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College Songs -- 10 Tunes to School You on Your Higher Education

It's textbook: Songs about university life typically have little to do with academia, unless beer, pizza and romantic conquests can be considered courses of study. With a new academic term just around the corner, we've created an advanced curriculum of songs about the best seven years of our lives.
'School Spirit'
Kanye West (2004)
Assignment: Write a gangsta fiction using the Greek alphabet.

Grade: B+
("This well-dressed student seems destined to be a Big Man on Campus.")
Read 'School Spirit' Lyrics
Kanye West
Jeff Kravitz, FilmMagic
'College'
Animal Collective (2004)
Assignment: In as few words as possible, make a case for taking a "gap year."

Grade: B-
("The intelligence is evident, but I sense a lack of effort.")
Read 'College' Lyrics
Avey Tare
Michael Buckner, Getty Images
'Campus'
Vampire Weekend (2008)
Assignment: Walk of Shame or unrequited love? Discuss.

Bonus points: Define "Oxford comma."

Grade: A-
("Seems like he comes from a fine family.")
Read 'Campus' Lyrics
Ezra Koenig
Skip Bolen, WireImage
'I Love College'
Asher Roth (2009)
Assignment: Choose from the following possible rhymes for the word "champion":
A. Paean
B. Kings of Leon
C. Beer pong

Grade: D+
("The professor feels certain he had a student who submitted similar work a few semesters ago.")
Read 'I Love College' Lyrics
Asher Roth
Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
'Fraternity'
Foo Fighters (2000)
Assignment: For Music Industry 101, explain the value proposition of offering consumers exclusive "B-sides."

Grade: A-
("Some nice independent thinking going on here.")
Read 'Fraternity' Lyrics
Dave Grohl
Scott Harrison, Liaison / Getty Images
'The Freshmen'
The Verve Pipe (1996)
Assignment: Examine the moral dilemmas of abortion and attempted suicide, with a modern-day Romeo and Juliet as your protagonists.

Grade: B
("A bit heavy on the metaphor.")
Read 'The Freshman' Lyrics
Brian Vander Ark
Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images
'Keg in the Closet'
Kenny Chesney (2004)
Assignment: Yes or no: Is there a School of Not-So-Hard Knocks? Explain.

Grade: C-
("A Lambda Chi should recognize a hazing when he hears it.")
Read 'Keg in the Closet' Lyrics
Kenny Chesney
Paul Hawthorne, Getty Images
'Going Away to College'
Blink-182 (1999)
Assignment: Write a story that begins with a high school senior telling her boyfriend, "I'll write you once a week."

Grade: C+
("How did this underachiever manage to get himself accepted?")
Read 'Going Away to College' Lyrics
Tom DeLonge
Tim Mosenfelder, Getty Images
'College'
Pat Green (2004)
Assignment: Paraphrase the epic poem 'Keg in the Closet'

Grade: B
("This young man seems like a quick study.")
Read 'College' Lyrics
Pat Green
Giulio Marcocchi, Getty Images
'A Freshman and a Sophomore'
Bobby Vinton (1960)
Assignment: Write a mathematical formula that shows how the age difference between a freshman and a sophomore feels much greater than the age difference "when she's 100 and I'm 99."

Grade: Fail
("Sir, I'm going to have to call campus security.")
Read 'A Freshman and a Sophomore' Lyrics
Bobby Vinton
Redferns

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4 Comments

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Nick

Obviously missing "U-Mass" by The Pixies. The chorus says it all: It's educational!

November 30 2010 at 12:26 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Richard head

What? No Steely Dan? This poll is for fools, "but I'm never goin' back to my old school!"

"California crumbles into the sea..."

September 11 2010 at 9:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Richard head's comment
stuart

Tbanks for posting that, I went to WIlliam and Mary and everyone there was bummed when they found out that S. Dan used the name because, according to their publicist, 'It fit and sounded good'...

November 14 2010 at 2:15 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mattbibledotcom

The Kanye West skit is great. 'What's gonna keep me warm? That's right, those degrees'
Perfect example of everybody thinking the masters degree is going to take to the next level. Seems like it only takes you to the next 0 in debt. Then you can join the Broke Phi Broke frat (listen to Late Registration if you don't know what I'm talking about). Also, "The Freshman" is a great song. The 90's have the best one hit wonders. I did that song at Karaoke not too terribly long ago.

September 09 2010 at 2:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply