A Stressed Out Song

Resources you will need:

Flip chart paper
A handful of pens
A selection of A4 paper
Flash Cards
Simple Beat Track - Click Below

Aim

To allow young people to explore the effects of stress through creative writing.

Overview

This activity uses a well known song as a basis to talk about stress and what it means to others. The young people will write their own lyrics and perform their own songs back to the group.

Click on the image to open and download simple beat track

Click on the image to open and download simple beat track

Instructions

  1. Begin the workshop by talking about stress.

  2. Spread two sheets out across the floor and discuss a) what makes us stressed, and b) how we deal with our stress.

  3. The obvious answers will occur but unpick some of the more unusual methods that people use to deal with stress.

  4. Play the song ‘Stressed Out’ by ‘A tribe called Quest’ and ask the group to just listen to the song. (here is a handy YouTube click).

  5. Ask the young people to underline the lines that they thought were interesting.

  6. The first verse has a range of lines that can prompt meaningful discussion.

  7. For example:

    All of a sudden, I saw these two kids frontin

    Talkin out they joints but they wasn’t sayin nuttin

    My hand was on my toolie they was actin unruly

    (Say word) Yo word up, yo I was tight caught up

    But I swallowed my pride and let that nonsense ride

    Because I’m positive it seems that negative dies

    what do your young people think these lines are about?

    Yo I know the feelin, when you feelin like a villain

    You be havin good thoughts but the evils be revealin

    and the stresses of life can take you off the right path (no doubt)

    Jealousy and envy tends to infiltrate your staff

    We gotta hold it down so we can move on past

    all adversities, so we can get through fast, like that

    In these lines the rapper offers advice. So what advice would your young people give to someone who is stressed out?

  8. Now split the young people into small groups and ask them to write down as many ideas as they can think of on how to deal with stress.

  9. Once the groups have their ideas ask them to fit them or speak them over the simple downloadable beat track opposite.

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