I believe is anathema to all that is good in music.  Granted, the tune is catchy, and I imagine the song is easy to dance to if one knew how to do that anymore.  But the lyrics?  Blasphemy!  "I Wanna Be a Millionaire So Freakin Bad"--that's right, a song about the covetous desires of a culture that no longer recognizes that money doesn't buy happiness.  Or so I thought.

Upon closer listening, I discover the song has a great deal to say about philanthropy and a government with a Federal Emergency Response program that doesn't work when a hurricane decimates an entire city.  Hmm...maybe I had been too quick to judge.  So I watch the video.  Yes, sexual allusions and girls in bikinis, but still, the song had something to say.  So I did it.  That's right, I challenged myself to teach a lesson with this song at its core.  And I would do it the first day of school.

Problem one: finding the song.  Needless to say, this type of music doesn't normally find its way into the my bag at the music store.  I had recently been given an iPod by my children, so I thought I would give it a whirl.  Unbelievable!  I pushed a few buttons and voila, I had my song.  Folks, I have to tell you, the first day of school rolled around and I stunned the kids in my class by plugging in my iPod, telling my new students with their shiny faces that I had a song for them to consider, and hit the play button.  Magic!  I could see the surprise on their beautificous (did I make that up?) faces.  Some began to sing along.  And what followed was a wonderful discussion on whether such songs define the youth of today, what my students want out of life, what motivates them, what they care about, what it is to engage in philanthropy, what happens when our government lets us down. I know, I know, you're thinking, really?  From one silly little song? Yup, I'm tellin' you the truth.

So now I begin to wonder what else I can do with this little magical music maker. I have another idea.  I am introducing poetry. Out comes the iPod.  I'm thinkin', "Hey, let's teach poetry through music!"  So I start with ballads.  Did you know you can immediately download Jimmy Dean's "Big John" and Johnny Cash's "Boy Named Sue"?  A whole lotta other songs, too.  What a fun way to teach plot and climax and characterizaion.  Simile and metaphor. Personification.  You name the literary term, I got a song that has it covered! Even John Prine's "Onomatopoeia." Ha!   And once again it is a huge success!  These kids can't believe how cool their teacher is!  Well, not until they actually get a grade for the project.  Then, once again, I'm not so cool.  Whatever.

Here's a joy of technology: this tiny little music box that fits in the palm of my hand allows me access to all kinds of songs that I can use to teach all kinds of lessons.  Rock, hip hop, folk.  A little Bob Dylan and Janis Joplin (two folks every kid should be familiar with!).  Technology has saved me the task of rummaging through a library for old songs that I can use to teach my kids.  Push a button and teach.  I love it and so do my kids!  Music speaks to what they know and most often they are open to even the silliest songs I bring in!  What kid doesn't want to hear Shel Silverstein sing "Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out"?  And how magical to hear Lucy Tapahonso reading her brilliant poem "Raisin Eyes." 

We can complain about kids being plugged in or we can take a clue from these clever kids and get wise.  Music and our iPods allow us to expand our teaching and, hopefully, expand our kids' knowledge.  It also provides a great way to limbo in the hallways on a Friday morning to the tunes of Harry Belafonte!  Give it a try, you might be pleasantly surprised and so will your kids.  Just don't hurt yourself going under the limbo stick!