Chamarra+McCrorey

   Project Proposal with Rubric out of 100 points: **My Independent Project will be like a Teen magazine. I will write articles about things in the entertainment field such as music, movies, etc. Music is a big part of my life and I love it. I also enjoy watching movies, TV shows and knowing what’s new with my favorite singers such as album dates, etc. I will post my favorite songs and videos and also information about movies, my opinion on it, and whether it’s a go see or not. I plan to also add poems I have written. This project will show my interests in music and things about me.** **I will grade myself on creativity and how well written my articles are**.

Due at the End of Class on 4/22: Brainstorming ideas


 * Due at the End of Class on 4/23: First article on Namie Amuro**



GETTING WILD Namie Amuro, a very popular and talented singer in Japan, has released new music to be enjoyed. After her successful release last year of “BEST FICTION,” an album full of her previous work from various years in her music career, she has now come out with the release of her new single "WILD/Dr." "Wild" has a catchy, upbeat, techno sound which catches your attention the moment you hear it. The video is set in outer space where Amuro and a large amount of dancers get wild to the fast song. The number of dancers increase in the video by breaking the stone walls of a pyramid sitting on a far away planet in space.

The song called “Dr.” has very unique and futuristic sound. The abrupt sound of a band playing in the chorus interrupts the rhythmic song; it takes some getting used to, but it is different from most songs. The song is about a person missing the relationship they were in and how they are still in love. Where does the doctor come in? She is talking to a doctor asking him to save her relationship with a boyfriend and is asking the doctor to help them out. The video is different from the song; however, in that it is an animation video about a girl who is set out to save the world from the devastating destruction it had faced up until the year 3000. A man who looks to be a mad scientist helps her travel through time as she struggles to bring things back to order. By her touch and even her presence she can bring things back to life, but enemies do their best to keep her from changing the world. By the end of the video she is in present day hovering over the ocean and flying towards a young girl. Before showing any more, the video ends at a “to be continued.”

In addition to this single and these videos, Amuro did a commercial for Coca Cola â promoting “Wild Health” as she danced to her song “Wild.” Streams of red lights circled her as she moved to the beat in front of a large black and red speaker. Afterwards she picked up a Coke bottle, drank it, and quenched her thirst. The short thirty second commercial you can hear how geat the song is.

Namie Amuro should release another song and video soon to add to “Dr." so that the interesting story being portrayed can be continued. All of this should lead to the release of her next album which, by the looks of it, will be full of exciting and fresh new music.  Background Information    Namie amuro has been on the music scene since she was fourteen in the girl group called Super Monkey’s. In1995 Amuro became a solo artist on the label Avex Trax and released her first album called Dance Track Vol.1. She continued creating albums such as Sweet 19 Blues, Concentration 20, 181920, and more. Overall she has made about ten albums. She has been a large influence in Japanese pop culture. "Wild" Video: [] Coca Cola Commercial: [] "Dr." Video: [] Performance of "Luvotomy": [] "Can't Eat, Can't Sleep, I'm Sick" Video: []
 * LINKS TO NAMIE AMURO VIDEOS: **

Sources: [] (used for background information)
 * Other Albums:**

 Due at the End of Class on 4/24: **Movie Reviews** [|Movies.doc]

Due at the End of Class: 4/25: Article on Hikaru Utada and Boa Kwon Coming To America

