Lamest Place In The World

Question 1

Melody?

Answer 1

• verse 1 has a range of a 6th which expands to an octave later in the verse then a 9th in the chorus
• syncopated conversional vocal melody
• melody based on first three notes of scale rising to a 6th
• second half of verse has distinct arch shaped melodies (21-22)
• chorus has leap of major 6th then minor 7th
• reaches a peak on C#/second degree of scale in bar 36
• verse 2 has funky bassline and piano countermelody
• middle 8 has longer note lengths and octave leaps (b-b)
• peak of song with 3 bars of D# from b107
• ends with held tonic degree from b124

Question 2

Harmony?

Answer 2

• intro features bVIIsus2 which provides a mixolydian feel
• verse 1 features pop harmony coloured by jazzy chords I, IV, V and VI with bVIIsus2 in intro and 11th chord in bar 14
• harmonic rhythm increases in second half of verse to changing every half bar
• tritone substitution chord in bar 18
• bar 18 chromatic descending bassline (F#-E#-E)
• jazzy chords such as C#add2/E# in chorus in bar 36
• in verse 2 the tritone sub is replaced with Amaj7/B
• D9#11 in bar 75 as piece modulates
• ends with alternating IV (Esus2) and Ib (B/D#)

Question 3

Rhythm?

Answer 3

• syncopated conversational melody
• electric guitar plays syncopated tonic riff in chorus and instrumental 2
• verse 2 becomes more syncopated
• triplets in bar 56
• phrases in the middle 8 land on the first beat of the bar e.g. “-pletely” in bar 76 and “never” in bar 84 however thus is cut short in b97 as “show” falls on the 4th beat
• quasi-sequential repeated rhythms in the bridge

Question 4

Tonality

Answer 4

• tonic key of B major
• modulates to the relative minor at the start of the middle 8

Question 5

Sonority?

Answer 5

• piano plays gently syncopated jazzy chords
• range of 6th to 8th to 9th in voice
• e guitar plays syncopated tonic riff
• drums, riff and e piano join at second intro
• bluesy piano riff at end of intro 2
• increased instrumentation in verse 2
• more expansive piano range and piano countermelody in verse 2

Question 6

Structure?

Answer 6

• typical pop structure with middle 8
  -16 bar verse split into two sections of 8
• 15 bar chorus feels abrupt
• middle 8 cut short as first nite falls on beat 4 of b97 hot beat 1 on b98
• bridge runs into chorus
• coda at the end alternates IV and Ib