Karen Bohn
Period 8
Listening Guide: Elton John
“Your Song”
0:00 Introduction –
The song begins with a piano introduction played in a major key. The song has a simple, duple
meter, as do most pop songs. These four measures state the melody in which the piano will play
throughout the song.
0:08 Verse 1 –
An acoustic guitar enters and plays an accompaniment with the piano, playing the same time
and similar melody. Elton John starts singing in a tenor voice, being his range before his health
circumstances made it lower. His rhyme scheme is AABB, ending the first few sentences with
“inside” and “hide,” as well as “did” and “live.” The bass guitar enters in this first verse. This
pattern continues until the chorus. At 0:40, strings enter.
1:12 Chorus –
The rhyme scheme used in the verse changes to that of no particular rhyme. Elton John uses
repetition with the phrase “I hope you don’t mind” as a creative emphasis. At 1:35 a flute enters.
At 1:45, once the chorus is complete, the instruments improvise before the second verse enters.
At 1:51, drums enter and continue throughout the rest of the song.
1:54 Verse 2 –
The AABB rhyme scheme is used again. A harp enters at 2:26 and plays a repetitive series of
plucking patterns.
2:57 Chorus –
The lyrics to the chorus are the same as the previous. The full medley of orchestral and band
instruments play together.
3:30 Chorus with adjustment –
This time, he starts with the repetition, “I hope you don’t mind” rather than the beginning of the
previous choruses which started with “And you can tell everybody.” He varies the way this part
is sung.
3:46- Outro
The bass, drums, and harp end after four and half measures, leaving the violins to hold and fade
out a note until the song ends in silence.
“Rocket Man”
0:00 Verse 1 –
This song doesn’t begin with a musical introduction as do most other songs. Elton John begins
singing in tenor after one chord is played on the piano in a jazzy beat. The song is in a slow 2/2
time (duple meter.) There is no rhyme scheme to this verse. The drums enter in 0:42.
0:56 Chorus –
The music picks up into an easily countable, steady beat. Background vocals sing “Oooh” and
“aaah,” as well as an emphasis on Elton John’s phrase “rocket man.” An acoustic guitar also
begins playing a harmony with the other instruments. At 0:56, 1:10, and 1:24 an electric guitar
slides a note in order to create the sound as if a rocket ship were traveling through space. The
chorus then repeats.
1:52 Verse 2 –
The second verse continues without a rhyme scheme. The drum stops and the melody is back to
just the piano and vocals until 2:15 where a synthesizer enters and the drums build back up to a
varied verse or a type of bridge (2:20) The instruments then build up once more to the chorus.
2:49 Chorus –
There are no variations to the lyrics of the chorus this time around. It is sung twice like
previously. Elton John repeatedly sings, “And I think it’s going to be a long, long time,” varying
the tone in 4:01, until the song fades out.
“Candle in the Wind” (Princess Diana Version)
0:00 Introduction –
The intro consists four measures of a piano playing in a major key. The timing is in a duple
meter.
0:08 Verse 1 –
Elton John begins singing in a bass tone. He changes the lyrics in this version to “Goodbye
England’s rose,” from the original as a tribute to Princess Diana. This version is more touching
and emotional by the inflection in his voice and the way the piano is used as a solo instrument,
rather than the rock version. The verse has a rough rhyme scheme.
0:39 Chorus –
The verse eases smoothly into the chorus. At 0:54, Elton John overlays his own voice and
harmony as a background vocal in the phrase, “And your footsteps will always fall here along
England’s greenest hills.” There is a half rest for both vocals and instruments after “hills.” The
piano improvises using a trill and conjunct between notes.
1:23 Verse 2 –
A cello and flute play an accompaniment with the piano. The melody is consistent with the
previous verse.
1:54 Chorus –
The lyrics do not vary, nor does the music or way it is sung. Strings and a flute accompany the
chorus. The improvisation is the same as previously noted.
2:37 Verse 3 –
The beginning of this verse is a repetition of the beginning of verse 1. The full string quartet
accompanies this verse.
3:08 Chorus –
The lyrics do not vary. All instruments become present as the chorus progresses. There is a small
improvisation, then Elton John repeats at “Your footsteps…will” for added emphasis and
emotion, but doesn’t complete the entire chorus. The string quartet and piano play the lasting
chords as the song fades out.