At this point in my IDS I am almost done dissecting songs and I am now starting a series of blog posts that will show my findings. For this post, I will list the layouts/structures of 10 songs I have dissected. I chose these songs randomly, some are well known hits and other are much lesser known. I also made sure they varied in length and in order to provide a variety of music. I dissected these songs myself so its possible they may not all be 100% correct and please note that I have excluded short instrumental parts that often occur between song parts that feature vocals in order to avoid over complicating my analysis. So here are the songs:
1. Under The Bridge by the Red Hot Chili Peppers:
Intro (guitar only) – verse-verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge*-outro
Length: 4:24
Genre: Alternative Rock
*Hard to say if one would call the conclusion of this song a “bridge” considering it is not followed by a final chorus. It does differ musically and lyrically from the rest of the song.
2. 21st Century (Digital Boy) by Bed Religion:
Verse-verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-solo-chorus-outro
Length: 2:49
Genre: Punk Rock
3. As I Am by Dream Theater:
Intro-verse-pre chorus*-chorus-verse-pre chorus*-chorus-solo-chorus-outro
Length: 7:48
Genre: Progressive Hard Rock
*both pre choruses have two different parts
4. Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix:
Intro-verse-verse-solo-verse-solo
Length: 2:53
Genre: Rock
5. Stan by Eminem:
Chorus-verse-chorus-verse-chorus-verse-chorus*-verse
Length: 6:44
Genre: Hip Hop
*variation in bass line
6. A Line In The Sand by Linkin Park:
Intro-Verse-instrumental break-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus-instrument break-chorus-solo-verse
Length: 6:35
Genre: Hard Rock
7. Scentless Apprentice by Nirvana:
Intro-verse-chorus-verse-chorus-solo-verse-chorus
Length: 3:48
Genre: Grunge Rock
8. Hammerhead by The Offspring:
Intro-verse-pre chorus-chorus-verse-pre chorus-chorus-instrumental break-bridge*-outro
Length: 4:38
Genre: Rock
*Same as Under The Bridge, its hard to say if this part is a bridge or not because it is followed by the ending of the song.
9. Know Your Enemy by Rage Against The Machine:
Intro-verse-instrumental break-verse-bridge-solo-outro*
Length: 4:56
Genre: Rap Metal
*Outro features vocals
10. Heart Of Gold by Neil Young:
Intro-solo-verse-solo-verse-solo-outro*
Length: 3:07
Genre: Folk Rock
*Outro features vocals
Greetings Lyle,
Can you describe your dissection process, beyond the layout/structure? What else are you listening for in these songs? Perhaps you could share, in greater detail, what you have done to dissect one of these songs.
Thanks,
Dave