Blog 5: Song Deconstruction

LISTENING FRAMEWORK   - Say What You Say – Eminem

(SIMPLIFIED)

LISTENING PHASE 1 (Rhythm)

Tempo [slow, medium, fast]

- medium

Source [where is the rhythm coming from?]

- Drums

Groove [describe how the personality of the rhythm]

-Intense, Serious, Rhythmic

LISTENING PHASE 2 (Arrangement)

Instrumentation [which instruments drive the song?]

- drums and background bass

Structure/Organization [how is the song built? Order, patterns, etc.]

- Intro/Verse/Verse/Chorus/Verse/Verse/Chorus

Emotional Architecture [Draw how the song build and drop?]

- Started intense, and built the whole time

LISTENING PHASE 3 (Sound Quality)

Balance

         -  Height [high and low of frequency]

      -Low

         -  Width [stereo panning left/right]

  - None

         -  Depth [layers of instruments - via loudness]

  - Medium

LISTENING FRAMEWORK – Marshall Mathers - Eminem

(SIMPLIFIED)

LISTENING PHASE 1 (Rhythm)

Tempo [slow, medium, fast]

- Slow

Source [where is the rhythm coming from?]

- Bass

Groove [describe how the personality of the rhythm]

Funky, smooth

LISTENING PHASE 2 (Arrangement)

Instrumentation [which instruments drive the song?]

- Bass and Drums

Structure/Organization [how is the song built? Order, patterns, etc.]

- Intro/chorus/verse/chorus/verse/chorus

Emotional Architecture [Draw how the song build and drop?]

- Builds up the whole song

LISTENING PHASE 3 (Sound Quality) Balance

         -  Height [high and low of frequency]

- Low

         -  Width [stereo panning left/right]

- None

         -  Depth [layers of instruments - via loudness]

Medium

I decided to choose two of many favorites from one of my favorite artists Eminem.  The first song called “Say What You Say” featuring Dr. Dre, is a Diss song against the artist Jermaine Dupree.  It is clear that Eminem and Dr.Dre do not have a good relation with Jermaine.  With Lyrics such as “F*** Jermaine” and “and I don’t have to do it with 11 or 12 year olds”.  The lyrics of this song clearly are sent out and are very vulgar and intense.  Just as those of the other song titled “Marshall Mathers” off of The Marshall Mathers LP album from Eminem.  This song is another diss song to a lot of people.  In this song Eminem is mainly targeting his greedy family and his other rap rivals, ICP (Insane Clown Posse).  He targets ICP because the have been talking a lot of bad things of Eminem in the first place.  The two have had many encounters and Eminem mentions them in the song.   Such as, “Y’all claim Detroit when you live 20 miles away” or maybe even worse when states, “I don’t get f****ed in mine like you two little flaming f**gots.  Eminem uses similar style of vulgar lyrics to get his message across yet again.  Although both songs are made for similar reasons, the melody is clearly different.  The tune is a little bit faster and louder in Say What You Say.   The rhythm is very clear with hard-hitting bass and snare. However, the musical quality is, in my opinion, more similar than different.  The pitch of the two songs are fairly the same, more lower pitch instruments, but still including high pitch background noise to create more depth.  One contrast nevertheless is the speed.  Marshall Mathers is a little bit slower but still create a very serious and intense mood.  These two songs are very hard for me to choose which I like better.  I like so many Eminem songs its so hard to decide, but I think I would choose Marshall Mathers over Say What you Say.  Only because there are a ton of parts in that song that I really love.  Also because it is so intense and upfront to the people he is talking about.