Etta James's Song 'At Last'

My wife and I celebrated our two-year anniversary in August. “Whatever It Is” by Zac Brown and Keith Stegall had been on the radio for years when we met. It is funny how a song written so far in advance of an event can still mean so much in a person’s life. "Whatever It Is" exemplifies the adoring relationship I have with my wife in the way it makes me smile and want to sing, the way the lyrics remind me of all the ways I appreciate and love her, and because it was our wedding song.

You might say you’re an animal lover but do you care for it? Faye Carey is teen activist who studies animals. Some things you could say about Faye is that she doesn’t quit at anything and that she’ll keep moving forward even when there’s tough situations to make. One example, is she manages to re-home more than sixty dogs. Here are some things I’ve learned about Faye and some things that you can learn from me!

The Vietnam War was an event with lasting effects. The U.S. troops participated from 1961 until 1975 where over 58,000 Americans were killed according to the U.S Department of Veteran Affairs. This war created a divide amongst the American people with so many opposed to the war because they claim that the cost of war and casualties was too high. Many believed, in addition, that the U.S. should not have involved themselves because the war did not directly affect America. For these reasons and many more, it caused a lot of traumas; not only for veterans but even regular citizens. Due to this, when U.S. involvement with the Iraq War started in 2003 (Riedel), many began drawing parallels between it and the Vietnam War and Anna Quindlen was among them.Anna Quindlen, an opinion columnist with a Pulitzer prize for commentary, wrote an article titled “We’ve Been Here Before.” Her overall goal, in this article, is to convince the reader that the Vietnam and Iraq War are alike as well as catastrophic. Her argument that the two wars are alike is erroneous in nature since there are many significant differences to be listed. Quindlen lacks reputable evidence because she lets her emotions write the article so she spews out personal attacks; there is a clear tone of anger. She accuses the president of wanting the Iraq War to only be about policy without backing this stance and she uses her friend’s statements to support her argument though he isn’t an expert on the matter. Quindlen makes a few good points in the article

In the poem “Last Night” by Sharon Olds, the essence of the poem was greatly enhanced through the wistful delivery of the speaker and the present tone of lust and desire. This was obtained through the successful pronunciation of words and the various use of literary devices such as metaphors and similes, in addition to the steamy atmosphere that the erotic tone of this poem brings.

For first-generation students, their college experiences are knowing what they don't know. In the article "Taking My Parents To College", Jennine Crucet, says that it's harder for first-generation students to believe that their families have left. Some may argue that as soon as your parent leave you soon then realize that you are on your own, however, Crucet says In the article "perhaps because, when you're the first in your family to go to college, you never truly feel like they've let you go". First- generation college student they go to college knowing what they don't know.

The novel What We All Long For by Dionne Brand is another racially and culturally dynamic story about the struggles of a Vietnamese/Canadian girl named Tuyen. Tuyen’s story is related to the struggles that her family had undergone when escaping Vietnam and losing her brothers in transit. Over the years, Tuyen 's brother, Quy, has become a gangster in Thailand, which brings a clash of values to the family. Tuyen is a young woman that tends to view herself as being between the vain world of her parent’s middle class lifestyle, and the chaotic world of Quy’s criminal lifestyle. In this manner, Tuyen brings a postmodern appeal to the story, since she finds an ambiguous balance between the well-to-do lifestyle of her parents and the lower class world that Quy has had to survive since he was separated from his family. This family tension defines Tuyen’s struggle with her father as part of the capitalistic mentality of Asian immigrants that she rebels against by living in lower class apartment. In some ways, Tuyen is a protagonist that embodies the freedoms of a postmodernist hero because she does not give into the temptation of wealth, nor does she give into the criminality and shame that is typically associated with the lower classes. For instance, Tuyen’s father, Binh, does not like to visit his daughter because she has chosen to live in a downtrodden apartment complex:

