Wrecking Ball Poetic Devices

Melody is the key component of any song. In my opinion the melody is the identity of a song. I believe music could not exist without melody: It is like having a body but not the brain to help the body function. I think the rhythm controls the melody and, paired correctly, the harmony adds a little sparkle to the piece. I think the most important thing about the melody is that it is a way for the musician to convey a message to the listeners. When we hear the song “Wrecking Ball” the melody resonates through our mind like a catchy tune. In the song the chorus would be considered the melody because that is the part everyone knows. Whether we like the song or not that part has plastered itself into our minds. Sometimes you listen to a song and you never learn the words yet we remember the melody of the song and can semi- sing along when we hear it play.
Once the singer (Miley Cyrus) gets to the chorus of the song I sense a great deal of emotion and passion.
This reiterates the significance of the melody in a piece using melodic contour. Melodic contour basically helps shape a melody. When looking at a piece of music we can see the melody grow, ultimately climaxing, and then began to dwindle down to the resolution. It is kind of like telling a story or writing an essay. The plot slowly builds up and then the listener experiences the climax of the song: In this case when Miley Cyrus reaches the chorus bellowing “I came in like a wrecking ball, I never hit so hard and low, all I wanted was to break your wall, and all you did was wreck me.” The melody then begins to shape itself into more of a resolving sound at the end when she concludes her naked rant with “I never meant to start a war, I just wanted you to let me in….” Without even watching the video the melody helps paint a clear picture and convey a powerful
story.
By the end of the song the listener can clearly understand that the musician felt as if she was in a one-way relationship and she decided to stay which is causing only herself pain. When she finally gets to her breaking point she wants the other person to know that they had potential. She came in full force with her emotions into the relationship and feels as if she is not getting through to the other side ultimately getting hurt. A listener can gain a lot of insight from the melody alone, which is why I believe it is the most important component of any song.