Hey guys, I wish I had found this site earlier! I love U2, and tomorrow (Monday) for my Intro Music class I have to present a song and analysis to the class. I'm doing With Or Without You. I've done all of the technical analysis, like beat/meter/dynamics/texture/timbre and all that stuff.
What I need help with is a few things that my professor pointed out to me in his office hours, and I have not been able to figure out what he is talking about. He was very familiar with the song, and he said that to do a good job, I need to explain why the song is mostly very high pitched (rhythm guitar and slide guitar, tambourine), and very low pitched (that very low synthesized beat). Somehow this helps the message of the song.
I have listened to the song like 200 times and I still can't figure out why there are not many sounds of medium pitch, just those two extremes. All I know is that it sounds good. For some reason, many of their songs are designed like this and it works especially well for this song. I was hoping that people on here could just offer me some advice.
Also, I'm trying to put into words the emotions that make this song so powerful. As far as I can tell, there are two main emotions. One is his longing, represented in the "with or without you" chorus mostly, and the other is the kind of self-righteousness, almost heroism, that we feel such empathy for in the "and you give yourself away" chorus. I think that chorus really makes the song.
Anyway, sorry I ran a little long on this post. Like I said, I'm so glad I found this forum. I love U2. Feel free to respond with any insights into the song you have.
-Robert
What I need help with is a few things that my professor pointed out to me in his office hours, and I have not been able to figure out what he is talking about. He was very familiar with the song, and he said that to do a good job, I need to explain why the song is mostly very high pitched (rhythm guitar and slide guitar, tambourine), and very low pitched (that very low synthesized beat). Somehow this helps the message of the song.
I have listened to the song like 200 times and I still can't figure out why there are not many sounds of medium pitch, just those two extremes. All I know is that it sounds good. For some reason, many of their songs are designed like this and it works especially well for this song. I was hoping that people on here could just offer me some advice.
Also, I'm trying to put into words the emotions that make this song so powerful. As far as I can tell, there are two main emotions. One is his longing, represented in the "with or without you" chorus mostly, and the other is the kind of self-righteousness, almost heroism, that we feel such empathy for in the "and you give yourself away" chorus. I think that chorus really makes the song.
Anyway, sorry I ran a little long on this post. Like I said, I'm so glad I found this forum. I love U2. Feel free to respond with any insights into the song you have.
-Robert