Moby - Why Does My Heart Feel so Bad
Moby – ‘Why does my heart feel so bad?’
Moby recorded this track in 1999.
The style of this music is electronica, however the song incorporates elements of Gospel, Folk, Country, Jamaican and African music.
Essay
Structure
‘Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad’ is based on two eight bar themes, A and B. Theme A is based on a chord sequence of A minor, E minor, G major and D major. Theme B has two different types, ‘Bx’ and ‘By’. Theme Bx has a repeated two bar phrase and the chord pattern is C major, A minor, C major, A minor. Theme By also has a repeated two bar phrase and the chord sequence is F major, C major, F major, C major. This is much more positive and uplifting in contrast to Bx.
The overall structure is verse and chorus, with A being the verse and B being the chorus sections.
Melody
The piano melody of the song is very repetitive and only varies when it becomes more syncopated at A5(1:19). The vocal melody for the line ‘Why does my heart feel so bad’ ascends and then descends, reflecting a person’s tone in a question and answer. There is also a counter melody provided by the synth strings and piano, which engages in call and response with the main vocal melody at A6.
Rhythm
The time signature for this song is 4 crotchet beats in every bar, however most of the notes are quavers and semiquavers. The Latin American rhythm was influential on American dance music as Hispanic culture was prominent in America at the time.
Harmony
The harmony of the verses is very repetitive and uses a sequence of A minor x2, E minor x2, G major x2 and D major x2, as shown at A1. The harmony of the chorus , however uses the chords of C major and A minor twice, then F major, C major twice, to create a feeling of uplifting to accompany the lyrics: ‘These open doors’. Both samples have a new harmony after every 2 bars. The Harmony is regular, rhythmic and reflective.
Tonality
The tonality of the track is more modal than diatonic and is very predictable, C major goes
Moby recorded this track in 1999.
The style of this music is electronica, however the song incorporates elements of Gospel, Folk, Country, Jamaican and African music.
Essay
Structure
‘Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad’ is based on two eight bar themes, A and B. Theme A is based on a chord sequence of A minor, E minor, G major and D major. Theme B has two different types, ‘Bx’ and ‘By’. Theme Bx has a repeated two bar phrase and the chord pattern is C major, A minor, C major, A minor. Theme By also has a repeated two bar phrase and the chord sequence is F major, C major, F major, C major. This is much more positive and uplifting in contrast to Bx.
The overall structure is verse and chorus, with A being the verse and B being the chorus sections.
Melody
The piano melody of the song is very repetitive and only varies when it becomes more syncopated at A5(1:19). The vocal melody for the line ‘Why does my heart feel so bad’ ascends and then descends, reflecting a person’s tone in a question and answer. There is also a counter melody provided by the synth strings and piano, which engages in call and response with the main vocal melody at A6.
Rhythm
The time signature for this song is 4 crotchet beats in every bar, however most of the notes are quavers and semiquavers. The Latin American rhythm was influential on American dance music as Hispanic culture was prominent in America at the time.
Harmony
The harmony of the verses is very repetitive and uses a sequence of A minor x2, E minor x2, G major x2 and D major x2, as shown at A1. The harmony of the chorus , however uses the chords of C major and A minor twice, then F major, C major twice, to create a feeling of uplifting to accompany the lyrics: ‘These open doors’. Both samples have a new harmony after every 2 bars. The Harmony is regular, rhythmic and reflective.
Tonality
The tonality of the track is more modal than diatonic and is very predictable, C major goes