Every year, the Grammy nominations comes out and are swiftly followed by lamentations of how music today ain't what it used to be. A post and a couple of comments about today's music using the same four chords and the same structure really set me off more than usual, so I resolved to listen to every album nominated for album of the year and do a basic harmonic and form analysis of each song. I started with Jon Batiste's album We Are ...and it was so good that I forgot my anger and just listened to it for a week instead. It's an incredible album, one of the best that I, personally, have heard in a long time. So yesterday, I took a couple of hours and just sketched out the chord progressions and form for each song mostly for my own benefit, and I figured I may as well share that with all of you.
Please pardon the sloppiness of the pages, this was just a little exercise for fun. I'm certain they're not perfect, so feel free to point out any errors. Also, I didn't try to capture all of the chord extensions in my chord symbols, just fyi. Most chords are more complex than what I indicated.
I love this song. I normally don't care for spoken word stuff in songs, but it's done very tastefully here. During the bridge, it provides a break before the intensity of the marching band section. For the chords, I listed possibilities for both Eb and Bb to be the tonic. Eb minor makes sense just looking at the chords, but listening to the melody, I think there's a case to be made that things are more focused around Bb. Most of what Jon is singing in the verse uses either something similar to Bb major or Bb minor pentatonic; there's a lot of Bb and F throughout (the chorus descends from Bb to F, for example).
I think you could choose to hear it either way. There's a concept we talked about in my graduate rock analysis class where songwriters will write major chords on pretty much every scale degree of the minor scale (every degree except ii, thought bII takes its place), sometimes even including the i chord. So if I wanted to sound smart in a paper, I might even imply that this is a Bb minor system with a borrowed I chord. Maybe.
This one was pretty hard for me to hear ngl. I like the elongated V on the pre chorus. With the verse and chorus being the same progression, the pre chorus helps distinguish them a bit more. Same with the bridge. It's more of the same kind of t
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I used to do regular dry shampoo + Toppik. But now I’ll never go back! So much coverage with Batiste 😱
Please post your questions for Belden "Noonie Man" Batiste below. Mr. Batiste will answer your questions today from 7:30 p.m. till 8:30 p.m.
Belden is running for Mayor this year and voting is on Saturday, November 13th.
I’ve been so blessed this past year to work on some amazing projects with Disney & Pixar’s SOUL and Verve Records to show you all a new side to my music. My new album WE ARE is now available for your listening pleasure. Ask any and all questions you have!
https://www.jonbatiste.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jonbatiste/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/JonBatiste Facebook - https://facebook.com/jonbatistemusic YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/jonbatistemusic?sub_confirmation=1
Proof:
https://i.redd.it/pg9jpxjb3xv61.jpg
it’s really feel-good, it makes me smile when I really just hone in to it :)
Those steps he takes, the throwing the paper in the air, I'm so sure I've seen it before but I can't place it. Can anyone help me?
[Wanted] Jon Batiste – We Are (Signed Vinyl)
Hi Guys, recently I'm trying to find the Jon Batiste's We Are signed vinyl. I've tried to find it online but seems like no one's selling currently. Kindly message me if you are willing to sell or know anyone's selling. Thank you!!!!1
Ever since i got him from forever summons my damage scy-rocketed. The game feels so much easier now! I dont even have his true weapons...Is there a big difference in damage with his TWs?
https://preview.redd.it/8eemm8wctvs71.jpg?width=810&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=beb997656d64dd53f1d69780e4ec3ab4abd9475a
I am happy to announce that r/NewOrleans is holding an AMA on Monday, October 18th from 7:30 p.m. till 8:30 p.m. with Belden "Noonie Man" Batiste.
We will post the AMA a few hours early so that you can post questions and Mr. Batiste can answer them in the time allotted. As with all of our AMA's, please keep them civil, respectful and to the point. Obvious trolls will be banned and their questions removed.
The mod team wants to give a shout-out to u/FleurDeezNutz who helped set up this AMA. If you would like to set up an AMA with another political candidate for any seat in this current election, modmail us and we will get it going.
Posted with a serious tag, but go ahead and bring your shit posts in addition to serious responses. I've googled this to no avail.
Has anyone taken any of them before? How was the class like? Who do you recommend?
Any recommendations is appreciated :)
