I am a middle school english teacher and am looking for some pop songs to use that have positive messages.?

Question

We are studying poetry and the kids have really gotten into watching music videos of songs they know. So far, I've used

If Everyone Cared by Nickelback

Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchel (video by Counting Crows)

I'm still looking at maybe some Five for Fighting videos but would like to have some others to choose from.

What are some songs with videos with positive messages that could lead to good discussion?

Answer 1

"My Humps" should be what the boys are all meditating on.  Girls, "Hips Don't Lie"

Answer 2

Here's some of my favorites. Haha I'm just going down my iTunes library and picking some out.

Move Along by The All-American Rejects, or Keep Holding On by Avril Lavigne: They're about staying strong and moving on with life even when it's hard.

In This Diary by The Ataris - It's about making the most out of being a kid, because we all grow up too fast. This is one of my favorite songs with such a strong message.

Where is the Love? by The Black Eyed Peas - There's some horrible things going on in this world right now, and people need to begin learning to love eachother.

Big Yellow Taxi would have be a great one, that was a good choice :]

Here's To The Night by Eve 6, it's also about making the most of your teenage years before they're over.

100 Years by Five For Fighting - Once again, about making the most of your life. We only have 100 years to live and they go by faster then you'd imagine. Junior high kids really need to learn that, which is why I'm really pretty focused on that idea - haha.

The Riddle by Five For Fighting - The answer to the riddle is love. It's the reason for the world. Really beautiful song, hard to comprehend at first but the meaning is so amazing once you figure it out.

How to Save A Life by The Fray - The actual song is talking about an intervention. Kids at this time are starting to get caught up in bad behaviors and the guy in this song noticed this in his friend and is trying to help him save his life and get himself back on track. Amazing song.

I Don't Wanna Be, by Gavin DeGraw - Not hard to understand, just listen to the chorus haha .. "I don't wanna be anything other than what I've been trying to be lately" ... BE YOURSELF.

Best Days by Graham Colton - These are the best days of our lives, so we have to make the most of them

Good Riddance by Green Day - Old song, but one of the most meaningful I have ever heard... plus it's still popular today. It's about looking back on your life, at all the mistakes you made, and how it will help your future. This is probably one of my favorites.

Don't Stop Believing by Journey - Don't stop believing!! haha.

What I've Done by Linkin Park - It's written to be about the horrible things that man has been doing to the world.

Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield - Our lives are undefined and we are the only ones in control of our lives so we shouldn't let others take advantage of us. We can do anything with our own lives that we want. This is an amazing song with a beautiful meaning, it is definitely one of my top choices.

My Wish by Rascal Flatts - Another favorite of mine, amazing lyrics. It's about making your life the best it can be and how there are others out there who love you and want you to become everything you are capable of.

Untitled by Simple Plan - The song has a really great music video. It's all about somebody whose loved one dies from an accident with a drunk driver. It's so sad, but that's a huge problem in society today which makes it even more meaningful. My school played it at an assembly to try to send a message after a girl here died when she was driving drunk and everybody was crying. It was so influential.

Jumper by Third Eye Blind - This song is the most meaningful song in the world to me and my favorite song of all time. It's about this guy trying to stop his friend from committing suicide. It makes me cry every time I hear it, mostly because that's how I lost my best friend.

Never Too Late by Three Days Grace - It's never too late to turn our lives around when things get too tough. Really popular song right now.

Hmm, that's about it. Sorry I went on so much. I just really liked this question because song lyrics mean a LOT to me and some of these songs have messages that have really changed my life. I hope this helped, tell me what songs you end up picking - I would love to know!

Answer 3

Anything by Jack Johnson

Anything by John Mayer (Say, his new one, is awesome!)

True Colors - by Cindi Lauper or Phil Collins

I don't wanna be - by Gavin DeGraw

We're All In This Together - by Ben Lee

Love is Free - by Sheryl Crow

Suddenly I see - KT Tunstall

Don't Stop Believing - by various (I like Petra Haden)

Hey Now - by Hillary Duff

No One - by Alicia Keys

Open Road - by Bryan Adams

Unwritten - by Natasha Bedingfield

Tide is High - by Atomic Kittens

You Gotta Be - by Desiree

Up! - by Shania Twain

Perfect Day - by Hoku

Answer 4

I also love Mayer's "Waiting on the World to Change", but my absolute favorite video to show my kids is Sarah McLachlan's "World's on Fire" video (http://www.worldonfire.ca/). They take the budget for the video and donate to various causes around the world.  In my classroom it stimulates a discussion of the value of one person, one vote, one dollar, and about hopelessness and our perceived place in the world.  It is also extraordinarily moving and even the most cynical teenage boy in my room is quiet with reflection when I show the video.

Other amazing songs that deal with character include the following (although I can't testify to their videos) are:

The Change and Standing Outside the Fire: Garth Brooks

Wake Up Everybody: Teddy Pendergrass

You Gotta Be: Des'ree

I am the Greatest: Kenny Rogers

Say: John Mayer

Drive: Incubus

Everyday: Dave Matthews Band (ok, the song isn't special but the video is so adorable that you should check it out)

Answer 5

when you believe by mariah carey and witney hustion

hero my mariah carey

this i promise you by nsync

music of the heart by justin timberlake and gloria estefanhttp://youtube.com/watch?v=H4Y1NZAs7mU&f...

angels by jessica simpson

foot prints in the sand by leona lewis

greatest love of all by whitney huston

beautiful by christinia aguilera

a moment like this by kelly clarkson

waiting on the world to change- john mayer

my wish by rascal flatts

Answer 6

Affirmation by Savage Garden

SAVAGE GARDEN LYRICS

"Affirmation"

I believe the sun should never set upon an argument

I believe we place our happiness in other people's hands

I believe that junk food tastes so good because it's bad for you

I believe your parents did the best job they knew how to do

I believe that beauty magazines promote low self-esteem

I believe I'm loved when I'm completely by myself alone

I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned

I believe you can't appreciate real love until you've been burned

I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side

I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye

I believe you can't control or choose your sexuality

I believe that trust is more important than monogamy

I believe your most attractive features are your heart and soul

I believe that family is worth more than money or gold

I believe the struggle for financial freedom is unfair

I believe the only ones who disagree are millionaires

I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned

I believe you can't appreciate real love until you've been burned

I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side

I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye

I believe forgiveness is the key to your unhappiness

I believe that wedded bliss negates the need to be undressed

I believe that God does not endorse TV evangelists

I believe in love surviving death into eternity

I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned

I believe you can't appreciate real love until you've been burned

I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side

I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye

[repeat ]

Answer 7

I am an English teacher too and i teach English as Foreign Language. I usually use songs to work with my students. The last songs i worked with were:

Spaceship by Angie Aparo

I won't go home without you by Maroon 5

She will be loved by Maroon 5.

Can't fight this feeling anymore by Reo Speedwagon

Songs by Backstreet Boys, Westlife, Boyzone and The Corrs are also very good ones.

Hope this help you : )