Lucy in the Sky

Question 1

What is suspected about the theme of this song?

Answer 1

There is an alleged relationship between this song and LSD, a hallucinogenic drug which was prevalent in the ‘60s and ‘70s. The Beatles denied this, and instead claimed the song was influenced by Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland books.

Question 2

Lucy has a hypnotic, mesmerising and psychedelic quality. How was this acheived?

Answer 2

It is interesting how these effects were achieved with the studio technology available at the time.

Much of this was down to experimentation, and the creativity of the studio engineers.

Question 3

Name 2 digital effects used in Lucy.

Answer 3

ADT: In the opening phrase, Lennon’s voice is very exposed. Soon, ADT and echo is applied with increasing intensity, creating a psychedelic effect.

Varispeeding: used to achieve a light-headed effect.

Question 4

What is the structure of the song?

Answer 4

Strophic:

• Intro
• Verse 1
• Bridge
• Chorus
• Verse 2
• Bridge
• Chorus
• Verse 3
• Chorus

Question 5

How does the metre change throughout the song?

Answer 5

The intro, verses and pre-choruses are in ¾, whereas the choruses change to 4/4.

Question 6

Describe how metre is used to create effects.

Answer 6

The ¾ metre in the introduction, verses and pre-choruses immediately evokes a dreamy and haunting atmosphere.

As the metre shifts to 4/4 in the chorus, the tempo reduces, but actually seems quicker due to the bass part moving in running quavers. The 4/4 metre gives an exciting feel.

Question 7

Describe the tonality throughout the song.

Answer 7

The key starts in Amaj, then rises to Bbmaj for the pre-chorus and then Gmaj for the chorus.

Question 8

Give 3 features of the song’s texture.

Answer 8

• Overall texture = melody + accompaniment.
• In the intro, the Lowrey organ plays, creating a monophonic texture.
• In the opening phrase, Lennon’s voice is very exposed. Soon, ADT and echo on his voice is applied with increasing intensity, creating a psychedelic effect.

Question 9

Give 3 rhythmic features.

Answer 9

• In the introduction and verses, the Lowrey organ plays in a crotchet pattern, its evenness adding to the hypnotic effect.
• As the metre shifts to 4/4 in the chorus, the tempo reduces, but seems quicker due to the bass part moving in running quavers.
• The chorus has a rock backbeat with the Lowrey organ chords played on the offbeat.

Question 10

Give 2-4 timbre features.

Answer 10

• Paul McCartney plays a Lowrey electric organ, set up to sound like a celeste through a combination of harpsichord, vibrahard, guitar and music box. This evokes a dreamy atmosphere.
• George Harrison plays lead guitar part through a Leslie speaker (which was usually used with a Hammond Organ). This created an experimental effect.
• Use of the sitar in 1st verse and as an inner pedal in the chorus.
• Leading into the second verse, Harrison plays a tanpura.

Question 11

Give 2-4 melodic features.

Answer 11

• The opening Lowrey organ pattern is arpeggaic and high in pitch, immediately evoking the dreamy atmosphere.
• The vocal melody in verses and pre-choruses is narrowly centred around the major third, which contributes greatly to the dreamy mood.
• The bassline, throughout the song, is very melodic. From the 2nd pre-chorus, it is very arpeggio driven, adding to the hypnotic effect.
• Bassline in verse descends scalically
• The chromatic shape of the lowest, sustained notes of the melody creates a hypnotic effect.

Question 12

Give 3 harmonic features.

Answer 12

• 4 accented chords on the dominant (D) at the end of the pre-chorus, providing the basis for a modulation to Gmaj in the chorus.
• The chords in the chorus are simple: G, C, D.
• D, sung in the 3rd and 9th bars of the chorus, adds the 9th to the chord of C, giving colour to the harmony.

Question 13

Identify 4 ways in which a dreamy atmosphere is created in the first 4 bars of Lucy.

Answer 13

• relaxing 3/4 time signature and gentle tempo
• Lowrey organ set to a combination of harpsichord, vibraharp, guitar and music box
• Low melody, mostly within the major 3rd
• use of reverb
• Leslie speaker creates a vibrato effect

Question 14

Identify 4 ways in which the chorus of Lucy provides a contrast to the preceding sections.

Answer 14

• modulates from tonic to submediant major
• metre changes from 3/4 to 4/4
• style changes from dreamy to rock feel, e.g. use of backbeat
• although the tempo decreases, the use of running quavers in the bass creates a sense of increased movement