Every once in a while, we have to geek out over the INSANE music Jacob consistently keeps putting out. This one was a beautifully subtle example of that. Hey, ALSO- New free sneak peek at course material drops TODAY, so if you want to check that out, go here- cornellmusicacademy.com/blackfriday If you don't catch today's email don't worry because I'll be sending out summaries and everything so you'll be sure to get access to all the free stuff prior to this coming Friday.
I think there’s a cheeky flat or something in the bass on “dark” in “don’t be an afraid of the dark” at 4:14. I don’t know how to describe it technically but I can certainly hear it.
Jacob has talked about this in interviews before. He loves moving clockwise around the circle of fifths, which is exactly what he does here. Starting in Eb, then moving to the C family, moving to the A family, moving to the Gb/F# family, and finally returning to Eb. And notice that every time he changes key families, the first chord he plays is the 4 chord, which always wants to move one step clockwise to the tonic of the family. So he's not only moving clockwise, but creating the expectation that we should keep moving that direction until we "find our way home".
@@Dayantonope, negative/plagal harmony is clockwise (eg F - C - G), the standard/authentic harmonies move counter-clockwise (eg G - C - F, or any ii-V-I)
Worth noting that all of those key centers belong to the same fully diminished seventh chord, which leads them all to having very similar resolutions from the same chord (eg. G7 resolves to each of these pretty nicely, but this applies to all the “negative harmony” resolutions too) and allows for some very slick modulations. Setting up some cadence to one of them could end up leading to any of the others. It’s reminiscent to Barry Harris’s chord families, and he’s been talking about the power of diminished chords the last couple of years in streams and stuff so the structure does seem to be based on exploring this vast diminished-world through this clockwise motion around the circle.
I think first Jacob is a theory archive of knowledge and second he is a song writer, as jacob builds and experiments, i think his songwriting abilities will continue to shine even more than they already do.
I read “first Jacob” and thought you were insinuating that there are many Jacobs that are numbered and assigned to different tasks, which honestly would make just as much sense.
This post seems condescending to his incredible songwriting talents. It seems founded on the false idea that you can't be cerebral and creative...or that good songwriting needs to be accessible. I wish we'd get away from this notion. Also, no offense but I highly doubt you've written anything 1/10th as good as Jacob's earliest works. That's not a judgment of you. It's just a statement of fact: most of us haven't. So this position of "man, he's really progressing as a songwriter" seems pretty smug and unfounded.
@@rome8180 I think @legrand6673 original comment was valid. Jacob is great piano player, great with theory, great with pitch, technically good at singing although his tone and emotional content/conveyance(when singing) is less than great singers. His bass playing is fine, his guita playing is ok, but his songwriting is only average. So his singing tone/style and his songwriting are his biggest weaknesses, thast why he does so many covers and most of his grammys are for his arrangement of covers. He is a personality, communicator,eductor,pianist with goo dpitch, but his singing and songwriting is not elite level, Most ppl would rather hear other ppls songs and other ppl's singing
@@rome8180 don’t be cringe. OP was just saying that Jacob should try to find a balance between maximalizing creative expression through music theory and working on actual songwriting (which I think he’s doing a better job as of recent). Jacob’s complex style doesn’t make him better or worse than any other musician
@@rome8180I thought the original comment was rather positive, I don’t think it’s a secret that he isn’t hailed as a songwriter, and it’s not like we’re saying he’s a bad songwriter. He’s pretty dang great. But as he keeps going he’ll only improve
Yeah I saw Jacob in Oxford last year and was a part of the audience choir… transcendental is definitely the word… you can feel the whole room vibrate and it genuinely moves your whole soul and body it’s just so beautiful. It makes you feel so human but like you’re a part of so much more than that, it’s truly incredible… I encourage every single person that reads this to never miss the opportunity to see him live
I saw him live in Zurich last year, it really was incredible. Such an inspiring, true and beautiful experience. I‘ve never felt the connecting and moving power of music like that night.
