CULTURE

UNDERSTANDING FOREIGN CULTURE FROM SONGS

In this song Stevie Wonder mentions special days throughout the year, beginning from New Year’s day in January and ending in Christmas in December. But on the day He made a telephone call to his love was not a special day “ In fact here’s just another ordinary day,” He says.

Listen to the song and fill up the missing words in the lyrics.

I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU

                                    By Stevie Wonder

No New Years’ day to -----------

No chocolate covered candy heart to give away

No  first of spring

No song to ---------

In fact here’s just another ordinary -----------

No April rain

No flowers ----------

No wedding Saturday within the month of ---------

But what it is, is something true

Made up of these three ---------- that I must say to you

            I just called to say ---------

            I just called to say how much I care

            I just called to say I love you

            And I mean it from the bottom of --------    

                          No summer’s high

                          No warm ----------

No harvest moon to light one                                                                                                                      tender ---------- night

                          No Autumn breeze

                          No falling -----------

                          Not even time for birds to fly to southern skies

No Libra Sun

No Halloween

No giving thanks to all the Christmas joy you bring

But what it is, though old, is so ---------

To fill your heart like no three words could ever do

TASK:

READ THE LYRICS ABOVE QUICKLY TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS:

1.      How many months and seasons are mentioned in the song? What are they?

2.      What are the special days mentioned?

3.      What it a special day when Stevie Wonder telephoned?

4.      What does Stevie Wonder usually give away to those

5.      He loves on Valentine’s Day?

6.      Who do you think Stevie Wonder called? Why?

7.      What is a harvest moon?

8.      When do birds fly to southern skies?

9.      What are the three words that the singer must say?

10.  Is the singer happy or WHAT LOVE REALLY IS?

According to Stevie Wonder, to love someone means to show her that he cares very much for his girl-friend. He rings her to say his “these three words” not only on his special days, but on ordinary days as well.

Read the lyrics again and see if you can find out all about Stevie’ special days in the table below. You’ll need to find out the special day is called, when it is celebrated and what people do on that day. Do this in groups of four.                    

No	Special Day	Date	What people do? What nice things happen?
1		1st January
2	Valentine’s Day
3		21st March
4		April	Rain falls
5			Flowers bloom
6			Within this month people in the U.S. have their weddings, preferably on Saturdays.
7			Warm climate. People go to the beach and have a sun bathing.
8			Harvest. Farmers celebrate with parties under  the moonlight night
9			Nice breeze with yellowish leaves falling. It’s a wonderful scenery.
10	Libra Sun	22nd/23rd September	Day and night are of equal length.  (Equinox)
11		31 st October	Children, dressed in costumes, go from house to house, ring their neighbour’s doorbell and, when the door is opened, say “Trick or treat”
12		25th  December