Musical Analysis #2
Upside Down By Jack Johnson
Introduction:
"Upside Down" was originally written, co-produced and performed by Jack Johnson. The song was created for the children's movie Curious George. The song was released in 2006, making it so multiple generations have been able to listen to the song. The song was written to tell people to stay optimistic, explore new possibilities and to always stay curious. In 2006 the famous song was able to be in billboard top 100. Still to this day the song is insanely popular and encourages people to be optimistic and not give up when someone doesn't believe in you.
This song is such a reminder to my childhood. When I listen to the song I get flashbacks of me listening to the song in my living room just dancing around. When I listen to this song today it makes me feel like a kid again and that anything is possible.
Lyrics and Background:
Jack Johnson's "Upside Down" lyrics have a meaning of an invitation to challenge the status quo and to always embrace the wonders of life with a curious spirt like Curious George does in the show and movies. In the chorus Jack Johnson sings "I wanna turn the whole thing upside down" meaning that he wants look at things from a fresh angle to see a new perspective of something. And then in the verse he goes on to say "Who's to say what's impossible, well they forgot." Jack Johnson is encourages us to to test limits. His lyrics encourage us to explore, share, love and revel in nature's harmony. Through the songs soothing strums and vocals the song is influencing us that there is joy in flipping perspectives and that the magic in life is a continuous discovery.
Timbre:
In "Upside Down" the timbre is very distinct. In the start of the song it starts with a upbeat almost sounds like a drum and a maraca, and then a couple beats in the strum of a guitar starts. With all of the musical instruments it creates a warming and upbeat introduction to the song. The warming of the beginning of the song is what brings in listeners to listen to the song. When Jack Johnson starts to sing he has a calming and deeper voice that is warming to the listeners. Throughout the song Jack Johnson maintains the calming voice that he has which keeps listeners entertained with the song and to keep listening.
Rhythm:
Every time I hear this song I always fall in love with the rhythm. The introduction is what always gets to me. It really sets the tone for how the song is going to go and what the vibes are going to be. The beginning of the song gets your foot moving and head moving when you hear the song. The beat and rhythm continue throughout the song, at some parts of the song it is sped up to keep up with Jack Johnson's singing during the verses. At the end of the song the rhythm changes to just the guitar being played and it matching Jack Johnson's singing of him repeating "Please don't go away. Is this how its supposed to be."
Tempo:
The song is more of a mellow song, but throughout the song the tempo does have some changes to it. For example In the beginning the tempo is in the middle of slower and faster. And then when Jack Johnson starts to sing the tempo of the song gets a little bit faster to match the singing. The songs slowest tempo part within the song is at the end when it is starting to end. The song is a very positive song that the tempo keeps up with and shares the positive message of staying curious. The overall tempo of the song is 102.
Pitch:
The pitch is what creates the beat of the song and if the pitch is off then it can make people not like the song. "Upside Down" singer Jack Johnson has more of a lower voice but still captures the happiness and welcomeness of the song. He has a soft voice which is what captures the younger kids interest in the song as well as even adults that may listen to the song. His voice is inviting for people to listen to the deeper message of his song, to stay curious and embrace the wonders of life.
Conclusion:
In conclusion "Upside Down" by Jack Johnson captures embracing the wonders of life and that the limits of life need to be tested. This hit was popular back in the day, and still to this day it is timeless wonder that makes us feel like we can be kids again.
I also really like this song. I remember listening to it in the back of my parents car when it came out in the Curious George movie.I agree with you that the rhythm is very recognisable. Whenever the song starts to play on the radio I can identify it immediately because of it. I think this is a very good analysis of the song and I look forward to reading more of your blog posts.
ReplyDeleteI love how you decided to pick this song! I was raised watching Curious George, so that song holds a lot of good memories in my heart. I agree that his soft voice creates a warm inviting sound that caters to kids. While it is considered a "kids" song, I still enjoy listening to it to this day. I am also a big fan of Jack Johnsons other works. I would recommend "Traffic in the sky", it has a more melodic sound compared to "Upside down".
ReplyDeleteI love this song because it reminds me of when I used to watch my younger brother, after my mom went back to work. He LOVED the Curious George movie and watched it over and over again. He will be 21 in March, so it's definitely a nice memory to look back on whenever I hear it.
ReplyDelete