The British Invasion

1
The British Invasion

• American Popular Music
• Dr. Joseph Harchanko
• Week 7, Monday

2
Start of World Music?

• Am.Pop. Influenced by other nations
• Introduction of Asian influences
• Norwegian Wood
• Within You Without You

3
Lennon McCartney

• Please Please Me (jukebox)
• A Hard Days Night (jukebox)
• Yesterday (jukebox)
• Eleanor Rigby (jukebox)

4
Please Please Me 1962

• Simple early song in AABA form. Note internal
  structure.
• Good example of LennonMcCartneys word play

Intro note harmonica and guitar act as hook
A a
A a dif. words
B bridge
A
a
b
c
a
b same words
c
verse
chorus
verse
chorus
5
A Hard Days Night 1964

• Similar to AABA with A as 12bar blues, but more
  complex

Typical Blues lyrics are a a b. Each line
starts with different chord, but all end on tonic.
Lyrics Its been a hard days night, and Ive
been workin like a dog Its been a hard days
night,
I should be sleepin like a log
But when I get home to you, you know its all I
can do, you make me feel alright.
6
A Hard Days Night 1964

• A- all lines have dif. Lyrics
• Chords in A section are the same on the first two
  lines, different on the third, making chords, not
  lyrics, a a b
• How does delay in harmonic change fit lyrics?
• Where do we get tonic chord?

7
A Hard Days Night 1964

• Innovations
• Form
• Dissonance
• Timbre (12-string in solo)
• Coda (supports lyrics) - C.P. to opening
• Meaning of song is same as what TPA classic?

8
Yesterday 1965

• Connections to TPA

Form
Expressive melody
Chords
Is it rock n roll?
Moderate tempo
Absence of intense rhythm
9
Yesterday 1965

• Sound

Solo voice, unaffected, crooning?
Acoustic guitar
Orchestral stings
No percussion
Soft dynamics
10
Yesterday 1965

• Lyrics

Single word hook
Internal rhymes Why she had to go I dont know,
she wouldnt say I said something wrong, now I
long for Yesterday
11
Yesterday 1965

• Melody
• Arrangement

Ascending line reflects past Descending line
represents present
Strings enter with word Suddenly
12
Eleanor Rigby 1966

• Innovative sound

Opening
Unusual use of strings
Only two chords, not traditionally related
13
Eleanor Rigby 1966

• Form

Ballad?
What are the three verses about?
Irregular phrasing Eleanor Rigby picks up the
rice in a church where a wedding has been is
balanced with Lives in a dream
14
Eleanor Rigby 1966

• Constant Variation

Stings vary within phrase and from phrase to
phrase
Second phrase of chorus goes higher, intensifies
Introduction returns at crucial point
Final chorus and intro in counterpoint
Unsentimental. Brusque ending.