english song review essay

A music review

Learn how to write an album review.

Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and tips and do the exercises.

Preparation

Matching_MjMxMDc=

Want a job as a music journalist? Here's your chance. We're looking for a new lead reviewer for Hot! Magazine but we're not interviewing for the job. Instead, write a review of your favourite album ever. We want to know why you love it and why you think everyone should listen to it. Convince us and you've got the job!

I'm certainly not alone with my choice of favourite album. In fact, Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA has sold 30 million copies worldwide since its release in 1984. Nearly 30 years later, in 2013, Springsteen performed the complete album in concert to the delight of some of his many die-hard fans.

A fast-paced, foot-tapping rock album, Born in the USA 's lyrics nevertheless carry emotional weight. Behind the catchy rock melodies that drive these powerhouse classics are stories of the dark side of the American dream. Many tracks deal with the struggles of hard-working ordinary people and the bitterness and anger they feel as life doesn't bring them riches or glory. The song Glory Days , for example, is about people in a small town looking back at when they were young and had the world at their feet while Downbound Train tells the story of a young man whose life is ruined when he loses his job. It's not hard to imagine that the artist is channelling real people he knew and the life he might have had if he hadn't become a star. The album will leave you in no doubt of the unique and extraordinary talent of the Boss.

Unlike many other best-selling album artists, Springsteen is still releasing chart-topping, stadium-filling new music and remains at the top of his game in his late 60s. It doesn't surprise me at all. This is a man who tells us our most fundamental stories about ourselves and, when you listen to Born in the USA , those stories are as relevant today as they ever were.

The first paragraph should be a general introduction to what you're reviewing. Include the title, artist, and an interesting fact about its success or how it was made.
The main body of the review needs detailed observations. Use specific vocabulary (e.g. lyrics , fast-paced , catchy melodies ) to comment on particular songs and parts of the music.
It is also important to give context. Link the music to the artist's life, or what inspired them, and the political or social context of the album.
Try to make the review interesting and relevant to the reader. You can relate the artist's work to real-life experience (yours or that of people in general).
Use compound adjectives (e.g. fast-paced , foot-tapping , best-selling ) to make your writing highly descriptive.
Finish off with a summary of why this album/concert, etc. is important.

What's your favourite album of all time?

Language level

Though this album comes out of controversies in the artist's life, it does not back off from showing her talent and knowledge of the music industry. The album I am referring to is ‘Eternal Sunshine,’ and the artist is the famous Ariana Grande. Soon after her divorce, the album was released, and doubtless the contents of the marriage were not spared. Her most famous song of the album is ‘Yes, and?’ addressing the rumors and gossip about her and unapologetically saying yes, and? to them all. The song came out with a new look of the artist and also a slight departure from her popular voice, but not the style. If not easily by the voice, then by the lyrics, you can guess the artist. All of the songs on the album are catchy and stay in your head for a long time, including ‘The Boy Is Mine’ and ‘Boy Bye.’ Despite it being my favorite album, there is space for criticism as well. There are not many deep lyrics in the songs, rather a collection of rhyming short repetitive lines, but the melody and the artist's voice make them catchy to listen to. These songs are more of dancing and rising songs, songs you listen to make yourself feel better, but after a while, they get irritating for their lack of meaningfulness and diversity. The subject in all the songs is highly related to the artist's life and past or current events and her feelings towards them. Most of the song themes are already covered by the artist in past albums. Having said that, the talent and creativity are nonetheless not in doubt. The songs are a great hit in the pop music genre, just what is intended.

P.S. Feel free to post comments.

I’m certainly not the only one with my choice of best album. In fact, “NEW JEANS” album which debut album of k-pop girl group, NewJeans received great attention as soon as it came out.

At first , NewJeans is interesting because of being the junior girl group of BTS who is the most popular k pop group all over the world. After I listened to the debut album, i felt like this is the music what K-pop is really needed nowadays. There are four songs in the album. Each song have chill melodies which is really different main current of K-pop market. This kind of music attracts a lot of fans and the debut album helps NewJeans to become one of most popular K-pop girl group. I really like the song”Hype Boy”. The name and lyrics make the audience to think the high school life and the melody is so chill and relax. The whole album maintain the same style. Because of this album, NewJeans got a lot of scores and awards.

Junior H has a total of 8 albums, and I couldn't choose just one as my favorite. I've been listening to him since the beginning of his career in 2019. The start of his singing career wasn't easy; he faced many failures with his compositions to the point of contemplating retirement. However, one day, in his last attempt, he composed "No he cambiado," a song he sent to a promoter named "Mexicano music," who uploaded it to YouTube. Junior H thought about asking him to delete it because he felt sad about his previous failures, but he decided to give it a chance. After 2 weeks, the song had 2 million views, which motivated him to release more music. One of his most listened-to albums, "Mi vida en un cigarro," features melodies with deep lyrics, such as the song "Extssy Model," which talks about the reunion with a past love, causing him great pain because he still feels immense nostalgia for that relationship. In conclusion, Junior H's albums have very good songs, mostly addressing heartbreaks, and they explain the consequences of the suffering caused by these experiences.

I think my favorite album of all time is Punto y Aparte from Panter Belico is about corridos and romantic music in banda.

In 2024 where in Mexico you listen to a lot of corrido, raps and "rock", there is a singer that I really like more than the others and I could call him my favorite, he is known as junior h and he recently gained power in the music scene, the album that I could say is my favorite is called "atrapado en un sueño" which had an average of 87 million listens, his most listened song is "el hijo mayor" with 245 million listens.

