Task

1.- 1980s Music

The music typical of 1980s bands has an important function in SING STREET. In small groups, choose one of the following bands whose music appears in the film and prepare a small presentation about the band. Be sure to address the band’s significance and style to the film’s period, Dublin in the mid-1980s. You can also prepare a song activity for the class.

Spandau Ballet The Cure Motörhead Depeche Mode Joy Division

a-ha Genesis Duran Duran The Jam The Clash

2.- Conor changing

The more Conor learns from his brother about music and the more music video and performances he sees on “Top of the Pops”, the more he experiments with his fashion. Describe what you think Conor hopes to express with his style, which music genre is inspiring his style (for example Synthpop, Glam Rock or New Wave/Dark Wave), and the consequences his fashion statement has for him.

3.- Music videos

It’s art. [...] This last forever. It’s the perfect mixture of music and visuals.

Brendan on music videos in SING STREET

After the first songs are written, the band “Sing Street” starts producing its music videos.

Look up on YouTube the music videos of the bands whose music is featured in SING STREET, for example Duran Duran’s “Rio”, a-ha’s “Take On Me” or The Cure’s “In Between Days”.

In small groups, choose one of the music videos and answer the following questions:

• What makes the video special?
• Which images stay with you?
• How are the artists portrayed?
• What significance does the music video have today?
• Which stylistic elements in these music videos do Conor and his friends in SING STREET try and imitate?

Discuss together in the classroom:

• What meaning do music videos have for Conor in SING STREET?
• What status did music videos have in the 1980s? Who was their target? Be sure to also address what you learned about this from SING STREET.
• What do music videos look like today and what significance do they have for bands?

4.- That’s Rock ’n’ Roll

BRENDAN

The girl? It’s all about the girl, isn’t it?

CONOR

Yeah. The girl, yeah.

BRENDAN

And you’re going to use somebody else’s

art to get her? Are you kidding?

CONOR

We’re just starting. Like we need to

learn how to play.

BRENDAN

Did the Sex Pistols know how to play?

You don’t need to know how to play.

Who are you? Steely Dan? You need to

learn how not to play, Conor. That’s the

trick. That’s rock ’n’ roll. And that takes

practice.

Dialogue excerpt from SING STREET

• What does the band’s music initially mean to Conor? What does he want to achieve with his music?

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• What distinguishes rock ‘n’ roll for Brendan?

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• Collect some names of present-day bands. Make two categories. Which bands correspond to Conor’s perspective and which to Brendan’s?
• How does Conor’s music relate later to his life and his experiences?