Auto Biography

By: Miranda Baker

My autobiography is going to be on artist Christina Perri. Christina Judith Perri

was born in Bensalem Pennsylvania on August 19th 1986. Her parents are
Mary and Dante Perri. Her father was originally from Italy, and they were hair
dressers. She also has 1 sibling, an older brother named Nick Perri. A famous
guitar player who once played for a band called Silver Tide.
Perri had actually been preparing for her big moment since she was a child.
As a child Perri sang and acted in musical theater. The first time she sang in
public was when she was 6 for her worship services. She started piano when
she was 8, but the funny part to me was that she fired her teacher because
Perri kept changing the endings to the songs because they sounded
better.
At age 16 she continued with piano and taught herself how to play guitar by
watching a taped Performance of Shannon Hoon from a band called Blind
Melon. She would always say whenever she would play "all of a sudden these
songs would appear." (Perri) In 2004 she graduated from Archbishop Ryan
High School.
Perri went to London and worked as a gofer in her brothers band. It was
then that she heard she received a scholarship to Philadelphias university of
the arts. She attended for a year but then took a leave of absence to visit her
fathers family in Italy. Perri said the following I was 19 and I needed to soul
search, she said I was still writing music, but I didnt know what I wanted to
do with my life.
When Perri turned 21 she moved to Los Angeles. Later that year she married,
but got divorced 18 months later. After this turn of events she dedicated
herself solely to her song writing and was back in Philadelphia by 2009. This
was when she wrote her debut single Jar of Hearts. She moved back to Los
Angeles, working as waitress by day and was a song writer by night.
On June 30th 2010 was the day that everything drastically changed for
Christina Perri. Her song Jar of hearts was featured as the music track of a
dance performance on the tv show So You Think You Can Dance. Unsigned at
the time, her friend Kellie Knight showed the song to their choreographer,
and before you know it, it exploded!
In its first week alone it sold over 48,000 digital copies, and 100,000 in its
first month. It peaked at number 17 on the billboard top 100. After this
massive success she signed a deal with Atlantic Records, and over the course

of 2 weeks she went from a struggling soul searching songwriter, to a huge

musical sensation.
On march 10 2011 she released her debut album entitled Love Strong it
released at number 4 on the billboard top 200 and sold 58,000 copies in the
first week. The album was recorded in only 33 days! She described the
production of the album as "the best 33 days of my life and it was the worst
33 days of my lifeI was running from studio one to studio three and I was
running back and forth doing the vocals, the piano, the guitar, the
harmonies, and the doubles. She also said that she would do more than 1
song a day and would have to dig really deep to unveil the raw emotion of
those experiences. In the UK it was ranked number 13 on the highest
grossing debut album of 2011.
In July of that year she went on her first tour The Love Strong tour for her
debut album. It lasted almost a year and had 71 stops. During the tour she
announced that she was already working on a second album. She also had
appearances on shows such as the Ellen DeGeneres show, Jimmy Kimmel,
the Today Show, and many more all to promote the album. Perri has opened
for artists such as Jason Miraz, Demi Lovato and headlined a tour with Colbie
Caillat and Rachel Platten.
On October 28th of that year she released the hit single A Thousand Years
which is featured in the film and on the soundtrack of The Twilight Saga:
Breaking Dawn Part 1. Just the song alone sold over 4 million copies, and
was RIAA certified as 4x platinum.
On august 21st 2012 on Facebook she announced the release of a special
Christmas EP entitled A Very Perri Christmas. It was released on October of
that year and had 1 original song called Something About December and 6
covers of other Christmas songs.
In February 2013 with the hash tag #album two she got together with the
nonprofit organization To Write Love On Her Arms and raised money for them
as she performed her 1st single from the third album called I Believe. This
was when she felt that her album was finally coming together, and on
November 18th she released her most popular single from the album entitled
Human. Perri released it the same day as she performed it live on The Queen
Latifah Show. She also shared the second albums release date of April 1,
2014. She also later announced her 2nd tour The Head Or Heart Tour that was
set to begin later that month. On December 19 2014 she performed in the
annual Christmas in Washington concert.

The most recent activity of Perri in the media was in March of this year when
she posted on Instagram that she was 4 years sober, other than that she
hasnt been in the lime light very much recently.
For Christina Perri her story is one of heart break and struggle. In her time of
soul searching and self-discovery, she has tapped into the raw emotion of
her experiences that she draws from with her music. When her song Jar of
hearts first aired on television she went from a small town singer songwriter
and waitress, to a pop culture idol that has swept across the nation and
changed our lives forever. She went through this drastic change, but she was
more than ready, having been prepared since she was young. Shes toured in
several states and released several albums and singles that have sold in
massive numbers. Christina Perri is a brave versatile and capable composer
and person. I hope that she continues to inspire us and let us be a part of her
fantastic journey.

