Music on Monday

Summer 2025

This term our focus turns to 'Caring for Our World' where we consider our responsibilities to the natural world, the environment that we share not only with other people but with all life on Earth.

16th June

Better Together

Jack Johnson

Have you ever noticed how everything feels more fun and special when you’re with your friends or family? That’s the idea behind a song called “Better Together” by Jack Johnson.

Who Is Jack Johnson?

Jack Johnson is a singer, songwriter, and surfer from Hawaii. He’s known for his calm, relaxing music and songs that make you think about nature, kindness, and love. Before becoming a musician, Jack loved to surf and even made films about it! Now, he uses his music to spread good messages and support causes like protecting the environment.

What Is “Better Together” About?

“Better Together”, written in 2005, is a song all about how life is more meaningful when we share it with others. The lyrics talk about how even simple moments- like looking at the stars or sitting quietly, feel better when you’re with someone you care about.

Jack sings in a peaceful way that makes you feel cozy and happy, almost like a warm hug through music. The song reminds us that happiness grows when we’re kind, when we share, and when we stick together.

What Can Communities Learn from the Song?

Just like friends and families are better when they’re together, communities like neighbourhoods, schools, or teams also become stronger when people work together.

• Helping each other makes life easier for everyone.

• Sharing ideas and listening makes people feel respected and included.

• Working as a team helps solve problems and build better places to live.

So, when we hear “Better Together,” it’s not just about people we love- it’s also about the power of community. Whether it’s cleaning up a park, organising a school event, or just being kind to a neighbour, we’re always better when we’re together.

Fun Fact: Jack Johnson donates much of the money he earns from his music to support schools, clean oceans, and healthy communities!

So next time you hear the song “Better Together,” think about how you can help your community be a better place- just by being a kind and caring part of it.

9th June

Four Sea Interludes (from the Opera Peter Grimes)

Benjamin Britten

Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) was an English composer who loved writing music that told stories. He wrote an opera called Peter Grimes, about a fisherman who lives in a village by the sea. In the opera, the sea is very important—it changes all the time and helps tell the story.

Britten took four pieces of music from the opera and turned them into a special set called the Four Sea Interludes. Each piece shows a different mood of the sea and the village.

1. Dawn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c80QuZJkcR4

This music sounds calm and peaceful, like early morning when the sun is just starting to rise. The sea is quiet, and the day is just beginning. You can imagine soft light and gentle waves.

2. Sunday Morning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATtWiEOma3M

This piece is lively and cheerful. It shows the village on a Sunday morning, with people getting ready to go to church. The music sounds like church bells ringing, and it feels busy and bright.

3. Moonlight

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSRCHZKCESw

This piece is soft and mysterious. It paints a picture of the sea at night under the moonlight. The waves are gentle, and everything is quiet. But there’s also a feeling that something might be wrong underneath the calm.

4. Storm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gk3x58-YRI

This is the wildest and loudest piece! It sounds like a big sea storm, with strong winds, crashing waves, and thunder. The music is very fast and exciting, like the sea is angry. It also shows how the main character, Peter Grimes, is feeling upset and out of control.

These four pieces of music help us imagine what the sea and the village are like at different times. Even without seeing the opera, we can listen and picture the story through Britten’s amazing music.

2nd June

Our Only World

David Smart

“Our Only World” is the title of a wonderfully inspirational and moving song to raise awareness of plastic pollution in our oceans.

This exciting project was conceived by marine conservation founder, Tina Robinson and songwriter and producer, David Smart, www.davidsmartmusic.com. Tina’s charity, Our Only World was named after David’s song.

The song aims to inspire children and schools around the world to become aware of the harm plastics have on our environment.

Five schools across Cornwall and Guernsey took part in performing the song and helping create a music video to showcase its important message. The first official release of the music video and single occurred in Guernsey in 2023.

19th May

The 3 R's

Jack Johnson

“The 3 R’s” is a song by American singer-songwriter Jack Johnson, featured on the soundtrack for the 2006 animated film Curious George. The track stands out not only for its catchy, laid-back melody—true to Johnson’s surf-folk style—but also for its educational message focused on environmental responsibility.

The title “The 3 R’s” refers to the three key principles of environmental conservation:

• Reduce

• Reuse

• Recycle

The lyrics encourage listeners, especially children, to be mindful of their consumption and waste habits. Johnson simplifies these concepts in a way that’s accessible and memorable for young audiences. The repetition in the chorus reinforces the message:

“Three, it’s a magic number

Yes it is, it’s a magic number

Because three is a number that’s in the air

Especially when you’re talking about reduce, reuse, recycle”

Musically, the song features Johnson’s signature acoustic guitar-driven sound, mellow vocals, and a relaxed rhythm. It cleverly samples and reinterprets elements of the classic 1970s educational song “Three Is a Magic Number” by Bob Dorough, which was part of the Schoolhouse Rock! series. Johnson updates the lyrics and arrangement to promote environmental consciousness, keeping it fun and upbeat.

