Unit 2 Assignment

The song which i have chosen for the analogue era is yellow brick road by Elton John       

                  

performer

The performer is Elton john 

The instrumentation which was used was piano, vocals, drums, bass guitar, acoustic and electric guitar, orchestral arrangements (strings), A mellotron and a ARP synthesiser.

The instruments where play by 

Piano/Vocalist :  Elton John 

Guitarist: Davey Johnstone

Bass: Dee Murray

Drums: Nigel Olsson 

ARP synthesiser: David Hentschel 

Orchestral Arrangement: Del Newman

Backing vocals : Kiki Dee 

The energy to this song is sorrowful.

The song was performed live in a studio in Château d'Hérouville in France. The name of the album is called goodbye yellow brick road.  

     This song was half of a autobiography with the writer Bernie Taupin not wanting fame to return to his roots a life without eyes on him. As fame is fake, its a fake reality which everyone put you on a pedestal and everyone wants to be you but its not all glamour its lonely and Elton John expresses this with his piano piece as it build up gradually creating that emotional pull on which is what they want.

  

technology

The name of the studio was called Château d'Hérouville. the effects which where used where a digital delay line which was to create big crowd such as stadiums and arenas. An MCI 416 console and an Ampex 16-track tape machine was used sound effects such as clapping  they also used the audience noise samples from a Jimi Hendrix. they also used reverb and compression.

it was released in 1973 as it was part of an album in which was called goodbye yellow brick road there was only one original that was recorded however over the years there has been different variations of the song. 

The producer of this album was Gus dudgeon. he had produced other classic such as David bowies space oddity, the zombies she not there.

 The engineer was  David Hentschel. Hentschel also worked as the synthesizer engineer for the album and was responsible for engineering many other artists' records, including Genesis and Queen he was also the mixer for this song. 

The studio itself used traditional analog recording technology.    

music theory

The tempo which was used was approximately 121-122 bpm The key in which was used was f major steady with borrowed chords this was to create tension but a bittersweet feel. This song was a melodic pop. the song iteself has a soaring melody which went with the melody one of the key harmony's where the ah ah ah section which was deceptive to the chorus the is dissolved back into the song. this song was dramatic but thet was what elton john wanted as it was written about life in fame but it was an uplifting contrast to it 

The time signature was 4/4 which meaned it was counted 4 beats in one measurement and the quarter notes gets one beat this allowed the song to be a relaxed Ballard.

the song structure was multi section in which it had intro, verses, a pre chorus and a chorus which made it complex but it was also repetitive to tell the story. 

The song structure  was

•  intro, 
• verse 1, 
• pre chorus ,
•  chorus, 
•  verse 2,
•  repeating structure
•  outro

the original song yellow brick road which was done by elton john was standard tuning using (\E\ \A\ \D\ \G\ \B\ \E\)

The rhythm of yellow brick road is  pop rock song which it uses complex's chords this creates a memorable rhythm.  

musical context

The genre of goodbye yellow brick road was glam rock, pop rock. glam rock was a style of rock music first popular in the early 1970s, characterised by male performers wearing exaggeratedly flamboyant clothes and make-up. which Elton John was known for being out of the box.  music genre that combines the upbeat and accessible nature of pop with the guitar-driven instrumentation and energy of rock. 

The lyrical themes and topic which where sang about and where brought up was the let down of fame and wanting a simpler life as fames was not what it was made out to b. Also the desire of image of a person and not the persona which is made by mangers. 

Lyrics

The song yellow brick road was an autobiographical as Elton John was talking about his personal experience and you could feel this through the emotion of the song and when the song come too Oh, 

"I've finally decided my future lies

Beyond the yellow brick road"

saying he want to change his future he does not want to be part of the rich in society 

goodbye yellow brick road has many lyrics which have been repeated and this was to create emotion for the listener as everyone want fame but we never knows what goes on behind closed door, here are  examples from the song itself

 

(So goodbye yellow brick road

Where the dogs of society howl

You can't plant me in your penthouse

I'm goin' back to my plough

Back to the howlin' old owl in the woods

Huntin' the horny-back toad

Oh, I've finally decided my future lies

Beyond the yellow brick road)

This is the chorus and this is the lyrics which are repeated which emphasises the want and need to just be a normal part of society and not someone who everyone looks up to.

goodbye yellow brick road was written in first person and second person as there "I" and "you" where used. 