One of my favourite boybands ever is Backstreet Boys. It is an American pop group that ran popular in the midst of 90s and 2000s. I’ve made a research to learn about their background, so originally they come from Orlando, Florida and their band was created in 1993 with a help of a producer Lil’ Shy. I know names of all members of this band: AJ, Howie, Kevin, Nick and Brian. They were incredibly famous at that time and were exploding all the charts with their foot-tapping songs. The song “I Want It That Way ” was always a chart-topping single all over the world and was considered as their calling card that was recognized everywhere they went. It goes without saying, their album “Millenium” became the best-selling album of 1999 in the U.S. And surely, I was also in the line of those die-hard crazy fans who knew most of their songs by heart and were singing along. Every time when I listen to their songs it channels memories of my youth. The Backstreet Boys are still serving the world’s boyband fans today. Recently BSB have performed in Dubai and they still fill stadiums. I wish I were there too.

In times where lyrics seem to not have relevance with people’s deepest values or experiences, Spanish catholic music group Hakuna sets itself apart as a genre-defying music group thanks to its heartfelt lyricism, soul-stirring melodies, and liturgical-profound messaging. Of all their albums, the third one “Sencillamente” really accounts for the popularity this group has had in the past 5 years, bringing about 230k monthly listeners worldwide. Hakuna shapes up together and blends melodic rhythms with captivating religious messages. All of the group’s songs have come from the members’ prayers, hence the profound and deeply meaningful lyrics that each of the songs brings up. As an example, one of the most enchanting and emotional songs from the “Sencillamente” album, is the one called “Colombia”. This song was released in 2019 and talks about how even though many times we may not feel God’s presence in our lives, following and trusting him represents the purest love act we can give to him, as the thought-provoking phrase that says: “Loving without feeling; now that is true love” demonstrates. Likewise, the “Sencillamente” song digs into the beauty of adhering to God's promise despite passing through moments of despair, sadness, and fear. Furthermore, the song blends in the splendid lyrics with a high-energy, deep-feeling rhythm which makes you live what the author is singing, causing you to identify in a personal manner with the song. So, where did this group come from and how were they able to come up with such a unique and unmatched music style? Well, Hakuna was born back in the days of 2013, after World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro. Afterward, the group established itself in Spain, and since then, it has produced 5 different albums, all of them sharing exceptional liturgical ballads and eucharistic harmonies. One of the most remarkable attributes of the group is that while most of their success comes from the music group songs, Hakuna represents something bigger than just a catholic band, it represents a lifestyle-following truth as the result of being loved by God. In conclusion, Hakuna’s album “Sencillamente” is a game changer because it breaks through the long-established conventional boundaries of what is considered a religious-themed song. Also, it sets itself apart since it brings together enchanting melodies, devotional lyrics, and a mystical atmosphere all together, thereby playing out life-inspiring songs that certainly will touch the deepest of your soul and heart.

With different music exponents 2022 was marked by the pop music industry, nevertheless there was a new artist incorporated to the big leagues of the music and her name is Rosalía. The self-denominated “Motomami” is a Spanish singer and composer of 31 years old. She came to change the music paradigms by including melodies as “flamenco” to the pop music style, being awarded by Billboard with the Rising Star prize. In 2019, we came listening a catchy soundtrack called “Con Altura” where She got a Latin Grammy Prize in collaboration with the urban artist J. Balvin. But it was not until 2022 where she becomes internationally renowned and will lead the chart-topping in all over the world with her album “MOTOMAMI”. It’s essences an incredible and curious mix of different melodies which including flamenco, jazz, reggaeton, bachata, among others. This is an innovative and gripping album oval by both the criticism and the die-hard fans, where the imagination flew to make some fast-paced soundtracks like DESPECHÁ, SAOKO and, CHICKEN TERIYAKI. With her unmistakable voice, she has delighted several packed-halls on “MOMOMAMI WORLD TOUR (MWT)”, where the atmosphere has been electric and thrilling. While some of her songs have these characteristics, others have moving and touching rhythms, such as HENTAI and SAKURA.

Many theatregoers to MWT said that she was lived up to expectations, and it was a treat to watch. At the end of each concert, deafening applauses were heard in the halls. This year, Rosalía has known how to exploit his musical career with MOTOMAMI album and MWT. Giving these results, we expect the next year She obtains new music and greater success in the music industry.

Caetano Veloso, 81, released his most important album in 1972 called "Transa" and it's an album made when he was in exile in London due to the dictatorial government Brazil was under at the time, he among other artists were exile due to their active criticism of the political scene at the time.

Transa is an album full of experiments with sounds and instruments and it reflects on Caetano's life away from his family and country.

Yanni is a Greek composer, keyboardist, pianist, and music producer. Yanni's music is composed of jazz, classical period music, soft rock, and world music And most of his songs are made up of musical instruments. Yanni became famous with his live concert at the Acropolis. The album Live at the Acropolis is the second best-selling concert video of all time with more than 7 million copies. This concert was broadcast in 65 countries and more than half a billion people watched it.

In addition, Yanni is known because he has performed in historical places such as the Taj Mahal in India, the Forbidden City in China, the Burj Khalifa in the United Arab Emirates, and so on.

The song Acroyali/Standing In Motion was considered by the Royal Society of Medicine Journal (April 2001) because its composition is similar to Mozart's Sonata No. 448 and is thought to be effective in reducing epileptic attacks. Most of his songs don't have lyrics, so the whole message is delivered through beats, melodies, and sounds. Yanni's artworks are a reflection of his soul, his experiences in life, and his relationships with other people and cultures.

Online courses

Group and one-to-one classes with expert teachers.

Learn English in your own time, at your own pace.

One-to-one sessions focused on a personal plan.

Get the score you need with private and group classes.

Link to facebook
Link to linkedin
Link to twitter
Link to youtube
Writing Tips

8 Tips on How to Write a Music Review

3-minute read

16th May 2020

When you write a music review, you’re aiming to share your impression of the music with the reader. And when you’re reviewing an album, these tips will help you to write something that is readable and engaging.

Before you start writing a review, listen to the music from start to finish at least twice. As you listen, note down your initial thoughts and feelings.

Next, think about how you will introduce and summarize the music. As well as sitting down to listen critically to the music, it might help to listen through speakers or headphones as you go about your day.

