critch
05-01-2009, 09:28 AM
My Little Masterpiece - Blood Songs
Within this song are contained both musical and lyrical motifs which I hope to highlight with in this essay(!) both obvious and also hidden within the arrangement. I will first start by analysing the guitar melody, vocal melody moving on to the choice of instruments, and finally, lyrically.
The guitar melody starts imediately on the third of the scale. Not at first sight relevant, but it means within the first note one is aware that it is in a major not minor key. Major of course being the choice for the light-hearted happy mood conveyed within. Dropping then to the first and rising back up to the third via the second as a passing note, establishes the key reafirming the major in the mind of the listener. The embelishment at the end of the phrase rotates around the third, again emphasising the harmony of the key.
Nick's guitar playing is one of his primary musical tools, yet the guitar in this song is kept relatively simple, avoiding many of his trademarks. It is light, clear and airy, and although chordal in nature, the melody is emphasised.
One of the dominant aspects of the chordal structure is the choice to go straight from the root to the 5th - avoiding the 4th. The 1-4-5 being the basis for most popular music in the last century and the benchmark of The Beatles early work. Missing out the 4th can leave an strange ambiguity between major and minor, however the emphasis placed on the third early on avoids this, however a sense of mystery and longing. The continual change from 5th back to the root - a perfect cadence, adds an urgency to the arrival of the next phrase. The eventual arrival of the 2nd, used in place of the 4th, adds an unexpected warmth back into the song.
Vocally, the song is demanding. Using a great range, much of which sung in falsetto, gives a sense of youth perhaps reflecting the subject matter within. The vocal melody floats high above the harmonies for the most part, with only the percussion and the odd keyboard generated bell-sound coming close in pitch.
The arrangement of this weighs heavily on the guitar with percussion in an almost tribal dance fashion sits lightly behind. An almost inaudible bass line adds depth without being overpowering. The keyboard "bell" also appears now and then with an echo of the "heartbeat" from Blood Song. The guitar has a spanish feel to the style.
Lyrically it is quiet specific. It is obvious it is about his daughter and the love he has for her. It contains quite a few puns on various phrases, eg, barking up the wrong family tree. It also anticipates the future, her leaving as they wave good bye, although this of course also reflects that each stage in growing up is learnt from parents who then watch as their children can do it without needing help anymore or even simply waving goodbye as they attend their first day at school. The lyrics are also very idealistic, buttercups tickling feet is a romantic idea, but not something that most have experienced.
Within this song are contained both musical and lyrical motifs which I hope to highlight with in this essay(!) both obvious and also hidden within the arrangement. I will first start by analysing the guitar melody, vocal melody moving on to the choice of instruments, and finally, lyrically.
The guitar melody starts imediately on the third of the scale. Not at first sight relevant, but it means within the first note one is aware that it is in a major not minor key. Major of course being the choice for the light-hearted happy mood conveyed within. Dropping then to the first and rising back up to the third via the second as a passing note, establishes the key reafirming the major in the mind of the listener. The embelishment at the end of the phrase rotates around the third, again emphasising the harmony of the key.
Nick's guitar playing is one of his primary musical tools, yet the guitar in this song is kept relatively simple, avoiding many of his trademarks. It is light, clear and airy, and although chordal in nature, the melody is emphasised.
One of the dominant aspects of the chordal structure is the choice to go straight from the root to the 5th - avoiding the 4th. The 1-4-5 being the basis for most popular music in the last century and the benchmark of The Beatles early work. Missing out the 4th can leave an strange ambiguity between major and minor, however the emphasis placed on the third early on avoids this, however a sense of mystery and longing. The continual change from 5th back to the root - a perfect cadence, adds an urgency to the arrival of the next phrase. The eventual arrival of the 2nd, used in place of the 4th, adds an unexpected warmth back into the song.
Vocally, the song is demanding. Using a great range, much of which sung in falsetto, gives a sense of youth perhaps reflecting the subject matter within. The vocal melody floats high above the harmonies for the most part, with only the percussion and the odd keyboard generated bell-sound coming close in pitch.
The arrangement of this weighs heavily on the guitar with percussion in an almost tribal dance fashion sits lightly behind. An almost inaudible bass line adds depth without being overpowering. The keyboard "bell" also appears now and then with an echo of the "heartbeat" from Blood Song. The guitar has a spanish feel to the style.
Lyrically it is quiet specific. It is obvious it is about his daughter and the love he has for her. It contains quite a few puns on various phrases, eg, barking up the wrong family tree. It also anticipates the future, her leaving as they wave good bye, although this of course also reflects that each stage in growing up is learnt from parents who then watch as their children can do it without needing help anymore or even simply waving goodbye as they attend their first day at school. The lyrics are also very idealistic, buttercups tickling feet is a romantic idea, but not something that most have experienced.