Bookmarks by Krystian Superville

Why I choose this song?
I absolutely love this song. It’s one of my top five favorite Amy Winehouse’s songs. What I love most about this song is that it has a hip-hop, blues, jazz, r&b, and soul vibe to it. “In My Bed” samples the beat of rapper Nas’s 2003 song “Made You Look”. The song is about her sleeping with an ex boyfriend, and he thinks they could be together again. There’s something about this song makes women feel empowered and taking emotional control when a man is involved. At the beginning of the song Amy describes a fantasy world but then sends you plummeting back down to gritty Earth with her amazingly candid lyrics. I love how her lyrics are almost conversational and reflective of real interactions she's had in her life, and I love her sharp tongue even more. I like that Amy incorporated other instruments in this song by adding her own personal touch to a song that she sampled.

Mood:

-The mood of this song is attention grabbing and somewhat empowering. Listening to the rhythm and beat of the song one can’t help start to nod their head to the beat. Fifty seconds into the song the rhythm of the song slows down that changes the mood to relaxing and free and then it picks back up again.

Instruments:

- Electric Piano Organ

- Flute, Baritone Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone

- Bass Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Trumpet

- Drums

Form:

- Intro - 0:00 0:10

- Verse 1- 0:10 – 0:49

- Pre Chorus – 0:52 – 1:09

- Chorus – 1:10 – 1:51

- Verse 2 – 2:10 – 2:50

- Pre Chorus – 2:53 – 3:10

- Chorus – 3:11- 3:50

- Instrumental Ending – 3:51 – 5:17

Timber:

- Airy

- Full

- Loud

- Strong

Textural Layers:

- The texture of this song is heterophonic. From 1:50 – 2:05 the flute plays the melody layers. The brass trumpet, trumpet and the sax play a harmonic piece. Also, the alto sax and the flute play multiple pitches. Repetitive melodic phrasing.

Rhythm & Meter:

The rhythm in this song is repetitive and steady. The electric piano organ, which is the being of the characteristics in the rhythm, maintains a steady pattern or beat throughout the song. The overall meter in this song is quadruple.

Dynamics:

Throughout the song Amy is sings crescendo the first set of “in the night” 2x and then “in my bed” 2x. Then, she goes from mezzo-piano in the pre-chorus. At the end of the Amy stresses the word bed with either a single note or chord.

Favorite Thing:

My favorite thing about this song is the rhythm and the lyrics. I love how she sings this song with so much passion and I just love the way she is so bold in her attitudes towards her male companions. I also love how she blended a sultry soul with distinct post-millennial production, flute flutters and a soft chorus to mesmerizing effect.

New Observations and Comparison:

When I first listened to this song I didn’t appreciate all the other instruments she added to this song, because I was so familiar with Nas’s version. I really appreciate the solo the flute has in the song at the end.

Self-Discovery:

Analyzing and studying this song really helped me realize that there is are so many elements to music other than just listening to something with a good rhythm or beat. Also, the fact that we had to listen to the song 10 times it helped me realize how much I still love Amy Winehouse and appreciate all the work and effort that goes into music production.

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