Cohesive Devices - Exercise

Taylor Swift's song "Shake It Off" is an excellent resource for learning English due to its catchy and clear lyrics. The song's upbeat tempo and repetitive chorus make it easy for us to follow along and practice pronunciation. The lyrics are straightforward, and Swift enunciates her words clearly, providing a great opportunity for learners to grasp vocabulary and sentence structures. Additionally, the song's positive and empowering message offers learners a chance to understand colloquial expressions related to confidence and resilience.

Best way to improve your speaking skills, and articulation is to sing along just looking at the lyrics after hitting the play button.  Don't try to watch the video, but just scroll down to the lyrics.  You may have to do it many times, but the more times the better.  While singing, don't mumble.  Sing out loud. Pay attention to the connected speech and pronunciation of the underlined words and phrases.

Lyrics

I stay out too late
Got nothin' in my brain
That's what people say, mm-mm
That's what people say, mm-mm
I go on too many dates
But I can't make 'em stay
At least that's what people say, mm-mm
That's what people say, mm-mm

But I keep cruisin'
Can't stop, won't stop movin'
It's like I got this music
In my mind sayin', "It's gonna be alright"

'Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off (ooh-ooh-ooh)
Heartbreakers gonna break, break, break, break, break
And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fake
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off (ooh-ooh-ooh)

I never miss a beat
I'm lightnin' on my feet
And that's what they don't see, mm-mm
That's what they don't see, mm-mm
I'm dancin' on my own (dancin' on my own)
I'll make the moves up as I go (moves up as I go)
And that's what they don't know, mm-mm
That's what they don't know, mm-mm

But I keep cruisin'
Can't stop, won't stop groovin'
It's like I got this music
In my mind sayin', "It's gonna be alright"

'Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off (ooh-ooh-ooh)
Heartbreakers gonna break, break, break, break, break
And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fake
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off (ooh-ooh-ooh)

Shake it off, I shake it off
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off (ooh-ooh-ooh)

Hey, hey, hey
Just think, while you've been gettin' down and out
About the liars and the dirty, dirty cheats of the world
You could've been gettin' down to this sick beat

My ex-man brought his new girlfriend
She's like, "Oh my God, " but I'm just gonna shake
And to the fella over there with the hella good hair
Won't you come on over, baby? We can shake, shake, shake
Yeah, oh

'Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate (haters gonna hate)
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off (ooh-ooh-ooh)
Heartbreakers gonna break, break, break, break, break (mm-mm)
And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fake (and fake, and fake, and fake)
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off (ooh-ooh-ooh)

Shake it off, I shake it off
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off (ooh-ooh-ooh)
Shake it off, I shake it off
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off
(You got to) shake it off, I shake it off
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off


"Shake It Off" is a lively and upbeat pop song by Taylor Swift that encourages listeners to embrace positivity and confidence while disregarding negative opinions and criticism. Released in 2014 as the lead single from her album "1989," the song promotes self-assurance and resilience in the face of challenges. With its catchy melody and infectious rhythm, "Shake It Off" became a commercial success and is known for its empowering message of shaking off negativity and enjoying life.

Let's break down the song and learn some vocabulary, phrases and expressions.  Make your own sentences and speak them out loud while going through each one below.

1
cruising  /ˈkruː.zɪŋ/

In informal English, "cruising" typically means moving or progressing smoothly and effortlessly, often without any particular goal or purpose. It can refer to a relaxed and leisurely way of doing something or simply going about one's business in a carefree manner.

Example sentences:
We were just cruising down the highway, windows down, music blasting.
She's cruising through her homework, not stressing too much about it.
I love just cruising around the city on my skateboard, taking in the sights.
Instead of working hard, he's just cruising through life, taking things as they come.
We spent the day cruising at the beach, soaking up the sun and enjoying the waves.

As a slang cruising has also got the meaning of going around public places looking for someone to have sex with.
Examples:
He has been cruising for sex.
A cruising area

2
Shake it off

"Shake it off" is an idiomatic expression that means to let go of something, usually negative or bothersome, and move on without dwelling on it. It's a way of dismissing or disregarding a negative experience, criticism, or setback. The phrase often implies resilience, self-confidence, and the ability to overcome challenges.  It is used to convey the idea of bouncing back from adversity, not letting negativity linger, and maintaining a positive outlook.

Example sentences:
Personal Criticism:
Someone criticized her singing, but she decided to shake it off and continue pursuing her passion.
Bad Day:
After a rough day at work, she knew she had to shake it off and not let it ruin her evening.
Setbacks or Failures:
He faced a setback in his business, but he's determined to shake it off and try again.
Unpleasant Experience:
They had a disagreement, but they agreed to shake it off and not let it affect their friendship.
Negative Emotions:
When life throws challenges your way, sometimes you just have to shake it off and focus on the positive.

Shake it also means to dance.
Example:
This music is great! Let's shake it!

