Langley, B.C., teenager raps tribute for First World War soldier
In a matter of just three hours, lyrics flowed out of Charlie Farquharson’s fingertips as he wrote a rap song honouring a First World War soldier.
“Writing lyrics, I tried to put a lot of delicacy into it; made sure that not only were they correct, but they were words that would touch people's hearts,” the 16-year-old explained.
Words such as, “It’s tragic, when crossroads means lost souls turn into ashes; and potholes for long roads mean trenches active; and long roads of shot holes are wreaking havoc. And all we’ve got to show is gravestones in basic fashion.”
The tribute was part of the Brookswood Secondary student’s Grade 10 social studies assignment, in which he had to look into the life of Cpl. John Henry Anderson.
Farquharson said he wanted to bridge the gap between the past and the present by engaging his peers the best way he knows how.
“What better than a rap song? Which is something that a lot of youth are interested in,” he said.
His social studies teacher said no student has put this kind of creative spin on the project before.
“I was blown away. It was just an amazing piece of work,” said Ken Boulter. “It's not invalidating the history of it. In fact, if anything, it's giving them that level of engagement again, to show relevancy.”
The project was completed last spring but it made quite the impression and now the two-minute rap will be part of the school’s virtual Remembrance Day ceremony.
Farquharson hopes it will resonate with his peers.
“It’s easy to just look over your shoulder and go, ‘That’s in the past; it is what it is.’ But it’s people – people who lived, people that sacrificed their lives, for our lives.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.