Song Deconstruction

Listening Framework: Damu the Fudgemunk - "Randi"

Listening Phase 1 (Rhythm)

Tempo:
Medium


Source:
The steady hi-hat throughout the entire song drives the tempo.


Groove:
It is a chill, smooth hip-hop beat. The hi-hat and snare drums combine to create a somewhat upbeat rhythm.


Listening Phase 2 (Arrangement)


Instrumentation:
Drums, piano, bass, violin (short samples near the end of piano melody), distorted sound effects (at the very end, for example)


Structure/Organization:
There is a short intro of just drums and bass before launching into the rest of the song. The bulk of the song (0:21 - 2:17 and ) consists of drums playing along with a piano melody. The drums drop out and the listener is forced to focus on the piano melody for one section. The drums come back in harder than ever during the climax of the song.


Emotional Architecture: 
Slowly builds toward bulk of song, stays steady until 2:17 at which point there is a use of "tension and release". The producer strips the song of its drum rhythm and allows the listener to focus on the piano melody. Right after this part, the drums come back in and create a climactic ending.


Listening Phase 3 (Sound Quality)


Balance


-Height:
Almost all of the sounds (except for kick drum and bass) are relatively high frequency in this song.


-Width:
All of the sounds can be heard from both the left and right side. I don't think there is any intended directionality from the author.


-Depth:
This song has many layers of sound. The drums lay the framework and are complemented by varying arrangements of piano, bass, violin, and sound effects.

Listening Framework: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis - "The End"

Listening Phase 1 (Rhythm)

Tempo:

Slow

Source:

The drums and piano combine to drive the song. The piano is consistent through the whole song, whereas the drums come in at different times to add depth.

Groove:

Very slow and relaxing. Matches Macklemore's lyrics which are relaxing.

Listening Phase 2 (Arrangement)

Instrumentation:

Drums, piano, horns, strings (sounds like violin)

Structure/Organization:

Short intro period (0:00 - 0:28) followed by the drawn-out bulk of the song. The verses are steady with little change in the instruments, aside from several horn melodies. The two chorus sections add two layers of horns. 4:48 marks the beginning of the emotional conclusion. Violins, cymbal crashes, and new horn melodies are added to the established track.

Emotional Architecture:

Chill verse periods are followed by more intense choruses. This formula is followed for nearly 5 minutes before Macklemore stops talking and invites a climactic ending.

Listening Phase 3 (Sound Quality)

Balance

-Height

Mix of both high and low frequencies. The piano, "gong" sound, and kick drums are low frequencies and the horns, violins, and drum crashes sound much higher.

-Width

Similar to the last song, I didn't hear any directional panning.

-Depth

There are many layers of sound in the track. Period of vocals, drums, violins, horns, and piano come in and out of the song at seemingly perfect times to create a deep, smooth tempo.

Comparing and Contrasting "Randi" and "The End"

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to and analyzing these songs. The first is an instrumental composition that most would consider hip-hop. The second could also be grouped into the genre of hip-hop, but I thought that the two songs were different enough to consider as separate genres.

Since only Macklemore's song has vocals, I can't analyze the lyrics on "Randi". I think that the lyrics in "The End" are some of the best I've ever heard. They place our protagonist at a ball with his former love.  It is a wonderful story over a beautiful instrumental, leading the listener through a cinematic exposition.

Both songs employ catchy melodies. For me, the piano melody in "Randi" is somehow good enough to still impress me after listening to this song 50+ times with it looping throughout the whole song. I think that alone speaks on its beautiful simplicity and catchiness. The horn melody in "The End" is complemented with drums and later violins, giving it a more full sound.

The sound qualities of the two songs are vastly different. "The End" is a slow-developing composition; "Randi" starts more up-tempo and stays steady until the end. As far as timbre, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' song uses more instruments than "Randi" and accomplishes a more lush, deep instrumental. I think that this is part of the greatness of "Randi" for me; even with only a few sounds and melodies, it takes me on an emotional ride. Though relatively simple, it does not lack anything in my eyes.

Though the speed and tempo never technically change in the two songs, they both seem to have varying speeds. Prior to their respective climaxes, they drop out different instruments. This makes a "slow" period for the listener, creating a more intense feeling when the climax begins.

Neither song is overly complex in their arrangements. They have short introductions, dive into the bulk of the song, and use a climax before ending the song. Even though their arrangements are similar, I think that these songs are very, very different. I have probably listened to these songs way more than I should, but I can't help myself.