As we age, our lives are divided into stages with inescapable hardships. The most difficult of these stages has proven to be adolescence and young adulthood, the years in which our personalities are defined. This juncture is the pinnacle of maturation, however, it is gradually becoming a plateau wherein inactivity is most prevalent. It is indisputable that American children and young adults alike are lingering in their youth for far too long. Many in their teens and twenties are holding tight to the freedom of childhood by depending on their parents, refusing to settle down, and avoiding responsibility. Through their lack of independence, inability to commit and their indolence, certain action must be taken against adolescents

In her book, Lose Your Mother, Saidiya Hartman challenges Jerry Rawlings’ notion of freedom by responding with “Had Rawlings asked, “‘Are we yet free?’ most Ghanaians would have answered with a resounding, ‘No.’ This ‘no’ resonated on both sides of the Atlantic”(pg 126). The capitalistic spirit that possessed the Europeans enabled them to disrupt the untouched country of Africa and capture its children to satiate their wealth aspirations. In the meantime, the Europeans took the land from the Native Americans through genocidal practices and claimed it as their gift from God. Although some claim that the capitalist ventures of the Europeans during the colonial period and the 19th century were beneficial for all and rooted in innocence, it ultimately caused the physical and cultural death of the Native Americans and African-origin peoples and has led to the day to day suffering of their descendants.

Poems like these are still written in today’s society but are expressed through different mediums than the poetry of old. While this song was originally released in 1928, it didn’t gain popularity until 1939. In today’s society, poems are found more often in music than in a book, although those are common too. Song’s in today’s society often rhyme or tell a story and can be analyzed just as poetry

Over the past few years, racial tensions in America have heightened. During this period, Black America undergo the daily struggle of witnessing the killing of unarmed black men and women. Victims of these endless killings and police brutality, turned into one of many hashtags, which led to the formations of the Black Lives Matter movement. Solange Knowles, younger sister of Beyoncé, soul singer and songwriter was viewed as the angry black woman. Solange used her platform to speak up. She became the most outspoken black artist for black activism in recent years. She embodies the image of a carefree black girl who is willing to let the world know that she is proud of her blackness.

“Blue Skies” was one of the songs written by Irving Berlin months after the birth of his first child, daughter Mary Ellin, in 1926. This piece came during a time of transition in Berlin’s life, and the song itself has transcend many centuries, adapting to the style of each time. It is important to explore the differences between the periodical versions of “Blue Skies”; however, the underlying message of the song remains constant throughout time. The lyrics of Irving Berlin’s “Blue Skies” plays with the contrasting meanings behind the word blue, along with switching tonalities, allowing the song to portray a hopeful outlook toward the future, while it’s depressing mood brings this hope back to reality. Lyrics Analysis

Mitchell Kimbrough’s “Sky” shows how life will pass one by. People oftentimes fail to make decisions or pursue dreams, but life does not wait for them nor run in reverse. The words and images of the poem, combined with the lyrics of Norah Jones’s “Don’t Know Why,” somberly explore the regret of missed opportunities as time passes.

It is possible stop living before one actually dies. In “The Last Words on Earth” by Nicole Krauss, this is the case for the narrator, Leo. Leo speaks with a focus on his own impending death because he feels that he has no control left over his life, causing him to stop truly living.

Moving away from country, introduces “Keep Me in Your Heart” by Warren Zevon. Zevon was a Chicago born and became a highly known American rock singer-songwriter. Zevon was diagnosed with mesothelioma and became very ill, writing “Keep me in Your Heart” as a tribute to himself for his fans. The song is about remembering and keeping loved ones in your heart all the time. His song won five Grammy nominations at the end of his death in 2003. This last recorded song was written at a time where he knew his time on Earth was about to end shortly. Zevon wanted to leave a legacy of love behind and never be forgotten by his fans.

I chose the famous and well known song, “I Will Survive,” because it tells me that I will survive the 7th grade and school there after! This song was sung in 1978 by Gloria Gaynor, an African American women. This catchy song was a huge hit during the disco era and has a medium to up beat tempo. “I will survive,” best represents me because I will survive homework, sports, and school work, although at this time in life it does not feel like it! My favorite part of the song is when it says that “Oh, no, not I, I will survive,” because it shows that I will never give up and keep trying new things and that I will pull through. School is like a battlefield, having your ups and your downs. This song is also about friendship, love , broken hearts,