Secret Chords that Please the Lord - Episode 1 Lana Del Rey - Video Games, Chord Inversions
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- Опубліковано 1 жов 2024
- Link to the song ➡️ • [HD] Lana Del Rey - Be...
A wee look into the incredible “Video Games” by Lana Del Rey, highlighting some of the harmonic and lyrical things that make it tick so well.
This is the first episode of
“Secret Chords that Please the Lord”.
Hopefully these little studies will provide some learning opportunities for songwriters seeking to progress in harmony, melody and lyrics. Hopefully the series will be entertaining to innocent bystanders also. Please subscribe and share the video if you enjoyed it.
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She got ridiculed for that performance. I remember clicking on some link titles “awful letterman performance” or something along those lines. Watched the video and was blown away by the song. Yeah her singing isn’t the best, but neither is Dylan’s or Cohen’s. But you could still hear, and feel, that this song was a masterpiece.
I think that performance was amazing!! Weird
People can be very stupid 😬
I think her singing is perfect in that appearance. What are ye gonna do?
I'm elated hearing Lana mentioned alongside Dylan and Cohen. Legends ✨
@@AlanMearns-YesTheRaven people are definitely beyond The Valley of stupidity many times, bizarre world we live in man.
thanks alan. few things are more satisfying for me than this type of attention and analysis. i've been following your channel for a bit. your playing and musical intelligence is inspirational. this breakdown is so generous, and model for going deeper into any song. i'm a huge fan.
Thanks so much for listening ❤️🙏
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Dude! You're so grounded. You understand too deeply. Thanks for this and for articulating your thoughts so clearly. You helped me synthesize this song into my musical lexicon.
Thanks 🙏 Gregory
@@AlanMearns-YesTheRaven What He Said 👆
I reckon this is what Rick Beato would refer to as “high information” music. One of his recent bits included the observation that one of the sorriest things about much of the current popular music is its disappointing lack of interesting melody, chord changes, and orchestration, as compared to previous popular music from Bach to the Beatles and a bit further - or what he called high-information music.
Thanks for bringing this song and this performer to my attention, Alan. She really is extraordinary.
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I’m not a musician, so this explanation really enhances my understanding. I love Lana Del Rey. To me, in each album, she is presenting a different character. As you said, it is about the song, not the voice or building her brand. I think she chooses to sing as a kind of every woman, rather than polishing her vocal technique.
Exactly Mary. Very well said!
Thanks for teaching about the song. Check out this great cover of the song from 2012 on youtube:
Lana Del Rey - Video Games - Cover by The Freudian Slip, Nelson Can, Echo Me LIVE!!
Love your video, the song is haunting me for days now cause of you 😅. BTW, what caught me as well is the C/G that "melts" to a Cmaj7/G on the "do" from "everything I DO". Seems to me the pianist plays a G as a passing chord between A- and Fmaj7 during the chorus on "bad girls", G6/9 with open B end E strings on guitar is doing the job for me.
I'm a fan of Lana Del Rey as well, her voice is very expressive and sultry and she uses alot of atypical chord progressions. I really appreciate this detailed breakdown of the song structure, I hope you do more of these types of videos.
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Thanks for turning me on to Lana Del Rey I'd like return the favor. Please give Imarhan...Abooji a listen. All the best !
This all good and bubbly but what Im really here for is to ask you kindly if you would give us a breakdown of your great song 'Cold Dark Age' now that Im off and running with your fingerstyle lesson. I frickin love that song and Im sure Im not alone. Its like musical medication to me. It lowers my blood pressure. Thanks for all you do Sir!🤠
I had to go back and listen to the Letterman performance. Absolutely beautiful. And very interesting chord progressions indeed, thanks for bringing this song back into attention Alan!
Nice and very true concept that of silence being so important in creating tension in a song or music. Think about Gustavo Santaolalla music...
Very much enjoyed Episode 1. Looking forward to seeing where this series goes! Thanks for putting this out.
Thanks 🙏 Nate
Lana is wonderful, such beautiful aural aesthetic and motion to her music. Video Games is a special pop song. Love this kind of video, cheers as always buachaill!
Cheers mate 🙏
To me, the pizzicato in the strings represented the beeps and boops of the video game. I loved this effect!
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I don't recall the song... but hearing you break it down gave me chills and then went and listened and was moved to tears by the feel of the song. I like the Jools Holland version a lot, too, btw. Thx for your channel brother!
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Just 1 more comment if you please Sir.
