Instrumentality
  • Labwerks
  • Instrumming
  • Sparks
  • Alchemy
Instrumentality

A mad musical adventure

Instrumentality
  • Labwerks
  • Instrumming
  • Sparks
  • Alchemy
  • Analysis

Analysed: Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline

  • September 26, 2022
  • admin
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline must rank as the number one sports celebratory anthem, sung by euphoric crowds in football stadia, cricket grounds and all sorts of other venues around the world. Not that Neil Diamond would have envisaged that when he wrote the song for his then-wife Marcia, back in 1969 (that’s 53 years ago!).

Here it is …

So, why has this song been so successful? Like most Neil Diamond songs, it is incredibly simple in terms of its harmonic structure, mostly A, D and E major chords with a few additional flourishes (actually it’s in B major, but Diamond plays it with a capo on the second fret, so as far as he’s concerned it’s A, D and E). But many, many great songs are based on simple chord patterns, so there must be more at play.

Putting aside the composition for a moment we start with a great basis: a catchy lyric, Diamond’s deep resounding voice, a driving 4/4 beat and a good arrangement.

The song is characterised by a lengthy build up to the chorus, which builds tension so that the chorus offers a massive release. It starts with a repeated phrase played by the horns in the introduction, which ascends in pitch and volume to finish on four big chords:

The verse also uses a repeated motif, which this time descends. I’ve marked the motif in red:

Then, in the pre-chorus, another repeated motif ascends to the dominant E:

And finally we get to the chorus with those big spaces which crowds and audiences all over the world like to fill for themselves – “oh, oh, oh” and “so good, so good, so good”.

And the build-up begins again.

Strangely, there are few songs that go for the build-up in such a big way. That definitely leaves a gap in the market that songwriters would do well to try and fill.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
admin

Previous Article
  • Comment
  • Reviews

Composing with a notation app on an iPad without access to an instrument

  • September 13, 2022
  • admin
View Post
Next Article
  • Analysis

Analysed: Harry Styles’ As It Was

  • October 21, 2022
  • admin
View Post
You May Also Like
View Post
  • Analysis

Analysed: Halleluja by Jeff Buckley

  • admin
  • February 23, 2023
View Post
  • Analysis

Analysed: Billie Eilish’s Happier Than Ever

  • admin
  • February 10, 2023
View Post
  • Analysis

Analysed: The Killers’ Mr Brightside

  • admin
  • January 23, 2023
View Post
  • Analysis

Analysed: The Rolling Stones’ Paint it Black

  • admin
  • January 7, 2023
View Post
  • Analysis

Analysed: Harry Styles’ As It Was

  • admin
  • October 21, 2022
View Post
  • Analysis

Analysed: Paul Simon’s American Tune

  • admin
  • August 17, 2022
View Post
  • Analysis

Analysed: Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill

  • admin
  • June 20, 2022
View Post
  • Analysis

Analysed: David Bowie’s Absolute Beginners

  • admin
  • June 6, 2022

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Instrumentality
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
A mad musical adventure

Input your search keywords and press Enter.