In Hong Kong the kids get a book of boring conversations on CD. They tick boxes and write some words but they hate it - and so do I.

So I took a Katy Perry song (Firework) which they liked - paid attention - circled the correct word (out of two close sounding words) and filled in missing words.

Here's the problem. Most of the songs on the net geared for ESL are old songs - Eternal Flame (Bangles) and Phil Collins (Do You Remember?) or old Madonna (This Used to be my Playground). These last two I tried and they went over like a ton of bricks. Bored them to tears (even though they like Madonna).

They have the attention spans of fleas (video game ipod generation).

But I am at a Catholic school so while all the kids are asking me for Lady Gaga / Katy Perry - trying to find a music video from either where they keep their clothes on is difficult. Firework borders on problems for me with two guys kissing.

They've asked for Bieber but I have to listen to the song 9 times a day for a week - and I can handle Perry but Beber makes we want to stick a fork in my eye.

I have asked the students for bands as well since I'd like to play what they like since it doesn't really matter too much (I will do a Beber song just to appease the demand (but only one).

Criteria
1) not too much sex - some skin but not raunchy.
2) no swearing
3) the singer must be very articulate so that you can hear each syllable (it's amazing how many good singers really don't sing their words very clearly) Avril Lavigne is very clear - Sarah McLachlan, Michael Buble, and Adele are not for example despite the latter 3 being much better vocalists they don't enunciate clearly most of the time. Native English speakers make it out easily but second language learners will find Avril easier.

3 and 1/2 - Avril also has simpler repetitive lyrics than a McLachlan which also helps.

4) not too fast - pretty much rules out all rap and hip hop - ballads are better for English but the boys tend to hate them - so not too slow either. (Now seeing why this is harder than you might think).

5. And for the big problem - the video needs to be somewhat entertaining. The Bangles was just pitiful, Phil Collins is geared more for 50 year olds, and Madonna's (Playground vid) while pretty artistically done is similar to Phil's reminiscing song - kids here at 13-17 don't get it.

I did the Backstreet Boys "I Want it That Way" and they liked it. It's a good pace, they sing clearly (mostly), and there's no raunch. They requested it.

My list so far involves several Avril Lavigne songs (she sings very clearly and she keeps her clothes on in the majority of her songs - and she's pretty enough that the guys watch and the girls like her. So she's a winner for this.

So far coming up I have

Madonna's Die Another Day

Sade Kiss of Life and No Ordinary love (the former pushes it a bit on the sex front),

Colbie Caillat Bubbly and a few others,

Lady Antebellum (Just a Kiss)

Guns and Roses (Knockin on Heaven's Door)
Avril Lavigne (Knockin on Heaven's Door)
Comparison of two versions

Deanna Carter (We Danced Anyway/Strawberry Wine)

Shania Twain (Up,)

K'Naan "Waving Flag" (this will be tough for them)

Even some of these are old and some of the videos not all that interesting.

They do seem to like country singers (I find that odd) but they do but I am not too familiar with that genre. I also tend to listen more to female artists usually because I find them clearer.

So if anyone has any ideas let me know. Thanks in advance

Richard.