You're here. That means perhaps you're a chord junkie like me, or maybe you are just wondering what the title means...let me explain...
Let’s talk about frisson. Are you one of those lucky people, like I am, that when you hear good music, and I mean good music, you get goosebumps, chills, shivers up and down your arms, hair on the back of your neck standing on end? Well, congratulations! I can’t imagine experiencing music any other way. For me, these experiences come with great, unusual chords and chord progressions. My brain likes the unpredictable when it comes to music (don’t even talk to me about songs in the key of C…) and when I realized that other people felt the same way, or were curious to hear why and how I experience music this way, I wanted to share so others might experience this too!
One way I love to experience music is to dive in to songs that I love; to plunk out those tasty chords on my keyboard; to analyze and deconstruct the arrangement and find out what makes it tick. Not only does it explain a bit of why I react so strongly to some musical passages, but it also gives me a deep appreciation for the artists who create it. I started with deconstructing some arrangements by the a cappella group VoicePlay, as well as Geoff Castellucci (one of the members of VoicePlay), and there is so much great music out there that I look forward to expanding that scope to other artists.
Come along with me for a deep-dive into songs and arrangements with tasty chords, mouthwatering chord progressions, and delicious song structure. A full-course meal of music appreciation.
The Main Course - Song Analysis Blogs
Amuse-Bouche - Mini Write-Ups
House of the Rising Sun – Geoff Castellucci
I’ve tried, dear reader. I’ve tried to be diverse, but I just keep coming back to Geoff Castellucci’s arrangements because they are so damn good. This song is as old as the hills, and it’s not exactly known who wrote it, but the most famous version of this song is the one by The Animals. Once again, Geoff has taken a repetitive, downright annoying song and turned it into a work of art.
While my family and I were amidst our Christmas tradition of making antipasto, I heard a warm and cozy Super Cool Thing™ and I just really want the world to hear this song so you can feel the warm fuzzies like I did.
I’ll never forget the first time I heard this song. It was back in the days of Pandora Radio (before it was blocked in Canada), where it was a huge, cool, amazing, revelation to have songs and artists suggested to you of a similar genre to what you’d just listened to. Mind. Blown. It was this song that spawned my deep, deep love of chord progressions that follow the road less traveled.
Bass Lines, Kindness, and Oatmeal Cookies
I thought I’d try something new. Sometimes I hear a Super Cool Thing™ in a song…but there’s not really enough to warrant an analysis of the full song. But gosh, I’d sure like to point out the Super Cool Thing™! So here we are.
Man of Constant Sorrow – Geoff Castellucci
Ever since I first heard Man of Constant Sorrow in the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?, it catapulted to and still is one of my top ten favourite songs. Dan Tyminski adapted and updated this old, dusty tune for the movie, gave it a shiny coat of polish, and turned it into a CMA and Grammy award-winning song. It’s been covered by many since then, and I didn’t think any version could top Dan Tyminski’s as my all-time favourite version.
I was wrong.
Shenandoah – Geoff Castellucci
Not being an American, I went on a hunt to read up on this song, and what it means to people. ‘Nostalgia’ was the overwhelming theme I came across. This song…this arrangement…this performance is absolutely beautiful. I thought I’d give you another glimpse into how I listen to music so you can see why I appreciate arrangements like this so much. There were three moments in particular that delighted me…
Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone – Geoff Castellucci
Just wanted to do a quickie little write-up of this new song – there were so many little details in both the arrangement and the performance of this song that absolutely captivated me, and I wanted to jot them down, almost in piecemeal point form, to share with you all.
Death By Chocolate – Sia
We’ve all felt that heartache from a breakup, that feeling like your heart may literally explode from sadness. Sia’s “Death by Chocolate” is clearly written from experience, and the heartfelt expression of these words of advice is beautifully matched by the music/chords she’s chosen to pair it with.
Lux Aurumque – Westminster Chorus
There’s something about me I need to share with you. I *love* bass. Bass voice, bass instruments, the lower the better. I even sing bass myself in a women’s barbershop chorus. Music voiced in a lower range is so pleasing to my ears and washes over me in soothing waves of happiness. To me, it sounds richer, warmer, and yummier. Why am I telling you this? Well…
Big Bad John – Geoff Castellucci
WARNING: War and Peace-length appreciation analysis ahead…
Geoff Castellucci’s recent re-interpretation of Big Bad John is like a narration set to music. The Storyteller is great and engaging…but because I’m a Chord Junkie, my focus was grabbed by each transition in the harmony parts. Allow me to show you how my brain listened to this song…