Exam 3 Flashcards
This first wave of the British Invasion seemed to be organized by 2 categories
-pop based sounds like beatles ->softer more fine style bringing towards jazz rock and art rock
-blue based like rolling stones -> harder raw oriented bands (rolling stones and Zombies) goes into san francisco groups, punk rock, hard rock and heavy metal
Song: Ferry Cross the Mersey*
Artist: Gerry and the Pacemakers
Genera: British rock (beatle like)
Ø Begins with a drum ostinato (riff) that continues through the intro and into the verse
Ø Strings, guitar and bass enter, creating the accompaniment over which Gerry sings – very melodic vocals
Ø At the chorus (“Ferry cross the Mersey”), the drums fall into a more regular rock ‘n’ roll beat – strings become more active
Ø Second verse – strings and flute play fills
Ø lyrics speak of liverpool nostalgia
Song: I’m Henry the VIII, I Am*
Artist: Herman’s Hermits
Genera: British Rock
Ø Starts with a strong rock ‘n’ roll beat
Ø Guitar comes in with a little lick and then falls into a riff – bass enters
Ø Lead vocals enter – sporadic shouting backup vocals
Ø Very repetitive – simple verse form
Lyrics are silly- marrying only men named Henry
Song: Bus Stop*
Artist: The Hollies
Genera: British Rock (beatle like)
Ø Starts with lead guitar soloing over a very repetitive bass line
Ø Drums signal the entrance of the vocals and rhythm guitar
Ø Vocal harmonization that the band is known for enters on the third line of the verse
Ø The bridge really shows off this band’s superb vocal harmonization – backbeat is more emphasized here
Ø Lyrics speak of meeting future partner at a bus stop
Song: Downtown*
Artist: Petula Clark
Genera: British Rock (soft rock)
Ø Starts with piano solo
Ø Solo vocals enter with light drums/percussion
Ø Melodic lead vocals- Backup vocals enter on the title lyrics
Ø The last part of the verse is characterized by a much denser texture including strings, backup vocals, horns, and much more active drums (bossa nova rhythm)
Ø Second verse includes guitar, strings, piano, bass and percussion for accompaniment
Ø Lyrics deal with loneliness (and traveling downtown)
Song: You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me*
Artist: Dusty Springfield
Genera: British Rock (soft rock)
Ø Starts with a brass fanfare
Ø Harmonized backup vocals, drums, strings and percussion enter
Ø Stop time as lead vocals enter
Ø Melodic lead vocals are accompanied by strings, piano (triple division of beat), bass and drums
Ø At the chorus, triple division moves to drums; harmonized backup vocals and brass enter
Ø Lyrics dealing with relationship turmoil
Song: Paint it Black*
Artist: Rolling Stones
Genera: Blues based British Bands
Album: Aftermath 1966
Ø Starts with electric guitar outlining the melody
Ø Drums shots – drums accent every beat
Ø Sitar, guiro and bass enter – to begin with, the sitar mirrors the vocal line
Ø Vocals go from melodic to semi-shouting
Ø Lyrics are ominous and depressing
Song: She’s Not There*
Artist: The Zombies
Genera: Blues based British bands
Ø Starts with bass, piano, guitar and drums
Ø Drums have a distinct drums beat through the opening verse – not a real strong backbeat; characterized by a little hi-hat flourish at the end
Ø Solo vocals start over this accompaniment – harmonized vocals enter
Ø Song goes from minor to major as it goes into the chorus
Ø Drums have more of a rock ‘n’ roll beat – harmonized vocals become more present
Ø Bass lick leads back into the introductory material
Ø Lyrics about heartbreak (loss of relationship)
Song: Do Wah Diddy Diddy*
Artist: Manfred Mann
Genera blues based British bands
Ø Starts with instrumental intro – organ/electric piano, drums, guitar, bass and maracas
Ø Drums lightly emphasizes backbeat; maracas play on all beats
Ø Stop time when the lead vocals enter
Ø Call and response between backup vocals and lead vocals
Ø Chorus is a cappella with the exception of drums
Ø Organ/electric piano is featured through the bridge
Ø Lyrics are innocent; love driven
Song: For Your Love*
Artist: The Yardbirds
Genera: blues based british bands
Album: For your Love 1965
Ø This piece is in ternary form – Intro – A – B – A
Ø Starts with harpsichord and bowed bass (both played by studio musicians)
Ø Bongos and anvil enter next
Ø Drums come in with backup vocals – they repeat the title while the lead singer sings the verse
Ø Cascading vocal effect at the chorus
Ø Change in drums signals the beginning of the middle section – a much more rock ‘n’ roll sounding section with a walking bass and more active drums and cymbals
Ø Lyrics about professing love to another
Song: You Really Got Me * (FORMAL ANALYSIS)
Artist: The Kinks
Genera: British rock (outside the beatles and rolling stones)
Ø Starts with a very distinct, savage, fuzz-toned two-chord guitar riff
Ø Drums and tambourine enter; bass guitar mirrors the guitar riff
Ø Semi-shouting vocals enter followed by harmonized vocals
Ø Short drum solo leads to the second verse
Ø Piano enters in the second verse
Ø (Featured solo instrument – guitar; this is a riff-driven solo – based over the opening guitar riff)
Ø Lyrics are about being overwhelmed with feelings for another
The Rise of the Beatles and the Reaction of Corporate America
Ø The success of the Beatles transformed music in two significant ways:
o A lot more focus was placed on British musicians and songwriters
o The Beatles’ success in America opened the door for a flood of British bands
Ø All this leads to loss of control and, perhaps more concerning, loss of capital gain in the area of album sales
