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These Kids are Magical

Last week in my Creative Writing class, I introduced the idea of writing parodies of songs.  My students immediately got excited. I showed them "Word Crimes" by Weird Al and another one about algebra set to Toto's "Africa".  That's all they needed.  Within seconds, they were humming, singing, and writing. I could have gone to the gym, and they wouldn't have known I was gone!  My students know me well enough to know that I want them to take risks.  If something doesn't "turn out" they way they had hoped, big deal.  There are many other opportunities to create a masterpiece. 

 Students managed to write their songs within a block period and a half.  This included practice time, as well as typing and printing their lyrics.  Then, each group shared a link to the Karaoke version with me on a Google doc. That way it was ready to play when it was their turn to perform.


 After the performances (I had tears in my eyes), I had students complete a Google form to vote on the following:

 funniest
most creative
favorite
best singing
most enthusiasm

 I knew who I felt the winners should be but let the kids decide. They did not disappoint. There were two clear winners: a parody of "Havana" called "Ikea" and a parody of Adele's song "Turning Tables"  called "Flappy Bird". 

 "Ikea"
Ikea, oh-na-na
Half of my house is from Ikea, oh-na-na
I left my children in Ikea, na na na
Oh, But I’m going back tomorrow
They’re hiding in a corner
Ikea, oh-na-na
I wake up surrounded by wooden pieces
Too many instructions
Closets and beds and dressers and lamps
I can’t figure this out
Takin’ forever I can’t do it
Please someone help me now
The label says this night stand is perfect
Finally somethin’ good
Oh-ohh-oh, I knew it when I saw it
It was the perfect night stand
Got me feelin’ like
Oh-ohh-oh, but then I had to build it
So I said  “Oh no” Oh-no-no-no-no-no
Ikea, oh-na-na
Half of my house is from Ikea, oh-na-na
I left my children in Ikea, na na na
Oh, But I’m going back tomorrow
They’re hiding in a corner
Ikea, oh-na-na
The screws and the nails, they always stab me
The blood is on my hands
I drowning in all the cardboard boxes
At least shipping is free
My kids are on a quest to find Narnia
I guess this is goodbye
At least I still have my perfect nightstand
Finally somethin’ good
Oh-ohh-oh, I knew it when I saw it

Ikea, oh-na-na
Half of my house is from Ikea, oh-na-na
I left my children in Ikea, na na na
Oh, But I’m going back tomorrow
They’re hiding in a corner
Ikea, oh-na-na

I wake up surrounded by wooden pieces
Too many instructions
Closets and beds and dressers and lamps
I can’t figure this out
Takin’ forever I can’t do it
Please someone help me now
The label says this night stand is perfect
Finally somethin’ good

Oh-ohh-oh, I knew it when I saw it
It was the perfect night stand
Got me feelin’ like
Oh-ohh-oh, but then I had to build it
So I said  “Oh no” Oh-no-no-no-no-no

Ikea, oh-na-na
Half of my house is from Ikea, oh-na-na
I left my children in Ikea, na na na
Oh, But I’m going back tomorrow
They’re hiding in a corner
Ikea, oh-na-na

The screws and the nails, they always stab me
The blood is on my hands
I drowning in all the cardboard boxes
At least shipping is free
My kids are on a quest to find Narnia
I guess this is goodbye
At least I still have my perfect nightstand
Finally somethin’ good

Oh-ohh-oh, I knew it when I saw it

"Flappy Bird"

Close to beating the high score
I can see my name, on the leaderboard.
Why is flappy bird so hard
Everytime I play, I get more bored.

I can’t keep up with your changing high scores
All this pressure I can’t tap

I won’t let you close enough to beat me
No my score will be all supreme and ruling
I won’t let you flap through more pipes than me
It’s time to say goodbye to this insanity.

With sore thumbs I still play you
With flappy bird my heart beats sound
I braved a hundred rounds to get here
As hard as you try no you could never knock me down.

I can’t keep up with your changing highscores
All this pressure I can’t tap

I won’t let you close enough to beat me
No my score will be all supreme and ruling
I won’t let you flap through more pipes than me
It’s time to say goodbye to this insanity

Next time I’ll be more cautious when I tap the screen
Now I admit defeat
Next time I won’t tap so frantically when I want to win
Losing is a sin

I won’t let you close enough to beat me
No my score will be all supreme and ruling
I won’t let you flap through more pipes than me
It’s time to say goodbye to this insanity

This special group of students is leaving me at the semester to take drama. I am going to miss them!

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