You nailed it when you described Jacob Collier's ability to 'move around harmonic spaces without overwhelming the listener.' It's a wonderful way to articulate his unique and creative process of manipulating emotions through unexpected sound choices.
I know there have been hundreds of comments like this, but I gotta repeat this every single time - it's not *just* about his technical chops, he as a person just exudes empathy in anything and everything he does, and that's including his musical projects. Pardon the pun, but he truly resonates with his audience. Not to mention he's just a wonderful and compassionate musical teacher if you watch his interviews and lessons
He's a music teacher... Not quite... He's more of a teaching genius... In an interview with Herbie Hancock They talk together about Harmonic progressions without naming them. In musical theory they make appogiaturas in the video. A music teacher would know how to explain it, he doesn't.
@@jibi9275 not the best example IMO, that was by no means a teaching moment, I see it as two geniuses vibing, nothing more. Watch his actual lectures to audiences, there are many on UA-cam, you'll find he's amazing at explaining the most complex of theoretical concepts in a way that's both intuitive and easy to understand
@@stewiegriffin993 I mean he's a great popularizer, he has a lot of teaching skills, but knowing how to name things is a teacher's thing, and he's not a teacher.
I don't feel empathy coming from him, he seems to be very much in his own world without really caring for people around him. I wish I felt resonance with his music and his performances but I don't.
@e.d.1642 😢 I guess that's why there's chocolate and vanilla, so people can have preferences. Jacob and his musical expression inspire and comfort me.
I was at his concert in Brisbane, Australia, which was one of the three cities where he recorded audience vocals for this song. What we sang didn't sound much like the finished song, but he got what he needed in the course of a seemingly free-flowing exploration. I'll never hear any of myself in the single, but I'm honoured to be in there somewhere.
@@CourtWatchAu I doubt he had to pitch shift anything when he could get any pitches he wanted out of us directly, as long as he signaled each part up or down one step at a time. I think we sang each required chord at least once, and if they weren’t in sequence then he pasted them together afterwards. Check out the Lisbon performance Collier has posted in full. The audience stuff is very similar to my experience.
@@alexdundas-taylor3420 Ok thankyou so he used the recorsdisng adn rearranged the order of chords etc ? Thast fair . Thanks Ill check out the Lisbon concert
Tivoli? I was also there. I feel used though -- he made us all sing and make beautiful sounds (it was fantastic) and he probably profited from that. Such a wanker.
The “Mahogany” performance of this song is so beautiful and inspiring! If you haven’t heard it check it out! It is only a guitar, his voice, and a choir. It is simply sublime!
Do you think you could bring back putting the names of the chords on screen when you play them? I think it would really help with particular complex progressions such as this. Love your videos!
This is what I’m saying, I’m a gospel pianist and this stuff wasn’t really so unfamiliar to me. There’s some interesting harmony, but a lot of the melody chords he calls unusual are actually pretty normal for me.
What I love about Jacob. There is a lot of technical wizardry and virtuosic moments in his songs. However, he doesn't include these moments to be flash or show-off, he includes them because they sound great and the don't feel at all out of place.
Yeah, he doesn't do it to be "impressive." He does it because he loves to make sounds and to create sound that evoke feelings. In him and in us, the listeners. I hear his music as an expression of generosity of spirit, joy, and appreciation of the miracle of sound.
So glad to see another video of Jacob on this channel! Feels like it’s been a while. So much more to come with DJESSE Vol. 4 hopefully! Thanks Charles!
Hey Charles, amazing video!!! Just wanted to comment to say that the chord you are talking about at around 10:00 is the Tristan chord! (From Wagner’s famous prelude to Tristan und Isolde) It’s the exact same key and everything. Jacob is definitely aware of the chord’s infamy as his mom is a classical musician and professor and I’m sure that’s what he is referencing because the chord is famous for being used as a pseudo dominant that can resolve any number of ways depending on how you interpret it. Anyway, love all your videos you do such a great job at breaking this song down!
