Name: _________________________________________________ Class: ____________________________

Mission: Cover Songs

The N.P.P.D. (Nashoba Police Plagiarism Department) has a very important mission for you, if you choose to accept it. They have been flooded with requests by Nashoba citizens to find out whether songs they have been hearing are actual cover songs or DUN DUN DUHHHHHNNN!

IMPOSTERS!!!
Today we will learn about three types of cover songs you may hear: Cover versions: songs performed or recorded by a musical artist other than the original. Usually these songs are changed in some way to make the version unique. Such changes could include genre (style), tempo, instrumentation and texture. Parody songs (imposter): songs with the same melody and song structure, but with different (usually humorous) lyrics. Parody artists often copy a specific recording or performance, keeping the same style and unique features of the original artist. Parody songs may be used as a protest device, using humor to point out problems in society (also known as a satire). Borrowed melodies (imposter): usually folk melodies set to many different lyrics. Most are of unknown origin, folk songs passed down through generations. For example, Mozart was the first important artist to use the melody for Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, but it was originally a French folk song called Ah! vous dirai-je, Maman. The melody has since been used in Twinkle, Twinkle, Baa, Baa, Black Sheep and Alphabet Song.

To explain these differences to the N.P.P.D., create an in-class performance of one of these types of songs using everything youve learned so far. Check the next page for directions!

Coates- March 2014

Song Creation Page! Cover version: all group members must agree on a song to perform. It must be a song whose original composer you can name; nursery rhymes and folk songs will not be accepted. Describe the original version of your song on the next page, then decide how you will change it. You can do just a piece of the song, but it should last at least a minute. Then practice, practice, practice!! Parody songs: all group members must agree on a song to parody. It must be a song whose original composer you can name; nursery rhymes and folk songs will not be accepted. You may choose part of the song rather than the whole, but all of the lyrics must be changed to make them both appropriate and funny! Remember: clever comedy is always more interesting! Borrowed melody: all group members must agree on a song to take the melody from. It should be a folk or nursery song (such as Twinkle, Twinkle, This Old Man, Mary Had a Little Lamb or Itsy Bitsy Spider). Your lyrics must fit in the melody, and your performance should last for at least a minute. All performances: for whichever type of song you choose, all group members must sing and your performance should last for at least one minute.

Now get to work! The N.P.P.D. is counting on you!

Original Song Title: ____________________________________________________________________________________ New Song Title (if necessary): _______________________________________________________________________ Type of Cover Song: ____________________________________________________________________________________ Group Members: _______________________________________________________________________________________

Coates- March 2014

 Coates- March 2014

 Coates- March 2014