Ø There was clear incentive to win back this loss in record sales
Ø However, at the same time, American musicians were inspired by the British invasion and moved towards more artist-driven independence
Song: Subterranean Homesick Blues*
Artist: Bob Dylan
Genera: Folk Rock
Ø Starts with first acoustic and then electric guitar
Ø Drums and bass enter
Ø Vocals enter – more of a speaking style
Ø Backbeat emphasized by tambourine
Ø Harmonica enters sporadically, playing fills
Ø Lyrics are of a social and political nature
Song: Positively 4th Street Blues (FORMAL ANALYSIS)
Artist: Bob Dylan
Genera: Folk Rock
Ø Begins with a Hammond organ riff accompanied by electric guitar, bass, piano, finger cymbals and drums
Ø Drums and finger cymbals emphasize the backbeat
Ø Lyrics blast the folk scene who had turned against him – set in 13 verses of equal length – this is not like Dylan
Ø form is simple verse with 4/4 time signature
Song: Mr. Tambourine Man*
Artist: The Byrds
Genera: Folk Rock
Ø Starts with twelve-string electric guitar – plays a riff that returns throughout the piece
Ø Bass and tambourine enter – tambourine emphasizes backbeat
Ø Drums enter and then harmonized vocals through the chorus
Ø Solo vocals through the verse
Ø Lyrics are very poetic and descriptive – a story-like song
Song: Scarborough Fair/Canticle*
Artist: Simon and Garfunkel
Genera: Folk Rock
Ø Begins with acoustic guitar
Ø Melodic vocals enter – first unison, but quickly break into harmony
Ø Orchestral bells enter at the end of the vocal lines
Ø Second verse – mandolin enters – texture becomes more dense
Ø Backup vocals (Simon and Garfunkel overdubbed) enter to produce a polyphonic texture
Ø lyrics are poetic- story-like
*two sets of lyrics happening at the same time
Song: Monday, Monday*
Artists: The Mamas and the Papas
Genera: Folk Rock
Ø Starts with a cappella harmonized vocals
Ø Drums, keyboards, guitar and bass enter
Ø Clear lead vocals enter with instrumentation – backup vocals harmonize with nonsense words
Ø At the second verse, the backup vocals join the lead on the verse lyrics
Ø (Good example of call and response with their harmonized style)
Ø Lyrics are relationship based
Song: Creeque Alley*
Artists: The Mamas and the Papas
Genera: Folk Rock
Ø Begins with acoustic 12-string guitar
Ø Vocals enter – vocals switch between harmonized, unison and solo
Ø Lyrics tell the story of the band
Ø Tambourine and light drums enters
Ø Harmonica eventually enters to accompany the vocals with the 12-string guitar
Ø Instrumental solo – flute accompanied by piano and 12-string guitar
Song: California Girls (FORMAL ANALYSIS)
Artist: The Beach Boys
Genera American Pop- West coast
Ø Begins with an introduction that employs a layered texture
Ø Begins with harp and 12-string guitar; bass and cymbals add in; horns enter last
Ø This is followed by a “Happy Trails” bass line over which the lead vocals enter
Ø Melodic lead vocals enter over drums, organ, bass, and guitar
Ø Harmonized vocals enter at the chorus – lead vocals sing in falsetto
Ø Drums switch over to a more orchestral style pattern; texture becomes more dense, including horns and glockenspiel
Ø Use of call and response in the chorus
Ø form in contrasting verse-chorus with 12/8 time signature
Song: I Got You Babe*
Artist: Sonny and Cher
Genera: American Pop- west coast
Ø The song is in 3/4 meter – starts with light drums, electric guitar and tambourine emphasizing every beat
Ø Drums pick up preceding the vocal entrance – Cher first and then Sonny
Ø Use of glockenspiel – orchestral bells (high tinkly sound that follows the melody at the end of the phrases)
Ø Chorus begins with unison vocals, but goes to harmonized; oboe (a double reed instrument) plays the fills
Ølyrics are a hippie anthem to eternal love
Song: This Diamond Ring*
Artist: Gary Lewis and the Playboys
Genera: American Pop- west coast
Ø Begins with cordovox (an electric accordion), rhythm guitar and bell tree
Ø Melodic lead vocals enter with drums, guitar and tympani (pitched drums)
Ø Harmonized vocals enter on the title lyrics and continues through the chorus
Ø Lyrics of heartbreak and rejection
Ø Brief instrumental solo features the cordovox and guitar
Song: Summer in the City*
Artist: The lovin’ Spoonful
Genera: American Pop East Coast
Ø Begins with autoharp, guitar and drums
Ø Filtered vocals enter – more of a semi-shouting vocal style – piano and tambourine enter; drums fall into a backbeat-based style
Ø Harmonized vocals enter at the end of the verse and going into the chorus
Ø At the chorus, tambourine emphasizes the backbeat
Ø The instrumental bridge features series of car horns and finishes with a jackhammer – this is supposed imitated the sounds of summer in the city
Ø lyrics describe summer life in the city
Song: Hang On Sloopy*
Artist: The McCoys
Genera: American Pop East Coast
Ø Begins with a drum riff outlined on the tom-tom
Ø Hi-hat, bass drum and snare (emphasizing the backbeat) enter with guitar and bass – they introduce the riff and chord progression that will pervade the rest of the song
Ø Harmonized vocals enter with the chorus – saxes provide the fills between vocal entrances
Ø Solo semi-shouting vocals enter for the verses – harmonized backup vocals join the saxes for the fills
Ø Lyrics about a girl
Characteristics from “Beatles-Type” Bands
-In the city of Liverpool, former skiffle groups follow the beatles footsteps
-These were known as merseybeat bands
-This sound was characterized by rockabilly, mainstream and english folk
