JC
- MUSIC FOCUS: YUNGBLUD.
- ACTIVITY FOCUS: Focus on that word ‘significance’. When you’re asked to explore the ‘significance’ of something, what are you being asked to think about? This is a chance to figure that out.
Honestly, this session could be titled the significance of music. We all listen to it – and, at some point, a song WILL change our lives in some way. Music reveals us, shapes us and inspires us.
But sorting through the enormous amount of evidence that could serve as support for that truth would take longer than what we allow for one singular class, that’s for sure.
So, let’s narrow it down.
Let’s take a more microcosmic* angle.
For today, let’s zoom in on the signficance of one particular artist.
Dominic Harrison.
AKA.
YUNGBLUD.
*Something that’s microcosmic reflects in miniature a larger object or idea.
ACTIVITY 1
Explore the significance of YUNGBLUD.
YUNGBLUD’s first Brixton Academy gig was monumental. The noise of the crowd was indescribable. Watch the beginning (or more!) of the show and make a note of the ways in which you think YUNGBLUD and his music are significant.
What do you think?
Some ideas below the next picture. Don’t look until you’ve had a chance to note down your own ideas.
Here are three of my ideas…
YUNGBLUD is significant because…
- He creates the opportunity for community.
- His music brings joy to people.
- He makes people feel important – he gives them greater self-belief.
I’ve colour-coded the ideas so that you can see which ones I might choose to allocate to which paragraph when I come to writing an essay. I would then link all purple ideas and thread them together in one paragraph about ACTION, all the orange ideas would link together in the next paragraph about FEELING and then I’d tie all the green ideas together in a final paragraph about THOUGHTS.
- Paragraph 1: YUNGBLUD is significant because he acts as a catalyst for people acting in a certain way – he has a significant impact on what they actually do.
- Paragraph 2: YUNGBLUD is significant because of the impact he has on people’s feelings.
- Paragraph 3: YUNGBLUD is significant because of the ideas he raises and the way in which he changes people’s way of thinking.
ACTIVITY 2
Explore the significance of YUNGBLUD.
l listened to YUNGBLUD’s ‘mars’ to and from school during the Covid era. The streets, normally filled with students, were empty and there was no ignoring the apocalyptic nature of things! Listen/watch the two clips below and make a note of the ways in which you think YUNGBLUD and his music are significant.
The chorus to ‘mars’:
https://youtube.com/shorts/G0L-fDKZF24?si=3bhlT8pE5Rcn21s9
And the story behind it:
What do you think?
YUNGBLUD is significant because…
When you have your ideas, allocate each to the appropriate paragraph plan:
- Paragraph 1: YUNGBLUD is significant because he acts as a catalyst for people acting in a certain way – he has a significant impact on what they actually do.
- Paragraph 2: YUNGBLUD is significant because of the impact he has on people’s feelings.
- Paragraph 3: YUNGBLUD is significant because of the ideas he raises and the way in which he changes people’s way of thinking.
ACTIVITY 3
Explore the significance of YUNGBLUD.
I also enjoyed watching the interview linked below. What does YUNGBLUD underline the significance of? Does he have the same idea about what’s signficant as the people who criticise him?
https://youtube.com/shorts/J9lx6nyBXxg?si=dIllrjXeID1zxIW9
What do you think?
YUNGBLUD is significant because…
When you have your ideas, allocate each to the appropriate paragraph plan:
- Paragraph 1: YUNGBLUD is significant because he acts as a catalyst for people acting in a certain way – he has a significant impact on what they actually do.
- Paragraph 2: YUNGBLUD is significant because of the impact he has on people’s feelings.
- Paragraph 3: YUNGBLUD is significant because of the ideas he raises and the way in which he changes people’s way of thinking.
ACTIVITY 4
Explore the significance of YUNGBLUD.
Let’s watch ‘Don’t Feel Like Feeling Sad Today’…
What do you think?
YUNGBLUD is significant because…
When you have your ideas, allocate each to the appropriate paragraph plan. You might want to consider the fact that YUNGBLUD and gang are in the capital city, the heart of the country, during rush hour…
- Paragraph 1: YUNGBLUD is significant because he acts as a catalyst for people acting in a certain way – he has a significant impact on what they actually do.
- Paragraph 2: YUNGBLUD is significant because of the impact he has on people’s feelings.
- Paragraph 3: YUNGBLUD is significant because of the ideas he raises and the way in which he changes people’s way of thinking.
ACTIVITY 5
Explore the significance of YUNGBLUD.
Watch YUNGBLUD talking to the crowd in the first few moments of the following clips and note down ideas… (in each case, you can stop watching when the songs start).
What do you think?
YUNGBLUD is significant because…
When you have your ideas, allocate each to the appropriate paragraph plan:
- Paragraph 1: YUNGBLUD is significant because he acts as a catalyst for people acting in a certain way – he has a significant impact on what they actually do.
- Paragraph 2: YUNGBLUD is significant because of the impact he has on people’s feelings.
- Paragraph 3: YUNGBLUD is significant because of the ideas he raises and the way in which he changes people’s way of thinking.
Okay, that’s it!
Now, when you’re asked to explore the significance of a character or theme, you’ll know to consider what impact that theme/character is having on the action, feelings and thoughts being presented!
YUNGBLUD is this century’s Shakespeare: read more.