The words in which were used to symbolise the rejection to fame and to have more of authentic life this is show when the metaphor " Yellow brick road"which represents fame this is also indirect reference to wizard of oz which in the film oz is a rich powerful nation which shows the dissolution of fame and what comes with it. 

which it definitely sends a message to the audience. 

 Another word which is used is lie which has been used as a localisation

and this is not used in the sense of position however which this is a push on the future and giving you hope.

"Dogs of society" which represents a tough world in which people are very quick to judge a book by it cover. This speaks to the audience which tells them yes i have the glitz and glam but no one told me the amount of pressure in which a celebrity is under and how they are alway must be on good behaviour. They must not be them self and this resonated with Elton john. As Elton John was changing the music scene back then he was politically incorrect doing drugs falling off thee band wagon and how he got back on track.   

    

The rhyming scheme varys such as toad and road another example is vodka and tonic  with the o's 

the song is informal as some of the phases which are used.

 

 

 

The second song which i have chosen is Angel done by Robbie Williams

Performer

The song Angles was written by Guy Chambers and the lead vocalist was Robbie Williams the backing vocalists where Gary Nuttall, Andre Barreau and Nicole Patterson. the instruments that where used and who played them. the keyboard was played by Guy Chambers, Steve Power. The guaitar was played by Andre Barreau, Chester Kamen, Gary Nuttall. The drums were played by Chris Sharrock. Percussion was done by Andy Duncan. Bass was done by mark smith. Programming was also done by mark smith and steve power. There was also an orchestra which was used and the orchestra name is the London session orchestra and the concertmaster was Gavyn wright 

The energy of this song is very driven by emotions and spiritual as angels are very spiritual. The emotion which is expressed through the instruments which where used and Robbie Williams himself as you can feel the heaviness. this has created a song which can be used any where such as hug life events. The whole aspect of thsi song is to give people something to believe in the dark time that there is someone who is always walking with you so create an uplifting tone.

The vocals were recored live in a studio. The studio in which it was recorded was matrix maison rouge which is based in london and some other big names have recorded there such as blur, oaisis and coldplay.  

Angels by Robbie Williams the notes in this song is legatto which expresses the emotion It is also syllabic which emphasises the hope but pain at the same time.

the rythum of this song is slow even power ballad which Robbie willaims voice expresses the helplessness and defenceless. 

Technology

The studio in which angels was recorded at was matrix studios the equipment which they used for angels the recording medium was a 48 analogue tape. Digital audio workstation which was used was pro tools emegics logic audio running on a mac which was used for programming. samplers which  where used where akai 3000 which utilised sound and programming.  

 

The effects which where used by Robbie Williams for angels was minimal reverb and the backing vocalist used layered choir like effect 

layered guitars were used they also used build up techniques 

some of the instruments where recorded on neve 80-series console 

The producers and mixers where guy chambers and steve power

Music theory

The tempo of angels was 75 BPM The note which was used was a E major and this made it impactful and used alot of time the harmony was  B-C#m-A-E which goes with 5-6-4-1 which it creates emotional impact. The time signature is 4/4. the structure of the song is standard verse chorus structure which is intro , verses, choruses, instrumental break and Outro. this also combines with the with the keys 

Musical context

The song angels is a powerful Ballard which was written by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers and the inspiration for this song is through personal loss and paranormal. this song represents resilience to heart break . giving people hope protection love and strength which sometime people need reminding they wanted to reach a very wide range of audience and they have done as this song is usually played at wedding ands funerals which are always a wide range of ages attend 

lyrics

This song is an autobiographical 

this shown in the lyrics such as 

"I sit and wait"

" I feel that love is dead

I'm loving angels instead"

he uses alot of 'I' which makes it personal asking questions 

The repeated lyrics in this song is "I'm loving angels instead" and that what this song is all about is having love from unforeseen being and when all else fail that love will be strong 

 

"So when I'm lying in my bed

Thoughts running through my head

And I feel that love is dead

I'm loving angels instead

And through it all she offers me protection

A lot of love and affection, whether I'm right or wrong

And down the waterfall, wherever it may take me

I know that life won't break me

When I come to call, she won't forsake me

I'm loving angels instead"

The word choices in which is used is very sorrowful you can feel his pain in the song with these lyrics 

When I'm feeling weak

And my pain walks down a one way street

I look above

And I know I'll always be blessed with love

the emotional tone in this bit is really pulling the listener in and even with the wording which is used such a when love is dead that is a very strong sentence and dead is sad and it final but he turn that around and say im loving angels instead saying there is hope