Everybody knows that chord. Seriously, stop gushing over Jacob. It’s just pretension. His lyrics are horrible, like something from a 13 year old. Nobody actually likes his music, it’s about pretending to be a theory snob.
No, not everybody knows that chord. And obviously "nobody actually likes his music" is complete BS, since both Quincy Jones and Herbie Hancock are enamored with his music. I understand your feeling though. It can be pretty devastating to our ego when we encounter someone so far over us that even in our fantasies we can't spin it to our favor. It's like dreaming of playing in the majors and then having to come to terms that that was never going to happen. And simply because we never were or will be go enough to be called up from the minors. So, possibly the person who should get over himself is the person who brought it up. 😊
@@russellsnodgrass9374 his ‘music’ isn’t devastating to my ego, it’s annoying to my ears. No thanks. He’s a self-indulgent one-trick pony with his negative harmony schtick which doesn’t even sound good. Ever him play The Beatles or Simon & Garfunkel? Never even close to the original. In 100 years, nobody will be listening to anything by Collier; but everybody will still the original Beatles and S&G.
@@RC-qf3mp I'm sure your not alone in your feelings about this kid's music. However the others simply moved on to what they like listening to. You've hung around, though, still listening. If you sincerely find it so distasteful, why are you still here making comments to a group that clearly feels otherwise? You couldn't possibly be under the illusion that we'll awake from our delusions to realize your right? No, your tone of language says that your either still a teenager(either actually or emotionally)and the attention this young man has gotten has stirred up a pettiness in your soul. An increasingly common character shortcoming these days. Face it dude, I might be the most attention you're getting in your life right now. And I don't overrate myself, so you're not doing so great just getting me for feedback. Just one more thing: there is always at least two ways of seeing, or hearing, anything. So maybe the problem isn't Collier's music but your ears.
The fact that you have the AMAZING ability to analyze and explain this song perfectly YET STILL being mind blown by the skill of Jacob Collier skill is just proving how good Jacob is!
At 7:17 I think the chord is probably an Eb7#9 rather than a Dmaj7 because it fits into the ii-V-I motif that Jacob uses throughout the song, just with an extra spin at that bit! Cool analysis through and through!
Yeah definitely Eb7#9 works better theorically and by ear. The other user suggesting passing A chord is almost as right as the Eb7#9(#5) voicing is the same of an A9#11/13, but I don't really hear the bass line descending like that to Ab. Still I'm intrigued about Charles hearing a D chord, even though I'm not sure that's correct. It's probably because of that passage being played on some sort of vocoder and Jacob often goes microtonal and such, so I wouldn't be surprised if that bass note is actually some hz in between D and Eb.
Something that blows my mind is something super interesting that happens rhythmically in the song: There’s a bass kick that sounds one sixteenth note late that sets up a rhythmic shift to a new rhythmic centre halfway through the song, then it shifts again. I know there’s that set up that happens really subtly, at first it feels off then it gets into a groove then woahhh it’s shifted. But the actual “HOW IS THIS HAPPENING” is totally blowing my mind. Like if the phrase “little blue” is divided into 1-e-&-a, halfway through the song, the rhythmic centre magically shifts to e-&-a-1 and then magically shifts back to the previous pulse of 1-e-&-a. I’m used to like throwing a 3/4 bar in or a 2/4 bar in to mix things up but what the heck is happening to shift things by a semiquaver?? BLOWS MY MINDD
Thank you so much for this top down view when you start improvising/recreating things on the piano. For so long I’ve had to pause your videos a million times over to figure out what you’re doing to make everything you play sound so “full” for the lack of a better word, and having that top down view of where exactly your hands are, and where they’re going helps so much in making it a little more understandable.
we just started singing little blue at my university choir, and even with our mostly pretty inexperienced choir, it already sounds magical after just one rehearsal. there's just something special about how jacob collier uses harmony
Little Blue really turned me back on to Jacob. It's just such a tender and beautiful piece. His (at the moment) latest one of Witness Me is also just fantastic. I feel like his music is keeping the insane musical intelligence, but adding in so much more depth of emotion - and I couldn't be happier.
