Nina Simone: Feeling Good

In this famous song, Nina Simone sings about things which make a difference to her mood.

Which instruments can you hear in the song?

How does the song make YOU feel?

TASK ONE – Expanded noun phrases

Can you write a list of all the nouns in this song? Make each one into an expanded noun phrase. (See the bottom of this post if you lose track!)

e.g. butterflies

Some brightly-coloured butterflies hovered over the children’s slide.

TASK TWO – Your own poem

What makes YOU feel good? Write a poem in the style as the song. Look at the lyrics (below) and replace the nouns with your own ideas. Maybe you could record yourself singing your new poem?

TASK THREE – Visual lyrics

Can you create a piece of art containing all these objects Nina sings about? Or a piece of art based around your own, from task two?

Send you art or writing in to [email protected] and we’ll stick it on socials! Or tweet your own #homeschoolmixtape

Lyrics from genius.com

[Intro]
Birds flying high, you know how I feel
Sun in the sky, you know how I feel
Breeze driftin’ on by, you know how I feel

[Refrain]
It’s a new dawn
It’s a new day
It’s a new life for me, yeah
It’s a new dawn
It’s a new day
It’s a new life for me, ooh
And I’m feeling good

[Verse 1]
Fish in the sea, you know how I feel
River running free, you know how I feel
Blossom on the tree, you know how I feel

[Refrain]
It’s a new dawn
It’s a new day
It’s a new life for me
And I’m feeling good

[Verse 2]
Dragonfly out in the sun, you know what I mean, don’t you know?
Butterflies all havin’ fun, you know what I mean
Sleep in peace when day is done, that’s what I mean
And this old world is a new world
And a bold world, for me