Moby - Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad? Flashcards
What is the time signature of the piece? [1]
4/4
Fill in the gaps of the 8 bar chord sequence used: [3]
- A minor
- ?
- ?
- E minor
- G major
- G major
- ?
- D major
2 = A minor
3 = E minor
7 = D major
Name two technological effects applied to the music: [2]
Any TWO of:
EQ (equalisation) Delay Reverb Compression Panning
Which word describes the vocals? [1]
A Live
B Sampled
C Sequenced
D Spoken
B - Sampled
Describe how the texture builds up at the start of the song. [3]
Starts with solo piano/one
instrument
Then adds vocal sample
Then adds rhythm track/drum machine/(synth) bass/(synth) strings/2nd piano
State two ways in which Moby makes the vocals sound distant in the final chorus. [2]
- reverb (reverberation)
- delay/echo
- use of EQ (equalisation)
- quieter
Which instrumental part plays chords underneath the vocal sample in the last chorus? [1]
Correct Answer:
• string pad
Acceptable Answers:
• synth strings
• synthesiser
What is the tonality at the end of the song? [1]
Correct Answer:
• major
Acceptable Answers:
• C major
• C
State two ways in which Moby has altered the vocal sample at the end of the song. [2]
Any two of: • reverb reduced / less • sample is clearer/ more prominent • sample is to the front of the mix • sample is re-triggered • additional vocables (ahhs, yeahs, heys etc.) /vocalisation • delay much less/none
What style of music has influenced this song? [1]
- (club) dance
- pop/popular music
- blues
- gospel
In which year was this song written? [1]
Accept any year between 1995 – 2005
What album is this song from?
Play
What year was this song released?
1999
What style of music is this?
Club dance
Name 3 effects used in this piece?
- Panning
- Delay
- Reverb
- EQ
- Electronic ghostings
Are the choruses major or minor?
Major
Are the verses major or minor?
Minor
How many chord sequences is the song based on?
2
What are the chords for the piano intro and verse?
A minor/ E minor/ G/ D
Rhythm wise what does the shaker play?
Repeated semi–quavers
What instruments is syncopation used in?
Piano, vocal, synth string parts
What is the tempo of this piece?
4/4
moderate tempo
Is the harmony and tonality of this piece completely diatonic?
Yes
Where are the two vocal samples taken from?
1950’s gospel music
Who sings ‘these open doors’?
Female voice
Who sings ‘why does my heart feel so bad’?
Male voice
What creates a drum track?
drum machine
What does the synthesizer produce?
The string base and piano sounds
What does the sequencer do?
It triggers the sampler and synthesizer
How long is the break down?
1 bar pause
What is the overall structure of this piece?
Verse chorus structure
in 8 bar sections
What are the dynamics in the break?
Silence
What instrument fades out at the end?
Organ
What are the dynamics like in the outro?
soft
as there are just two instruments
How do the dynamics change in the last chorus?
They increase as instruments re-enter
What are the dynamics like at the beginning of the piece?
Starts quietly
becomes louder in V1 when more parts enter
How does the texture build in this piece?
The texture builds as more instruments are added
What is the timbre like in this piece?
The electrical sounds sound quite unnatural and mechanical
what is the structure of the piece?
INTRO VERSE CHORUS VERSE BREAK CHORUS VERSE OUTRO
how many chord sequences is this piece based around?
2
the piece is made up of samples from where? (name 2)
- a gospel choir
- a hip-hop drum beat
name 2 reasons why you can tell the parts are electrical sounds?
- they sound a bit mechanical
- the timbre of the instruments sound different
- it is unusual for this sort of music to have live drums
- dynamics do not sound entirely natural
name 4 instruments used in this piece.
synthesised strings
electric piano
synth organ
sub bass
how have the vocal samples been altered and why?
- the background noise has been left in
- because otherwise the technology took away from the voice.
what albumn is this piece from?
play
name 3 influences of this piece (genres)
ambient (also known as ‘chill-out music’)
techno (very mechanical & electrical with fast tempo)
hip-hop
what is the chord sequence in the sample ‘Why does my heart feel so bad’
Am, Am, Em, Em, G, G, D, D
what is the chord sequence in the sample ‘These open doors’ - FIRST half
C, C, Am, Am, C, C, Am, Am
what is the chord sequence in the sample ‘These open doors’ - SECOND half
F, F, C, C, F, F, C, C
What section is known as the chorus? (sample wise)
‘These open doors’ sample
where is there a bar of silence in this piece?
the ‘break’ / ‘breakdown’
what are the dynamics like in the outro?
Soft - there are only 2 instruments
which instrument fades out at the end?
Organ
where do the dynamics increase?
from the intro to Verse 1
what do the dynamics do between v1 and the bridge?
stay the same
