Rise | Katy Perry

Let’s Get Started...

Katy Perry’s Rise was released in July 2016, as a theme song for the coverage of the 2016 Olympics by NBC, an
American TV network. At the time it was released, Perry stated that “This is a song that’s been brewing inside me
for years, that has finally come to the surface”. In an interview to Mashable, she added that the song is “…a little
bit like the story of the phoenix, about overcoming… rising up again and finding that inner strength again and
again, that’s a lifelong theme for me.”
Pre-Listening 1.
Work in pairs. The word “rise”, the title of Katy Perry’s song, has several meanings as a verb. Look some
of them up in a dictionary.

2. Analyze the meanings you listed in Activity . Which do you think is most likely to be the meaning of
“rise” in the song? Check .
3. Read the sentences. Match the underlined words to their meaning.
a. Daniel was the archetype of the bully: strongly-built, authoritarian and arrogant.
b. Although Gabrielle injured her leg two months before the Olympics, she never lost faith in her ability to get a
medal.
c. The stadium was in a complete state of mayhem and madness after the fight between the supporters of the two
teams.
d. After all the difficulties to find sponsorship, our basketball team is finally thriving and participating in the state
championship.
e. After intense physical activity, athletes’ veins might pop out, but the blood flow continues to be the same.

[ ] blood vessels
[ ] a state of wild and chaotic activity
[ ] a very typical example of a certain person or thing
[ ] complete trust or confidence in someone or something, or a spiritual conviction
[ ] growing or develop well or vigorously

While Listening 4.
Listen to the song Rise. Fill in the blanks with the words from the box.
Rise
Katy Perry
1 I won’t just (a) _____________
2 Oh, you will see me thrive
3 Can’t (b) _____________ my story
4 I’m beyond the archetype
5 I won’t just conform
6 No (c) _____________ how you shake my core
7 Cause my roots, they run deep, oh
8 Oh ye of so little faith
9 Don’t doubt it, don’t doubt it
10 (d) _____________ is in my veins
11 I know it, I know it
12 And I will not (e) _____________
13 I’ll fight it, I’ll fight it
14 I will (f) ____________
15 When, when the fire’s at my (g) ____________ again
16 And the vultures all start circling
17 They’re whispering, “you’re out of (h) _____________.
18 But still, I rise
19 This is no (i) _____________, no accident
20 When you think the final nail is in, think again
21 Don’t be surprised, I will still rise
22 I must stay conscious
23 Through the madness and (j) _____________
24 So I call on my (k) _____________
25 They say
26 Oh ye of so little (l) _____________
27 Don’t doubt it, don’t doubt it
28 Victory is in your veins
29 You know it, you know it
30 And you will not negotiate
31 Just (m) _____________ it, just fight it
32 And be transformed
33 Cause when, when the fire’s at my feet again
34 And the (n) _____________ all start circling
35 They’re whispering, “you’re out of time”
36 But still, I rise
37 This is no mistake, no (o) _____________
38 When you think the final (p) _____________ is in, think again
39 Don’t be surprised, I will still rise
40 Don’t doubt it, don’t doubt it
41 Oh oh, oh oh
42 You know it, you know it
43 Still (q) _____________
44 Just fight it, just fight it
45 Don’t be surprised, I will still rise

After Listening
5. Now that you have listened to the song Rise, check your predictions for the meaning of the word in the
song, which you discussed in Activity 2.
6. What is the main theme of the song?
[ ] a. human resilience
[ ] c. dreams vs. reality
[ ] b. unrequited love
[ ] d. religious belief
7. Check the best meaning for the following lines from the song.
a. “I’m beyond the archetype”
[ ] I’m not a typical person.
[ ] I’m not a hero.
b. “Victory is in my veins”
[ ] I’m a very healthy person.
[ ] I’m a successful, winning person.
c. “Cause when, when the fire’s at my feet again”
[ ] Because when I recover my strength.
[ ] Because when I am on fire again
d. “I will still rise”
[ ] I will fly away and escape.
[ ] I will face the challenges.

8. In the following lines of the song Rise, the words in bold have a figurative meaning. What do you think
the lines mean? Work in pairs.
a. “No matter how you shake my core”
b. “Cause my roots they run deep”
c. “And the vultures all start circling”
d. “When you think the final nail is in”
9. Work in pairs. Read the initial lines of two poems with the word “rise” in its title. One of them is
considered to be an inspiration for the song. Which one is it?
Still I Rise
Maya Angelou You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?

Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

The Hours Rise Up Putting Off Stars And It Is

E. E. Cummings

dawn
into the street of the sky light walks scattering poems

on earth a candle is
extinguished the city
wakes
with a song upon
her mouth having death in her eyes

10. Work in small groups. Discuss the following questions.

a. Can you find in the song words related to the world of sports? Circle all of them.
b. Do you think the song was an appropriate choice for the news coverage of the Rio Olympics? Why (not)?
c. Think of a challenging situation you faced in your life. How did you deal with it? Did the practice of sports
help you in anyway?

Fonte: English activities ready to print

Richmond
Teaching with music