History of compositions
Composition #1: Jar of Hearts
I mentioned this one in my autobiography already because it was a key
moment in her career. When she turned 21 year she got married, but got
divorced 18 months later. It was in December of that year when she wrote Jar
of Hearts. It was about and inspired by this past relationship. On June 30th
2010 her song Jar of hearts was featured as the music track of a dance
performance on the tv show So You Think You Can Dance. Her friend Kellie
Knight showed the song to their choreographer Stacy Tookey, who set it to a
dance performed by star Kathryn McCormick and contestant Billy Bell. The
song was originally supposed to be recorded with a big band, but she later
decided against it, saying "I imagined people dancing to it. On July 27th It
was officially released. After the massive success she signed her deal with
Atlantic Records.
Composition #2: A Thousand Years
There isnt very much in the way of personal history for this particular piece,
but there is some information about it. It was the second single from the
Twilight Saga: Breaking DawnPart 1: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. It
was released on October 18, 2011 worldwide and it became the allencompassing symbol for Bella and Edwards romance. For Breaking Dawn
part 2 she was asked to come back and record a new version of the song
with tony award winning Steve Kazee. Around October 23rd it appeared at
number 63 on the Billboard top 100, and peaked at number 31, thus making
this her second song to reach the top 40. The music video was released on

her YouTube channel on October 26th. The music video goes from Perri
singing in a room full of candles, to showing clips of from the movie at
various intervals. The message of peaceful lasting love ends with her singing
into the sunset. As of June 2014, it sold 3,657,000 copies in the US.
Composition # 3: Human
This song was written by her and her producer Martin Johnson. It was
released on November 18th 2013. Originally she didnt know if she wanted it
to be a part of her album or not because she thought it was too personal.
After the positive praise for the song though she gave it a little more
thought. Not only did she put it in her album, but she made it her lead single.
When she sings lyrics like Im only human, I crash and I break down she
refers this time not to any past relationship experience, but to the struggle
that is the music industry. In an interview with billboard magazine she said "I
remember writing a song at 6 pm on a Wednesday, and then having to do it
again the next day at 6 pm, It was difficult, and I had hit a wall. So instead of
not writing songs, I wrote a song about feeling like I couldn't write one. Of
course, people think it's about a guy." Human became a top ten Adult Pop
hit, as well as her 3rd top 40 song on the Billboard Hot 100.

Music 1010 Listening Guide

By: Miranda Baker
My Compositions:

1. Jar Of Hearts
2. A Thousand Years
3. Human
Jar Of Hearts
0:01- It starts right into Verse 1 with the piano playing a simple chord
0:02- the vocals begin while the piano plays a simple 4 chord
accompaniment.
0:26- A pre chorus begins. A cello comes in, and the piano picks up tempo.
Vocals increase very slightly in dynamic. All instruments and vocals come
in with feeling, slowly building up tension that leads into the chorus.
0:39-The chorus begins and the tension built in the pre-chorus is released,
and a violin comes in and joins all other instruments. Word painting is
used with the violin to illustrate her pain. On the word soul the
instruments are deeper in a way to emphasize depth
1:08- Verse 2 is similar to verse 1 only the cello and violin from the chorus
are in it this time, and there is some slight variation in the vocals. It builds
more even stronger tension as she explains the struggle to escape her
past and not come back.

1:33- the pre chorus begins again keeping the tension, this time around
you hear the release of some anger but also emphasizing the same
message and instrumentals as before, just changing the last phrase note
wise leading into the chorus
1:47- the chorus begins again, same lyrics, and instrumentation as the
last chorus just with a little more intensity than before.
2:14- The bridge begins simple piano accompaniment to keep rhythm and
1 violin, the small amount of instrumentation, combined with the lone
violin convey a sense of vulnerability as she sings about how much it truly
did to her and reminiscing about the past.
2:27- the cello comes in as it starts building tension again. It builds as she
now reflects on her regrets and how she wishes that I missed the first
time that we kissed
2:39- instrumentation and vocals reflect how she finds her resolve and
courage to break free from the cycle of pain she feels, making the perfect
gateway to the chorus.
2:47- The chorus plays the same as normal just for emphasis.
3:13- The chorus begins again only this time the vocals and all
instruments play more intensely ascending after each phrase of the
chorus, building immense measures of tension.
3:36- Finally all of the tension and emotion is released in the phrase
Dont come back at all vocally in that one sustained note, and
instrumentally.
3:40- As she says the phrase who do you think you are she first sings it
at full volume with full instrumental. As she repeats it 2 more times both
get softer until the last time it is said, and it ends with a sustained note
from the instruments.