As phenomenal as the original is, I loved his mahogany session version of this song. I felt it was even more powerful and the last few minutes is pure bliss!
Agreed. The mahogany session strips it back to something beautiful, full of emotion and resonance. And those people in the choir know they're in the middle of something extraordinary, you can see it in their faces. Just outstanding...
Thank you for sharing. I don't know why but seeing your genuine enthusiasm throughout this breakdown and hearing jacob with the audience choir is sparking an overwhelming joy and inspiration for music and everyone involved.
He also collaborates with a ton of great musicians. The second singer on this song is Brandi Carlile. He's collaborated with Lizzy McAlpine recently too. This is a really smart way to bring in other fanbases who may be receptive to his music.
He also collaborated with Lawrence! I recently discovered their music and now have firmly planted themselves in every playlist I have. They’re not really a big ‘mainstream band’ but Jacob appreciates good music, regardless of the popularity of the artists.
Prettysure jacob doesnt collaborate to gain more potential fans. He genuinely really loves their music too. Lizzy, brandi, lawrence, etc they dont have huge fanbases yet, but a lot of the fans kinda intersect because of how we all appreciate the complexities and character of each of their music
I genuinely don't think that's what motivates Jacob to colab with other musicians - he's just a kid that loves to play with other fun kids that are into the same game as he is? the extra fanbase is just a plus. He's the kind of guy that is eager to learn from others. His motivation is never to please the audience. Just the fun he gets out of music.
Seriously, look up 'In the Real Early Morning' by Jacob Collier. That song is enough to make a fully grown man cry, just like myself. Some gorgeous emotion provoking harmonies and musicality in that song. One of my all time favorites by Jacob.
Growing up in church this song definitely gives a church vibe and black churches like when we sing are known for being very expressive in how we play other instruments as well. Jacob a genius in his unique way of how he can break it down and make it something that sounds common into something so complex yet simple. It’s the perfect balance.
I feel the Jacob is our Mozart. He's supremely talented, somewhat out of the norm, and it honing his talents to what the audience wants vs. what is in his head. It's special to watch. Moon River is the greatest vocal arrangement I've ever heard.
Am I wrong? Ppl like Bach and Mozart are basically almost overrated today. But we always put them as like the BEST or smth because of their accomplishment that was considered revolutionary during their times. They’re def geniuses but you can’t convince me ppl of the same level of talent have not been around for a long time now, if not even better
@@ArthurPrince03Bach will never be overrated. In any experts' poll he is the most likely to be named GOAT. Mozart and co were all their own sort of genius, but Bach is a singular talent unlikely to be superceded, and as talented as JC is, he won’t be the one to do it.
ppl like beethoven, bach and mozart would still today be great musicians and composers for movie probably too. they were all genius and pushed the limits on instruments. they would do the same today.
@@ArthurPrince03 Mozart you have a point, but I wouldn't go so far as to say overrated. Bach, on the other hand I simply don't think you've listened closely enough. I'm certain equivalent minds have existed, but I don't believe there has been another soul in recorded history who was willing and able to dedicate that mind to music.
I loved the way you unpacked this. What a talent as you say, to carry that incredible harmonic movement beneath accessible melodies. I saw Jacob live last year and it was an unforgettable moment. The band are also awesome. Thanks for this!
Thanks again Charles. Your enthousiasm and your cunning analytic ears brought me even further in appreciating Jacob’s wonderful music. Please continue!
