PART 2
A SONG THAT YOU
LIKE/FAVORITE SONG
Describe a song that you like
You should say:
- What the song is about
- When you listened to it for the first time
- How you feel about the song
And explain why you like it
A N S W E R
Honestly, this topic is not really complicated but choosing just one particular favorite song is extremely challenging as I have more than one on my list. Well, I’ve just made up my mind to talk about Elton John’s ‘Your Song’.
LEXICAL RESOURCE
More than one in my list [expression] – too many favorite songs to choose from
Made up my mind [phrase] – have decided
Tip: The way the speaker starts his answer makes him sound so natural. To be natural is what you need to do in order to show the examiner that you are comfortable using the English language.
This is a pop song which was written in 1967, to be exact, by Elton John’s friend Bernie who at that time was only 17. The lyrics of the song express the naivety of a man being so in love with someone. In the intro, the man was making wishful thinking that if he had so much money he would buy a huge house for his lover so they could live happily together. In the chorus, it talks about how wonderful the life he had with his life partner was and that he made that song to manifest his undying love.
LEXICAL RESOURCE
Pop song [noun] – a type of song that is mainstream; a song that the majority of people listen to
Naivety [noun] – being naive or lacking experience
Wishful thinking [noun] – an imagination done by someone who wishes that something could come true
Intro [noun] – the beginning of the song
Chorus [noun] – a part of the song that is repeatedly sung after each verse Synonym: refrain
Manifest [verb] – express; show; demonstrate
Tip: In this part, the speaker uses topic vocabulary words like ‘pop’, ‘intro’, and ‘chorus’. This is a must since he is talking about a song. Using these will help him get a better mark in the criterion, Lexical Resource.
For me, the song is an all-time favorite by many, and I’m not an exception. At some point in our lives, we have experienced what has been expressed in the song – that we all want nothing but the very best of the love of our lives. I remember, I first heard this song when I was only a grader but I couldn’t care less about its meaning since I didn’t know what love was at that time. Now that I’m capable of understanding what love is, I realize that this ballad is making everyone fall in love over and over again.
LEXICAL RESOURCE
All-time favorite [expression] – a favorite among other choices and during all times
Couldn’t care less / could care less [expression] – to not care at all
Ballad [noun] – a song narrating a story in stanza
Tip: In order to make the story longer and more spontaneous, he uses the ‘recall technique’, which means remembering what happened in the past. This is a very good way to develop your story.
No wonder, why this has been a chart-topping song in many countries, and as far as I know it’s the very first single of Elton John to reach the top 10 on the Billboard chart. What is more interesting is that because of this song Elton John and John Lennon from the Beatles forged a friendship, Lennon affirmed that Elton John had been the first new thing that happened since his band’s existence.
As this song became a commercial success in the music industry, many artists covered this endearing song. Who would’ve thought that this song would pave the way to making Elton John a music icon?
LEXICAL RESOURCE
No wonder [phrase] – it is not surprising
Chart-topping [adj.] – refers to songs that reach the top of music charts
Single [noun] – a song from an album that has been given the most promotion
Billboard chart [noun] – music chart in the US that tabulates popular songs
Forge (friendship) [verb] – make friendship
Affirm [verb] – declare; state
Cover [verb] – to record a song, especially one that has been commercially successful by the original artist
Endearing [adj.] – lovely; adorable
Who would have thought… [phrase] – is used to express a surprise
Pave the way [phrase] – to create a situation that makes something possible
Tip: Again, the speaker uses a good amount of topic vocabulary related to music such as single, chart-topping, Billboard chart, and cover. Using these shows that he has good knowledge of music, and that makes him sound really natural.
PART 3
What kinds of music are popular among young people in your country?
Well, it’s undeniable that the younger generation nowadays has a keen interest in chart music. This is simply because they can always hear this on the radio, also this type of music can be accessed effortlessly through Youtube or Spotify as it is too mainstream. Here in Korea, Korean pop or K-pop is incredibly famous and even a three-year-old child cannot get enough of listening and dancing to the music of K-pop idols. Aside from pop, rap music is also common, especially to teenage boys, I believe it is their outlet to express their feelings in a subtle way.
LEXICAL RESOURCE
Chart music [noun] – pop music
A keen interest in something [phrase] – to be very interested in
Mainstream [adj.] – popular among people
Incredible [adj.] – unbelievable
Can’t get enough [phrase] – to love or enjoy something much
Outlet [noun] [expression] – a way or method to express one’s emotion
Subtle [adj.] – being clever or skillful
Why do you think pop music is often played on radio stations?
I suppose that is what the majority of listeners want to listen especially in this generation. In the first place, radio stations will avoid playing music in which they cannot attract the audience as it means no profit. Music like that of pop is profitable to radio stations and in order to keep their business afloat, they have to feel the pulse of a wider audience always. Another reason would be, that major record labels like Sony or Warner are pouring a lot of money into creating pop music as a result other genres like independent or folk music are completely left out of the mainstream and become unknown by many.
LEXICAL RESOURCE
Keep business afloat [phrase] – to have more money to operate
Feel the pulse of [phrase] – to learn or understand
Record label [noun] – record companies that market music recordings and videos
Pouring money [phrase] – to provide a lot of money for future gains
Genre [noun] – type
Left out [phrase] – excluded
Has your preference for music changed over the years?
To be honest, not at all, my taste in music remains the same. I am still fond of listening to pop, rock, and new wave. I was born in the late 80s and when I started to learn about music, those genres were often played on the radio and I fell in love listening to them. They have continued to stick in my mind even now. Well to be specific, the music of several favorite bands such as A-ha, Ambrosia, Sting, Tears For Fears, and many others is just close to my heart. I believe I am old-fashioned but not necessarily dismissing pop or rock artists in this generation, I just feel more attuned to the music of the past.
LEXICAL RESOURCE
Taste in music [idiom] – preference in music
Fond [adj.] – like
New wave [noun] – style of rock music popular in the 70s or 80s
Stick in my mind [phrase] – to be memorable; cannot be forgotten
Dismiss [verb] – disregard; treat as unworthy
Attuned (to) [adj.] – being able to understand or deal with
Tip: The speaker is giving the different kinds of bands to make his answer longer and to support the types of music he listens to. In this way, his answer becomes more descriptive, thus, making the examiner understand better. Note: Take note of the question ‘preference in music’ so don’t talk about specific songs, focus on the genre of music.
Develop a story better in Part 2 for
the recent IELTS Speaking CUE
CARD about
A Language That You Want To Learn Other Than English
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Meaning of Words and Phrases Sources: Collins, Macmillan, Cambridge, Oxford
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