2. Research Is Key

Once you’ve listened to the music, do your research. Read articles and interviews with the artist to gather facts about them and the music you’re reviewing. It can also help to read other people’s reviews so you become familiar with the language used in music writing.

3. Think About Context

Think about the music in the context of its genre and the artist’s history. How does it compare with the rest of its genre? Is it a classic example of bubblegum pop, or does it bend the boundary between heavy metal and hardcore punk? And how does it compare to the artist’s previous work?

4. Consider Different Angles

Think about all aspects of the album: how it works as a whole, the individual songs, the lyrics, the artwork , the instrumentation, and its production. Set out your overall impression and go into detail on anything you find interesting (e.g., a theme running through the lyrics or a repeating melody).

Find this useful?

Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.

5. Avoid Bias

If you write for as wide an audience as possible, try to be objective. Whether it’s music by your favorite artist or a band and genre you hate, try not to let this cloud your judgement. If you don’t like an artist or a genre, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the quality of the music is bad.

6. Be Honest

It might be tempting to copy what everyone else is writing about the music, but your review should give your honest opinion. If you loved an album that the rest of the world seems to despise, let everyone know!

You can acknowledge other people’s opinions and general attitudes to the music, but it is your review and therefore your own opinion matters most.

7. Write Clearly

Your review should be clear and readable. For longer reviews, use subheadings and cover different aspects of the album in separate sections to make it easy to follow. You can also include images of the artist or the album artwork to break up the text and illustrate your writing.

8. Edit Your Review

Once you’ve written a first draft of your review, think about how to edit it. Look for ways to make it clear and memorable. It may help to read it aloud or ask others to give you feedback. Make revisions where necessary, and remember to check your spelling, grammar and punctuation .

Share this article:

Post A New Comment

Got content that needs a quick turnaround? Let us polish your work. Explore our editorial business services.

What is a content editor.

Are you interested in learning more about the role of a content editor and the...

4-minute read

The Benefits of Using an Online Proofreading Service

Proofreading is important to ensure your writing is clear and concise for your readers. Whether...

2-minute read

6 Online AI Presentation Maker Tools

Creating presentations can be time-consuming and frustrating. Trying to construct a visually appealing and informative...

What Is Market Research?

No matter your industry, conducting market research helps you keep up to date with shifting...

8 Press Release Distribution Services for Your Business

In a world where you need to stand out, press releases are key to being...

How to Get a Patent

In the United States, the US Patent and Trademarks Office issues patents. In the United...

Make sure your writing is the best it can be with our expert English proofreading and editing.

Song Meanings and Facts

How To Analyze A Song

How to Write a Song Analysis

by SMF · Published January 8, 2023 · Updated January 12, 2023

English class can be boring sometimes, even for those of us who actually enjoy reading and writing. But occasionally or at least ideally, we will be given assignments that are actually exciting and interesting to work on. One of those can be in the form of analyzing a song.

One of the cool things about songs, as compared to other pieces of literature, is that first of all they tend to be relatively short. Secondly, there is usually a type of universal interest in song meanings (depending on the artist). And third, both classics and contemporary pieces can be enjoyable to research.

For instance, there’s a good possibility that with a song you’re already familiar with, even if it’s one of your favorites, there’s something about its history and composition that you will not be aware of until actually researching it. And yes, research is an important part of song analysis, which is something we will get to later.

Contemporary pieces may not be as historically-rich, but they can be more stimulating to work on since they tend to deal with trending topics, ideas and musicians. Moreover, if your teacher were to assign you a contemporary piece, chances are it’ll be via one of the more-profound artists out there. So in such cases, there can be a lot more to dissect than you initially take for granted. Or in any event, the writing should go smoother since you’re likely already dealing with a celebrity you’re already familiar with.

So with all of that said, here are some proven tips when it comes to successfully writing a song analysis for English class.

1. ADHERE TO THE PRESCRIBED GUIDELINES

You may have heard the old adage about the student who wrote the perfect paper but still received an F because he or she didn’t properly follow the teacher’s guidelines.

Musicians are amongst the freest artists out there, and when analyzing their works we may be compelled to emulate their carefree styles. But if you are in fact analyzing a song for a class project, then there will inevitably be certain rules to follow in the process. As a formal author, you should remain mindful of these throughout. Your failure to do so, may end up in your penning of a really-dope analysis but one that has to be rewritten or even rejected due to not following the necessary procedure.

2. CHOOSING THE RIGHT SONG

Perhaps your English teacher is liberal enough to allow you to choose the song of your choice to analyze. It would of course be tempting to work on one by your favorite musician, i.e. an artist you’re already familiar with and have a sound understanding of what their lyrics mean.

But doing so may not always be the best choice, especially if you have an affinity for musicians who tend to harp on trivial and/or redundant concepts or are under pressure to have the analysis comply to an intimidating word minimum.

In other words, even if you do decide to go with your favorite artist, try to choose one of their deeper, more-substantive tracks to work on. Or even better yet, you may opt to go with certain acts, such as U2 or Nas for instance, whose works are known to be more profound than that of their peers.

Another option is going with a really-popular historical musician whose song may not necessarily be profound per se but has an interesting history behind it.

“Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin”

One track that comes to mind in that regard is the likes of Michael Jackson’s “ Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin “. On the surface it may not really sound like much is going on, but in reality or at least in theory its lyrics are based on serious familial beef the Jacksons were going through at the time. Moreover, since there’s so much historical information available about Michael himself, that type of info can also be used to flesh the analysis out.

That said, you wouldn’t necessarily want to choose a song that’s too complicated. For instance, you may have a hair-pulling experience attempting to make sense out of a Bob Dylan track, as classic as it may be. And if your teacher assigns you one of such songs by force, that’s something we will get to a bit later.

3. RESEARCH

One of the biggest mistakes a person can make when analyzing a song is failing to conduct adequate research. Even if the song is by an artist you know like the back of your hand, not taking the time to research it is a big mistake. Research! More Research! Research is one of the main keys.