Hikaru Utada and Boa Kwon, both popular singers in East Asia, are both debuting in America this year. Utada (on the left), a twenty six year old who grew up speaking both English and Japanese in Manhattan, New York, released her second U.S. album on May 12 called “This Is The One.” Her song called “Come Back to Me” is a slow ballad that has been released and played on the radio. She has also been performing another song off of her album called “Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence-FYI” which has a melody derived from a piano song by Ryuichi Sakamoto with the same title “Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence.” This song is more upbeat with its own unique sound. Utada has other great songs on her album such as “Apples and Cinnamon” and “Me Muero.” Hikaru Utada will bring a new sound to America with her creative lyrics and music. She has previously made an album entitled “Exodus” which came out October 5, 2004. Unfortunately, this album was not very successful in America. “This is the One” may be the one to give her great success in the U.S. In Japan Hikaru Utada is referred to as Utada Hikaru because last name is said first in that country. There she is a very successful singer. Her last album from 2008 called “Heart Station” had great hits such as the song “Heart Station” and the song “Stay Gold.” One of her songs from this album entitled “Prisoner of Love” was used as a theme song for a Japanese Drama called “Last Friends.” She is also the singer of the theme songs for video games called “Kingdom Hearts” and “Kingdom Hearts 2” in both America and Japan. The songs are called “Simple and Clean” and “Passion.” She has also created a variety of excellent music on her other Japanese albums such as “Distance“, “Deep River”, “Ultra Blue”, and many more. Overall, she had about nine albums. All of this popularity in Japan started with her first album titled “First Love.” The release of her debut song “Automatic” helped her launch her overseas career. Coming from a musical background of a music producing father and singing mother, she was always around music. When she created an album under the name “Cubic U,” she was discovered by a Japanese music producer. Ever since then, Utada has had a great influence on Japanese pop culture and will continue to. Soon, she will have an influence on the U.S. as well. Boa Kwon (on the right), a twenty two year old from South Korea, has also debuted in the U.S on March 17, 2009 with her self-entitled album. Boa started her music career at the age of eleven when she was discovered by SM entertainment. At the age of thirteen she had her debut with the release of her album “ID; Peace B” on August 25, 2000. She became a popular artist there and has been ever since. Another great Korean album she has created is titled “My Name.” This is only where she started. Boa debuted in Japan a year after she started singing in Korea. She can speak Japanese fluently; therefore, has created many albums in Japanese. There she also became very well known and successful. Her Japanese music is just as exceptional as her Korean music. “Dakishimetai” is an example of her songs that are upbeat, poppy, and fun to listen to. She also has great ballads such as “Everlasting” which she made in Korean and Japanese and “Can’t Let Go” which is on her Korean album “Girls On Top.” This year “Eien,” Boa’s new song in Japan which she has made a video for, has been released. Boa’s great dance moves are shown in this video. With all the popularity Boa has in Korea and Japan, she did not decide to stop there. Now, she debuted in the U.S. with her song called “Eat You Up.” This song has a fast and catchy beat that makes the song enjoyable to listen to. The video which a majority of it is set in a ballet school has Boa and her crew of dancers busting through the doors and bringing it their exciting music and dance moves. Also, after the release of Boa’s album, she had recently made a video to her song “I Did It For Love” featuring Sean Garret. This song, also upbeat, is something you would expect to be heard on the radio and in people’s cars. Boa’s talents in music should help her become as popular in America as she is in Korea and Japan. Hikaru Utada and Boa have the potential to become major singers in the U.S. both are talented and will add a significant contribution to music in America.

Eat You Up: [] I Did It For Love: []
 * Boa Music Videos:**

Sakura Drops: [] Passion: []
 * Utada Hikaru Videos:**

Sources: [|__http://www.chinatownconnection.com/boa-kwon.htm__] [|__http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fm20090320a1.html__]

Due at the End of Class on 4/30: Just Listen... There are songs that you just dance to while having fun, there are songs you blast in the car when it comes on the radio and then forget about when it is not promoted anymore. Then, there are songs that stay with you that you can relate to and enjoy. Those ones have meaning. <span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"> Ghost in a Shell: Stand Alone Complex The soundtrack, composed by various artists, that to the anime show called Ghost In a Shell has a great song with a relatable meaning. Music: Yoko Kanno ** **<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: #c0504d; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Where Does This Ocean Go? ** <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: #c0504d; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">All day the city's selling something always, the busy people spinning 'round busier dizzier 'til they go back home to somewhere
 * <span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"> Vocal: Ilaria Graziano

and taxies stop to say "hello" "want a ride? I'll take you there" "to anywhere, just tell my driver"

the sun is casting shadows an afternoon is fading I ask, but no one knows the answer to the question my life is like an island where does this ocean go?