My favorite songs from jacob are Hideaway and Little Blue, I‘ve learned so much from these songs (also generally from jacobs songs) and it helps me out A LOT with my own compositions
at 8:03 the chord changes sound very complex and brilliant ( and they are ), but if you want to look at it in a simpler way: he essentially starts in the key of C minor/ Eb major and then modulates by minor 3rds till he gets back to C minor/ Eb major again. so it’s basically C minor-A minor- Gb minor- Eb minor-C minor/Eb major
This song captured me when I first heard it. This is Jacob at his classiest. I had this song on repeat for about a week straight and it is still one of my favorite songs of his. On his UA-cam he has an acoustic version with a live choir that is other worldly. One of the most beautiful pieces of pop music I’ve ver heard.
I'm so glad you addressed those chords at 6:41. I couldn't sleep over how wonderful these are as I wanted to transcribe it to the guitar badly. I love this song and everything he put out up to this point especially from Djesse vol.4 but my favourite has been Never Gonna Be Alone. It's been a theme for me getting over my ex and then getting back with her and in love with eachother and has such a deep place in my heart.
Hi, Charles! Music nerd couple here! 👋🏻 My husband is *insisting* that the chord at 5:27 is a Cbmaj7 so that the Bb (coming from the Eb melody line as it does) can be called that instead of changing to an A# all of the sudden. 🙂 We really enjoyed the analysis!
Great comment. I think technically you're correct although as I'm sure you probably already know, many musicians (especially in a jazz context) tend to use enharmonic equivalence in order to sacrifice a bit of correctness and make sightreading notation easier to digest and analysis easier to follow.
@@AdamSpiers I actually didn’t know that, but it makes more sense this way to me! My husband was classically trained, has taught music at the collegiate level, and is a stickler for theory. I on the other hand play more by ear and am totally open to explaining things like this with enharmonic notes - for the sake of readability and understanding, even if it means it’s not *technically* written correctly. We are church musicians, so although we do improv for most of our playing, jazz is outside of our wheelhouse. 😅
I'm a 37-year-old jazz fanatic, so it's not my usual cup of tea-not by a long shot. However, I've been listening to 'Little Blue' on repeat for weeks now. And before anyone points it out, I too hate these types of comments, but it's just true. The harmonies in this just sound otherworldly! It's such a masterpiece. Edit: I left this comment before even watching your video, and while I watched it, another thing popped into my mind: the lyrics. The lyrics are so powerful in this one. Really complement the flow of the music.
The thing I think I love most about Jacob's music and his mastery thereof is the kind of thing you explain at 7:51. Jacob finds these almost fantastical ways of taking the art in what he's doing to a whole different kind of poetic level, for lack of a more creative word, on my part. He knows, so intimately and with such staggering expertise, how to use music as a kind of emotional langauge that communicates feelings to people who know how to hear it, and even for those who might not. He truly understands music and sound in a way that so very, very few people do or can, and his mastery really shows in how he can communicate these things, via sound, to people who don't expect to hear them. It's like he's figured out how to unlock music somehow. I keep using this word, mastery, but I just can't think of a more appropriate word, or a more appropriate time to use it. Jacob is truly a high master of his craft.
I've always wanted jacob to approach his stuff more subtlely. I felt like in every song he'd just go "its jacob collier time" and would proceed to jacob collier all over the harmony which took me out of it.
I'm definitely following the guy but, yeah, it keeps feeling like a cake you get tired of after two bites because it's too sweet. Just like how I love prog music, but to an extent, there needs to be a recognizable theme in there. It seems like he's now doing a more balanced approach and like a pixar movie it's sprinkled with details adults and kids can enjoy on multiple levels like Chuck in this video Would I give a kidney to have his talent? maybe, but I'd also ease back on the harmony voice effect. This song weirdly at times invokes some Sting vibes and he is definitely a master of the trade, I would never have known about different time signatures without my older brother pointing it out, but still Sting makes songs you can hum the main melody to, and so can we to little blue. Yet a collaboration I'd love to see in the future. I already picture Sting with a kind of suppressed smile as you see he realizes the insane competence/talent of the guy.
