Cue Card Sample

Describe a song or a piece of music you like - Cue Card # 150

IELTS Speaking Part 2: IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card.

Describe a song or a piece of music you like.

You should say:

  • what the song or music is
  • what kind of song or music it is
  • where you first heard it

and explain why you like it.


 

Model Answer 1:

Introduction:
Music is an essential part of our daily life. It can be therapeutic and helps to relax our mind. One of my favourite songs is "Don't Stop Believin" by Journey. I first heard it when I was a teenager, and it quickly became one of my all-time favourites.

What the song or music is:
"Don't Stop Believin" is a classic rock song that was released in 1981 by the American rock band Journey. It's a high-energy song that features a driving beat and a catchy melody. The song is known for its inspiring lyrics and powerful vocals, which make it a favourite of many people.

What kind of song or music it is: 
"Don't Stop Believin" is a rock song that falls into the category of arena rock. It has a strong, anthemic quality that makes it perfect for live performances in front of large crowds. The song has become a classic of the genre and has been covered by many different artists over the years.

Where you first heard it: 
I first heard "Don't Stop Believin" when I was watching the TV series "Glee." The show featured a cover of the song in one of its episodes, and I immediately fell in love with it. I was struck by the powerful vocals and the inspiring message of the lyrics. After hearing the song on the show, I went online to listen to the original version by Journey and have been a fan ever since.

And explain why you like it: 
I like "Don't Stop Believin" for several reasons. Firstly, the song has a positive message about never giving up on your dreams and persevering through tough times. This message is one that I find inspiring and motivational. Secondly, the song has a great melody and is very catchy, which makes it fun to sing along to. Finally, the song has a nostalgic quality that reminds me of my teenage years and brings back happy memories.


 

Model Answer 2:
Music is good for our souls. So, like everybody else, I also like to listen to different kinds of music, depending on my mood and situation. However, today, I would like to talk about a piece of music which I wish I could listen to always.

The title of this music is called “Confide in me” which is a song recorded by Australian singer Kylie Minogue and taken from her fifth, self-titled studio album (1994). It was released as the album's lead single on 29 August 1994.

Incorporating elements of indie music, trip-hop, and Middle Eastern instrumentation, such as strings and percussion, this top-class pop song has experienced success in regions like Australia, the United Kingdom, Scotland, Ireland, France, and New Zealand. It also became Minogue's only charting single in the US during the ’90s, having peaked at 39 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.

Having listened to this song in the year 2001 for the first time, I felt like, I finally found a piece of music that I could listen to for the rest of my life. In fact, since that year, I can’t really remember a week, which passed by without listening to it or enjoying it at least a few times. Of course, there are a number of reasons for which, I like this music. To begin with, that it is considered as one of the most iconic and innovative singles from the 1990s era as it successfully combined the appeal of “trip-hop” (a new musical genre from the 1990s) with middle eastern musical instruments like strings and percussion.

I think it is a great piece of music, mainly because, no matter how many times I listen to it, it never seems to get old.  This music has a very sweet and soft melody.  Besides, its lyrics seem to perfectly match the general appeal (related to the power of seduction) of this music. Finally, this is a great piece of music also because it refreshes the mind and mood of its audience, no matter what time of the day they listen to it.


 

Sample Answer 3:

Introduction:
Music has the ability to touch our hearts and evoke strong emotions within us. The song that I want to talk about is a beautiful Hindi song called "Pehla Nasha", which has been one of my favourite songs for a long time. Thank you very much for allowing me the time to talk about this song that I really love.

What the song or music is: 
"Pehla Nasha" is a romantic Hindi song from the Bollywood movie "Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar" which was released in 1992. It is a duet song, sung by Udit Narayan and Sadhana Sargam, with music composed by Jatin-Lalit.

What kind of song or music it is:
It is a soft, romantic song that captures the essence of falling in love for the first time. The melody of the song is simple yet powerful, and the lyrics are beautifully written, expressing the feeling of being swept away by the magic of love.

