music

Let Them Sing the Chorus

By on November 21, 2010 in Quick Wisdom

I’ve been studying musical improv recently and one of the best tips I’ve learned so far is the power of the chorus–the part of the song that is deadly simple and repeated over and over (and over and over) again.  Why is the repetition of the chorus so powerful? Because the people listening can learn it and then participate–they know what to expect and they can join in.

However, if you have a song that is only verses–all the lines are different with nothing you go back to or repeat–then it’s much harder to learn the song and sing along.  It takes a much longer time, requires more repetition and often isn’t as satisfying (until you learn all the words to Bohemian Rhapsody, and then it’s great (but only for the people singing it, not for the other people at the karaoke bar)).

What’s my point? Organizations should be like songs with great choruses.  Their structure should be simplified, there should be consistency and you don’t want to change it before people have gotten a chance to learn it and then start participating in it.  Of course change will happen, the organization will evolve and you’ll move from Please Please Me Beatles to Abbey Road Beatles over time, but only after you’ve allowed your employees to grow within the organization.

So be smart about your organizational changes, plan them out and then when they’re finally implemented, let your organization sing the chorus for awhile.

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12 Inspirational Lyrics from Hip-Hop

By on November 4, 2009 in Learn with Humor
photo by Lisa Liang

photo by Lisa Liang

When it comes to music, hip-hop gets a bad rap (pun intended).  The stereotype is that all rap songs are about money, drugs, and/or women.  And while that’s true for a lot of the songs that make it to the radio and the clubs, there are a number songs that can be inspiring and motivating.

Below are lyrics from 12 rap songs to get inspired, motivated, and pumped up.  If you don’t usually listen to rap, suspend your preconceived notions and actually read the lyrics, you may be surprised at the poignancy of the words.

Note: Rap and hip-hop are two different, albeit similar, genres.  For purposes of this post, I’m grouping them together.

12 Inspirational Rap Lyrics

1. Sky is the Limit by Notorious BIG [Listen]

Sky is the limit and you know that you keep on,
Just keep on pressin on.
Sky is the limit and you know that you can have
what you want, be what you want.

2. Beautiful by Eminem [Listen]

Don’t let them say you ain’t beautiful
They can all get f—–, just stay true to you

3. Keep Ya Head Up by Tupac [Listen]

But please don’t cry, dry your eyes, never let up
Forgive but don’t forget, girl keep your head up

4. Amazing by Kanye West [Listen]

I’m a monster, I’m a maven,
I know this world is changin’.
Never gave in, never gave up,
I’m the only thing I’m afraid of.

5. Superstar by Lupe Fiasco [Listen]

If you are what you say you are
A superstar
Then have no fear
The camera’s is here
and the microphones and they wanna know
Oh oh oh oh yeah
If you are what you say you are
Then have no fear

6. U Don’t Know by Jay Z [Listen, explicit]

Put me anywhere on God’s green earth, I’ll triple my worth.
Motherf—–. I, will, not, lose.

7. Live Your Life by T.I. [Listen]

Nevermind what haters say,
ignore them ’til they fade away.

8. Be by Common [Listen]

Never looking back or too far in front of me.
The present is a gift, and I just wanna BE.

9. Child of the Night by Ludacris [Listen]

Life is short if you don’t notice it’ll pass you by,
That’s why my head is in the clouds trying to pass the sky.

10. Everything is Everything by Lauryn Hill [Listen]

Everything is everything
What is meant to be, will be
After winter, must come spring
Change, it comes eventually

11. I Can by Nas [Listen]

If the truth is told, the youth can grow
Then learn to survive until they gain control
Nobody says you have to be gangstas, hoes
Read more learn more, change the globe

12. B.O.B. by Outkast [Listen]

Make a business for yourself, boy, set some goals
Make a fat diamond out of dusty coals

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Lower Stress with Music

By on January 26, 2009 in Humor Benefits

An article from Men’s Health takes a look at the power of what music can do for your health.  One of the studies included suggests that listening to calming music before a stressful event can help prevent you from getting worked up:

An Australian study found that music (specifically, Pachelbel’s Canon in D) prevented stress-related reactions–spikes in heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels–in people preparing for an oral presentation. Those who prepared in silence had significant increases in all measures.

And in a study that proves you really should play Rock Band at work, researches found that people who participated in a drumming session experienced an improvement in mood:

A recent study found that when staffers in a high-burnout industry participated in drumming sessions, they experienced a 50 percent improvement in mood that continued for at least 6 weeks. The people in this study also reported a decrease in fatigue, anxiety, and depression.

The Science of Workout Music

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