Aim: How are music and lyrics combined to convey emotion?
Summary: Students learn “Beauty and Magic,” explore the differences between two versions of the song, and analyze the meaning of the lyrics.
Materials: Musical Explorers online audio
Standards: GA: ESGMK-2.CR.2, ESGMK-2.CR.3, ESGMK-2.PR.1, ESGMK-2.RE.1, ESGMK-2.RE.2, ESGMK-2.RE.3, ESGMK-2.CN.1, ESGMK-2.CN.2 SC: MGK-2.1, MGK-2.3, MGK-2.6, MGK-2.7, MGK-2.8, MGK-2.9
Vocabulary: composer, guitar
Sing “Beauty and Magic”
Anders not only sings country songs by other musicians—he is also a composer. A composer is someone who writes music.
- Listen to “Beauty and Magic” Acoustic, Track 2.2.
- Learn to sing the verse. In each verse the music stays the same but the words change to tell the message of Anders’ song.
Track 2.2 – “Beauty & Magic” Acoustic
Why Anders Wrote This Song
“I wrote this piece in the summer of 2020, when the pandemic was going on and it seemed like everything was going wrong. The whole world seemed to be on fire. I wrote this song to remind myself that there are always good and beautiful things if you look for them. I really believe that’s true.”
“Beauty and Magic”
There is beauty and magic in this world
There is beauty and magic in this world
There’s a song in the wind everybody gon’ sing
There is beauty and magic in this world
There’s a place for everybody here
There’s a place for everybody here
For the weak and the strong, for the righteous
and the wrong
There’s a place for everybody here
(Brothers and sisters!)
There is tenderness and kindness in this world
There is tenderness and kindness in this world
If you seek you will find, in your heart and mine
There is tenderness and kindness in this world
(Repeat first verse)
Explore the Lyrics to “Beauty and Magic”
- Read the lyrics, the words to the song, to “Beauty and Magic” aloud to your students and have them reflect on meaning.
- What is the overall emotion or feeling in the lyrics to this song?
- What kind of world is Anders describing?
- Anders uses many word pairs that are the same or opposite to describe the world, can you think of some other word pairs that could go in this song?
- Using SG 16, add some word pairs to create new lyrics to “Beauty and Magic.”
- Sing the new lyrics with Anders, using “Beauty and Magic” Instrumental, Track 2.3, or the sing-along video below! This can be done as a class or individually.
Track 2.3 – “Beauty & Magic” Instrumental
Compare and Contrast Two Versions of “Beauty and Magic”
- Anders recorded two different versions of “Beauty and Magic.” Version 1 features Anders playing the acoustic guitar. Version 2 was recorded with Anders’ full band, including electric guitar, drums and electric bass.
- Listen again to “Beauty and Magic” Acoustic, Track 2.2.
- How does this version make you feel? What about the music makes you feel that way?
- How would you/show us how you might move to this music?
Track 2.2 – “Beauty & Magic” Acoustic
- Listen to “Beauty and Magic” Full Band, Track 2.4.
- How does this version make you feel? What about the music makes you feel that way?
- How would/show us how you would move to this music?
Track 2.4 – “Beauty & Magic” Full Band
- Compare and contrast the two versions. Some areas to explore include melody, lyrics, instrumentation, tempo, and steady beat.
- What is the same in the two versions?
- What is different between the two versions?
- How might these differences give the same words a different mood?
Move and Groove Together with Line Dancing
It is difficult to define where line dancing originated because it shares ideas and influences from many different dance traditions, including folk dance, social dance, square dance, disco, and hip-hop. These dances accompany many different musical traditions. Line dances are sometimes associated with specific songs, but they often can be interchanged. They are meant to be done in a group and encourage participation! Many of the dances have been paired with many country music songs. Some well-known line dances are:
- “The Git Up,” choreographed by Blanco Brown
- “The Electric Slide,” choreographed by Richard L. “Ric” Silver
- “The Cupid Shuffle,” choreographed by Bryson Bernard
- “The Cha Cha Slide,” choreographed by DJ Casper
- “The Chicken Dance,” choreographed by Werner Thomas
- What are some line dances that you know or have seen before? Where did you see them? How did you learn them?
- Can you teach the class, or a partner, some line dance steps?
Moving to “Beauty and Magic”
- Have students stand in a front facing line.
- Learn a basic line dance step.
- Grapevine to the R (one time)
- Grapevine to the L (one time)
- Use a count of 4 to quarter turn and change direction
- Start over in the new direction
- Modify to accommodate students by choosing only one step to try or taking out the direction change.
- After they have learned the steps, invite students to add their own arm movements or claps.
Creative Extension: Decorate Your Own Guitar
Many different instruments can be heard in country music. Anders shared with us that he not only plays guitar, but he makes them as well. Country music artists often decorate their guitars and guitar straps to share something special about them to the audience (e.g., favorite color, band name, special symbol). On SG 17 learn the parts of the guitar, and decorate in a way that tells something special about yourself.
Literacy Link: Coat of Many Colors
Dolly Parton tells the story of a young girl who finds beauty and her mother’s love in scraps of fabric.
Audio Tracks
Track 2.2 – “Beauty & Magic” Acoustic
Track 2.3 – “Beauty & Magic” Instrumental
Track 2.4 – “Beauty & Magic” Full Band
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