2007 Student ShakeHits™
HEIGH-HO EVERYONE!
Here are the latest Shakehits by students at Steveston-London, along with our class picture. Hope you enjoy them! Simply click on the links below. To view song lyrics, click on “view lyrics.” If you would like to comment on our compositions or performances, go to the forum page or write to us at:
For more great Shakehits, go to the 2006 page.
Oh Then Dear Saint—Media 12—Palmer’s Sonnet from Romeo & Juliet (1.5.104)
This outstanding setting of the palmer's sonnet puts it in a modern rock setting replete with drums bass and electric guitars. Once again, this is an interesting take on the lyric because of the words the songwriter chose to make the focus of the setting, Juliet's exclamation to "let lips do what hands do" (touch).
Lead Vocals & Music: Betty
Shall I Compare Thee—Media 12—Sonnet 18
This original song written by my student Julia is a setting of
Shakespeare's most famous sonnet, Shall I Compare Thee To A Summer's Day. As with my own setting of this lyric, Julia has chosen to break the song up into a duet. Shakespeare's sonnets were published in 1609, but they were probably written during the 1590's when the theatres in London were closed due to plague. There are 154 sonnets in all, and together,
they suggest a story. There has been much speculation about how much the sonnets reflect Shakespeare's own life and experiences, but the exact relationship remains a mystery. Two versions are presented here; the second one has strings.
Lead Vocals, Piano, & Production: Julia
Lead Vocals & Production: Michael
Shall I Compare Thee? (Original Version)
Shall I Compare Thee? (3rd Edit)
Blow Blow Thou Winter Wind—Media 11—As You Like It (2.7)
This setting of Blow Blow by Allanah & Madison combines a modern-rock feel with a folk-like tune for a very effective setting of the poem. Blow Blow contains the jaunty refrain of a typical Elizabethan song, as exemplified by the lines "Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly" (2.7.180); however, the remainder of the lyric is a condemnation of humanity, asserting that "most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly" (2.7.181). This is the second song of As You Like It, and it parallels Jacques famous speech "All the world's a stage..." located in the same scene.
Vocals & Instruments: Allanah & Madison
Canakin Clink Pub Song—Band 9-12—Othello (2.3)
This setting of the pub song from Othello puts the traditional drinking song in an R&B jazz mode. The vibe presented here strongly suggests that most of the patrons have gone home and only the "serious drinkers" are left to do some weighty philosophizing about the meaning of life.
Lead Vocals & Tracks: Ryan & Sarah
Bee Sucks—Band 9-12—The Tempest (5.1.88-95)
Originally, the music from The Tempest was set by Robert Johnson, one of the few composers known to have worked with Shakespeare during his lifetime. Johnson's musical settings of Shakespeare are considered the closest we have to "original" or extant Shakespeare songs (Wilison, p.xi). This particular setting of Where The Bee Sucks has been done as a rap song. As you will hear, the young composers have clearly capitalized on their title. . .
Lead Vocals & Rapping: Kevin & Andrew
Under the Greenwood Tree—Band 9-12, Media 12—As You Like It (2.6.49)
This favored song from As You Like It seems to appeal to many students, and consequently I have a number of settings of it. The first one by Sharon & Enzo is in a modern rock setting; the second one, by Alice, Sharon, Jane, Helen, & Andrea takes an exotic middle Eastern approach; the third setting by Tony & Kelvin is more folk-like in the tradition of Elizabethan minstrels; and the last setting by Ivan puts the text in an electronic/industrial mode. Enjoy!
Greenwood Rock—Lead Vocals: Sharon / Production: Enzo—Band 9-12
Greenwood Taj Mahal: Alice, Jane, Helen, Sharon & Andre—Band 9-12
Greenwood Minstrels—Lead Vocals & Music: Tony & Kelvin—Band 9-12
Shakespeare Walks In The Forest
Greenwood Industrial: Ivan
Greenwood Tree
Greenwood Rock—Lead Vocals: Sharon / Production: Enzo—Band 9-12
Greenwood
Greenwood Taj Mahal: Alice, Jane, Helen, Andrea & Sharon—Band 9-12
Under the Greenwood
Greenwood Minstrels—Lead Vocals & Music: Tony & Kelvin—Band 9-12
