Notes on the Listening Examples for UNITS 1-2

1. Backbeat Examples
If you count out loud 1-2-3-4 over and over and clap when you say 2 and 4 you are
clapping the backbeat. The backbeat is the single most important characteristic of ALL popular
music.
2. Riff Examples
Almost all rock, pop, R&B, Hip-Hop, etc. is based on riffs.
3. Example of Call and Response between lead singer and chorus (background singers)
Unchain My Heart by Ray Charles
4. Example of Call and Response between 2 instruments
Listen to the harmonica and the guitar.
5. Example of melisma (using multiple notes to sing 1syllable)
Mariah is a vocalist who constantly uses melisma:
salvation ba-a-a-a-ack
when there is lo-ha-ha-ha-ove
faith in all you do-oo-oo-oo-oo
just call my na-a-a-ame etc.
see if you can count how many words she adds melisma to
6. Example of Verse/Chorus form
This Love by Maroon 5
VERSE 1:
I was so high I did not recognize
The fire burning in her eyes
The chaos that controlled my mind
Whispered goodbye and she got on a plane
Never to return again
But always in my heart
CHORUS: (the part of the song that gets repeated a lot and sticks in your head, also called the
hook because it hooks you in)
This love has taken its toll on me
She said goodbye too many times before
And her heart is breaking in front of me
I have no choice cause I wont say goodbye anymore
VERSE 2: (same music as Verse 1 but different words)
I tried my best to feed her appetite
Keep her coming every night
So hard to keep her satisfied
Kept playing love like it was just a game
Pretending to feel the same
Then turn around and leave again
CHORUS: (same music, same words as previous Chorus
This love has taken its toll on me
She said goodbye too many times before

And her heart is breaking in front of me

I have no choice cause I wont say goodbye anymore
7. Example of AABA form
Walking on the Moon by The Police
A SECTION (basic melody and harmony of the song)
Giant steps are what you take
Walking on the moon (this is the hook, it gets repeated over and over but there is no Chorus
section)
I hope my legs don't break
Walking on the moon
We could walk for ever
Walking on the moon
We could live together
Walking on, walking on the moon
A SECTION (same music, different words)
Walking back from your house
Walking on the moon
Walking back from your house
Walking on the moon
Feet they hardly touch the ground
Walking on the moon
My feet don't hardly make no sound
Walking on, walking on the moon
B SECTION (different music, different words)
Some may say
I'm wishing my days away, no way
And if it's the price I pay, some say
Tomorrow's another day, you'll stay
I may as well play
A SECTION (same music, different words)
Giant steps are what you take
Walking on the moon
I hope my legs don't break
Walking on the moon
We could walk for ever
Walking on the moon
We could be together
Walking on, walking on the moon
8. Maybelline by Chuck Berry
IMPORTANT! Another way you can tell if a song is a 12-bar blues is by the 3-line (AAB) lyrical
form, meaning a line is repeated twice and then the 3rd line is repeated.
A "Maybelline, why can't you be true"
A "Maybelline, why can't you be true" (the line is repeated)
B "You done started back doin' the things that you used to do" (the 3rd line is different)
The majority of 12-bar blues follow this lyrical form.
Note: Only the chorus in this song is a 12-bar blues.

9. Maybelline (live version)

10. Song for Odudua excerpt
11. Old Joe Clark excerpt
12. Woodman. Spare That Tree
13. Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair
AABA form
14. De Boatmans Dance excerpt
This is a Verse/Chorus form but it starts with the Chorus
15. Camptown Ladies
This is Al Jolsen with minstrel singers (white performers in blackface)
16. Take Me Out to the Ballgame
This was published in 1908 (over 100 years ago!) We still sing it at ballgames everywhere at
the 7th inning stretch.
17. Yankee Doodle Boy
18. Stars and Stripes Forever
If you ever attend a parade, 4th of July celebration, graduation etc. then you have heard this
song. Written in 1897 it is still going strong.