In some instances, especially when dealing with tracks by less-popular artists or songs that are not considered classics or fan favorites, there may not be any pertinent information out there to be had to begin with. But in many cases, you’d be surprised what can be discovered or theorized about a song if you’re willing to do some digging.

4. HAVE CONFIDENCE IN YOUR ANALYTICAL SKILLS

In other instances, such as with the aforementioned Bob Dylan, you may find yourself in a situation where there isn’t any pertinent information – or sometimes even theories – to fall back on. There can be other analysts and scholars out there who have speculated on the meaning of the same song, though with none of those ideas having been verified by the artist or other authoritative sources. This may even happen with a track you’re already quite familiar with.

You go into the analysis thinking you already have the meaning figured out but come out surprised to discover that there’s nothing verifiable out there to back up your conclusions.

Under such circumstances, the analysis must be written nonetheless. This is what we may sometimes refer to as “going out on a limb”. In other words, your understanding of the song, lack of a verifiable meaning considered, may be a little far out and/or such that some people will not agree with your conclusion.

But then again, so it often is with the artists who write these songs. Therefore, so long as you can form a concise argument, you shouldn’t be afraid to put your own ideas, as unorthodox as it may be, out there, unless the artist or some other authoritative source has stated otherwise. That is to say that in the world of song analyses, the artist’s own explanation always trumps all other interpretations.

5. SEARCH OUT A NARRATIVE

Not all songs have a distinguishable storyline, but many do, especially when it comes to certain genres, such as country music. And sometimes, even confusing pieces can be made understandable if you are able to detect a narrative that permeates throughout the lyrics – even if not consistently so – and then focus on that particular aspect of the song.

6. CONTEXT

This goes back to actually researching the background of a track. Oftentimes, there will be a particular event, person, reality or what you that inspired the songwriter(s) to pen the piece. And if you are able to ascertain the context in which the song was written, that will undoubtedly grant you a better understanding of the lyrics’ meaning.

7. SONG STRUCTURE

Not all parts of a song are equal. Or rather, let’s say that different parts also serve their own respective purposes. Therefore, it is important to be able to differentiate between the likes of the following:

For instance, the main point of a song is usually relayed through its chorus. And if, via the chorus, you are still unable to ascertain exactly what the track is about, it is in the bridge where you usually find the thesis sentiment reiterated in some way, shape or form.

If you’re tasked with analyzing songs regularly, i.e. if the entire class is based on such assignments, then as time progresses you should be able to distinguish the different parts yourself (if you don’t know how to already). If not, then it is a good idea to resort to websites such as Genius which usually name the different segments.

8. MAKE SENSE OF POETIC DEVICES

Musicians of all genres (though some more than others) rely quite heavily on metaphors, allegories, abstractions, symbolisms – so on and so forth. Most of the songs out there revolve around topics, such as being in love, which musicians/poets had already worn out even before most of us were born.

So the challenge of today’s artists isn’t necessarily to say anything new as it is to relay the same old ideas in refreshing ways.

That would be the logical reason why they rely so heavily on poetic lingo as opposed to just stating their sentiments forthrightly. And sometimes, making sense out of these metaphors can be the most-challenging aspect of song analysis, though one that has to be taken seriously rather than ignored or neglected.

8. ONLY FOCUS ON THE INSTRUMENTAL IF NECESSARY

When it comes to ascertaining a song’s actual meaning, of course the lyrics tend to be exponentially more important than the instrumental. In fact these days, artists are increasingly using this strategy in which for instance they’d drop melancholic wording against an upbeat music.

So perhaps if you have a minimum-word requirement which hasn’t been met after analyzing the lyrics, you may decide to harp on the instrumentals also. Or in some (rare) cases, it may actually be that the music noticeably contributes to the overall meaning, thus necessitating granting the instrumental its appropriate attention.

It is also imperative, at the very least, to make note of the track’s producer. Yes, the instrumental is important to the sound and overall success of the song. But analysts should not make the mistake of thinking that it is on par with the lyrics in terms of understanding what’s being put forth.

Analyzing songs can be one of the more exciting activities you engage in as an English student or perhaps as a writer in general. Music is an art we all have an affinity for, and popular musicians rank amongst the best-known celebrities in the world. So this is a topic that everyone tends to be interested in.

But on the flipside of that equation is the acknowledgement that with universal interest in music comes respective individuals with their own understandings and takes of different artists and songs.

In fact these days, even the musicians themselves aren’t safe from incessant critiques. So analyzing tracks, as cool as it may be, requires serious research and hard thinking nonetheless.

Songs may be such that we usually listen to them for entertainment or to take a load off. But making sense of them and presenting our conclusions in an analysis that will be subject to criticism (and grading) can be a weighty scholarly endeavor.

Example of a Song Analysis: “Nothing Else Matters” by Metallica

It has been put forth that “Nothing Else Matters” was originally penned with the addressee being a girlfriend of James Hetfield. But James himself has described it as being “about missing friends at home, being out [on tour] for such a long time”.

With that in mind, the lyrics of this piece are quite tender, to the point where he further went on to explain that he never meant for them to be made public. But the rest of Metallica was feeling the tune and urged him to record and drop Nothing Else Matters, which proved to be sound advice, considering that this is arguably the biggest hit single in their catalog.

But the easiest way to understand what’s being put forth is to presume that the addressee is a romantic interest. So maybe when Hetfield was missing his people back home, at the top of the list was someone whom he had that type of relationship with.

So the first verse, to some degree, sounds as if he’s missing someone in general, as if their relationship can be one of a number of different types. But the vocalist closes out the passage by saying “forever trusting who we are”, which isn’t necessarily the kind of statement one would make to their mother for instance. But still, it’s like what he’s generally speaking to is their association being such that it cannot be destroyed by distance.

The second verse maybe can be taken the same way, as in having a general applicability. The vocalist comes off as someone who, up until now, was never able to fully express how he feels about the addressee. And again, making a statement like “[I] never opened myself this way” may not be the type you’d make towards a parent for instance. But that would depend on what type of relationship you had with them beforehand.