Watching/ listening to Lana’s performance of Video Game on SNL just one month before Letterman. Two very different performances of the same tune (IMHO) Nervous, tense and on edge for SNL, Lana used a backup band ( for ?). Compared to solo piano accompanied by chamber orchestra. What a beautiful adjustment! The sadness/ disappointment of the lyrics comes across so much more with the simple beauty of a vocal melody, soft percussion on the piano , echos on the pizacatto notes and finally the mellow dramatic drone of the cello. I absolutely love this arrangement. Thank you Alan for bringing up this song. Looking forward to Part2.
For sure. Paired down version is better.
Is very similar that the Adele compositions. The simplicity become in complexity, because you are the whole band. The silence is fundamental part of this song, because you create in your mind imaginary chords, harmony, and why not, more melody. Great song, voice, and your explanation. Thanks Alan.
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Love your breakdown and commentary Alan.. super interesting.
Thanks 🙏 Kyle
I would love more videos like this! I'm hoping that's what's referencing the "episode 1" :D
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Loved this - and you’re working with Rick!
So glad I found your music.
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In regards to silence and tension, this tune reminds me (in a way) of Erik Satie. I was listening to a pianist on the classical radio station today. His tempo interpretation was a bit slower than I was used to, and I realized just how much that added to the tension of it. (Especially with that eerie harmony). It was very subtle and very effective. Brilliant actually. Gnossienne #1. Also, I appreciate your channel very much! 👍
Love Satie ❤️
Thanks 🙏 Fred
And I don’t see anything wrong with her voice at all
Thanks Alan for the introduction to this song, reminds me of your writing. Powerful stuff!
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have you heard her version of "once upon a dream" from the maleficent soundtrack? spine tingling.
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I thoroughly enjoyed this, so much to unpack and reapply in our compositions. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful ❤️🙏
R eally in-depth breakdown, thanks a lot! I'll have to check this song out.
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Thank you for sharing. Glad to be clued into her song and see the harmony at work. Transposing to no sharps and flats was really helpful
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Very interesting and cool Alan! Geeting great milege out of that song thanks to you! 😎👍
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I agree that silence adds something to songs.
Alan thanks for taking the time to explain all these intricacies, it makes music more enjoyable for us. 🥃👍👍Respect to you mate.
Cheers
the observation about the Bb chord expressing downward leading tones to A minor (Bb-A, F-E) is quite perceptive … I also think it’s worth noting that neither version of the seventh scale degree is used prior to the 6/4 chord, where the natural version is introduced as a passing tone … most of the song is hexatonic, i.e. no tritones … / thank you for the insights ... :)
It always has to be about the song
"Meaninglessly well" - That's the perfect description for so many things.
Fascinating stuff, old chum!
Hi Michael! Hope all’s well!
I love this song
Thanks!
❤ love 💕
More episodes needed ASAP ✨
This is my first introduction to a Lana Del Rey song. Had meant to listen to some for a few years and just not got round to it, with all the offline chaos. :)
Great way to remind us of a great song to enjoy it even more
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2nd inversion - I hear that in Elton John's "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" (and many others, I'm sure). Also, I'm hearing resonances with Lene Marlin's "A Place Nearby" (1999)...
(Btw - I'm sure _all_ the chords "please the Lord" ... except maybe C/F#... ;) (Yes, I got the allusion!)
So glad to see "Episode ONE"; already looking forward to further episodes! I love how you weave lyrical reflections and performance notes with the musical analysis. Great stuff.
Thanks 🙏
This was great Alan. Keep these things coming. I always loved how Letterman could barely keep it together after this performance. You always knew which musicians he really loved.
True!
Yeah! Alan
Great work on a great song! Does anyone else feel Adele’s style here as well. After her performance on Letterman(2012), Dave was obviously melted down. “ …can you come back tomorrow.?… on Monday?”
I love this arrangement with keyboards and then introduces the chamber orchestra with pizzicato notes. Soooo nice! I really like your discussion of the chord structures. I was unawares of Lana before your video. Thank you Sir!
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Excellent analysis. I always liked this song, and I never thougt about complexity in terms of language and tone of voice. Cool stuff!
Hope to hear more of these kinds of breakdowns.
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Great video. Cheers
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God bless ya man! Thanks for sharin’ this-n’ really dig the title of this series! Keep up the good work and glorifying God with this musical education. The song is one of my favorites too!
-Ronnie
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Great.Thank you.