A Thousand Years
0:01 It starts with an introduction with a simple piano chords keeping
the rhythm with a cello playing long legato accompaniment.
0:20 Verse 1 begins the vocals come in while a acoustic guitar comes
in playing a steady rhythm, it paints a steady flow and smoothness.
Perri almost accents each word, and is contemplative. The other
instruments are still playing in the background, with the focus being on
guitar and vocals.
0:53- Backup vocals come in to sing the harmony of the one line pre
chorus with Perri of One step closer
1:00- Chorus begins the backup vocals singing the harmony to Perris
melody. The vocals are more legato in nature, representing ease and
flow. The guitar changes its tempo and rhythm still remaining the main
instrument while the others play in the background.

1:22- A brief interlude to introduce the violins into the piece, while the
acoustic plays in the background
1:27: Verse 2 begins with fuller instrumentation, giving the song a
more complete feeling as Perri sings and finds the resolve to be brave.
Backup vocals coming in to sing certain lines with her.
2:00 Pre chorus is sung again only with the fuller instrumentation
from the second verse.
2:08 Chorus begins again this time more confident than the last with
the fuller instrumentation and vocals.
2:29- Chorus 2 an additional chorus is sung. It has the same
instrumentation but with different lyrics, and different ending note
wise.
2:50- A instrumental interlude with the violin being the primary focus
begins.
3:11- Pre chorus/Bridge she sings softer the same line the vocals,
acoustic guitar and snare drum (?) are the only instruments with a
violin coming in at the end.
3:22- Pre chorus is repeated again, violin continues with other
instruments and backup vocals come in with Perri. Vocally the last note
is different.
3:31- Chorus begins again quietly with just Perri and the guitar.
3:51 Chorus 2 begins with full instrumentation and vocally loud and
confident as it reaches its coda.
4:13 Outro plays with the violin as the main focus and the guitar and
other instruments in the background bringing the song to a close.
Human
0:00- An Intro begins with strings, a soft drum like sound, and other instruments and
electronic effects (?)
0:07- Verse 1 begins. Vocals come in, the way the words themselves are broken up,
the way they are sung, and the way they are broken up, sound very personal like
they are pages from a diary. She keeps thing feeling throughout the song. There are
simple chords that are heard and a drum like sound keeps the rhythm. Throughout
the song the drum creates the image of a beating heart, emphasizing her message
of Im only human.
0:33- More electronic effects are introduced and possibly a return of the strings.
1:00- A one line pre chorus of I can do it is sung and repeated 2 more times. Each
time the line is sung the strings get louder building up tension leading into the
chorus.

1:12- The chorus begins with just vocals and a simple piano accompaniment for the
purpose of keeping rhythm.
1:27- A cello starts to fade in
1:41- the electronic effects start to come back in leading into the second verse.
1:43- Verse 2 begins. Vocals more confident, and a fully electronic beat keeps the
rhythm now as she talks about being a good machine. A piano is heard playing a
high accompaniment, and the strings are back as well.
2:10- the pre chorus is sung again, only on the third repeat the lyrics change to Ill
get through it all the instruments are building tension again for the chorus.
2:19- The chorus begins again with full instrumentation this time. Backup vocals can
be heard at times faintly singing a harmony to Perris powerful melody.
2:52- To emphasize the message further she takes the tune of the pre chorus, and
sings the words Im only human 3 times with such power and force that she
almost engrains the message in our heads because she fervently wants us to
understand the concept that as much as we try we arent perfect.
3:13- A short Bridge starts, The vocals are quiet, and a quiet piano accompaniment
plays. The drum like sound comes back very faintly in the background with that
image of a beating heart, conveying vulnerability and the message that even she
cant do everything.
3:26- a cello suddenly fades in building up tension one last time right before the
final chorus.
3:29- The final chorus begins. There are 2 seconds of just vocals before the
instruments all come in at once. Coming to this songs climax, both the vocals and
the instruments are singing and playing full on with all the power they have for this
final attempt to make their message heard.
3:58- Finally the outro comes, consisting of an electronic beat and strings quietly
playing and fading out bringing the song to a close.