Drowned City ( a Viva La Vida parody)
Houston, TX
2024, Junior, Performing Arts
I recall a few years ago.
The flood surged forth and destroyed our home.
Was too young to understand.
Humanity’s effects on sea and land.
It was back in 2017,
Houston felt the impact of Hurricane Harvey.
Stood amidst the crowd’s panic,
“Now everything’s gone, how’ll we move on?”.
We hardly had a chance to see,
What monstrosities were going to be.
And I discovered that my city stands,
In meters of flood and pillars of sand
I hear the rescue boats steering.
Hear the sound of people tearing.
Category four, hurricane,
Was strengthened due to climate change.
13 million people were,
Affected by this disaster.
So much pain endured.
And that’s how climate change is hurting the world.
Some scientists claim that,
No singular storm can arise from,
Climate change or air pollution,
But studies came to the conclusion:
That after two centuries,
Of constant fossil-fuel burning,
The temperatures have risen higher,
To make storms mightier.
I hear the rescue boats steering.
Hear the sound of people tearing.
organizations, and shelter homes
Were expedient solutions during the storm.
13 million people were,
Affected by this disaster.
So much pain endured.
And that’s how climate change is hurting the world.
Ohhh, Ohhh
Ohhh, Ohhh
Ohhh, Ohhh
Ohhh, Oh
I hear the rescue boats steering.
Hear the sound of people tearing.
Category four, hurricane,
Was strengthened due to climate change.
13 million people were,
Affected by this disaster.
So much pain endured.
And that’s how climate change is hurting the world.
Reflection
I was eight years old when Hurricane Harvey made landfall in East Texas. I never imagined I'd have to evacuate my apartment complex with my mom and get on a rescue boat with six other individuals as if I were in some sci-fi action movie, it was definitely a bizarre experience especially for a third grader. I didn't think too much about it back then as it was a natural disaster and there's nothing you can really do to stop those. It is only now as a teen, I realize there were many other factors involved. Factors that we, as humans, could have improved. This idea drove my thinking while writing this parody. I found Viva La Vida as the perfect song choice as it had a nostalgic and somewhat dramatic essence which totally fit what I was trying to go for. I learned so much about the effects of climate change on storms as well as my environment in general while writing the lyrics. Turns out, according to National Geographic's article "How Climate Change Likely Strengthened Recent Hurricanes", it is said that recent hurricanes (Harvey, Irma, Maria, etc.) have been slightly more destructive then hurricanes before. After reading this article, it goes without a doubt that climate change has enforced storms to become more destructive than what they could have been and as that may not seem like much of a deal, it is a big one. I've incorporated this study into my song as well as my own recollections to more accurately depict what happened and how it affected me and my environment. Singing this parody was loads of fun but I really hope my story can get across.