I THINK WE'RE ALONE NOW - TOMMY JAMES AND THE SHONDELLS

Una de las canciones que se viralizó hace poco en la versión de la cantante estadounidense Tiffany, incluída en la quinta temporada de la serie de TV de Netflix, "Stranger Things".

1.- Historia

En febrero de 1967, "I Think We're Alone Now", llega a su máxima posición (nº4) en el ranking Billboard de USA. Fue grabado por el grupo Tommy James And The Shondells. Thomas Jackson (Tommy), formó el grupo con tan sólo 12 años de edad. Otros éxitos propios (versionados por otros artistas) son "Crimson And Clover" y "Mony, Mony". Este último lo grabó el cantante británico Billy Idol en 1981. "I Think We're Alone Now" fue versionado por una adolescente llamada Tiffany en 1987. Este fue el primer éxito de la cantante.

Fuente: https://the-music-history.blogspot.com/2015/09/cover-or-not.html

2.- Lyrics

"Children, behave!"

That's what they say when we're together

"And watch how you play!"

They don't understand

(Pre Chorus)

And so we're running just as fast as we can

Holding on to one another's hand

Trying to get away into the night

And then you put your arms around me

As we tumble to the ground and then you say

(Chorus)

I think we're alone now

There doesn't seem to be anyone around

I think we're alone now

The beating of our hearts is the only sound

Look at the way

We gotta hide what we're doing

'Cause what would they say

If they ever knew?

(Repeat Pre Chorus)

(Repeat Chorus x3)

3.- Vocabulary

- Behave = Comportarse

- Together = Juntos, juntas

- Watch = Vigilar, tener cuidado con algo/alguien.

- Fast = Rápido, veloz

- Into = Dentro, en

- Around = Alrededor

- Tumble = Caerse, desplomarse

- Ground = Suelo, tierra

- Alone = Solo/a(s)

- Seem = Parecer

- Beating = Latido

- Heart = Corazón

- Sound = Sonido

- Look = Mirar

- Way = Camino

- Hide = Esconder

- 'Cause = Because = Porque

- Ever = Alguna vez

- Knew = Know = Saber, conocer

4.- Gramática

a) Commands

Ejemplo:

- Children, behave!

- Watch how you play!

b) Simple Present

Ejemplo:

- They don't understand.

- The beating of our hearts is the only sound.

c) Present Continuous

Ejemplo:

- We're running as fast as we can.

- (We're) Holding on to one another's hand.

c) Phrasal Verbs

Ejemplo:

- Hold on = Sujetar, agarrarse

- Get away = Escapar

d) Gotta (Coloquial)

Es una coloquial de "have got to" o "have got a" que equivale a "tener que (hacer algo)"

Ejemplo:

- We gotta hide what we're doing = Tenemos que esconder lo que estamos haciendo.

e) Second Conditional

Ejemplo:

- What would they say if they ever knew?

5.- Videoclip

SILENT NIGHT - STORY

I.- Story

The simple but significative melody of this song was composed by Franz Xaver Gruber in 1818.

The words were written by Father Joseph Mohr. Mohr got the inspiration when he was going to bless a newborn baby. He was so filled with the spirit of the season and with the simple beauty of the mother and infant that when he returned home, he wrote the poem we sing today.

Joseph Mohr was born in Salzburg, Austria. He became a Roman Catholic priest in 1815. In 1818, Mohr asked and organist called Franz Gruber, to set his poem to suitable music. Within a few hours, Gruber composed "Stille Nacht" ("Silent Night").

Franz Gruber was also born in Austria. He was a schoolteacher before he became the organist at St. Nicholas Church. Gruber wrote over 90 musical compositions, but he is best remembered as the composer of "Silent Night".

At first, the song was known as a Tyrolean Folk Song, and it was first published in a song collection called "Vier Achte Tyroler-Lieder" in 1828. In 1954 the King of Prussia, Frederick Wilheim IV, first heard the song and instructed his royal court musicians in Berlin to find out the names of the author and composer.

In 1863, an American Episcopal clergyman called John F. Young, translated the song into English. This is the version we all know. Young served as Bishop of the state of Florida in 1867.

II.- Questions

1.- Who was Franz Xaver Gruber?
2.- When did he compose "Stille Nacht"?
3.- What is the "Silent Night" version we all know?
4.- Do you know the lyrics?
5.- What other Christmas songs lyrics do you know?

III.- Vocabulary

- Compose = Componer
- Bless = Bautizar
- Infant = Infante, niño/a
- Become = Convertirse, llegar a ser
- Ask = Pedir
- Suitable = Apropiado/a
- Within = Dentro
- Publish = Publicar
- Instruct = Ordenar, mandar
- Find out = Averiguar
- Clergyman = Clérigo, pastor
- Bishop = Obispo

IV.- Grammar

a) Simple Past Tense

Some examples:

- This song was composed by Franz Xaver Gruber in 1818.
- When he returned home, he wrote the poem.
- He became the organist.

b) Past Continuous Tense

- He was going to bless a newborn baby.

c) Irregular Verbs

- Be, was/were, been.
- Write, wrote, written.
- Get, got, got.
- Become, became, become*
- Know, knew, known.
- Hear, heard, heard.

* = Come, came, come

d) To Be Born - Nacer

- Joseph Mohr was born in Salzburg.

Other examples:

- I was born on the 2nd of November.
- He was born at the hospital.
- She said she was born in 1980.

V.- Word Construction

It is very important to know how to construct words. A simple trick is using Preffixes and Suffixes. But you can use other ways to improve your vocabulary.

- Signify, significance, significative
- Inspire, inspirate, inspiration
- Suit, suitable
- Compose, composite, composition
- Publish, publisher, publishing
- Collect, collectable, collection
- Music, musical, musician