Cue Card # 125: Describe a song or a piece of music you like

IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card # 125

Describe a song or a piece of music you like.

You should say:

• what the song or music is
• what kind of song or music it is
• where you first heard it

and explain why you like it.

[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]

Model Answer:

I have heard many songs in my life and tried to understand them for the values that they offer. But, in my opinion, the songs of the music band, Pink Floyd, are certainly class apart. So, today, I would like to talk about one of the music of this awesome band called “perfect sense, part I & II” because I really like it.

Anyway, in the beginning, as a young boy, I didn’t really like band music that much, as I found them to be rather “noisy”. But, then I heard the songs of Pink Floyd at my senior high school about 14 years ago, and it was at that time, I realized that band music aren’t just about “screaming noise” or heavy metal music, but rather they also entertain people and stimulate their minds in unique ways.

Since then, I have always considered “Rogers Waters” to be one of the greatest artists in contemporary music who doesn’t mind talking about the inconsistencies and irregularities of this world just like he tried to do in this music by talking how the world is going through some wars, both visible and silent, where people kill each other people for no obvious reasons.

Then, in the second part, the artist goes on telling how the mass media has persuaded people into doing what goes against human pleasure and logic. It also shows how wars are for money and domination. It says: “Can’t you see/ it all makes perfect sense/ Expressed in dollars and cents/ Pounds shillings and pence”. Now, if you value things in terms of money everything makes sense, but the reverse is also true: if you value things in terms of love, loyalty, and human feelings, nothing makes sense!

The song also points out how television is used by political leaders as a propaganda machine. Finally, it shows how we make wars and kill each other like as if it is an entertaining sports competition.

Anyway, I like this song, primarily because it has some really powerful lyrics. I like this music also because the tune of the musical instrument here was so subtle and sublime, and yet so much expressive in carrying the message of the song in such a powerful manner. Also, the voice of Roger Waters was so distinct and engaging in this music.