The Movie Waffler 11 Tips on Writing A Case Study on A Song Analysis | The Movie Waffler

11 Tips on Writing A Case Study on A Song Analysis

11 Tips on Writing A Case Study on A Song Analysis


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!