C 2 · Media, arts, literature & entertainment · Natural world & environment

Don McLean – Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)

Starry Night Over the Röne Vincent Van Gogh

This beautiful tribute to Vincent Van Gogh provides us with the opportunity to learn and practise vocabulary related to the art world and nature.

Level C1

Created by blogdeserena

Learning English with songs Pre-listening Vincent by Don McLean

This is a pre-listening activity of the song Vicent by Don McLean.

Follow the instructions.

Activity by Serena

Which word doesn't belong to the group below?

Which word wouldn't be used with swirling?

Mark the word that doesn't collocate with blaze.

Mark the word that doesn't collocate with haze. 

What's the difference between the words shade and shadow? Choose the correct option.

The boy was frightened of the_____on his bedroom wall cast by the naked branches of the dead tree outside his window.

What's the difference between the words shade and shadow? Choose the correct option.

They spent the day in the____ of the ancient oak trees.

Here we are going to see some words related to colour and light. Choose the correct option.

What type of colour is hue?

Here we are going to see some words related to colour and light. Choose the correct option.

What type of colour is hazel?

Here we are going to see some words related to colour and light. Choose the correct option.

What type of colour is amber?

 Here we are going to see some words related to colour and light. Choose the correct option.

What type of blue is china blue?

Choose the correct word from the list.

She made some _____for her next painting.

Choose the correct word from the list.

I prefer____ to landscapes.

Choose the correct word from the list.

Blues and greys are typical of Vincent's ____.

Your score is

The average score is 77%

Created by blogdeserena

Learning English with songs Vincent

Listen and fill the blanks with the missing word according to what you hear.

Activity by Serena

Starry, starry night
Paint your ____ blue and grey
Look out on a summer's day
With eyes that know the  ___ in my soul
Shadows on the hills
Sketch the trees and the _____
Catch the breeze and the winter  chills
In colors on the snowy linen land
Now I understand
What you tried to say to me
And how you suffered for your_____
And how you tried to set them free
They would not listen, they did not know how
Perhaps they'll listen now
Starry, starry night
Flaming flowers that brightly _____

Swirling clouds in violet haze

Reflect in Vincent's eyes of china blue

Colors changing _____

Morning fields of _____ grain

Withered faces lined in pain

Are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand

Now I understand
What you tried to say to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free
They would not listen,  they did not know how,
Perhaps they'll listen now.
For they could not love you
But still your love was true
And when no hope was left _____
On that starry, starry night
You took your life, as lovers often do
But I could have told you, Vincent
This world was never ______ for one
As beautiful as you
Starry, starry night
_______hung in empty halls
Frameless heads on ______walls
With eyes that watch the world and can't forget
Like the strangers that you've met
The ragged men in the ragged clothes
The_________, a bloody rose
Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow
Now I think I know
What you tried to say to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free
They would not listen, they're not listening still
Perhaps they never will

Your score is

The average score is 54%

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