@@arandomchannel4769just calm down and listen, it's exciting a opens up the music to new emotions before returning back to standard harmonies. He does a 4 second unorthadox section and you guys are freaking out, pretty sad. Also this is super tame compared a lot of prog so i highly doubt you actually listen to anything but basic music. Yet you feel the need to spout garbage opinions for no reason other than arrogance.
I here and detect very little ego in Jacob's music or in his communications with people. He strikes me as a genuinely joyous person who does things that make him feel good and that he loves to share so that many other people can share the good feeling. If anyone perceives his creativity as some sort of ego trip, then I suppose that could interfere with the joy of the music. That'd be too bad. I just love that it's possible for humans to create, share, and listen to the music Jacob is bringing to the world.
Count me among those who can't get enough Jacob craziness, but I agree that his "saner", more subdued songs are similarly mind-blowing, if a bit more subtle. Definitely go see him in person! As great as he is recorded, his live performances are somehow even better. And Charles, your analyses are fantastic...you and I clearly process music the same way. 2 minor quibbles: I wouldn't call the chord Cm7+5, but rather Abmaj9/C. The raised 5th implies that there's no G in the scale or chord, whereas calling it Abmaj7 makes it clear what the scale is (Ab Lydian). But yes, possibly my favorite chord too! And second, I don't think he goes to D in the bass at 6:44, but rather A7b5 (the sub-V of Ab), with the bass maybe also playing Eb briefly. It's a very Take 6 sounding progression, but the D sounds too far out to match what I'm hearing.
6:42 Harmonically, those two chords are simply inserting a quick II V of the IV. The 3rds and 7ths on each chord are most important, the bass has the option to play the V of IV or the bII of IV, and the upper note ascends from f to f# to g. So, Bbm7 Eb7#9 Abmaj7 or Bbm7 A7,13 Abmaj7
A chef here. Music is very much like food. You need those small spices, those hints of something else, small surprises maybe, to make you want to have the dish again. When you know what the ingredients are then you might be surprised, but when you taste the finished product you will be absolute sure that the dish would not have been as pleasurable without every single one of them. Collier is a master chef of music.
Your analogy between music and fine dining resonates deeply. Much like a connoisseur seeks the subtleties and layers within a dish, musicians with refined palettes gravitate toward the intricate harmonies, unexpected nuances, and innovative combinations in music. Just as a master chef artfully blends flavors to create a memorable dish, musicians like Jacob skillfully weave musical elements, creating compositions that delight the senses and leave a lasting impression. It's this pursuit of intricacy and the appreciation of the smallest nuances that elevate both the culinary and musical experiences, offering a deeper connection and a richer enjoyment for those with a refined palate.
For the pre-chorus with alternate chords, described here starting around 08:00, here are the "simple-name" chords (ignoring most sevenths, sixths, ninths, etc.) I came up with: Cm | Gm | Am | Em | Fmaj7 | Bm A/C# | D | E | B | G#m G# | Eb ....
I RECOGNIZED LITTLE BLUE FROM THE THUMBNAIL YEAHHHHHHH!!!!! Charles, you are so right about that faux modulation section being the musician’s favorite! This video might be the closest anyone besides me has gotten to articulating why this chord progression builds on itself so well. The chord progression in the new key uses whole step chunks like the old one and purposely spells as C sharp instead of D flat - it sets up a contrast between darkening/brightening feelings on the same note. There’s some chords I hear slightly differently than you. I hear the intermediate D chord in between Bbm7 and AbM7 as a B7/A. (Edit: re-listened in the car and I hear that lower note, seems like Eb). I don’t hear the Cb in the “F half diminished 7th chord” you mentioned; I hear that as a Db chord. (My interpretation also allows for the C melody note). If any of you nerds are interested in microtonality I played a 26-tone equal tempered electric piano cover of that song on my channel (don’t listen on phone), and there’s a theory explanation after.
