Intelligent Listening Checklist

Example Checklist Analysis of Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven". Listen to the record, analyze it yourself using the Full Practice Checklist, then compare your analysis with this one. Remember, many answers are subjective (tempo, dynamics, etc.) so yours may differ from these.

RECORD INFORMATION

Song Title:

Performer(s):

Songwriter(s):

Release Date: (Not necessarily the date of the recording)

Important and relevant background information: The song was written after Clapton's young son died after falling from a NYC apartment window. The song won a Grammy for the Song of the Year in 1992 and Clapton won Best Pop and Best Rock Male Performance Grammys for this recording. A studio version of the song appeared in the soundtrack of the film Rush and this live version is from the award-winning Unplugged album Clapton released in 1992. Recently Clapton announced he would no longer perform the song in concert because he finds it difficult to connect to the feelings he had when he wrote the song and that he needs those feelings to perform it. He said that at this time in his life, he doesn't want those feelings to return.

Why did you choose this record to analyze: Clapton has always been a favorite of mine and I thought that this would be a good record to analyze

STYLE

Style:

Most obvious Stylistic Idioms: The beat and the singing style. Not quite rock. e.g. Loud Vocals and Guitar - Heavy Metal or Hard Rock; Percussion oriented - Dance; Lyrics spoken not sung - Rap; Certain type of beat- Hip Hop or House

Why did you pick your chosen style:

Any characteristic(s) of other styles:

Form

Analysis diagram: I A A B ("Time can bring you down") Ins A(2nd half) A' Alternate: I A B ("I must be strong") A B C Ins B A' (e.g. A B A B C A B B)

Type of Form: Verse-Chorus , 32-Bar Song , 12-Bar Blues , Giant A , Other

Record Ending: Fade out , Definite (Cold)

Melody

Number of phrases in each section: A B C D E Fill in a box for each section of your record

Overall Melodic Movement: Step , Skip , Static

Overall Melodic Shape: (e.g. Smooth, Angular, etc.)

Melodic Range: Narrow , Medium , Wide      High note , Low note

Melodic Rhythm: Fast , Moderate , Slow

Notes found in the melody: , , , ,

Predominant Note: , , , ,

Rhythm

Length of record:(e.g. 3:52)

Tempo: (e.g. Allegro, Adagio, etc.)

Is the tempo consistent: Yes , No . If it changes, where and how does it change:

Meter: (e.g. Duple, Triple, Quadruple, etc.)

Time Signature: (from sheet music, e.g. 4/4, 3/4)

Which instrument(s) is/are "keeping the beat":

Any repeating rhythmic patterns: (e.g. Drums, Bass, etc.)

Dynamics

Level: (e.g. piano, forte, etc.)

Are the dynamics consistent? Yes , No . If they change, where and how:

Texture

Type: (e.g. Monophonic, Polyphonic, Homophonic, etc.)

Is the texture consistent: Yes , No . If it changes, where and how:

Harmony

Harmonic Rhythm: Fast , Moderate , Slow (i.e. How often do the chords change)

The record is primarily: consonant dissonant

Timbre and Vocals

What instruments and/or sounds do you hear:

What is/are the most important instrument(s):

Vocals (if applicable): (e.g. Male/Female, Group/Solo)

Vocal Quality: (e.g. Shouter, Singer, Squeaky, Raspy, etc.)

Any background vocals: Yes , No . If yes, what and where do they sing:

Lyrics (if applicable)

What is the song about: Clapton sings about meeting his son in heaven, whether his son would know him, whether things would be the same. Most importantly, the lyrics are about finding strength to continue on after his son's death. As Clapton sings after the instrumental break, "Beyond the door, there's peace I'm sure, And I know there'll be no more Tears in Heaven."

Do the lyrics make sense: Yes , No

Conclusion (Your ideas and opinions)

Outstanding characteristic of the record: e.g. Vocals, Rhythm, etc.

Mood of the song:

Do you like the record. Explain why: Yes, but don't know why. I guess it's because I know the story behind the music -- that Clapton is singing to his son who died and he's sharing the pain of a father who has lost a son. Also, because I find the emotions in the record understated makes it that much more moving to me. Another singer might have shared his or her pain much more blatantly.

How does the song make you feel: Sad.