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Thursday, 10 June 2010

Chapter 2.9 With The Beatles - Not A Second Time?



In every great artist's bottom draw there are a million failed experiments and 'nearly great' works of art.

Not A Second Time is one.

Where several songs on this album kick off with a vi I progression they keep shaking things up by trying the chords the other way round (I vi - G Em) instead.

But nevertheless the song plods along aimlessly, stopping by a soporific piano solo before (horror of horrors!) fading out (perhaps through lack of interest).

What’s missing? 

(other than a proper ending)?


Backing vocals. Non diatonic chords.

But I think the song is killed by an overdose of melisma and the fact that nothing happens lyrically.

Lennon’s not doing anything.
Not even crying.
And he’s certainly going to go out with her again.
Meh.

Yes, A Second Time!


Here’s a funny thing. Listen to the vocal phrase at 1:54. (give or take a second if you're watching the video)

 

Now listen to the vocal phrase in All I’ve Got To Do at 0:10.

 

Exactly the same melody and rhythm! How’s that for recycling?

Not a second time my eye!

Today’s lessons?

  1. Use melisma sparingly, unless your name is Handel.
  2. Try make sure something happens in your lyrics.
  3. It’s OK to blatantly steal (as long as you’re stealing from yourself).

Discuss.


Lennon stretches ‘you’ and ‘time’ out here for seven notes. FAIL.
What the longest example that you can think of that actually works?

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3 comments:

  1. Old Nick12 June 2010 at 16:38

    Matt, this is awesome. Especially love the "Ticket to Write" page here.

    I agree about melisma. It's risky business. I find a good general rule is to only use it when you inflect in such a way that it adds emotional color or depth to the word.

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  2. Matt Blick12 June 2010 at 22:13

    Thanks Nick

    I'm loving your blog too.

    Keep checking back - I might even have the Ticket to write page updated!

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  3. Gary7 February 2021 at 18:40

    I was not familiar with this song until very recently. I have to say that your comments are 100% correct. I'm writing a series of posts for my pop music blog, "2 or 3 lines," about the Beatles' reliance on a lot of repetition to stretch their early songs to an acceptable length, and I'm going to quote you when I write about "Not a Second Time." (If you are still monitoring this blog, please e-mail me at 2or3lines@gmail.com – thanks.)

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