3
Not miss a beat

"Not miss a beat" is an idiomatic expression that means to continue without any interruption or disruption, often in a smooth and seamless manner. It implies staying on course, maintaining momentum, or responding quickly and efficiently to a situation.  It emphasize the ability to handle changes, challenges, or unexpected situations without any noticeable disruption or delay. It underscores a sense of smoothness, efficiency, and resilience.  It also means to always know what is happening and so be able to take advantage of every situation.

Example sentences:
Adaptability:
Even with the unexpected change in plans, she didn't miss a beat and smoothly adjusted the schedule.
Efficiency:
The team worked so well together that, even when faced with a sudden challenge, they didn't miss a beat and found a solution immediately.
Quick Recovery:
After stumbling on stage, the performer didn't miss a beat and continued the song as if nothing had happened.
Professionalism:
Despite the last-minute changes, the presenter didn't miss a beat and delivered a flawless presentation.
Seamless Transition:
The transition between the old and new systems was so well-managed that the company didn't miss a beat in its daily operations.

4
I'm lightnin' on my feet

If someone is light on their feet, they can move quickly and are agile.
The phrase "light on my feet" is often used metaphorically to describe someone who is agile, nimble, or quick in their movements. It suggests a sense of ease, grace, and the ability to move swiftly. This expression is commonly used to describe individuals who navigate physical activities with a certain level of dexterity, but it can also be applied more broadly to someone who handles various situations with agility and quick thinking.

Example sentence:
Despite the challenging terrain, the experienced hiker was light on her feet as she maneuvered through the rocky path.
In the dance competition, he demonstrated his skill by being light on his feet, executing intricate steps effortlessly.
She's always light on her feet when it comes to adapting to changes in the business environment.
Even in those heavy boots, he's surprisingly light on his feet on the dance floor.
She's always been light on her feet, whether she's playing sports or just goofing around.
For such a big guy, he's surprisingly light on his feet when he's playing basketball.
I never expected him to be so light on his feet; he dodged that question with ease.
She's like a ninja in the kitchen, so light on her feet when she's cooking.

5
Groove

"Grooving" or "groove" can have a couple of related meanings, often associated with music and rhythm.
Musical Sense:
Meaning: In a musical context, "grooving" refers to the feeling of being in sync with the rhythm and enjoying the music. A "groove" is a rhythmic pattern that propels the music forward, often making it easy to dance to.
Example Sentences:
The band started playing, and everyone couldn't help but start grooving to the beat.
When that bassline kicks in, it's impossible not to feel the groove and start moving.

General Sense of Enjoyment or Satisfaction:
Meaning: In a broader sense, "grooving" can also be used informally to describe being in a state of enjoyment, satisfaction, or contentment.
Example Sentences:
After a stressful day, I like to put on some music and just groove in my own little world.
I'm really grooving on this new book I started reading; it's hard to put down.

In both senses, "grooving" and "groove" convey a positive and enjoyable experience, whether it's in the context of music or simply having a good time.

6
Get down and out

"Get down and out" is an idiom that typically means to feel disheartened, discouraged, or emotionally low. It often describes a state of being in a difficult or challenging situation that leads to a sense of sadness or hopelessness. This expression is commonly used to convey a temporary emotional state rather than a long-term condition.  It reflects a state of emotional distress or discouragement due to challenging circumstances.

Example sentences:
After facing a series of setbacks at work, he started to get down and out about his career prospects.
She's been dealing with a lot lately, and it's understandable that she's feeling a bit down and out.
Don't let a few failures get you down and out; everyone faces challenges from time to time.
When the project didn't go as planned, the team was initially down and out, but they regrouped and came up with a new strategy.
It's okay to feel down and out sometimes, but remember that tomorrow is a new day with new possibilities.

Signature Idioms of Taylor Swift:

Though these may not be purely her inventions, because of her popularity people may be able to associate these phrases with her songs and lend a unique shade of meaning to these expressions.

Shake it off
That's what people say
It's gonna be alright
Players gonna play
Haters gonna hate
I'm just gonna shake
Heartbreakers gonna break
Fakers gonna fake
Never miss a beat
That's what they don't see
Liars and the Dirty dirty cheats of the world
Fella over there with the hella good hair

Pronunciation

Pay attention to the connected speech and pronunciation of the underlined words and phrases.

Also take note of the Glottal T (Stop T) in American English
The final T at the end of a word or a T between vowels is cut off by the back of the throat.
[it, important, certain, written, or button]

If the word following a glottal T begins with a vowel sound, it morphs in to a D sound, often called and American T
Example: Wait a minute /wei duh minute/ Shake it off /shay kih doff/
But here in this song Taylor uses a glottal t in saying 'shake it off' because she is not linking 'it' and 'off' as she tries to emphasize those two words in this particular context.
Listen to the 'shake it off' part a few times to understand the glottal T

You need not pronounce T like this.  But a knowledge of glottal T will help you to better understand the native American spoken English.