Rhythm:
Each time a new measure begins we can hear the bass come in very strong (strong beat). There are 4 notes between each of these bass notes making this song a duple meter. I would say the tempo of this song is andante as it seems to be at a walking pace.
Timbre/Instrumentation:
This song is made up of guitar, bass, percussion, and vocals. It is a very happy sounding song which unexpectedly contrasts the not so happy lyrics. The singers voice is very soft and calm which adds to the joyful sound of the music and again contrasts the melancholy emotions he describes. The melodic guitar riff (0:15-0:31) that is repeated several times in the song is also a very pleasant and happy sounding sequence.
Melody:
I would say that in this song their are 2 melodies that switch back and forth between each other. The first melody would be the singers voice. This is the part of the song that everyone is focused on, mainly listening to, and singing along. However there are several instances when the vocals drop out and a new melody takes the lead. When the vocals are not present the melody is the happy guitar riff that repeats several times throughout the song (0:15-0:30, 1:19-1:34, 2:25-3:00).
Harmony:
The song is in a major key and in harmony through out the entire piece. There is consonance within the entire song and no instances of dissonance except for in the beginning when the guitar slides up the scale. There are also no key changes through out the song. When the vocals are the melody, they are accompanied by either bass and percussion or bass, percussion, and guitar. When the guitar is the melody it is accompanied by percussion and bass.
Dynamics:
The dynamics of this piece is mezzo forte, or medium loud through out the entire song.
Texture:
This song is homophonic. There are 2 melodies, but they are only played one at a time with accompaniment.
Form:
- From 0:00 to 0:14 there is an introduction to the song.
- The actual song begins at 0:15 and this section (A) continues until 0:48 where the chorus begins. The vocals are introduced during this period, however I don’t believe that automatically signals a new section because the song is still following the same general pattern just with lyrics now included.
- At 0:48 the chorus begins, section B, and at 1:19 returns back to section A with the guitar riff we heard earlier and into the same vocal patterns as before until 1:50.
- At 1:50 the chorus comes back, section B, until 2:25 where it then returns the section A for the remainder of the song.
This makes the form of the song ternary because sections A and B are both repeating back and forth throughout.
I was tapping my foot the whole time while listening to this song without even knowing. It sounded quite calm and relaxing. The repetition of the instruments give off a happy feeling even though the lyrics might not be as happy, just like you said.
I like your thorough analysis on this song especially on the instrument session which I have some difficulty to target the kinds of instruments that have been used. And I agree that the song has used major scale, with very little dissonance.
Hey, great song with a very catchy beat. I noticed that you said that there were two main melodies one of them being the guitar playing by itself. I can hear the same melody being played while the guy is singing on more than one occasion so I’m not sure if its a main melody or an accompaniment. If its a main melody than the song would have a polyphonic texture. Great job though! You had so many details.
The melody reminds me of the caribbean, the name Bahamas also helped with that. Does he sing “Got me thinking?” different from the title.
The melody is definitely homo-phonic even though the dynamics of the accompaniment are on the same level of the singer, you can tell because the beat just repeats for the instruments.