In the third verse, James speaks to how edifying his association with the addressee is. In this particular instance, he doesn’t allude to the two of them being separated or anything like that. And again, there isn’t anything like overt-romantic lingo utilized. But with Hetfield dropping lines like “trust I seek, and I find in you”, and “every day for us something new”, it would be hard to imagine that he’s like singing to his bestie.

And with all of that said, it’s really the refrain and chorus which drive home the postulation that this piece may be romantic in nature. In terms of his relationship with the addressee, the vocalist puts forth that “nothing else matters” and goes on to further expound that he “never cared for what they say” or “games they play”. And those are definitely the types of assertions that we most commonly come across in love songs.

In Conclusion

To note, Lars Ulrich is also credited as a writer of this track. So it may very well be that in its original incarnation, “Nothing Else Matters” did speak more to the idea of missing loved ones in general. But a common phenomenon we come across in the music industry is a piece being universal upon conception, but by the time the final product comes out, it does so more as a love song. And that may well be what transpired here, because half of the lyrics read as if the addressee could fall into one of a number of relationship categories and is someone whom the vocalist is missing due to their absence. Indeed, Hetfield was surprised to discover that some people have even this as a bereavement song, with both the mourners and the deceased being males.

Part of aforenoted Hetfield’s astonishment was due to the fact that he even understands that this song is usually interpreted as being about the singer ‘missing his chick’. And as for the actual thesis being relayed, it’s as if the relationship between the vocalist and addressee is a persecuted one, with the former resolving to stay committed regardless (and with no allusions to their being distance between them). That is the type of storyline you will more commonly come across in a romance-based piece.

Top Songs with Deep Meanings

Below is a handful of songs with very deep meanings. These tracks also happen to be members of the list of the most-analyzed songs in history.

Aretha Franklin’s “Respect”
Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone”
Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel”
Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child O’Mine”
John Lennon’s “Imagine”
Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Goin’ On”
Michael Jean’s “Billie Jeans”
Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
Oasis’ “Live Forever”
Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”
Radiohead’s “Creep”
Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”
Sex Pistols’ “God Save the Queen”
Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water”
The Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations”
The Beatles’ “Hey Jude”
Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry”
The Beatles’ “Yesterday”
The Clash’ “London Calling”
Prince’s “When Doves Cry”
The Eagles’ “Hotel California”
Ray Charles’ “What’d I Say”
Dire Straits’ “Sultans of Swing”
The Who’s “My Generation”
System of a Down’s “Chop Suey!”
Sia’s “Chandelier”
Semisonic’s “Closing Time”
Foster the People’s “Pumped Up Kicks”
The Beatles’ “Let It Be”
The Beatles’ “Blackbird”
Green Day’s “American Idiot”
Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA”
Bob Marley’s “I Shot the Sheriff”
The Smiths’ “There is a Light That Never Goes Out”
Third Eye Blind’s “Semi-Charmed Life”
Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight”
ABBA’s “Dancing Queen”
2Pac’s “Changes”
Eminem’s “Lose Yourself”
Eminem’s “The Way I Am”
The Smiths’ “How Soon Is Now”
Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart”

It is important to state that there are literally thousands of more songs equally as deep or even deeper than the ones mentioned above. The list is therefore not exhaustive.

No related posts.

Song Meanings & Facts

Terms and Conditions

Share full article

Supported by

Mentor Texts

Making an Argument Via Descriptive Detail: Music Reviews

A Times look at one of many remixes of “Old Town Road,” and a student review of Greta Van Fleet’s debut album, demonstrate how cultural reviews can make a case.

By Katherine Schulten and Michael Gonchar

Our new Mentor Text series spotlights writing from The Times that students can learn from and emulate.

This entry, like several others we are publishing, aims to help support students participating in our Fifth Annual Student Review Contest . Each spotlights both a Times review and a review written by a teenager winner of one of our previous review contests.

For even more on teaching with reviews, please see our unit overview .

Writing a review is making an argument. When you experience a creative work, whether a video game, an art exhibit, a dance performance or a TV sit-com, you naturally have an opinion (“This show is hilarious!”), and, when describing your reaction, you naturally provide details to back it up. (“I laughed out loud the entire time. The relationship between the father and son is so real.”)

In other words, you make a claim and support it with evidence. Sound familiar?

Though forming opinions — we loved the movie, we hated the app update, we liked the new album — is easy, articulating the reasoning behind our reactions can be challenging. And learning how to express those ideas in writing isn’t just an English-class skill, it’s also a good exercise for developing important critical thinking, self-reflection and social skills.

We’ve selected two mentor texts — one by a Times critic, and one by a student — to show how using relevant and specific details can help. Both review music, because describing it can be such a difficult task. You may have heard the famous line “Writing about music is like dancing about architecture.” How do you express why you like a song? The catchy rhythm? The sultry voice? The “ecstatic and raucous, at times melancholy, lonely and oddly retrospective” quality, as Maya Charlton, one of our 2016 Student Review Contest winners, puts it in her piece about “Listening to The (Not So) Modern Lovers Forty Years Later”?

It’s not easy, but we hope the activities below can help.

Note to teachers: We’ve chosen the longest-running No. 1 single in the 61-year history of Billboard’s Hot 100 chart for our Times mentor text, both because your students will know it and because the video is safe for school viewing, but you can easily choose any music video from The Times’s The Playlist column and do this same exercise.

Before You Read

Yes, yes, we know you may be sick of “Old Town Road,” but, for the sake of this exercise, you’re going to take a step back and look at it not just as a consumer, but as a critic.

First, though, consider: What is your relationship with this song? When do you first remember hearing it? What was your reaction then? How do you feel about it now? Which of the many, many remixes have you heard? Which have you liked best? As a critic, your own history with a work, artist or genre will affect what you hear and how you appraise it, so it is helpful to think about that before you write.

