Landslide Lyrics Dixie Chicks

A great opening plays an important part in establishing you as an able orator, so it is imperative that you spend considerable time to write a witty, humorous opening. Most of the distinguished speakers always analyze their audience as it helps in knowing the level of sophistication that the speech should have. It also helps in deciding which elements would be a part of the speech. Before writing an entertainment speech, it can be beneficial if you gather some information on who is on the invitee list. You may not be able to precisely gauge their likes and dislikes but, it will certainly help you in deciding the undertone of your speech. Let us take a look at the famous speech of Mark Twain, titled “Our Fellow Savages of the Sandwich Islands”.

Ladies and Gentlemen: The next lecture in this course will be delivered this evening, by Samuel L Clemens, a gentleman whose high character and unimpeachable integrity are only equaled by his comeliness of person and grace of manner.
And I am the man!
I was obliged to excuse the chairman from introducing me, because he never compliments anybody and I knew I could do it just as well.

The next thing that you need to focus on is the body of the speech. It is necessary that your speech has a central theme around which the whole speech would revolve. The body of the speech is the central part of the speech and generally, it is observed that the attention of the audience starts drifting away at this stage. To ensure that you keep your audience interested, try keeping this part concise and make it lively by remembering some anecdotes. Look how beautifully Mark Twain has filled the speech with humorous epigrams to keep it lively and entertaining. This excerpt has been taken from Mark Twain’s address at gathering of Americans in London, July 4, 1872, titled “Americans and The English”.

This is an age of progress, and ours is a progressive land. A great and glorious land, too-a land which has developed a Washington, a Franklin, a Wm. M. Tweed, a Longfellow, a Motley, a Jay Gould, a Samuel C. Pomeroy, a recent Congress which has never had its equal (in some respects), and a United States Army which conquered sixty Indians in eight months by tiring them out-which is much better than uncivilized slaughter, God knows. We have a criminal jury system which is superior to any in the world and its efficiency is only marred by the difficulty of finding twelve men every day who don’t know anything and can’t read. And I may observe that we have an insanity plea that would have saved Cain. I think I can say, and say with pride, that we have some legislatures that bring higher prices than any in the world.

The conclusion of the speech should be written in such a way that it should drive the central idea of your speech and make it a memorable experience for the audience. You can use words such as, “Before I wrap up” or “Let me end this by saying” to signal to the audience that you have reached the closure of the speech. Audience will more likely remember the closing part of your speech so you might as well give something nice to remember. Something that will leave the audience in splits and allow a fitting end to your speech. You can take a look at the below example which highlights the use of humor while concluding a speech. This was an address by Woody Allen, titled “My Speech to the Graduates” and it first appeared in the New York Times in 1979. Read the rest of this entry »

Born Matthew Miller, Matisyahu (the Hebrew version of “Matthew”) has undergone a cosmopolitan journey in finding himself and hearing the calling of Jewish spiritualism. The result is a newfound career in an odd genre for an Orthodox convert—reggae.

Reggae originated in Jamaica as the sound of the underground, downtrodden and rebellious youth of a country seeking to find its own identity. Matisyahu will tell you that he underwent a similar journey that spanned travels around the U.S., Israel and other points around the world. With a new album in stores and a world tour underway, this young Jewish convert is pairing the passion of his spiritual rebirth with the fervor of reggae and hip-hop sounds.

His first album, “Shake off the dust…ARISE” met with critical acclaim and created a substantial following in 2004. Shortly afterward, a live CD, “Live at Stubb’s,” was released and had considerable commercial success. The latest offering, “Youth,” shows Matisyahu’s uncanny ability to combine deep lyrics that pay homage not only to his faith but also to the lyrics of peace and unity historic to reggae. For the latest album, Matisyahu paired up with legendary reggae producer Bill Lawson.

