hey guys… i’m analysing a song and 2 poems for my english assignment
im doing “the maybe man” by ajr, if anyone is interested in helping me for the musicality for my essay (i.e the tempo, chords, harmonies) please pm me!
don't know the song but would be willing to contribute some tips:
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https://wmich.edu/mus-theo/courses/keys.html - the effect of key signatures, use sparingly though because this particular philosophy was used centuries ago, however it can be good back-up evidence for why something feels a certain way
- upwards motion (chords, melody, etc) gives hope, downwards gives despair
- look at time signature (likely 4/4) - driving beat or lack thereof?
- word painting? e.g. does the music reflect the words? (a good one for english I feel)
- dissonance vs consonance
I'd be happy to help but I can't guarantee how often I'll reply
edit: okay I listened to the song, probably could talk about tone colour (accompaniment) and the texture thickening, do you get to analyse the music video as well, it could be good? the pulse strengthens about halfway...then the melody jumps up an octave, adds tension, climax...the sudden thinning of texture for the final verse thing
the coda is really interesting and different, definitely talk about the contrast, word painting in "pandemonium" due to the rapid switching of instruments, coda also disrupts thhe repetitive structure of the rest of the song
there's also tritones in the piano rearrangement but they're not as obvious in original (tritones are the "devil's chord", ultimate form of dissonance)