COUNTING STARS - ONE REPUBLIC

COUNTING STARS ONE REPUBLIC

LET'S GET STARTED

Lead vocalist Ryan Tedder and guitarist Zach Filkins formed One Republic in Colorado, U.S., in 2002. They first drew attention on MySpace, a social networking website that was popular among musicians who wanted to break into the industry, but only had their first hit with Apologize, in 2005. Besides Tedder and Filkins, Drew Brown (guitar), Brent Kutzle (bass guitar) and Eddie Fisher (drums) also make part of the band. Released in the album Native (2013), Counting Stars has become One Republic’s most popular song, reaching number one in several countries, such as the United Kingdom and Canada. It is a folk pop song with a disco beat, written by lead vocalist Ryan Tedder. Its music video has reached over 1.9 billion views on YouTube so far.

Read some of the most significant lines in Counting Stars. What do they say about the song? Share your ideas

“Said no more counting dollars We'll be counting stars Yeah, we'll be counting stars”

Listen to the song and do the activities!

Lately I’ve been, I’ve been losing sleep Dreaming about the _____________ that we could be But baby I’ve been, I’ve been praying hard Said no more counting dollars We'll be counting __________ Yeah, we'll be counting stars (a) I see this wonderful life Like a swinging vine (b) Swing my heart wildly across the line In my face’s flashing signs (c) Seek it out and you shall find love Old, but I'm not that old __________, but I'm not that bold (d) And I don't think the whole world is sold I'm just doing what we're _________

told

stars

things

Young

Instructions

(e) I feel something so right about us Doing the wrong thing I feel something so ________ But doing the right thing I could ________, could lie, could lie (f) Everything that kills me makes me feel so alive [Chorus] Lately I’ve been, I’ve been losing sleep Dreaming about the things that we could be Baby I’ve been, I’ve been praying ___________ Said no more counting dollars We'll be counting stars Lately I’ve been, I’ve been losing ____________ Dreaming about the things that we could be But baby I’ve been, I’ve been praying hard Said no more counting dollars We'll be, we'll be counting stars

sleep

lie

hard

wrong

Instructions

(g) I feel the love between us And I feel it burn (h) Down this river of love every turn Hope is a four-letter word (i) Make that money grow Watch it burn Old, but I'm not that old Young, but I'm not that bold (j) And I don't think the entire world is sold I'm just doing what we're told (k) I feel something so wrong about life But doing the right thing I could lie, could lie, could lie (l) Everything that drowns me makes me wanna fly high

Instructions

Sing along!

[Chorus] Take that money and watch it burn Sink in the river the lessons I learned (4x) Everything that kills me makes me feel alive [Chorus] Take that money and watch it burn Sink in the river the lessons I learned (4x)

Click here to read the chorus!

After listening!

"I think it's our responsibility as a band, and what separates us from everyone else. I took that from being a fan of U2 for two decades now, since "Achtung Baby." To this day, they might be the only band on that level who sings about things other than just boy-girl troubles or the kind of selfish stuff. [...] I felt a responsibility to actually write and sing about things that have a level of human gravity to them. If everybody else sings about sex, love and money, then somebody's gotta be singing about life and faith and hope and things of that nature."

It's time to talk!

a. Do you think singers and bands should worry about writing and singing “about things that have a level of human gravity to them”? Why (not)? b. What kind of music do you prefer listening to – songs with light lyrics and topics or songs that discuss more serious issues? Why? c. What is your favorite song? What is it about? Why do you like it so much?