A case study on a song is an analytic essay that examines how the lyrics,
tone, theme, and background of a song influences its overall meaning. A
case study allows you to look at one aspect of a piece of music to better
understand what makes it tick. To write a successful analysis, you'll need
to do your homework by listening to the songs carefully and critically
examining each one. Here are 11 tips from several case study examples to
help you write your own:
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1) Listen Carefully
Make sure that you listen closely to the songs before using them for this
assignment since doing so will help with creating your thesis statement as
well as identifying specific examples or details from within the songs.
It's best if you can choose songs that are familiar ones because hearing
them will give you a stronger connection to the song and its effect.
2) Create a Thesis Statement
Once you have listened to your songs, write down your thoughts about them
in terms of their overall mood or tone as well as their themes. You can
also look for other details such as repeated lines or refrains that might
influence these observations. Think about how the lyrics work together
with the instrumentals and determine if there are any connections between
them based upon what you hear. Your thesis statement should be an
explanation of your understanding of the primary meaning behind the song's
words and music altogether. Here is an example: "BTS' 'Go Go' (English
title) is conveys a protest against the materialistic nature of society
through the use of both Korean and English lyrics that parallel and
express how individuals are run by consumerism and capitalism and can
abandon morals for wealth."
3) Make Connections Between Lyrics and Music
Make connections between the lyrics and the music, as well as any
background influences such as characters or events that might be
referenced in both. You can find these connections by paying attention to
details you discover throughout the songs. When it comes to lyrics, you'll
need to do more than just summarize them; rather, you should delve into
why they are significant so that your paper brings life beyond a string of
words on a page. Here is an example: "One way in which 'Go Go' expresses
how society is indeed run by materialism through the use of Korean and
English language lyrics, which juxtaposes the funky beat implying that it
is an issue that is not taken seriously."
4) Use the Artists' Backgrounds to your Advantage
Whenever possible, use the artists' backgrounds or other information
about them to support your ideas about their songs. For example, research
what you can find out about BTS and how the group has represented
themselves. BTS became known for tackling social issues using their songs,
and they've continued to create tracks that express varying ideas on a
variety of topics - from addressing haters to mental health - which you
should reference when writing about "Go Go".
5) Incorporate Additional Songs into your Case Study
If you want to write a case study on more than one song, you can do so by
choosing selections that are related in some way. For example, if you
decide to write about "Go Go" and Oliver Tree's "Cash Machine," these
songs could be compared and contrasted since they both share themes of
materialism. You can also use other BTS songs and focus on a correlation
or continuation of the theme.
6) Critically Analyze the Lyrics' Meanings
Music is art; therefore, people can interpret lyrics or messages
differently. One of your central goals when writing a case study paper is
to explore how lyrics convey their messages without being too obvious or
straightforward. That being said, you'll need to provide critical analysis
of each song rather than simply agreeing with its message without
questions. You can begin this process by finding lyrics online or
purchasing them from a music store to use in your paper. Next, read the
songs carefully and track down certain words that you think are key
throughout.
For example, BTS' "Go Go" contains both Korean and English lyrics that
are phonetically similar, and using these words side by side further
establishes the theme. Furthermore, although "Go Go" might have a theme of
materialism it may also convey the idea that individuals are anchored on
materialism because society's mechanisms continue to promote this
lifestyle nor do they change so individuals become more mindful about the
impacts. This is a secondary theme that you should make note of and
explain why you think it's present in the song.
7) Challenge Popular Myths about Music
You might notice that there are certain assumptions or beliefs expressed
about music by the general public such as "rap is violent." In this case,
Korean (or other Asian) songs will not gain popularity with the West or
across the world. These types of myths can be found all over media outlets
as well as conversations between individuals. Your case study should
challenge them not only by explaining how these ideas might be incorrect
but also by providing evidence through your work on how they're
untrue.
8) Be Creative in Your Writing Style and Consider an Infographic
You don't have to write a traditional case study analysis paper on these
songs by using proper sentence structure throughout. Instead, think of
creative ways in which you can present your ideas through essays that are
not limited to formal language or rigid structures. Consider using or
adding Infographics which are very popular nowadays because they can
quickly show information in a unique way. They are great for presenting
all sorts of data in a creative way.
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9) Make Sure your Paper is Clear and Easy to Understand
Your case study must be simple enough for people who aren't familiar with
musical analysis or terminology to understand. This means avoiding
abbreviations or slang words that are typically used among fans of
specific genres.
10) Read and Edit your Paper Thoroughly
When proofreading, closely reread each sentence and check for errors in
spelling and grammar. If you notice any issues while reading it out loud,
be sure to correct them before moving forward since these problems can
distract the reader from the content itself.
11) Remember that Case Studies are not Traditional
In a traditional essay, there might be a five-paragraph structure in
which the first three are the introduction, body paragraph 1, and body
paragraph 2. These might be followed by a conclusion that briefly
summarizes what was discussed earlier on. When writing case studies, you
should try to avoid the traditional structure since it's incredibly
limiting when compared to essays about music.
Bottomline
A case study isn't meant to be written in the same manner as traditional
essays. Instead, you should focus on why someone might want to listen or
interpret it in a specific way. Keep these steps in mind when you start
your case study writing process.
If you need case study examples or other in or help to start one, visit
Venngage now! Find a list of ready templates as well as
Venngage infographics
you can customize and use easily to help you write your most comprehensive
papers!