Close Read

Sometimes, it's not until a piece of art is examined in fine detail that new meanings arise. When cultural context, the artist's intentions, or even your own prior knowledge are set aside a new way of "seeing" the art can emerge. This is the purpose of a close reading, sometimes called an explication.

For this essay, you will conduct a close reading of a song by an iconic female songwriter. Your goal is to delve deeply into a song in hopes of uncovering a new way to understand it. You will have wide latitude in how you choose to engage your song. However, your focus should be concise, minute details. For example, instead of examining the Mona Lisa as a whole, in a close read, you'd consider only the hands. As always, ground your analysis in a strong thesis, supported by evidence from the song only—no outside research.

As always, ground your analysis in a strong thesis, supported by evidence from the song. Choose only one of the following songs for your analysis: 

1. Loretta Lynn, “Don't Come Home A-Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind)” (Music and lyrics by Loretta Lynn and Peggy Sue Wright, 1967)
2. Bobbie Gentry, "Ode to Billie Joe" (Music and lyrics by Bobbie Gentry, 1967)
   
3. Jefferson Airplane, "White Rabbit" (Music and lyrics by Grace Slick, 1967)
4. Carole King, "You've Got a Friend" (Music and lyrics by Carole King, 1971)
5. Joan Baez, "Love Song to a Stranger" (Music and lyrics by Joan Baez, 1972)
6. Dolly Parton, "Jolene" (Music and lyrics by Dolly Parton, 1973)
7. Barbra Streisand, "Evergreen" (Music and lyrics by Barbra Streisand and Paul Williams, 1976)
8. Fleetwood Mac, "Gypsy" (Music and lyrics by Stevie Nicks, 1982) 
9. Sade, "The Sweetest Taboo" (Music and lyrics by Sade, 1985)
10. The Pretenders, 'Don't Get Me Wrong" (Music and lyrics by Chrissie Hynde, 1986)
    
11. Kate Bush, “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)" (Music and lyrics by Kate Bush, 1986)
12. Suzanne Vega, "Luka" (Music and lyrics by Suzanne Vega, 1987)
13. Sinead O'Connor, "Mandinka" (Music and lyrics by Sinead O'Connor, 1987)
    
14. Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" (Music and lyrics by Tracy Chapman, 1988)
15. Gloria Estefan, "Here We Are" (Music and lyrics by Gloria Estefan, 1989)
16. Mariah Carey, "Vision of Love" (Music by Mariah Carey and Ben Margulies, 1990)
17. Monie Love, "Monie in the Middle" (Music and lyrics by Monie Love and Steele, 1990)
    
18. Hole, "Doll Parts" (Music and lyrics by Courtney Love, 1994)
19. Fiona Apple, "Criminal" (Music and lyrics by Fiona Apple, 1997)
20. Shania Twain, "You’re Still the One" (Music and lyrics by Shania Twain and Robert "Mutt" Lange, 1997)
21. Madonna, "The Power of Goodbye" (Music and lyrics by Madonna and Rick Nowels, 1998) 
22. Aimee Mann, "Save Me" (Music and lyrics by Aimee Mann, 1999)
23. Alicia Keys, "Fallin'" (Music and lyrics by Alicia Keys, 2001) 
24. Missy Elliott, "Work It" Music and lyrics by Missy Elliott and Timbaland, 2002)
25. Norah Jones, "Come Away with Me" (Music and lyrics by Norah Jones, 2002)
    
26. Lady Gaga, "Poker Face" (Music and lyrics by Lady Gaga and Nador Khayat, 2008)
    
27. Florence + The Machine, "The Dog Days are Over" (Music and lyrics by Florence Welch and Isabella Summers, 2009)
    
28. Taylor Swift, "All Too Well" (Music and lyrics by Taylor Swift and Liz Rose, 2012/2021) 
    
29. M.I.A., "Bad Girls" (Music and lyrics by M.I.A., Nate "Danja" Hills, and Marcella Araica, 2012)
30. Lorde, "Royals" (Music and lyrics by Lorde and Joel Little, 2013)
31. Adele, "Hello" (Music and lyrics by Adele and Greg Kurstin, 2015) 
32. Andra Day, "Rise Up" (Music and lyrics by Andra Day and Jennifer Decilveo, 2015)
33. Lizzo, "Good as Hell" (Music and lyrics by Lizzo and Ricky Reed, 2016)
34. Billie Eilish, "Bad Guy" (Music and lyrics by Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell, 2019)
35. Morgan Wade, "Wilder Days" (Music and lyrics by Morgan Wilder and Sadler Vaden, 2021)
    

Courtesy of Lindsay, you can find a Spotify playlist of all these songs HERE.

Notes: 

• Please use these versions of the songs, by these artists—no covers
• The Internet is notorious for inaccurate lyrics. Do your best to source accurate lyrics
• Unless you are versed in the mechanics of music (e.g. tempo, cadence, forte), it may be easiest to analyze your song's lyrics
• When quoting lyrics, use this format: "If I should stay / Well, I would only be in your way / And so I'll go, and yet I know / I'll think of you each step of the way

Mechanics: 

• Approximately 750 words
• MLA Style

Submission Window: Wed. 11.1 - Sun 11.5