Week 8

Because I am a very deep loving commited fan to r&b, I had to find an artist who I felt represented r&b to the deepest extent and see how he did that. Although much of today's r&b is produced electronically and through studio sound mixing and the sort, true r&b as the album of ne-yo has been described seems to possess a large variety of noises and distinct sound effects. But some of the predominant instruments in the majority of his songs are the piano, the quick rhythmic tapping of the hi hat, the bass drum (used in drum sets with the foot pedal), acoustic guitar, tapping blocks, body noises such as snapping fingers and claps, and a great variety of drums with different ranges and timbres. In a great deal of Ne-yo's songs, his lyrics match the tone of the notes played by the different instruments. This interesting aspect, or at least what I find the most intriguing in his music and several other r&b singers is the fact that one can listen to the instrumental version of the song and just in the different melodies and the tone and speed of them, one can practically feel what emotion the song is trying to express and the specific story one is telling. For example, in the song "Time" the repetitive melody played by the piano expresses the feeling of going back and forth. Just as the fingers play over the same keys in the same order, the mind weaves back and forth through the same thoughts in the same distraught but constant order. The somber lowering of the pitch leads the the lyrical phrase of "She'll be gone" which is sung just as the piano hits its lowest keys, straying from the repetitive melody is played over and over again before. The beauty of not only his voice but his lyrics and ability to incorporate different instruments to tell the story along with him only strengthen his music and the power it possesses.