The music of FOTC: Freak out with your geek out!

This thread was actually [url=Sarah's idea][/url]...but I couldn't hold back any longer! (and yes, I asked her if she wouldn't mind ;
))

So, yeah...this is for discussing the stuff behind/within the music. And let's say this is for any Conchords song, ever.


[align=center:uzkr83t5] [size=133:uzkr83t5]s unite!!!

[/align:uzkr83t5]

Here's the most recent thing I've been itching to point out.

Listen to the very beginning of Demon Woman (like the first 5 seconds):

[flash=350,287:bniop5l5]https://www.youtube.com/v/bQ2cW8yhWYA&hl=en&fs=1[/flash:bniop5l5]

The first thing you hear is the set up of a two measure [url=ostinato][/url]. The pitches of the upper part are C-sharp and G, bottom up. (the lower part is the G an octave below the top G)

This is a tri-tone!!!! dun dun dunnnn....

The non-music geeks: What's that and so what?

I'm so glad you asked! It's a diminished 5th (or augmented 4th) and is the most evil interval there is.

Well, back in the day it was. In fact, [url=people used to call it "
the Devil in music"
][/url].

Not a huge thing, but my inner geek appreciates the fact that they included this little detail in the song.

*trudges away to go practice * " title="" border="0"/>

gezyka wrote:
The non-music geeks: What's that and so what?

I'm so glad you asked! It's a diminished 5th (or augmented 4th) and is the most evil interval there is.

Well, back in the day it was. In fact, [url=people used to call it "
the Devil in music"
][/url].

Not a huge thing, but my inner geek appreciates the fact that they included this little detail in the song.

*trudges away to go practice * " title="" border="0"/>

I don't understand most of what you just said, but I love that they (and by they I'm assuming Bret since he's the one who studied music, but that's a big assumption) would add "
the devil in music"
to Demon Woman.

I music geeks and look forward to more posts in this thread.

nikki78 wrote:I don't understand most of what you just said, but I love that they (and by they I'm assuming Bret since he's the one who studied music, but that's a big assumption) would add "
the devil in music"
to Demon Woman.

I music geeks and look forward to more posts in this thread.

Yes, I'm assuming that Bret is responsible for most of the geekery.

And for your love of music geeks!

whoa jess! that is amazing stuff! I didn't notice the actual octave but I did know that stuff about the Devil music. it's really cool that you pointed that out.

resident music geek: prisint!

that's awesome, jess!!!! i should have noticed that but i totally didn't. i'm wondering....how do you know what pitches they are? do you have perfect pitch, or did you just pick them out?

caiknbake wrote:resident music geek: prisint!

that's awesome, jess!!!! i should have noticed that but i totally didn't. i'm wondering....how do you know what pitches they are? do you have perfect pitch, or did you just pick them out?

for music geeks!

Well, I have good relative pitch. For this, I actually guessed the notes, then double-checked with Fitzy (my viola, for people who don't know " title="" border="0"/>). If I had perfect pitch, I wouldn't have second-guessed myself.

gezyka wrote:

caiknbake wrote:resident music geek: prisint!

that's awesome, jess!!!! i should have noticed that but i totally didn't. i'm wondering....how do you know what pitches they are? do you have perfect pitch, or did you just pick them out?

for music geeks!

Well, I have good relative pitch. For this, I actually guessed the notes, then double-checked with Fitzy (my viola, for people who don't know " title="" border="0"/>). If I had perfect pitch, I wouldn't have second-guessed myself.

i need to take more ear-training classes

caiknbake wrote:


i need to take more ear-training classes

haha!

My ears were actually better while I was in school. I miss nerdy music classes.

gezyka wrote:Here's the most recent thing I've been itching to point out.

Listen to the very beginning of Demon Woman (like the first 5 seconds):

[flash=350,287:g3v6y4q6]https://www.youtube.com/v/bQ2cW8yhWYA&hl=en&fs=1[/flash:g3v6y4q6]

The first thing you hear is the set up of a two measure [url=ostinato][/url]. The pitches of the upper part are C-sharp and G, bottom up. (the lower part is the G an octave below the top G)

This is a tri-tone!!!! dun dun dunnnn....

The non-music geeks: What's that and so what?

I'm so glad you asked! It's a diminished 5th (or augmented 4th) and is the most evil interval there is.

Well, back in the day it was. In fact, [url=people used to call it "
the Devil in music"
][/url].

Not a huge thing, but my inner geek appreciates the fact that they included this little detail in the song.

*trudges away to go practice * " title="" border="0"/>

this is freakin AWESOME (thank you for the explanation for those of us not in the music *know*)

yay for layers upon layers of meaning in this ep + song !!!

