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K'naan

K'naan

Date: Aug 16 2010

Themes: News, Sports

Grammar: Passive Voice

Intro

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2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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K’naan has to be the most famous Somali-Canadian poet-rapper-singer-songwriter in the world. Maybe even the universe.

K’naan’s career took off in 1999 when he read a poem in front of the UN, criticizing the organization for their failure to help Somali refugees. Since then, he’s worked with such famous artists as Nelly Furtado and Will.i.am.

K’naan really became an international superstar when his song “Wavin’ Flag” was chosen as the anthem for the World Cup earlier this year. Find out what makes K’naan a singer with a soul.

Dialog

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Jason

Jason

Mason

Mason

Jason:  Did you hear that World Cup theme song?

Mason:  I did see it. It’s pretty unavoidable, right, I mean, World Cup anthem, right?

Jason:  Yeah. I guess the guy who made it, he’s like a Somali-Canadian.

Mason:  Somali, huh? It’s good they’re getting some nice PR for the Somali culture after the whole pirates thing.

Jason:  Yeah, he actually has some stuff to say about that. I guess basically his stance is that Somali piracy is obviously really bad, but it’s more a symptom than a problem in and of itself. It’s brought on by other problems in Somalia, economically and socially.

Mason:  So he’s not just some pop star, he’s got like a social conscience.

Jason:  Yeah, he’s been compared to Bob Marley for being a sort of international poet troubadour kind of guy.

Mason:  That’s interesting. I mean, I hope he can use the millions and millions of dollars in royalty money from getting lots of exposure at the World Cup to further his righteous endeavors.

Jason:  Maybe this will help him get his message to the next level.

 

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

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K’naan is a Somali-Canadian poet and singer who wrote the anthem for the 2010 World Cup. He is involved with politics and social issues in Africa. Jason explains that K’naan is not just a typical pop star. He is a singer with a social conscience. His songs have a message.

Mason only knows of K’naan because of the World Cup. He hopes that the fame and money that K’naan gained with his World Cup anthem will help him further the causes he cares about. Jason compares K’naan to Bob Marley, another singer who had an international reputation and wrote songs about justice.

Do you like music that has a message? Have you heard K’naan’s song “Wavin’ Flag”?

 

Comments

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BrooklynP

Bangladesh

thanks a lot for this quick but informative lesson!<a href=”http://smartessayrewriter.com/blog/grammar-games-to-practice-your-english”>grammar games to practice your english</a>  are suitable now!


01:32 PM Feb 07 2017 |

nino-nino

nino-nino

Georgia

I like this song.And the lyrics are interesting.

12:10 PM Mar 24 2011 |

sakikalif@hotmail.com

Somalia

kanaan waxaan ahay wii reer somaliland ah aad waxaanu  taageraa hesa haaga lol waxaad tahay nin wadaka somalia markale rajadeediii soo nooleeyay calamka xusuusiyay  sxb nolow

10:02 AM Sep 06 2010 |

saro22

saro22

Egypt

it's a very good song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDrkU0rzFu8

07:16 PM Sep 04 2010 |

mary888

mary888

Jordan

I thinl Knaan is soooooo cute guy

09:23 PM Aug 22 2010 |

lawati

Oman

the song is amazing .., truly unavoidable

08:26 PM Aug 20 2010 |

Zambuka

Zambuka

United States

The song is quite good , and inspiring by the way . The anthem was also used in coca -cola ’s advertisement ,and it was hardly even able to keep your feet still when it was on tv :D and i agree with k’naan ’s stance about the symptom . . . Everything what goes wrong among the population just shows that social system is not stable. And it’s nice to hear that there are people who has got a social conscience and doesn’t allow everything to be as it is, and try to fight for better life.

12:25 AM Aug 19 2010 |

Maria Anatalia Pereira Domingos

Brazil

very good…..

08:12 PM Aug 18 2010 |

Romio79

Romio79

Russian Federation

I like his lyrics and not only in this song.

06:56 PM Aug 18 2010 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

Oh yeah it is always very good you hear a good message into a music…But sometimes I like hear a music just for fun…Unfortunately I don't know anything about this singer…

11:17 PM Aug 17 2010 |

shahiid

Ethiopia

hiiiiiiiii

05:45 PM Aug 17 2010 |

shahiid

Ethiopia

hiiiiiiiii

05:45 PM Aug 17 2010 |

rosendo

rosendo

Mexico

nice jam !!
i did know abt K'naan until now jeje ,,,, well, i had listened the song but i had not put attention.

saludos

03:30 PM Aug 17 2010 |

An-china

An-china

Germany

I do like the song.

02:06 PM Aug 17 2010 |

sugarbine

Japan

First I thoght I don't know this song, but I have listened this song many times!

01:29 PM Aug 17 2010 |

angel_bluemoon

Viet Nam

When i get older, I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom
Just like a Waving Flag.

I love it 

09:37 AM Aug 17 2010 |

abdu al-rhman

Yemen

I loved the 2010 World Cup and I watched lots of games of it. But I only know the song of “Waka waka”. Now I am listening to “Wavin’ Flag” and it’s wonderful.

09:19 PM Aug 16 2010 |

Snazz De

Snazz De

United Kingdom

i love it and will always will:)

07:55 PM Aug 16 2010 |

adelina_delia

Albania

Wavin' flag,really great song :)))

 

06:15 PM Aug 16 2010 |

rebel lee

rebel lee

China

I loved the 2010 World Cup and I watched lots of games of it. But I only know the song of "Waka waka". Now I am listening to "Wavin' Flag" and it's wonderful.

I like meanful songs and some sad songs, but I don't think songs should have anything to do with politics.

03:48 PM Aug 16 2010 |

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