Songwriting by Christian V. Hauser

Author:Christian V. Hauser [Rajan, Christian V. Hauser;Daniel R. Tomal;and Rekha S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Published: 2017-08-31T04:00:00+00:00

Textbox 5.2. Form of Songs

Form Exercise: Form of Songs

Find three songs that use different forms (choose three for each category below):

ABABCBB

AB (no bridge section)

Songs with pre-choruses

Songs that begin with the chorus

Strophic songs (through composed)

List the name, artist, and songwriter of each song.

Expression

Expression is the fifth element of music. While form is concerned with how the music is organized, expression focuses on the way the song is played or sung. Expression can be changed through dynamics (which can be loud or soft), phrasing (smooth or detached), tempo (fast or slow), or embellishment (ornamentation of the melody). Although changing the way a song is played or sung does not change the melody or the basic framework of the tune, it does add a human element to the performance. Through expression, the singer has the power to make words come alive, or imbue added emotion to the song.

Consider artists’ treatment of the national anthem of the United States, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” In many cases, the song is sung a cappella—where the singer is alone and unsupported by any accompaniment. “The Star-Spangled Banner” is a difficult song, consisting of wide melodic range, challenging intervals, and a number of long held-out notes. While this song might make many artists nervous, it gives singers the opportunity to craft and shape their performance with a full range of musical expression. Singers can speed up or slow down, embellish the melody through ornamentation or improvisation, and use extreme dynamic contrasts—getting extremely soft, then rising to a dramatic crescendo. The song is sung daily at sporting events and governmental functions, and even a casual listener is likely to notice that there are some versions that are very good and some that are painful.

Consider Whitney Houston’s expressive performance at Super Bowl XXV in 1991 in Tampa, Florida. Her performance was so memorable that it is the only recording of the national anthem to be certified platinum (selling more than a million copies). Yet, for every excellent rendition, there are many artists who butcher the song. For example, Steven Tyler’s January 22, 2012, interpretation of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at a National Football League playoff game was so horrendous that one viewer wrote: “Steven Tyler’s national anthem before the Patriots/Ravens game couldn’t have been any worse if John Madden farted it through a harmonica” (Franklin, 2012). Expressive performance matters. It can either add to a song’s prestige or cause the song to become deplored.

Differences in musical expression can be easily compared when artists rerecord an older song. In 1974, Dolly Parton wrote the song “I Will Always Love You.” Parton’s song was a hit—number one on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs list not only in 1974, but also in 1982 when she rereleased the single. Again, in 1992, Whitney Houston recorded a new version of the song, which was featured in the film The Bodyguard; the song became an instant hit. The track vaulted to number one on Billboard’s Hot 100 Songs list and stayed there for fourteen weeks. The song was

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