Tonight’s song is quiet: just a piano and a voice. And it asks us questions about small, beautiful moments we might be too busy to notice.
Learn from Songs · Unit 6: The perfect aspect · A2–B1
Glitter in the Air
A quiet song about noticing the small, beautiful moments of life: the present perfect for experiences (Have you ever watched…? I’ve never noticed…), with unfinished times (today, this week, so far), and the past simple for finished moments, with Demetria, and a day spent noticing.
SOPHIA
DEMETRIA
I’m always too busy.
SOPHIA
Exactly. That’s why it’s your gamebook today.
MARCOS
Isn’t P!nk the one who flies around on ropes?
Before you listen: the song
New York, 2008–2010
P!nk (Alecia Moore) is an American singer known for her powerful voice and her spectacular, acrobatic concerts. She wrote “Glitter in the Air” with Billy Mann for her 2008 album Funhouse; it’s the quiet piano song at the end of the album.
It became famous after her performance at the Grammy Awards in 2010: she sang it while hanging from silk ribbons high above the stage, turning in the air, and even upside down, and dipped into a pool of water, without missing a note. Many people call it one of the greatest Grammy performances ever.
In the song, she asks a series of questions: whether we have ever felt certain small, tender moments, noticed small beautiful things, or been completely honest. And she wonders why we don’t live like that every day.
Have you ever really looked?
Listen: the questions
PHILO
Listen once. What kind of experiences does she ask about? Big adventures or small moments?
SOPHIA
Then listen for Have you ever. Answer Section A.
✨ Listen to the song: “Glitter in the Air” (P!nk and Billy Mann, 2008), sung by P!nk.Listen to the official recording →
📜 Read the words while you listen: “Glitter in the Air”, P!nk.Read the lyrics →
Have you ever, I’ve never
DEMETRIA
Have you ever watched the sun rise? I’ve never noticed that before!
SOPHIA
Have you ever + past participle? for experiences at any time. I’ve never + past participle for things you have not experienced. A question for you: what have you never noticed?
Unfinished time: today, this week, so far
MARCOS
I’ve seen three beautiful things today. How many have you found so far?
SOPHIA
With a period of time that is not finished yet (today, this morning — if it’s still morning, this week, this year, so far), we use the present perfect. When the period is finished (yesterday, last week), the past simple.
Finished moments: past simple
PHILO
At dawn I heard the fishermen singing. Last night we looked at the stars.
SOPHIA
A specific, finished moment = past simple. A useful pair: I’ve seen something wonderful today. I saw it at dawn, on the harbour wall.
Sophia’s comparison: the lilies of the field
SOPHIA
The philosopher Epicurus taught that happiness comes from simple things: friends, bread, conversation, a quiet garden.
PHILO
And the psalmist: the heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above shows his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech.
DEMETRIA
So you have to stop and listen to the sky.
Sophia’s summary
| Words and forms | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Have you ever + past participle? | experiences | Have you ever watched the sunrise? |
| I’ve never + past participle | no experience | I’ve never noticed that. |
| today, this week, so far + present perfect | unfinished time | I’ve seen three things so far. |
| at dawn, last night + past simple | finished moments | At dawn I heard them sing. |
| notice, wonder, glitter, sparkle | vocabulary | The stars sparkled like glitter. |
Practice
Listen to the song for Section A, then do the rest. Press “Check my answers” at the end. You can try again as many times as you like.
A · Listen: the song
Listen to the song and choose the best answer.
1. How does the song sound?
2. What does she ask about?
3. What does she wonder?
4. Where did she perform it in 2010?
5. What was special about that performance?
6. Which album is it from?
B · Grammar and vocabulary
Write the missing word or words.
7. Have you ever the sun rise? (watch)
8. I’ve noticed that before. (not at any time)
9. How many have you found so ?
10. I’ve seen three beautiful things . (this day, not finished)
11. At dawn I the fishermen singing. (hear, finished moment)
12. Have you ever to the top of the lighthouse? (be)
C · Right or wrong?
Is the sentence correct English?
13. “I have seen a shooting star last night.”
14. “Have you ever watched the stars from a roof?”
15. “I’ve read two books this week.”
16. “Did you ever been to Paris?”
Talk and write
Discussion and writing
Ten small things. Like Demetria, spend one day noticing ten small beautiful things. Tell the class: Today I’ve noticed… I saw it at…
Discuss. 1. Are we too busy to notice small things? 2. What small moment have you never forgotten? 3. Why do you think the song ends with questions, not answers?
Write (80–100 words). Have you ever…? Write five questions about small, beautiful experiences, like the song. Then answer two of them about yourself, using the past simple for the details.
Now play the gamebook: Demetria spends a day noticing small things.Play the gamebook →