Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton was born in England on
March 30, 1945
Clapton is God.”
Tears in Heaven
Eric Clapton and Will Jennings wrote Tears in Heaven
after the death of Clapton's son, Conor, who fell out of a
53rd floor window of an apartment in New York City. The
song reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in
the United States. The song also spent 3 weeks at #1 on
the American Adult Contemporary Chart in 1992. The song
was initially featured as a soundtrack to the movie Rush,
which won 3 Grammy awards for Song of the Year, Record
of the Year, and Male Pop Vocal Performance in 1993. Eric
Clapton hasn't performed Tears in Heaven since 1994.
Tears in Heaven
Tears in Heaven is a pop rock style song written in a 4/4 time signature and
quadruple meter. The song has a homophonic texture and has a 12 bar blues form.
0:00 The song starts with a main guitar and a rhythm guitar playing together.
Melody is smooth. Texture is monophonic and harmonic rhythm is fast and has a
moderate tempo.
0:19 Verse one begins Timbre – Has a very bluesy mellow and melancholy
sounds to it. You can hear the despair. Backup vocals join in on the chorus lyrics
singing “In Heaven”. Giving an almost choir homophonic sound. Melody is
smooth. Texture is monophonic and harmonic rhythm is fast and has a moderate
tempo.
0:40 Bridge – Timbre – Can distinctly hear the rhythm and lead guitar. Melody is
range is medium, and melodic rhythm is moderate and smooth. A conga drum is
used which almost gives the song a latin blues feel.
1:07 Verse two begins Timbre - Bass guitar joins in, very audible sound. Melody
is smooth. Texture is monophonic and harmonic rhythm is fast and has a
moderate tempo.
1:28 Bridge Timbre – Can clearly hear rhythm guitar, lead guitar and bass guitar.
Melody range is medium, and melodic rhythm is moderate and smooth.
Tears in Heaven Cont.
1:56 Chorus One Begins. The homophonic texture is even more clear in the
chorus. You can hear all instruments playing in unison and the same melody..
Melody is smooth.
2:17 Solo Begins Timbre – You can hear a rhythm guitar, bass guitar and lead
guitar
2:38 Chorus two begins. The homophonic texture is even more clear in the
chorus. You can hear all instruments playing in unison and the same melody. .
Melody is smooth.
3:06 Verse three begins. Melody is smooth. Texture is monophonic and
harmonic rhythm is fast and has a moderate tempo.
3:25 Bridge - Can clearly hear rhythm guitar, lead guitar and bass guitar.
Melody is range is medium, and melodic rhythm is moderate and smooth.
3:41 Coda – Timbre is again very clearly a rhythm, bass and lead guitar.
4:08 Song ends
Layla
Layla was originally written by Eric Clapton describing his
unrequited love for Pattie Boyd in 1970. The releases of the
song had chart achieving success. The first in 1972 and the
second 20 years later in an acoustic unplugged version. In
2004, it was ranked #27 on Rolling Stones list of the 500
Greatest Songs of All time! The song is basically composed of
two movements, the first being centered around a signature
guitar rift, and the second is commonly referred to the “piano
coda” by Jim Gordon.
Layla
Tears in Heaven is a pop rock style song written in a 4/4 time
signature and quadruple meter and the song has a
homophonic texture.
0:00 Intro Lead Guitar, rhythm guitar, bass guitar drums and
saxophone all playing in homophonic melody. Smooth
melody with a fast melodic rhythm. Form is ABAB.
1:06 Verse One- Timbre - Lead Guitar, rhythm guitar, bass
guitar drums and saxophone, vocals and back up vocals.
Smooth melody with a fast melodic rhythm. Form is ABAB.
1:20 Chorus one - Timbre - Lead Guitar, rhythm guitar, bass
guitar drums and saxophone, vocals and back up vocals.
Smooth melody with a fast melodic rhythm. Form is ABAB.
1:36 Verse two - Timbre - Lead Guitar, rhythm guitar, bass
guitar drums and saxophone, vocals and back up vocals.
Smooth melody with a fast melodic rhythm. Form is ABAB.
Layla Cont.
1:51 Chorus two - Timbre - Lead Guitar, rhythm guitar, bass guitar
drums and saxophone, vocals and back up vocals. Smooth
melody with a fast melodic rhythm. Form is ABAB.
2:09 Verse three - Timbre - Lead Guitar, rhythm guitar, bass guitar
drums and saxophone, vocals and back up vocals. Smooth
melody with a fast melodic rhythm. Form is ABAB.
2:24 Chorus three - Timbre - Lead Guitar, rhythm guitar, bass
guitar drums and saxophone, vocals and back up vocals. Smooth
melody with a fast melodic rhythm. Form is ABAB.
2:58 Guitar Solo
4:09 Piano Interlude - Beautiful piano interlude.
References
RH Audio. Clapton: The Autobiography. Broadway;
1st Edition (Oct 9th, 2007)
http://www.songfacts.com/
www.radioernr.com