“Lyrically, I wanted to expand on ideas that I touched upon on the first album, to get deeper into those things, to get to the essence,” Matisyahu said in a recent interview. “Members of the band wrote the music together, different people brought different things to the table, and everyone contributed creatively. Out of this confluence of intuitive musical interaction and new ideas waiting to finally be given voice, the heightened dynamics of ‘Youth’ sprang forth. When we made the ‘Live At Stubb’s’ album, we had been touring for over a year and a half, and we really wanted to capture the energy from our live show.”

Stepping away from the music, Matisyahu is not just using a radical image to provide a hype to his music. His faith is lived out every day, from wearing traditional orthodox clothing, observing the Sabbath and devoting time while on tour to practicing his faith. While religion seems to be the ad agency by which many performers—a la Madonna’s Kabbalistic life style – are promoting themselves as something deeper, Matisyahu appears to have found that unique niche where a passion for the divine meets a unique medium for expression. Read the rest of this entry »

Nicholas Cage is known for being the nephew of famous director Francis Ford Coppola and for some bad acting. In more recent years, he’s also become known for his financial problems as well as his fascination with purchasing and rehabbing castles. Now, however, the “actor” has taken another turn for the worse, having been arrested over the weekend for being drunk and for domestic violence. Details of Cage’s various outbursts were captured on video from a New Orleans tattoo parlor. The issues arose when Cage, obviously intoxicated, began arguing with his wife, Alice Kim, and then began pushing her.

She managed to get him back home, only to see him remain violent and eventually being arrested for public drunkenness, domestic abuse and disturbing the peace. Said a bartender at Harry’s Corner in New Orleans, “He was running around and screaming on the street.” Apparently the fight between Cage and his wife broke out during an argument over which house they were renting as Cage is working on the movie “The Medallion.”

Said Peter Bennett, a street performer who lives nearby, “Apparently he had mistaken the house of my neighbors for the other house up the block that he is actually renting. His wife was trying to persuade him from disturbing the elderly couple who do in fact live in that house.” When the police arrived, Cage taunted them, saying, “Go ahead, arrest me.” The police tried to diffuse the situation, but were eventually forced to arrest Cage. Noted a Hollywood publicist who does not represent Cage, “They tried to send him home. Then, finally, they did arrest him.”

Top 10 Gospel Songs of All Time
•Amazing Grace
•God is Good
•Will the Circle Be Unbroken
•Victory in Jesus
•How Great Thou Art
•Because He Lives
•This is My Desire
•There’s Something About That Name
•Blessed Assurance
•His Name Is Wonderful
Read on to know more about the top 10 Christian songs in the modern gospel music scene.

Top 10 Gospel Songs – Contemporary
•Open The Eyes of My Heart – Sonicflood
•How Great Is Our God – Chris Tomlin
•Mighty to Save – Hillsong Music
•Draw Me Close – Kelly Carpenter
•Lord I Lift Your Name On High – Petra
•Forever – Chris Tomlin
•Beautiful One – Tim Hughes
•Awesome God – Michael W. Smith
•Everything That Has Breath – Parachute Band
•Here I Am To Worship – Tim Hughes
Below is a general list of the top Christian songs sung in churches across the globe.

Best Gospel Songs List
•I Walk By Faith – Maranatha Praise
•Days Of Elijah – Robin Mark
•Blessed Be Your Name – Newsboys
•Worthy Is The Lamb – Hillsong Music
•Everlasting God – Brenton Brown
•Jesus, Be The Center – Michael Frye
•Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble – Delirious
•Trading My Sorrows – Darrell Evans
•Just Reach Out – Petra
•He Is Exalted – Twila Paris
•In The Kingdom – Whitecross
•Indescribable – Chris Tomlin
•Shackles – Mary Mary
•One Way – Hillsong Music
•We Want To See Jesus Lifted High – Petra
•The Power Of Your Love – Geoff Bullock
•Better Is One Day – Matt Redman
•Dancin’ in Heaven – Whitecross
•Shine Jesus Shine – Graham Kendrick Read the rest of this entry »