Where you first heard it:
I first heard this song when I was a teenager. My friend introduced me to the movie and the song, and I instantly fell in love with it. Since then, it has been one of my go-to songs whenever I feel like listening to some soulful music.

And explain why you like it:
I like this song because the melody is so soothing and has a calming effect on my mind. It helps me relax and unwind after a long day. Besides, the lyrics of the song are very romantic and remind me of the feeling of falling in love for the first time. Lastly, the voices of the singers are beautiful and blend perfectly with the music, creating a magical experience for the listener. All these factors combine to make this song a timeless classic that I can never get tired of listening to.



Model Answer 4:

Introduction:
Music has been an important part of human culture since ancient times. It has the power to evoke emotions and transport people to another place and time. In this topic, I would like to talk about one of my favourite songs, which is "Summer of '69" by Bryan Adams.

What the song is:
"Summer of '69" is a rock song that was released in 1984 by Canadian musician Bryan Adams. It tells the story of his youth, particularly the summer of 1969 when he was a teenager. The song has a catchy beat and memorable lyrics that make it a classic rock anthem.

What kind of song or music it is:
"Summer of '69" is a fast-paced rock song that features a driving guitar riff and a strong drum beat. It is a nostalgic song that celebrates the carefree spirit of youth and the joy of music.

Where you first heard it:
I first heard "Summer of '69" when I was in high school. It was played on the radio all the time, and it quickly became one of my favourite songs. I remember feeling energized and inspired every time I heard it. Even today, whenever I hear the opening guitar riff, it takes me back to that time.

And explain why you like it:
I like "Summer of '69" because it has a timeless quality that makes it appealing to people of all ages. The lyrics capture the excitement and optimism of youth, and the music is upbeat and catchy. The song has a universal appeal that makes it easy to sing along to and dance to. Every time I hear it, it brings back fond memories of my own youth, and it reminds me to enjoy life and to never lose my sense of happening.


 

Sample Answer 5:
The legendary music work "Annie's Song" by John Denver is a song that I really like. It is inspirational and one of the best songs I have ever listened to. I like this song so much that I can listen to it over and over again without getting bored. I would like to thank you for giving me a chance here to talk about this piece of classic work.

This is a song that always stimulates me - no matter the mood or time. Besides, I like the lyrics and the music that was used in this song. John Denver and his music band Beatles are always favourite to me and many of their songs had always remained on my favourite list. The ‘Annie’s Song’ is a piece of work that the world will revere for a long, I believe. This is one of the most-rated songs in the history of music and I like it for the magical tone it has.

I listen to music almost every day whenever I hit the road and drive my car. I am not too sure when I first heard this piece of masterpiece, but my best guess is - it would be around my junior high school period.

This particular song was sung by a gifted singer, and the lyrics of it is pretty impressive. The music, lyrics, and singing style were just perfect to make it a legendary song. I love it because this particular piece of music has been intertwisted with my young age and many lovely memories of that time. So whenever I listen to it, it seems like I time travel to the past. This song is such powerful and I love it so much.


 

Part 3 - Two-way Discussion:

Discussion topics: Music and young people

Q. What kinds of music are popular with young people in your culture?
Q. What do you think influences a young person’s taste in music?
Q. How has technology affected the kinds of music popular with young people?

Discussion Topic: Music and society

Q. Tell me about any traditional music in your culture.
Q. How important is it for a culture to have musical traditions?
Q. Why do you think countries have national anthems or songs?

Click here for the Part -3 question answers:
 



Similar Cue Card Topics

Your ability to talk about this Cue Card Topic would enable you to talk about the following Cue Card Topics as well:

1.    Describe your favourite song.
2.    Describe a famous singer you know about.
3.    Describe a song that you often listen to.
4.    Describe a singer who you really like.
5.    Describe a piece of music that you like very much.

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