Introduction
One of the most powerful ways to connect to others’ lived experiences is through music.
Listening to a song may immediately elicit our understanding, our empathy, and our joy – and allow us to make sense of our feelings about ourselves, others, and the world in ways that we can’t otherwise articulate.
In this lesson for grades 7-12, students will listen and respond to the songs of three musical artists that identify as AAPI:
- Mitski, a Japanese-American indie pop singer whose music explores themes of cultural identity
- Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast, a Korean-American singer and writer who explores her loss of and love for her deceased Korean mother
- Rina Sawayama, a Japanese-British pop singer, who often sings about her multicultural heritage and LGBTQ+ identity.
If there are other AAPI artists your students might be interested in (Conan Gray, BTS, Stray Kids, and KAYE, to name a few), don’t hesitate to select a few of their songs to play.
Photo by Ryan Quintal on Unsplash
Listen Together
Distribute, screen share, or email copies of the lyrics to the songs. (See the end of this activity for lyrics to the three suggested songs.)
Then play the first of the three songs for students on your phone or computer (or other songs by AAPI artists that you and your students have selected).
Encourage them to take notes, draw, or doodle during song play.
After the song, go through the next steps in this activity (reading the lyrics, and sharing responses).
Repeat this process for each of three songs:
- Mitski: “Your Best American Girl”
- Michelle Zauner (Japanese Breakfast): “Psychopomp”*
- Rina Sawayama: “Dynasty”
Note: Michelle Zauner (Japanese Breakfast)’s song contains lyrics spoken by her mother shortly before her passing. If this ode to love and grief would be too much for you and your students to hold, you may wish to share this excerpt from Michelle’s memoir, Crying in H-Mart, instead. Students should independently read this and take notes as they do before the group share.
Read the Lyrics Together
For each song:
- Read the first line and then invite volunteers to read the following line – or go around the circle, having each person speak the next line to the end.
- As the song is read, encourage students to annotate their lyric sheets using the IFET process outlined in this handout. They are also encouraged to draw, doodle, or take any other notes they wish.
Share in A Go-Round
For each song:
After the group has finished listening to the first song and reading its lyrics, invite them to share, in a go-round, their feelings, impressions, experiences, or thoughts regarding the song.
In addition, you might follow up with one or more of the following circle prompts:
- Share one line from the song that most resonates with you and why.
- Share what you think this song is saying about family, identity, and/or culture.
- Share how this song connects to your own lived experiences and why.
Closing
When you have finished all three songs, welcome any additional thoughts, and pass the talking piece around for students to share.
Thank students for sharing.
Mitski - Your Best American Girl
If I could, I'd be your little spoon
And kiss your fingers forevermore
But, big spoon, you have so much to do
And I have nothing ahead of me
You're the sun, you've never seen the night
But you hear its song from the morning birds
Well, I'm not the moon, I'm not even a star
But awake at night I'll be singing to the birds
Don't wait for me, I can't come
Your mother wouldn't approve of how my mother raised me
But I do, I think I do
And you're an all-American boy
I guess I couldn't help trying to be your best American girl
You're the one
You're all I ever wanted
I think I'll regret this
Your mother wouldn't approve of how my mother raised me
But I do, I finally do
And you're an all-American boy
I guess I couldn't help trying to be the best American girl
Your mother wouldn't approve of how my mother raised me
But I do, I think I do
Michelle Zauner (Japanese Breakfast) - Psychopomp
괜찮아, 괜찮아
It's okay, sweetheart
Don't cry, honey
I love you
Rina Sawayama - Dynasty
I'm losing myself
In the darkness of the world
Catch me before I fall
Saving myself
Is all I really know
Seen it, been done before
I'm a dynasty
The pain in my vein is hereditary
Dynasty
Running in my bloodstream, my bloodstream
Dynasty
And if that's all that I'm gonna be
Won't you break the chain with me?
I'm a, I'm a, a, I'm a, I'm a, a
I'm a, I'm a, a, I'm a, I'm a, a, ooh
I'm a, I'm a, a, I'm a, I'm a, a
I'm a, I'm a, a
I'm gonna take the throne this time
All the words all mine, all mine
It's been way too long, too far
Too gone, to carry on
You can't hide it in the walls
Sweep it under marble floors
It's been living in our lives
Best told damn family lie
Dynasty
The pain in my vein is hereditary
Dynasty
Running in my bloodstream, my bloodstream
Dynasty
And if that's all that I'm gonna be
Won't you break the chain with me?
Mother and father, you gave me life
I nearly gave it away for the sake of my sanity
(Hurting inside, no end in sight
Passing it down, I'm not losing this fight)
Mother and father, I know you were raised differently
Fighting about money and his infidelity
(Now it's my time to make things right)
And if I fail, then I am my dynasty
Dynasty
The pain in my vein is hereditary
Dynasty
Running in my bloodstream, my bloodstream
Dynasty
And if that's all that I'm gonna be
Won't you break the chain with me?