Feb 18, 2011 - More on Music Review

I am a Music Reviewer

(building towards the dual music review assignment – blog and in-class review test)

Three Components in the reviews upon which we will focus

1. The parts of the song

- chorus, bridge, intro, outtro, verse, solo, breakdown, refrain (repeated vocal part)

- these are the structural parts of a song

- why would we talk about these in a review?

- to refer to something specific that maybe made that part of the song stand out, or was special or interesting

eg – long intros might mean that building anticipation is more important than getting to a hook or a melody, OR it could be setting a tone or atmosphere

these parts are about the structure of a song, not the content

1b) – the parts of the content of the song (in a way) – riffs, hooks, melodies, harmonies, rhythms, layers, transitions, groove, etc

-      different instruments contribute different elements to a song

-      piano – often melody – the tuneful element that you can hum or sing

-      vocals = melody

-      pop usually is all about melody – Beyonce – talking about melody means assessing the catchiness, the hummability, etc – sticks in your head – (earworm) – girls really respond to melody

-      riffs, hooks, licks, etc – guitars and sometimes pianos or keyboards – repeated musical parts that push forward, driving a song – looking for power and teeth gritting – linked to aggression, strength, motion, moving your blood – not always rock

-      hook – less often, more space in between them, every bit as catchy – could be almost any instrument (The Buggles – Video Killed the Radio Star – OH, OH, OH, OH, OH) – OH is a common vocal hook

-       groove is the bass and drums, usually – could be horns as well – this is another sense of motion, but it drives a different part of your body (hint: your bum bum) and sometimes, other “down there-y” kinds of place (groiny, gutty, belly feeling music) – knees to chest feeling

-      locking in – rhythm instruments play a pattern that drives through a “walk” or up and down structure together with layering of percussion, but musical

-      complexity might be good, or maybe you prefer to be straightforward

1c) lyrics – the “other content” in a song

-      we look at lyrics like a poem – we can analyse like we do in English class

-      eg backstory – Miracle Drug – U2 – the handicapped kid and his mom, etc

-      this is Level 4 stuff

2. Comparison and Reference

- what is it like or not?