Well that ostinato really resonates w/me...Not to be corny, but it's a compelling sound. Sorta reminds me of another sound I like -- the goofy Kanye West Heartless song where he has that stacatto pipe organ calliopy thing going. Also about an evil woman (tho I'm sure just putting up w/Kanye would make a gal evil...)

Just wanted to warn y'all Gezyka has her whip out so be very careful.

haha, I have my whip out??

I have had other things to point out about other songs, but haven't done so yet...

Here's a quickie that doesn't say much " title="" border="0"/>: 'Stay Cool Bret' has the most complex harmonies/harmonic progressions in it, but that makes sense since they're mimicking Bernstein. It's funny to compare the clips to see what moves they're doing from WSS.

[flash=350,287:b5wnh4k5]https://www.youtube.com/v/nRe8kY3j21o&hl=en&fs=1[/flash:b5wnh4k5]

[flash=350,287:b5wnh4k5]https://www.youtube.com/v/xkdP02HKQGc&hl=en&fs=1[/flash:b5wnh4k5]

A couple times you can here the Chinese lady saying "
Stay coor Bret."


I still can't get over Murray's dancing/focus/toe pointing, he deserves an award for that. Oops getting off subject. Thanks for posting the original from WWS gez, it's almost funny as well, being so darned campy.

I'd like to be a music geek. I wish I could play something or at least have some basic understanding of music. So thanks for putting together this thread so those of us who aren't hardcore music geeks can try and have a deeper appreciation of Conchords awesomeness!

talkkiwitome wrote:I'd like to be a music geek. I wish I could play something or at least have some basic understanding of music. So thanks for putting together this thread so those of us who aren't hardcore music geeks can try and have a deeper appreciation of Conchords awesomeness!

No problem! Glad it's not a bore.

Now to get the other geeks to up the nerd factor...

gezyka wrote:

caiknbake wrote:


i need to take more ear-training classes

haha!

My ears were actually better while I was in school. I miss nerdy music classes.

i knew a few ppl with perfect pitch and they hate it. lol.
i wish i had it though. nice catch on the diminished 5th, gez. i haven't studied that stuff in about a year...lots of it has left me. but good on ya! lol. i'll try (huge emphasis on try) to add a few geeky tidbits myself.

this is for you, music queen:



lol, i think i just wanted a reason to use that smiley

gezyka wrote:

Now to get the other geeks to up the nerd factor...

I must admit I am being a bit shy about posting my ramblings in here...

I come at analysing music from a different angle being a guitar and bass player. I know a bit about music theory, but I'm not classically trained. Everything I know has been self-taught, except for the music analysis degree course I did recently.

I loved your explanation, Jessica - but it is a hard act to follow...

I will try and pluck up the courage to post soon.

sargifster wrote:

gezyka wrote:

Now to get the other geeks to up the nerd factor...

I must admit I am being a bit shy about posting my ramblings in here...

I come at analysing music from a different angle being a guitar and bass player. I know a bit about music theory, but I'm not classically trained. Everything I know has been self-taught, except for the music analysis degree course I did recently.

I loved your explanation, Jessica - but it is a hard act to follow...

I will try and pluck up the courage to post soon.

Your way is probably a way more applicable way to looking at this stuff! I mean, it isn't classical music.

I'm sorry that you feel scared to post. :'( I think it would be really interesting to have different types of views! Plus, I think it would help the non-geeks to have different ways of understanding.

flippinTalene wrote:... i haven't studied that stuff in about a year...lots of it has left me. but good on ya! lol. i'll try (huge emphasis on try) to add a few geeky tidbits myself. ...

Yay!!!

Could use a little geek help w/the end of NZtown epi -- wasn't that the acoustic background of Bus Driver Song, or part of it mixed in w/sumpin else?

tanfastic wrote:Could use a little geek help w/the end of NZtown epi -- wasn't that the acoustic background of Bus Driver Song, or part of it mixed in w/sumpin else?

you got it! that was a little background music of Bus Driver Song...nothing too geeky about that. but they didn't do the song :'(

tanfastic wrote:Could use a little geek help w/the end of NZtown epi -- wasn't that the acoustic background of Bus Driver Song, or part of it mixed in w/sumpin else?

It's definitely the chord progression. I would know that chord progression anywhere. I've played it often enough.

The whistling is similar to the bass line I sometimes play on this song. It varies depending on how I feel.

(Disclamer: I haven't seen the full instrumental version of the credits (that has been mentioned) - only the end of the episode. If anyone has a copy of the instrumental over the credits, I would be so happy to get it. I'm only going on what I have seen/heard so far...)

Question: Can anyone skilled in music theory identify a song's genre?



I have some questions about punk and garage. Would you be able to answer them? If so, I'll make a thread in the general section.

I don't see the thread

LadyinRed wrote:I don't see the thread

I'm waiting to find out if they can do it. " title="" border="0"/> Maybe I should just assume they can.