Now, take 2 minutes and 52 seconds and watch. Write down as many words and phrases as you can think of to describe the music, the lyrics, the video, the role of the individual artists, and the package as a whole. Push yourself to catalog as many details, and as many of your own reactions, as possible. Ask yourself: Compared to the other versions of this song I know, how successful is this one? Why?

Then, debrief with a partner, and, finally, the whole class. What are some of the best and most apt words and phrases you came up with to describe the music video?

Finally, discuss: How easy or hard was this task? What aspects were trickiest?

Times Mentor Text: “ Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus featuring Young Thug and Mason Ramsey, ‘Old Town Road (Remix)’ ” by Jon Caramanica

The review of this song comes from The Times’s weekly pop music column, “ The Playlist, ” in which critics for The New York Times weigh in on the week’s most notable new songs and videos. These are especially useful as mentor texts since they are very short — most a paragraph each — and because there’s usually something for everyone in any edition.

Here is this critic’s review of this song in its entirety:

As of now there is no American award — not the Grammy, not the Pulitzer, not the Oscar or the Tony — that could adequately reward the miracle that is the never-ending rollout of “Old Town Road.” Each time it courts death, it pivots. This latest version is the one you’d ask for in a fantasy but never think was possible. Billy Ray Cyrus is still here, crooning. And then there’s Young Thug, less nonsensical than usual, game to be in on the joke. But the crowning moment is at the end, with the arrival of the viral yodeling preteen Mason Ramsey, who shows up to sing about his Razor scooter, cows and his giddy-up. It’s the perfect twist ending to this internet-born-and-enabled saga: meme recognize meme.

How does your description from the Before Reading activity compare to the words and phrases that this reviewer uses? Did you make similar observations? Use related words? If not, how does yours differ?

Now, take a close look at how, even in a review as short as this one, a good critic supplies evidence for his claims.

How does the first sentence acknowledge what “Old Town Road” has come to mean culturally? Why does the reviewer call it a “miracle”?

Now look at the claim, “Each time it courts death, it pivots.” What does that mean? How does Mr. Caramanica provide evidence to support both that opinion and his next line, “This latest version is the one you’d ask for in a fantasy but never think was possible”? What specific words or details does he use that seem to you especially apt or vivid? Do you agree that this version is a “perfect twist ending to this internet-born-and-enabled saga”? If not, does his review sway your own opinion somehow?

Though only a paragraph long, the careful language choices in this review work as a kind of shorthand for music fans, conveying a great deal in a word or two. In our Mentor Text edition on audience , we discuss how much a writer can take for granted that his or her audience will know. In this case the critic is writing for a general Times audience, of course, but he also knows that “The Playlist” is read chiefly by pop music fans. What does he assume his readers will already know? For instance, what is packed into a line like “Billy Ray Cyrus is still here, crooning” for those who know Billy Ray Cyrus’s work?

But even if you had somehow never heard of “Old Town Road,” or of any of these artists, do you think you would still be able to get something from this review? What would you come away understanding about the song and this iteration of it?

What else do you notice or admire about this short review? What lessons might it have for your writing?

To go further, you might take a look at the short descriptions of other songs in this or any edition of “The Playlist.” What other good examples of description-as-evidence can you find?

For instance, in his review of Beyoncé’s song, how does Jon Pareles support the statement that “Beyoncé’s exhortation is not just for this lion king — it’s for every righteous striver facing doubts”? How does Jon Caramanica show us evidence that “Justin Bieber is nimble enough to keep up” in his review of Billie Eilish’s new version of “Bad Guy”?

Student-Written Mentor Text: “Dazed and Confused: Millennial Fetishization of Flower Power Forgets the Meaning of Freedom” by Isabella Levine

Now read something written by a student. In her 2018 winning entry, Isabella Levine reviews “Anthem of the Peaceful Army,” the debut album by the rock band Greta Van Fleet. Here’s the sentence at the end of the first paragraph that best captures her opinion of the album:

The seeds of a potential rock revival are chewed up and spit out in an overproduced bastardization of rock that romanticizes the hippie era without any of its relevance or defiance.

To support her claim, this writer piles on the evidence about why “they don’t lack talent, just authenticity.”

Packaged in vagueness, themes about love or peace simply lack resonance for a modern audience. Climate change is touched upon in “Watching Over” when Kiazka sings, “And it’s our demise/With the water rising,” but the overtness found here is the exception rather than the rule. A more typical lyric borders on the ridiculous, like, “March to the anthem of the heart,” found on the album’s opener, “Age of Man.” Or try, “And every glow in the twilight knows/That the world is only what the world is made of,” the fluff of the acoustic tune “Anthem,” a song that might have been their “Dust in the Wind” or “Tangerine” but instead, devoid of nuance, falls flat. The track titles alone make Greta Van Fleet’s Achilles’ heel painfully clear: They are too unqualified to address these themes comprehensively yet not self-aware enough to realize it.

Now read the full review, then answer these questions:

What evidence does the writer use to support her opinion of the album?

Much of this review examines lyrics. How does Ms. Levine use those lyrics to prove her point?

The review isn’t a complete pan of the album. What redeeming qualities does she notice?

How does Ms. Levine organize the evidence into different paragraphs? What choices did she make about organization? How does each body paragraph build on the previous one to support her overall claim about the album?

What else do you notice or admire about this review? What lessons might it have for your writing?

Now Try This:

With a friend or a small group, or even a whole class, listen to a new song or watch a music video for the first time. As you listen, repeat the “Before Reading” exercise and generate as many adjectives, descriptive words and phrases as you can to describe what you hear (and see). Listen or watch a few more times, adding to your list.

Push yourself to come up with interesting, fresh words and precise descriptions.

Then, see if you can make a claim — state an opinion — about the music. This can be a simple statement (“this album gets you dancing”) or something more vivid, like Ms. Charlton did in her review (“‘The Modern Lovers’ is an album for being young and driving to nowhere in particular at 2 a.m.”) But whatever opinion you assert, now pull from your list of descriptions to write a paragraph full of supporting details.

