GCSE Music Analysis - Moby - Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?
General Points
- Uses two vocal samples which were recorded by a 1950s gospel choir.
- The first vocal sample is a male singer who sings the words ‘Why does my heart feel so bad?’. The second vocal sample is a female singer who sings the words ‘These open doors’.
- Both of the samples are looped.
- It is a single from Moby's dance music album 'Play'.
- Characteristics of dance music include extensive use of samples and loops and layered textures.
- The song consists of 6 chords.
Structure
Intro: Bars 1 - 8
Verse: Bars 9 - 40
Chorus: Bars 41 - 48
Verse 2: Bars 57 - 72
Break: Bar 73
Chorus: Bars 74 - 97
Outro: Bars 98 - 105
Intro
- It is where the tonic key of A minor is established.
- The metronome count is 98bpm.
- There are 4 crotchets in a bar.
Verse 1
- Consists of 4 repeated chord sequences.
Chorus 1
The key is now ambiguous, either A minor or C major, as both of these chords are used in the chord sequence.
Break
- All instruments drop out.
Outro
- Texture reduces to vocal sample 1 accompanied by the synth pad playing the chord sequence using static chords.
Verse 2
- Returns back to the key of A minor.