“Family Portrait” by Pink

В 9 и в 11 классах в рамках первой темы  “Family”  предлагаю поработать над песней популярной американской певицы Pink “Family Portrait”. В этой песне хорошо, на мой взгляд, раскрываются проблемы взаимоотношений в семье, семейных конфликтов и их влияния на детей.

1. Before Listening

Alecia Beth Moore (born September 8, 1979), better known by her stage name Pink (stylized as P!nk), is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Originally a member of the girl group Choice, she rose to fame as an R&B artist with her debut solo album “Can’t Take Me Home” (2000).

“Family Portrait” is an R&B song written by Pink and Scott Storch for Pink’s second album Missundaztood (2001). The song is about relationships and her family that was about to fall to pieces, portraying the conflict through the eyes of her as a child. It was released as the album’s fourth and final single in December 2002. It peaked in the top 20 in both the U.K. and U.S. (Wikipedia)

Language notes

‘coz = because

ain’t = is not

Momma, Mama = mum (UK)

Mommy = mummy (UK)

don’t wanna = don’t want to

2. While Listening

“Family Portrait” by Pink 1. Choose the correct verb form Momma please stop crying/cry, I can’t stand the sound Your pain is painful and its tearing/tear me down I hear/heard glasses breaking as I sit up in my bed I told/tell dad you didn’t mean Those nasty things you said/say 2.Match the beginning and the end of the following lines 1. You fight about money,      a) what love could be 2. And this I come home to,   b) love to destroy me 3. It ain’t easy                        c) my family 4. Never knowing                     d) this is my shelter 5. you’ll see I don’t want        e) about me and my brother 6. like it has done                   f) growing up in World War III 3. Fill in the given words Can we ____it out?             1. family Can we be a______?          2. promise I ______I’ll be better,          3. leave Mommy I’ll do_______       4. work Can we _____it out?           5. anything Can we be a______? I ______I’ll be better, Daddy please don’t _____ 4. Put the verbs in the correct form Daddy please ________(to stop) yelling, I can’t stand the sound ______(to make) mama stop crying, cuz I need you around My mama she ____(to love) you, No matter what she _______(to say) it’s true I know that she _____(to hurt) you, But remember I ____(to love) you, too 5. Put the lines in the correct order (write the number) Never knowing what love could be, But don’t have no choice, no way It ain’t easy growing up in World War III I ran away today, ran from the noise, ran away like it did my family Don’t wanna go back to that place, well I’ve seen I don’t want love to destroy me Chorus 6. Cross an extra word in each line In our family portrait, we look pretty very happy Let’s play now pretend, let’s act like it comes naturally I don’t wanna have to split the summer holidays I don’t want two new addresses I don’t want a nice step-brother anyways I don’t want my mom to have to change even her last name 7. Write the missing words In our family _____we look pretty ______ We look pretty______, let’s go back to _____ In our family _____we look pretty ______ Let’s play _______, act like it goes naturally. Daddy don’t leave Daddy don’t leave Daddy don’t leave Turn around please Remember that the night you left you took my shining star? Daddy don’t leave Daddy don’t leave Daddy don’t leave Don’t leave us here alone Mom will be nicer I’ll be so much better, I’ll tell my brother Oh, I won’t spill the milk at dinner I’ll be so much better, I’ll do everything right I’ll be your little girl forever I’ll go to sleep at night….

3. After Listening

1) What’s the problem in the singer’s family?

2) What does the singer think will save the  family?

3) Should parents stay together for the sake of the children?

Если есть время можно посмотреть клип, в нем тоже содержится определенный моральный аспект и интересно интерпретируется название песни.

Keys: 1) crying, tearing, heard, told, said; 2) 1 e, 2 d, 3 f, 4 a, 5 b, 6 c; 3) 4, 1, 2, 5, 4, 1, 2, 3;  4) stop, make, loves, says, hurts, love; 5) 5, 3, 4, 1, 7, 2, 6; 6) very, now, summer, new, nice, even; 7) portrait, happy, normal, that, portrait, happy, pretend.

Послушать и скачать песню можно здесь.

Полный текст песни и перевод можно посмотреть здесь