“The 3 R’s” has been widely used in schools and environmental programs to teach sustainability in a fun, non-preachy way. It’s a great example of how music can be used as an educational tool to instil values of environmental stewardship in younger generations. Johnson, a known advocate for eco-conscious living, extended this message beyond the music—his Curious George soundtrack and touring practices were built around sustainable initiatives.

In short, “The 3 R’s” is more than just a song—it’s a gentle, engaging call to action for children (and adults) to take care of the planet.

12th May

Sir Duke

Stevie Wonder

For Music on Monday this week, we have an iconic, uplifting song- and a fun body percussion video to join in with whilst you’re listening! See if you can follow the actions and do them in time with the song.  Also, you’ll spot a few crotchet (“walk”) rests…..remember these are one beat of silence!

Released in 1977 as part of his acclaimed album Songs in the Key of Life, “Sir Duke” is one of Stevie Wonder’s most beloved and upbeat tracks. The song serves as a joyful tribute to the legendary jazz musician Duke Ellington, and more broadly, to the profound influence of jazz and its pioneers on modern music.

Who Was Duke Ellington?

Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington (1899–1974) was one of the most important figures in the history of American music. A prolific composer, pianist, and bandleader, Ellington’s career spanned more than 50 years. He is best known for his work with the Duke Ellington Orchestra and for classic compositions like “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing),” “Mood Indigo,” and “Take the ‘A’ Train.” His music transcended categories, blending elements of jazz, blues, classical, and gospel. Ellington played a vital role in elevating jazz to a respected art form and was awarded a posthumous Pulitzer Prize Special Citation in 1999.

Inspiration Behind the Song

Stevie Wonder wrote “Sir Duke” as a heartfelt homage to Ellington, who passed away in 1974. In interviews, Wonder expressed that he wanted to pay tribute to Duke Ellington and the legacy of the musicians who inspired him. He was deeply moved by the death of Ellington and felt a need to honour him through music. The lyrics of “Sir Duke” also reference other musical greats such as Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong, and Ella Fitzgerald, celebrating a generation of artists who laid the foundation for the music Stevie Wonder grew up loving and eventually expanded upon.

Wonder explained that he wrote the song so listeners, especially younger ones, would understand the joy and beauty of the music created by these jazz legends. 

Musical Style and Reception

“Sir Duke” is instantly recognisable for its exuberant saxophone section and vibrant melody. The song blends funk, soul, and jazz influences, and its upbeat rhythm and celebratory tone make it a standout on the album. The track was both a commercial and critical success. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S. and became one of Stevie Wonder’s signature hits.

The lyrics reflect Wonder’s deep appreciation for the power of music to move and unite people:

“Music knows it is and always will

Be one of the things that life just won’t quit.”

Legacy

“Sir Duke” remains a timeless classic that continues to introduce new generations to the magic of jazz and its giants. It not only honours Duke Ellington’s monumental legacy but also serves as a reminder of Stevie Wonder’s own role as a musical bridge between genres and eras.

5th May

I'll Remember

Simon Haw MBE

"I'll Remember" is a song created by the Royal British Legion to commemorate the 80th anniversaries of VE Day and VJ Day. Composed by British composer Simon Haw MBE, it’s purpose is to help young people remember the stories of the Second World War and its end. It also pays respect to those who fought for our country and reminds us that we should never forget the sacrifices they made for us. 

28th April

Wake up America

Miley Cyrus

"Wake Up America" by Miley Cyrus, from her 2008 album Breakout, is a song about environmental awareness and climate change. It encourages listeners to pay attention to the planet and take action, even if they feel overwhelmed by the scale of the issue. The lyrics express a sense of uncertainty about the effects of global warming and pollution, but also a call for collective action. Miley Cyrus is asking the people of her country (America) to work together to save our planet…..perhaps if everyone could incorporate sustainability into their every day lives then that would be a great start?  Whilst the song lyrics are asking Americans to wake up and take action to save the planet, it could (and should!) of course also be applied to the rest of the world…we’re all in this together and can all make a difference.

23rd April

What a Wonderful World

(Louis Armstrong) Playing for Change Foundation

The charity “Playing For Change Foundation” believes music and culture serve as the most powerful resource to bring communities together and solve the world’s greatest challenges.

Founded in 2007, PFCF was established to create positive change through music and arts education. Their work engages marginalized youth in diverse communities around the world, primarily located in low and lower-middle income countries. These communities are home to great cultural wealth, which PFCF uses to create educational and social opportunities.  

This video shows many of their projects coming together to create a performance of the song “What a Wonderful World”.

“What a Wonderful World” , written by Bob Thiele and George David Weisse was first recorded and performed by famous jazz singer and trumpeter Louis Armstrong in 1967.  The song is about hope and faith of the world and its people.  It’s incredibly important to remember all of the wonderful things about our world and why it’s so important that we strive to keep it this way.