https://padlet.com/sydneyy_christensen1/sm36ghmyv5rt Interpreting Repetition, Variation, and Their Place in Music As a Whole en-us 2017-10-09 00:47:33 UTC 2025-12-01 22:59:09 UTC hello@padlet.com sydneyy_christensen1 https://padlet.com/sydneyy_christensen1/sm36ghmyv5rt/wish/195066051 Unlike any of James Brown's other hits, "Ain't It Funky Now" is the perfect example for repetition because it has one continuous beat and rhythm in the background while throughout the song, Brown gives random exclamations rather than singing. He switches up what he says at times, whether it be "taste of organ" or "preacher's daughter," but it maintains the same type of sound throughout with slight change. Different random instruments come in and out and have little solos of their own as the song goes on, making it sound like one long behind-the-scenes jam session that musicians just come in on and add to. It makes of a conglomeration of different sounds all getting housed under that one central rhythm.]]> 2017-10-09 00:52:08 UTC https://padlet.com/sydneyy_christensen1/sm36ghmyv5rt/wish/195066051 sydneyy_christensen1 https://padlet.com/sydneyy_christensen1/sm36ghmyv5rt/wish/195066224 Similar to "Ain't It Funky Now," this song does not fit the general verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus structure we see most of the time. There is a short verse followed by a chorus, then another short verse --however, on the first repetition, a choir of young-sounding girls sings the chorus while Gambino adds backing vocals. There is a break for a soft flute solo and short vocal bridge, followed by a short, silent pause and sudden burst of synthesizer sound and same choir chorus. A brief break into dreamy synth keyboard breaks back into the chorus, but this time with added percussion and even more improvised background melodies. All of the various instrumentation that had been featured previously comes together as the key changes, making the last minute a soulful mix of acoustic and techno sounds. Overall, obviously the chorus is the focus of the song, but Gambino finds different ways to create variation throughout the song and draw the listener's attention away from the original sound.]]> 2017-10-09 00:53:30 UTC https://padlet.com/sydneyy_christensen1/sm36ghmyv5rt/wish/195066224 sydneyy_christensen1 https://padlet.com/sydneyy_christensen1/sm36ghmyv5rt/wish/195066251 According to Ratliff, "repetition" actually means the opposite of what one would ordinarily think -- it isn't "one unchanging tone...over and over." He argues that when it comes to musical arrangement, repetition and variation go hand in hand, meaning that each time a phrase, melody, or sound is repeated, it almost always has something different about it that builds on or changes the original tone. I agree with this; I believe the most common way of achieving this in music is when a singer sings their chorus "x" number of times in the same way, then switches keys and/or adds extra backing vocals to it towards the end of a song. Nowadays, a lot of songs just repeat the same thing over and over with little variation, but I think I have yet to hear one that is absolutely the same each time the chorus is repeated, with no added harmonies or instrumentals or anything.]]> 2017-10-09 00:53:40 UTC https://padlet.com/sydneyy_christensen1/sm36ghmyv5rt/wish/195066251 sydneyy_christensen1 https://padlet.com/sydneyy_christensen1/sm36ghmyv5rt/wish/195070223 This example is separate from the other two I have chosen to feature because it follows the same general song structure that the others did not. The chorus is repeated many times, each time with more and more instrumentals added. The acoustic guitar quickly becomes heavy and electric during the first repetition, having a mini-solo as the bridge is sung, then having a moment to its own as the vocals take a short pause. The chorus returns again with even more guitar harmonies and rhythmic percussion. Another guitar solo is played and the pattern just continues from there while backing vocals are introduced. The harmonica in the background stays the same from the first chorus all the way through, at times being overpowered by the guitar, but always returning without fail. The finale is calm and poignant as the sound becomes acoustic again and melody slows down. Some could argue that the song is too long or repetitive, but the variation within each repetitive wave allows the sound to mature throughout the seven-minute long duration.]]> 2017-10-09 01:29:02 UTC https://padlet.com/sydneyy_christensen1/sm36ghmyv5rt/wish/195070223