Monday, March 11, 2013

A Major Key and a Minor Star

Faithful readers, I'm not a music expert. I like listening to music. I feel I have a broad range of music genres that I appreciate. I even know how to read music if I stare at the note long enough. But I don't know the first thing about composing music. Nor do I truly understand the science of music. I know, for example, that a minor key evokes feelings of sadness or fear. Why? I'm not sure. Maybe it's just conditioning, or maybe there's something inherently dark about the minor key. I don't know. But I do know when something doesn't sound like it should.

Take for example, this little ditty:



I love this song. It's one of the few songs that have kindled in me a strong desire to play the mandolin. Yet I wouldn't have been able to tell you that it was played in a minor key -- I'm not that musically smart. But a Vimeo user named Major Scaled took this song (among others) and digitally altered it to be in a major key. How? Once again, I'm not sure. Stop asking such hard questions. But the results have an undeniably different feel.

Sure, it's less nostalgic that way, but it has a shinier, happier feel to it, wouldn't you say? Funny how one little tweak can make a world of difference.

Also, on a related note, I'm currently obsessed with this next mashup. I've been listening to it all week. A creative mind named pomDeter took the gritty, dark industrial rock hit "Head Like a Hole" by Nine Inch Nails, and blended it smoothly with the cheery, bubble gum pop hit "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen.



Love it or hate it, it's amazing mix of bleak and bright. Kids, try playing that remix loudly in your room, and then watch your parents confusion as they try to decide whether they condemn it or condone it. It's fun for the whole family!

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