Then, exchange your work with others, or take turns reading them aloud. What commonalities are there? Whose work defends a claim best, and how does t hat paragraph do it? What ideas can you borrow from others for your own writing?

More Review Mentor Texts for Supporting a Claim

We have suggested a range of texts here, but we also hope students will find their own by searching The Times or other media sources for reviews of the art and culture that matters most to them.

Times Review: “ Standing Up for Humanity in a World of Screens ,” a 2019 art review by Jason Ferago

One of Europe’s leading museums has devoted its biggest show of the season to someone who saw the future more clearly than any artist of his century. He was a restless traveler and a keen student of anatomy who danced across the boundaries of art and science. He blended ancient religion with new forms of representation, and sketched strange new machines that would be realized long after his death. You thought I meant that lefty at the Louvre? Forget Leonardo: I’m talking about the Korean-American conjurer Nam June Paik (1932-2006), who appears as pioneering as ever in a broad retrospective at Tate Modern in London, and more urgent than ever as a defender of human life in a world dominated by technology.

Student Review: “ Listening to The (Not So) Modern Lovers Forty Years Later ,” by Maya Charlton

With mainly irreverent, but at the same time strangely relatable, lyrics and consistently good beats (shout out to drummer David Robinson, who went on to join The Cars!), “The Modern Lovers” is an album for being young and driving to nowhere in particular at 2 a.m. It’s the rare album that is an ode to every aspect of life. It has songs like “Roadrunner” that make you sing along at the top of your lungs and do awkward Hillary shoulder shimmies while try to keep your hands on the steering wheel (“Roadrunner, roadrunner/going faster miles an hour”).

Times Review: “ Stephen King Visits an ‘Institute,’ Where the Kids Who Enter Can’t Escape ,” a 2019 book review by Dwight Garner

King’s new novel — it is roughly, depending on how you count, his 61st — is titled “The Institute.” It’s a big shank of a book that reminded me instantly of many of the reasons I loved (love?) him. His characters are the kind of people who hear the trains in the night. The music is always good. He swings low to the ground. He gets closer to the realities and attitudes of working-class life in America than any living writer I can think of. In “The Institute” people worry about taking their Prilosec. They’re happy to notice that the Denny’s and the bowling alley are right next to each other.

Student Review: “ ‘The Good Place’: Astute, Heartwarming and Relevant All at Once ,” a winning TV review from our 2018 Student Review Contest, By Helen Deng

Through existential crises and unexpected revelations, viewers are increasingly shown that nothing is black-and-white — this world even features a literal Middle Place. The plot may be unpredictable, but its overarching theme of ethics becomes consistently more important and insightful in this age. As our current nation confirms a man onto the Supreme Court because he sexually assaulted a woman while only being “a boy in college” and school shootings continue due to contentious beliefs around our “right to bear arms,” the ethical battle between the overall good versus personal values rages on.

Times Review: “ A Brave Graphic Memoir of a Childhood Shadowed by a Parent’s Addiction ,” a 2018 book review by Patricia McCormick

… “Hey, Kiddo” is a testament to the power of art and creativity — and a chain-smoking grandfather — to save your life. Rendered in shades of gray with touches of burnt orange, the drawings are not lovely, but they are perfect. Their hectic lines convey the chaos and complexity of a life where addiction is a backdrop. The crowded panels portray the constant drama. And the characters’ facial expressions communicate a world of confusion, anger, shame and, ultimately, resignation. They are eloquent in a way that mere words are not.

Most Popular

13 days ago

AI or Not AI? A Student Suspects One Of Their Peer Reviewer Was A Bot

12 days ago

How To Summarize A Research Article

Loose vs lose, how to cite a blog, apa paraphrasing, writing a music review.

Steps for Writing a Music Review

You will need to listen to the album or song you are going to write a review about with concentration. It is better to listen to the source material at least three-four times, with intervals.
While listening to your selected music, take notes on what is good and bad in the album or song, what impressed you and what did not impress you.
When beginning the writing of your review, include some background information: name of the group, genre they play in, the album’s tracklist, date of release, and so on.
After writing the background information, write an evaluation of the music, usually a paragraph for each category. The categories are usually the lyrics (for example, whether it was meaningful or not), vocals, the instrumentation, quality of performance, general impression of the album/song, and its originality. If you are reviewing an album, you can focus on particular tracks, if you like, but make sure the review covers the whole album.
After writing the evaluation portion, summarize your impressions and give a rating. It is common to give a 5-point or 10-point rating i.e. “Cool Kids” earns 4/5.
Edit your review a few times and check if the factual information you wrote about the music group is correct. Use book citation machine if you used any works as references in your review. This way people will know that you didn’t just come up with the details on the spot.

Key Points to Consider

If you are not a professional musician, giving your opinion about music you have just listened to might be difficult. This is why you need to listen to the source material at least a few times to let it sink in. After listening to your chosen music a few times, you will be able to notice nuances, and find something special about every song you listen to (or you may discover there is nothing special about it, which is also a piece of material for your review).
While writing about music, it is better to use language that describes your emotions rather than facts. If you say, “The drums in this album are pretty decent,” nobody will bat an eye; however, if you write something like, “The drums in this album reminded me of a heavy machine gun combined with a jackhammer thrown in,” the impression created by your words will be stronger and more vivid.
Quality over quantity. A music review is not a genre where you need to write lengthy academic content; 250-300 words is more than enough. Just keep in mind: it should be high quality writing.
If you like the artist on whose music you are writing a review, try not to be biased. Your feelings towards a musician can be spotted easily, and after this, the credibility of your review will be zero.

Remember, you can always get an idea of how your review should look like from the texts of others. Even academic writing services show that people tend to search for similar texts. As such, you can find them using the services of some websites, described in those reviews.

Do and Don’t

Common mistakes when writing a music review.

