Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?

Question 1

Melody

Answer 1

• Vocals, sometimes piano
• Gospel choir sample - ‘Why does my heart…’ verse, ‘These open doors’ chorus*Call and response between piano and vocal sample
• Strings add melodic interest in rests in vocal line

Question 2

Harmony

Answer 2

• 6 chords - limited harmonic range
• Verse - Am, Am, Em, Em, G, G, D, D
• Chorus - C, C, Am, Am X2 (F, F, C, C when looped)
• Both in A minor but harmonised differently - chorus sounds major because of chords used
• sus2 and sus4 chords used - richer harmonic sound

Question 3

Tonality

Answer 3

• Both vocal samples in A minor, but chorus harmonised to feel like C major
• Chorus is ambiguous - common chord notes hint at C major. Modulates to C major when looped

Question 4

Structure

Answer 4

• Piano intro
• Verse - vocal sample X4, long strings added on third time, piano changes to rhythmic chords
• Chorus - vocal X2 (once with rests, once on loop)
• Shorter verse, one bar bridge with only pedal note, chorus, verse, outro

Question 5

Instrumentation/Timbre

Answer 5

• Roland TR909 drum machine - drum loops
• Emu Proformance piano sound module - two piano sources, one from Yamaha, one from Emu
• Roland Juno 106 - synth bass sound
• Yamaha SY22 and SY85 synthesisers - string/synth pad sounds

Question 6

Texture

Answer 6

• Instruments in and out for textural contrast
• Synth and strings fill out texture with long chords
• Use of echo, telephone voice EQ and delay to thicken
• Break and outro - thinner

Question 7

Rhythm

Answer 7

• Hip hop drumbeat looped throughout, keeps constant ‘backbeat’
• Piano accompaniment becomes syncopated rhythmic chords
• 4/4

Question 8

Tempo

Answer 8

*98 bpm constant

Question 9

Mood

Answer 9

• Dark, moody, sad lyrics
• Chorus sounds major and more uplifting
• Evokes emotional response

Question 10

Dynamics

Answer 10

• Begins p
• Increase in relation to texture throughout
• Mostly loud

Question 11

Technology

Answer 11

• Yamaha SPX990 multi-effects unit - apply reverb and delay to tracks
• Akai S3200 sampler - samples vocal sound off original record and any other subsequent editing
• All sounds sampled and sequenced
• EQ on vocal sample and vocal echo
• Sound within stereo field controlled with panning (left and right speakers)