MEDIA AND CELEBRITY CULTURE (starring The Red Hot Chili Peppers)

Word-building and Pronunciation

1. Make nouns from the words below. What is the stressed syllable in all the cases?
civilize __________ locate __________
constellate __________ populate __________
create __________ quote __________
elate __________ vacate __________
inform __________ vibrate __________

Listening
2. Now listen to the song and complete it with the words from the previous exercise.
Verse 1:
Psychic spies from China try to steal your mind's __________
And little girls from Sweden dream of silver-screen __________
And if you want these kind of dreams, it's Californication
Verse 2:
It's the edge of the world and all of Western __________
The sun may rise in the East, at least it settled in a final __________
It's understood that Hollywood sells Californication
Bridge 1:
Pay your surgeon very well to break the spell of aging
Celebrity skin: is this your chin or is that war you're waging?
Pre-Chorus
First born unicorn
Hardcore soft porn
Chorus
Dream of Californication
Dream of Californication
Dream of Californication
Dream of Californication
Verse 3
Marry me, girl, be my fairy to the world, be my very own __________
A teenage bride with a baby inside getting high on __________
And buy me a star on the boulevard, it's Californication
Verse 4
Space may be the final frontier but it's made in a Hollywood basement
And Cobain, can you hear the spheres singing songs off Station to Station?
And Alderaan's not far away, it's Californication
Bridge 2
Born and raised by those who praise control of __________
Well, everybody's been there, and I don't mean on __________
Verse 5
Destruction leads to a very rough road but it also breeds __________
And earthquakes are to a girl's guitar, they're just another good __________
And tidal waves couldn't save the world from Californication
Bridge 3
Pay your surgeon very well to break the spell of aging
Sicker than the rest, there is no test, but this is what you're craving

Video watching
3. Now watch the song’s video clip. Can you find any cultural references? Use the lyrics to
help and make a note of them.

4. Discuss.
1 How does the song depict the impact of fame and the entertainment industry?
2 What do you think the song is trying to say about California and its culture?
3 Do you agree or disagree with the portrayal of California in the song? Why?

Wrap-up and Reflection

5. What are your insights in the following topics?
 Media
 Celebrity culture
 the California Dream