Thursday, July 30, 2009

Perk Up Your Ears

Picture, if you will, a 14-year-old short and chubby Mexican kid on a bike doing his paper route though one of those California heatwaves. It is 1977. He loves rock music but can't seem to figure out how to take it with him on those afternoons, as he chucks rolled up newspapers at his clients' doors, always with uncanny precision. On Saturdays and Sundays, the newspaper is delivered in the morning. As the kid is coming back from the route, he stops at a yard sale. He can't help but wonder what it is that white people do on Friday night that compels them to sell their used crap on Saturday morning. Amongst that crap, a little transistor radio stands out. It costs 25 cents, 9 volt battery included. The kid buys it enthused by the idea that he will be able to listen to the radio as he does his route. The AM radio provided daily rock epiphanies, one of which was XTC (the greatest unknown rock band in the world). From there the kid went to an endless arrey of cassette Walkmans, to Discmans, to Minidiscs... no iPods... that kid... that kid is just a bit off.
XTC has been away for a while, but Andy Partridge, founder, is still very active. From the Fuzzy Warbles Extras I give you (just click on the title to download) "Pupil Hayes" a scholastc parody of Jimmy Hendrix's "Purple Haze". It is an improvised fun version, which I hope you will really enjoy. May an epiphany come to you
I learned a lot of my English through three things; music, movies and reading. As I said before, a couple of weeks ago, this is a place for English teaching and learning and for music. I'm on a bit of a break from school, so as a result I'm on a bit of break from teaching as well.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

HEAD COLD

A few years ago, a friend gave me a set of title-less photocopies containing a short story which I found fresh and most captivating and enchanting. I did not know the name of the story, nor the name of the author. I read it many times. It was like listening to a song by one my favorite punk bands. Another element that held me to the story was that I identified with the central character. His dissertations, his relationship with his wife, his profession. As I am subscribed to The New Yorker Fiction Podcast (free of charge), I get a story once a month. A year ago I received a story labelled HEAD COLD. As I heard the story, I recognized those phrases I had read many times. I scrambled to get the copies, but couldn't find them. This is that short story. When you click on the title you will go to The New Yorker site, where you will be able to either listen to the podcast or to download it to your PC or mp3 player. Please listen to it, and find the time to leave a comment here, at the bottom. Leave your name so we know who you are and what YOU think.

Reading from The Guardian

Dear Teachers:
As I was going over The Guardian early morning this quickly jumped at me. I found it very interesting. I believe these ideas are something we might be able to relate to as teachers. I hope you enjoy it. (CLICK on the title to go there)

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Dig Lazarous Dig

This link will take you to YouTube so you can watch Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds' video for "Dig, Lazarus, Dig!". Nick Cave is an Australian singer, songwriter, actor and author. The man's voice is amazing. Nick Cave keeps a very busy schedule writing and touring with The Bad Seeds or Grinderman, and band that may not bear his name but is every bit his own creation.
Cave's most recent novel, "The Death of Bunny Munro", has just been published to very positive reviews in the British press. Let me know what you think of this track.

Welcome to Dr. Ralf's Rock & English Review


My name is Rafael, but everyone calls me Ralf; Doctor Ralf. I teach English, and I love rock music, so this blog will deal with both.
For my students I will provide the program and links to help with homework and learning.
I will also be posting comments and videos on rock music for you to listen to, watch (hopefully enjoy) and, perhaps, make comments on.