How to write a music review

1
How to write a music review By Amy Korst
2
STEP 1 Listen to the song
Song selection Hallelujah, by Jeff Buckley
http//www.jeffbuckley.com/
3
Write down how you feel
4
Song lyrics
Well I heard there was a secret chord That
David played, and it pleased the Lord But you
don't really care for music, do ya? Well it goes
like this The fourth, the fifth The minor fall
and the major lift The baffled king composing
Hallelujah (Chorus) Hallelujah Hallelujah
Hallelujah Hallelujah
5
Song lyrics

• Well Your faith was strong but you needed proof
  You saw her bathing on the roof Her beauty and
  the moonlight overthrew you she tied you to her
  kitchen chair She broke your throne and she cut
  your hair And from your lips she drew the
  Hallelujah
• (chorus)
• Well baby I've been here beforeIve seen this
  room and I've walked this floorI used to live
  alone before I knew ya I've seen your flag on
  the marble archLove is not a victory march It's
  a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
• (chorus)

6
Song lyrics
Well there was a time when you let me knowWhat's
really going on belowBut now you never show that
to me do you?And remember when I moved in
you?And the holy dove was moving tooAnd every
breath we drew was Hallelujah (Chorus) Well
maybe there's a God aboveBut all I've ever
learned from loveWas how to shoot somebody who'd
outdrew yaAnd it's not a cry that you hear at
nightIt's not somebody who's seen the lightIt's
a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
7
STEP 2 Form you opinion

• Initially, what is your gut reaction to the song
  played in class? Did you like it or hate it?
  Why? For five minutes, write about this on your
  own piece of paper. Think about
• The lyrics
• The message the song contained
• The singers voice
• The sound of the music

8
STEP 3 Read example review

• Note important aspects of a music review
• Short and to the point
• Show, not tell visuals
• Written in third person (no I voice)
• Descriptive

9
STEP 4 Write your own review
Due in class today Write a rough draft review of
the song using the music review principles
discussed in step 3. Your review should be
approximately 250 words long.
10
STEP 5 Turn it in
Your final draft of your music review is due at
the beginning of sixth period Wednesday.