– Being biased in your review rather than being objectively critical or praising.

– Writing long reviews that lack specific details.

– Writing either entirely positive or super negative reviews.

– Forgetting to check the factual information in the review after finishing the writing process.

Comments (0)

Welcome to A*Help comments!

We’re all about debate and discussion at A*Help.

We value the diverse opinions of users, so you may find points of view that you don’t agree with. And that’s cool. However, there are certain things we’re not OK with: attempts to manipulate our data in any way, for example, or the posting of discriminative, offensive, hateful, or disparaging material.

Comments are closed.

More from Writing a Review

Nov 06 2015

Writing a Play Review

Mar 07 2012

Writing Poetry Analysis

Feb 23 2012

Writing an Article Review

Samples for writing a music review, album review: blood like lemonade from morcheeba essay sample, example, tosca, eno, coliseum, london essay sample, example, "cool kids" by echosmith essay sample, example.

Remember Me

What is your profession ? Student Teacher Writer Other

Forgotten Password?

Username or Email

Home / Essay Samples / Music / Music Genre / Song Analysis

Song Analysis Essay Examples

A song analysis essay examples is a form of literary analysis that delves into the meaning, symbolism, and artistic elements of a song’s lyrics and composition. The purpose of such an essay is to explore the deeper layers of a song’s message, uncover its thematic implications, and provide insights into the emotions and ideas it conveys. Through careful examination, song analysis essays provide readers with a richer appreciation for the artistry of music and its ability to evoke powerful emotions.

Exploration of Lyrics and Themes

One of the primary goals of a song analysis essay is to explore the lyrics and themes of the song in-depth. This involves dissecting the words, metaphors, and narrative elements used by the songwriter to convey a specific message or tell a story. Essays of this nature aim to uncover the underlying emotions and ideas behind the song’s words.

Song analysis essays also focus on the musical elements of the composition, including melody, rhythm, harmony, and instrumentation. These essays explore how these elements contribute to the mood and atmosphere of the song, enhancing the overall impact of the message being conveyed.

Many songs incorporate symbolism to convey deeper meanings. Song analysis essays aim to interpret and decode the symbolic language used by the songwriter. This can involve analyzing recurring motifs, imagery, and metaphors to understand their significance and how they contribute to the song’s overall meaning.

Tips for Writing a Song Analysis Essay

Choose a Song: Select a song that resonates with you and has layers of meaning to explore. Thesis Statement: Begin with a clear thesis that outlines the main themes and elements you will analyze. Lyric Analysis: Examine the lyrics closely, paying attention to word choices, figurative language, and narrative structure. Musical Analysis: Discuss the musical elements and how they contribute to the emotional impact of the song. Context: Consider the historical, cultural, and personal context that might influence the song’s meaning. Supporting Evidence: Use quotes from the song’s lyrics and reference musical elements as evidence for your analysis. Interpretation: Offer your own interpretation of the song’s meaning, supported by your analysis. Conclusion: Summarize your findings and discuss the broader implications of the song’s themes.

A song analysis essay serves as a way to appreciate the artistry and depth of songs beyond their surface level. By analyzing lyrics, themes, and musical elements, these essays provide insights into the emotions, ideas, and experiences that music can convey, making the listening experience more meaningful and thought-provoking.

Analysis of Tupac Shakur’s Song Dear Mama

The song “Dear Mama” is a song written by Tupac Shakur at the age of 25 from East Harlem, New York (Tupac Shakur). There is only one album version of this song called “Me Against the World”. The song is about Shakur forgiving his mother...

Song Analysis: Ideas, Vocals and Lyrics of "Under the Influence"

"Under the Influence" is a powerful song that is both musically and lyrically captivating. The song, performed by the Canadian rock band, The Arkells, tells the story of a man who is struggling with addiction and the impact it has on his life. "Under the...

Michael Jackson's Legacy of Healing the World

How would you feel if you were looked upon as a force that was almost impenetrable, but in a sheer instant that reality was wiped away and you had to find a way to persevere? Pop legend Michael Jackson is the perfect example from the...

Analysis of the Pink Floyd's Song Money

Pink Floyd were an English progressive rock band who were popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They were known for their sonic experimentation and for incorporating elements of psychedelia into their musical style. The 1973 release of one of their more commercially successful...

Bob Dylan: Timeless War Anthems

Throughout Bob Dylan’s early career, many of his songs reference war. There is a sense of urgency in his lyricism and it seems as though Dylan is preaching peace to his listeners. While an anti-war theme is present in many of Dylan’s songs, I think...

Analysis of Frank Sinatra’s Song Witchcraft

Released as a single by Frank Sinatra in 1957, “Witchcraft” is a song that is loved and still being loved after many decades by many people. It is not a trendy song that becomes a hit then falls, it is a song that will be...

The Peculiarities of Taylor Swift's 'Bad Blood'

‘Bad Blood’ is a music video produced by Taylor Swift. Taylor Swift is a multi-genre artist who started in country music and moved into mainstream pop. The main story line in the video is two teams preparing to go to fight. Throughout her music video...

Rhetorical Analysis of Tupac Shakur's 'The Rose that Grew from Concrete'

(Play video) From the perspective of many people, Tupac Shakur was a very creative man who used his craft to tell his story and tell the truths of reality. For this tribute, I will be focusing on the question: Did the rhetor select the best...

The Symbol of the American Flag in 'Allentown' Song

Pennsylvania has been the center of a American workers to struggling to fight for maintain a living wage, and labor rights in the early 18s century. This song describes on late 90s, many factories were closing in Pennsylvania, workers were lining up and filling out...

Review of Album the Freewheelin' Bob Dylan

'The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan' second album of the second album a famous American singer Bob Dylan. This album was released on May 27, 1963 by Columbia Records. This album consisted of 13 songs among which eleven songs were the original composition of Dylan himself. Songs...

Trying to find an excellent essay sample but no results?

Don’t waste your time and get a professional writer to help!