AOS- POP Flashcards
Musical elements in Joni Mitchell’s ‘Blue’
Word-painting: melodies follow trajectory of lyrics e.g. “acid, booze and ass, needles, guns and grass” descending; sparse instrumental arrangement (piano & vocals); octave leaps- incorporates Canadian national anthem “oh Canada…” melismatic vocals, wide range, high register & vibrato= emotive; minor tonality= evokes melancholy, sombre tone & subject of song; message= the detrimental consequences of addictions (drugs) negative effect of “hippie” lifestyle/mentality
Musical elements in Muse’s ‘Uprising’
From album ‘Resistance,’ message= encouraging protest & resisting government oppression/control; syncopated bassline & drum accented backbeat creates driving rhythm & momentum, sense of urgency/restlessness/impatience; instrumentation & timbres= reminiscent of science fiction- perhaps reflects dystopian society; minor tonality= dark mood, reflects dissatisfaction & serious subject matter of song; falsetto vocal motif “come on!” & ascending word-painting in chorus, lyrics “we will be victorious” adds note of optimism & hope , encouraging listeners to engage in political activism/revolution; syllabic vocals, staying on one note creates a tone of persistence/insistence
Musical elements in Stevie Wonder’s ‘Sir Duke’
Message= celebrating/tribute to jazz musicians e.g. Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald..; shout chorus section=reminiscent of jazz, extended & altered chords; pentatonic & blues scale, B major home key/tonality & moderately fast tempo= upbeat, lively, chromatic chord changes= jazzy
