Instrumentation: Vocals of Ronstandt, vocals of another male singer, drums, electric guitar, and bass guitar. In the beginning of the song, the vocalists and the guitar play of one another then join together to compliment one another for the rest of the song.
Form: "When Will I be loved" is a repetitive song. As with classic blues it follows a pattern. A-original first verse, A1-same rhythm of first verse with different lyrics, B-entirely new verse with different structure and lyrics, A2-original rhythm with new lyrics, B-exact repetition of B verse from earlier in the song, A-repetition of first verse. The repetition adds to the songs ability to catch in the listener, and make the song stuck in their head for DAYS!
Range: Rondstandt is an alto singer that, despite of the songs repetition, can occasionally push out higher notes with greater volume.
Texture: Although their are many instruments, they all follow the same progression. The texture is thus homophonic and relatively thin.
Lyrics: The song focuses a lot on being catchy and rhyming the lyrics. Yet when you read the lyrics you realize the message is not as upbeat and swift as the song plays it. The major sound key makes the audience feel happiness yet the lyrics are all about this woman who has been objectified and physically abused by the loves of her life. She is questioning whether she will ever "be loved" yet the upbeat and peppy of the song overshadow the message, and make me want to stereotypically put on some cowboy boots and dance.
Well --- there we go now, that really was one of the major purposes of this song, to make people get up and dance!
ReplyDeleteWhat about the concept of catharsis, do you think that could play a role in music (and lyrics) of this kind?