I find a lot of songs that use inversions are written on piano.I have trouble doing something similar on guitar.In writing songs, how to utilise them.
👍🏻 True! The piano is more conducive to lines and the guitar is more shape based. Check out the “Key to unlock the guitar” video. This is the fundamental issue; this, then adding the furniture of harmony knowledge!
Stay tuned
@@AlanMearns-YesTheRaven Thanks.I loved the video and your natural resonance with its creative beauty.
@@StratsRUs ❤️🙏
Thank you, Alan 🙏
Appreciate the insight and the lesson, as well as the reintroduction to Lana Del Rey.
Be good to you 🤍💛
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I've not watched any explanatory videos from you before now, but love this content. Love all your music, classical and YTR, but this content is fantastic also.
I'm part of the 'Critical Reactions' community- (an excellent and analytical reactor), and I'd love to see if Bryan (the host) would be able to analyse some of your music, but wouldn't know which song to recommend, so have you anything that you are particularly fond of on a composition level, ignoring which is most popular, in favour of which you feel is 'most deserving' in a critical capacity.
Does it have to have a video on UA-cam? I’m very fond of the song “Borderlands” on the Abilene record or “Josephine” from the first YTR record
It would be great if y’all took a look at my little prodigies’ new single. It is very sophisticated and angelic.
ua-cam.com/video/zVo9UdkUsaM/v-deo.htmlsi=UddpViiH_FWa05Az
@AlanMearns-YesTheRaven Thank you for that. Yes the girls are really developing into fantastic musicians. The song is beautiful. Had a listen to their other stuff as well. Excellent :)
My Daughter is 7 in 10 days and I'm sure she would be inspired
@AlanMearns-YesTheRaven Borderlands is truly atmospheric, but I do love Josephine. It's dark, broooding and full of menace.
Really great analysis of this beautiful song. It's very helpful to someone who's trying to write an interesting/emotionally powerful song. You sing and play the song so beautifully too!
Thanks 🙏
You are so under subscribed!
I love this kind of analytical study. I love how the notes flow in the chord progression. And this progression is so unlike the great bulk of popular music... it's musically complicated and that makes it something special.
In listening to the open chords on the piano (in the link you so kindly provided), I thought I heard another tone in there, but I can't quite catch it. Are my ears interpolating?
Thanks for the wonderful material.
Cheers 🙏 David
This is Lana Del Rey’s best song, to me. I’m glad you’re going deep on explaining it musically. Lyrics are great and musically makes sense why it works so well.
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This song is one of those that got me very deeply. I remember accidentally running into it after my family had gone to bed and then staying up for a few hours full of emotions. It really is a killer of a song. Thanks for this analysis, excellent stuff from you as always!
For further artists that conjure up similar vibes (at least for me), check out Mazzy Star (e.g., Fade Into You) and two songs from Buffy the Vampire Slayer soundtrack, Sarah McLachlan: Full of Grace ua-cam.com/video/BVnCgoAKqeg/v-deo.html and K's Choice - Virgin State of Mind ua-cam.com/video/7kNzDk2CPHI/v-deo.html both of which have interesting and powerful chord changes and progressions.
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Really interesting- thanks Alan. Looking forward to digging into this song myself now and to future episodes.
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Love this new serie Alan, it's always fascinating to decipher the mytery of a song. I thought that I was the only guy crying hearing Lana singing this song, I bought her album and was captivated by her talent !
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Alan keep up the great work: very honest and insightful explanation of why I like this song. Thanks!
Cheers 🙏 Peter
I really enjoyed this analysis and explanation of the song. Well put together, understandable, informative! Thanks for all that!
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You are a great teacher.
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This is a wonderful video. I love the attention and the passion in how you explain your connection with the song. I could listen to you all day long
Thanks for listening 🙏❤️
your acoustic version of this is outstanding. look forward to more of these!
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Great insights into a wonderful song. Thank you for this.
Cheers Phil 🙏
Beautiful tune. Agree with you about the art of the song. I don't get the "chords that please the lord" as I don't relate to religion.
It’s a lyrical quote from one of the most (rightfully) famous and covered songs; Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”
@@AlanMearns-YesTheRaven Thanks for responding. I've helped students learn that amazing tune. They were aware of my hearing impairment but I always ask them (and musician friends) what that song was about. The variety of answers were interesting and confusing at best. Still a great tune!
Nice dive Alan. Thanks :-)
Cheers Phil 🙏
Thank you silence is golden
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Keep these coming mate.
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