shyly, a wino sips his wine slowly, cause to him that is all that matters he sees a cat he knows so well now sleeping on a bench together a woman waiting by herself, selling flowers "please buy some, so I can help my daughter, will you?"

the man with spider eyebrows is standing on a corner "who wants to see a show?" his head looks like a melon he turns into an alley then stops to blow his nose sky is filled with neon the buildings stand electric and almost seem to glow want answers to the question my life is like an island where does the ocean go? I really want to know my life is like an island it's time for me now to fly where does the ocean go?

<span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">  Mentioning what’s seen gives good imagery. But what does it mean? They are talking about all of the life that is going on around them. Everyone is trying to survive and live. Life is referred to as an Ocean in this song; it never stops moving and continues on. Overall, song is about someone who’s life does not seem to be going anywhere and they are trying to figure out what is most important in life and what they are meant to be. <span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"> Deep River

<span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"> This album was created by Utada Hikaru and was released in Japan. This whole album has great music on it. The song, also called “Deep River” is in Japanese but was translated into English. **<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themetint: 153;">Deep River ** Does the line my finger trace As if I were connecting two points Show the road I’ve taken or where I’m headed? The two of us connect our lines And soon everyone will reach the ocean We’ll become one so I’m not scared We float down many rivers Without asking why Together with the name we’re given You don’t have to accept Everything that happens Now our pain flies away You weren’t entrusted with a sword To know what clashing swords sound like Who can you protect with that contradiction? You’ve changed appearances so many times And floated down before me I’m searching for you today You don’t have to be accepted Everywhere you go We all were gifted with our own sword of individuality Float down a different river sometimes Without carrying anything Together with the name we’re given You don’t have to accept Everything that happens The birds face the sea breeze and fly away now <span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">  This song is about learning to be who you are no matter what people think of you. It is also about accepting things in life good and bad and learning from it. Overall, the point is about figuring out who you are. <span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"> I Am…Sasha Fierce
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Vocal/Lyrics: ** Utada Hikaru
 * <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Music: ** Utada Hikaru

The song “Smash Into You” is a love song on Beyonce’s lastest album. <span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"> Vocal: Beyonce <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: #30c230; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">**Smash Into You** Head down As I watch my feet take turns hitting the ground Eyes shut I find myself in love racing the Earth And I'm soaked in your love, oh And love was right in my path, in my grasp And me and you belong

I wanna run (run) Smash into you I wanna run (run) Smash into you

Ears closed What I hear no one else has to know 'Cause I know that what we have is worth first place in gold And I'm soaked in your love, ah And love was right in my path, in my grasp And me and you belong

I wanna run (run) Smash into you I wanna run (run) Smash into you Smash into you

Head down As I watch my feet take turns hitting the ground Eyes shut I'm in love and I'm racing the Earth I'm soaked in your love And your love was right in my path ,in my grasp And me and you belong

Oh, I wanna run Smash into you I'm willing to run (run) Smash into you

I'm willing to run, run, run, run ru-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-uh I'm willing to run, run, run, run ru-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-uh And I wanna run, run And smash into you I'm willing to run, run Smash into you <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: #30c230; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: #b2a1c7; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themetint: 153;"> <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: #5f497a; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">This song has a creative way to explain love for someone else. “I want to run, smash into you” is a way of saying that they want to be with the one they love all the time. They want to embrace the love they have with each other and become so close that they are one.

Utada Hikaru's "Deep River" video: [] Telepopmusik- "Breathe" Video: []
 * Other Great Songs:**

<span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">Sources for lyrics: [] []

[] <span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">

Presentations/Celebration will occur on Friday, May 1.

Final Comments/Self-Evaluation: I also liked being able to express my interests through this as well. I think that i did a good job on my project. i would like to continue posting things to my page.**
 * I really enjoyed doing this project. I like how we can post our work for our classmates to see.