Week 7 – Music

Listen and Appraise

Car Wash sung by Rose Royce

Listen carefully.

Perhaps close your eyes.

Use your imagination as you enjoy the music.

You might see colours, words, pictures, or encounter lots of different feelings. Share some of this with each other after you have listened.

Play the music/song.

Move to the music or sit down to listen with closed eyes.

Perhaps give the children a piece of paper or their iPad/tablet to make notes, draw, write down any words that spring to their minds for discussion.

They might create their own listening map - a visual representation of what they hear.

Encourage the use of correct musical language when responding.

● Does this song tell a story? Perhaps the words tell a story or perhaps the music creates a story in your imagination. What is that story?

● What can you hear? Hand claps, a female vocalist and backing vocals. A prominent bassline, drums, synthesizer, electric guitar, strings.

● What is the style of this music? This is a Disco song. The style indicators of Disco music are:

○ A strong drum and bass line (drums playing on the pulse and cymbals on the off-beats. The bassline, energetic and leaps around)

○ Quite a fast tempo with a steady dance groove

○ Energetic electric guitar lines ○ Lovely string and/or orchestral arrangements as part of the song

○ Beautiful male/female vocals - soul sounding

○ The lyrics are often about love and dancing

○ Disco first appeared in the 1970s in New York ○ Disco has its musical roots in Funk and Soul

○ There are lots of fantastic dances associated with Disco. See if you can find out what they are ● How does the music make you feel? Music brings many emotions along with it and often each person feels something different. Perhaps share with each other how the music makes you feel.

● Did you like the song? It doesn't matter if you like or don't like a song or a piece of music. Think about the reasons why you do or don't.

Fast Facts Information about the song:

● 'Car Wash' was written by Norman Whitfield in 1976. It is in a Disco style but he used to write songs for the Motown record label.

● The song was written for a film called 'Car Wash' about a funky car wash!

● The hand claps at the beginning have been sampled many times by a variety of Hip Hop and R&B artists.

● In 2004, a cover version by Christina Aguilera and Missy Elliott, was released as the single for the Shark Tales soundtrack.