Texture and Meter

         As I searched my music playlist up and down for a song, I couldn't decide. What song did I want to represent meter and texture in this post. I listened to song after song; as I listened I gained a better idea of what meter is in music. It's essential for making music; people over look what goes into music daily. Driving in your car or doing homework while listening to music you sing along to the lyrics but never think about what really goes into it. Meter is the number of beats in a measure and the length between them. While Texture is how heavy the instruments and voices are at different parts of the song.
        I came across a great song by Bruce "The Boss" Springsteen called Waitin' on a Sunny Day. I grew up listening to Bruce Springsteen and now it was time for me to analyze one of his songs. First thing I looked for was the meter, was it 2, 3, or 4? I listened to it multiple times, taking in the beats. I determined it was a 4 beat meter, but it was comfortable to count in a 2 beat meter because the strong beats were on the first and third beat in the measure. The song consists of Drums played by Max Weinberg, acoustic guitars played by Bruce, Nils Lofgren, Patti Scailfa, and Steven Van Zandt, the violin is played by Soozie Tyrell and the Saxophone is played by Clarence Clemons. The song is about a relationship having its low point and the couple wanting and waiting for things to get better. It's an up beat tempo that makes you nod your head and tap your foot.
        The texture of the song is interesting; it doesn't fluctuate drastically, it gradually increases but slows down a bit between choruses. The song starts with drums, a tambourine and Bruce counting off, but within seconds a violin, and guitars join in as the introduction with Bruce beginning to sing about 20 seconds in increasing the depth and texture of the song. Also as Bruce starts to sing the violin stops playing but starts back up in the chorus. As the chorus begins other voices harmonize with Bruce and join in randomly throughout the rest of the song. There is a significant instrumental break 2 minutes in, the saxophone joins the other instruments, and finally about 3 minute and 30 seconds in the song Clarence has his Saxophone solo backed by Bruce's vocal backup and all instruments playing in the background but not as intense as the Saxophone, this part of the song is the most textured part of the song. The ending of the song is abrupt, all instruments stop playing except for the lingering last notes played by the guitars. The increase in intensity of this song makes people love listening to it. The variety of instruments and how they are applied to the song helps the song convey emotion. It's a cheerful song about not losing hope in a relationship. This song, when looked at through analysis is very complex. It's interesting to see what texture and meter really is and why it is crucial to produce a good song.

      -Kelsey R.