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longgone's avatar

Help: Will you give me ideas for a song analysis?

Asked by longgone (19715points) February 10th, 2015

I need you, jellies. I’m tutoring right now, and my student needs help on how to write an analysis of a song. We’ve got the basic draft, but content is lacking. What could be said about the song “Let it Be” (Beatles), in terms of tune, lyrics, etc.?

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10 Answers

Strauss's avatar

Are you looking for music analysis, or poetic (lyrics)?

filmfann's avatar

McCartney said “Mother Mary” refers to the mother of Jesus.

longgone's avatar

@Yetanotheruser Both, but mostly music. Sorry, should have said. We need a couple of phrases like

“The song’s solemn tune makes the listener feel…”

That’s just one example.

filmfann's avatar

There are similar themes to the Disney song “Let it Go”.

dxs's avatar

The song is in C major. The “circle of fifths” progression popular in pop music is not used in this song. But, like other pop songs, the chord progression is repetitive, meaning the same progression repeats throughout the song.
The verse progression is as follows:
I V vi IV I V IV I
In C major, this would be:
C G Am F C G F C
The chorus changes the first four chords:
vi vi/V IV I I V IV I
In C major, this would be:
Am Am/G F C C G F C

There are some small changes and transition notes, such as the ones in the second-to-last phrase: When going from the F to the C chord, the transition goes F C/E G/D C. (Ex: Here, 35 seconds in) See how the bass notes are all in order—F, E, D, C. A common practice in music is to connect the bass notes, generally when in root position, with notes in between.

gailcalled's avatar

It’s interesting and helpful to look at some of the more technical issues…key choice, chord choice, structure, melodies, harmonies and rhythm. Why write something in C#minor when you can choose C or D major, for example?

Strauss's avatar

If you are looking for an extremely technical musical analysis, I would check out this link. It says everything I would say, and I don’t have to do the research to bring my technical knowledge back up to where it was 30 years ago.

ucme's avatar

It’s a monotonous, repetitive piece of garbage, sung like a schoolboy would.

Earthbound_Misfit's avatar

The intended audience. Not us, but the person the song is perhaps directed to – a lover, a friend, a child. Use of simile, metaphor and the like. Descriptions of places, times, people and what that might signify.

longgone's avatar

Thank you! Content has been added, she’s good to go!

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