“American Honey” by Lady Antebellum – Song Review

Song: “American Honey” (mp3) by Lady Antebellum on the album, Need You Now (CD).

Length: 3:45

Lyrics: Safe.

Topic: Safe. Reminiscing about childhood and longing to have the good times back again.

Theme: sentimentality, comfort, and longing.

Recommended Age: Any.

Genre: Country.

Year: 2010.

Video: (CMT | YouTube). Shots of the band members singing in the countryside intermixed with shots of childhood innocence. A young boy rides a bike, and a young girl walks among laundry drying on clotheslines. A teenage boy and girl hold hands, take a walk, and eventually share a short, tender kiss (so it may get giggles from some elementary students).

“Airplanes” by B.o.B. – Song Review

Song: “Airplanes [feat. Hayley Williams Of Paramore] (Amended Album Version)” (mp3) by B.o.B. on the album, B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray [Clean] (CD).

Length: 2:59

Lyrics: Caution:
h-word at 1:44
censored s-word at 2:08

Topic: Safe. The song is about regretting mistakes we’ve made and longing for a better today.

Theme: regret and longing.

Recommended Age: High School because of language.

Genre: Rap.

Year: 2010.

Video: (AOL Music | YouTube). Shots of B.o.B. and Hayley Williams singing with interesting lighting and video effects.

“Soul Meets Body” by Death Cab for Cutie – Song Review

Song: “Soul Meets Body” (mp3) by Death Cab for Cutie on the album, Plans (CD).

Length: 3:50

Lyrics: Safe.

Topic: Safe. Abstractly telling of the desire for something better. Includes a metaphor that someone else is a “song” he has a singular connection to in this gritty life. Possible spiritual self-examination.

Theme: Longing and connection.

Recommended Age: Any. Abstractness of the lyrics lends itself to high school and maybe middle school, but the music is beautiful and would appeal to any age.

Genre: Indie Rock. Haunting and beautiful.

Year: 2005.

Video: (AOL Music | YouTube | Directions DVD). The singer walks to a cabin in the woods where he joins the band to play. On the walk we see some sort of plant or fungus grow and float into the air. Mixed with shots of the band, we see the plants turn into musical notes and float across the country to the sea.