The first time I heard Little Blue, I wept… like for days! The chords he plays literally penetrate all blocks, fears, insecurities and connect you to your inner light! Just Magical!!
There are a few thoughts I had about thus song. A. It's beautiful. B. It feels a bit like he's creating more accessible music for exactly that reason, to make it more accessible which leads me to C. As a touring artist, I think he always intended to have audience choirs. Writing a harmonically simple chorus made it much easier to have audiences sing along. I think it's a neat trick and doesn't detract from his musical genius, but I'd personally like to see him go MORE sideways into Jazz territory. There still plenty of time for that though. 😊
You actually introduced me to Jacob years ago and for that I'm forever grateful!!! Your videos on Jacob stand out above many other Jacob analysis due to your immense understanding of music! Thanks Charles :) oh i use to watch your funny videos on Cardi B and all those too... very funny!
7:17 I hear an E in the bass, and playing on the piano I hear Cb 2nd inversion add 2. So Eb2, Gb3, Cb4, Db4, Eb4. The notes are the same as the B 2nd inversion add 2 which would be notated F# instead of Gb, etc. Anyway, the Gb (F#) stands out as the melody and an octave below as the dissonance with the Eb bass as he moves from Ab3 (the 7th in the V7) to the Gb3. So he's doing the F, Gb, G run and you can also hear the subtle addition of the 7th rocking down and up Ab, Gb, G.
I wish I would have something in my life to be as enthusiastic as Charles about melodies and chord progressions. I`m not big on music theory but it`s a pure pleasure to watch and listen to you Charles, brings me a lot of joy!
I had the pleasure of experiancing this wonderful song at the Hollywood Bowl on my birthday this past Sept. I've been following Jacob since he bagan on YT some 14 years ago. And you are right about none musicians not understanding his genius because I went with my girlfriend and a few other non musicians. The show was Incredible and the people I went with really didn't care for it. That was actually a bit frustrating. Ah well.
I flew out to see that show at the Hollywood Bowl as well. Such a great night. Little Blue was very memorable. I know this because I don't remember the name of the other songs.
This is one of the best music analytic videos I have ever watched; i am learning so your explanations and especially your facial expressions make it memorable; Thankyou so much
Yeah, me too. I love him to death but there's something about his live performances that will always crush whatever he does in the studio. His musical...?empathy? is just out of this world, it's like he has direct access to how he wants you to feel
Honestly the ending is the most amazing part to me. The mix and the sounds are just melting my ears. Do love how subtle he was in most of the song throwing in hints here and there.
I love this song. I am a musician, and I can get out on some of the stuff that he does that isn’t quite so accessible, but first and foremost, I like music to listen to it. The same reason that Chopin is my favorite composer. I feel like Jacob has reached that point where he is now focused on the song. This is great for all of us to live in both worlds!
The more I see of Jacob’s videos with a live audience choir, the more I feel the need to go to one of his concerts. The harmonics lifts my spirit and brings tears to my eyes because the harmony just flows so well and so smooth. Can you say goosebumps…? ❤️🙏🫶😊
I would like to understand my dislike of Jacob Collier. His music does nothing to me. It's like whenever I hear him play, sing, or explain music I feel very unmusical, uninspired, tired, without energy, supressed, suffocated. But I still find him fascinating, because he's basically a library in a way.
His music is too fancy for me. I love Little Blue though, because of how simple it is, except for all the weird key things happening, which keeps it spicy lol
You don't have to understand it - its fine to not enjoy something, but dont waste energy and space explaining your hate as if you're justified to hate on it - thats where you become ignorant. Just don't watch the video.
I'd be more ignorant if I didn´t watch the video. It's important to understand why we don´t like certain things, it's self-reflexion, it's trying to see our shadows. In a way listening what we don´t like is also useful. It's not justifying hate, because you can hate whatever, you have that right, as well the opposite. But understanding is good. The weird cunundrum is that for me his music is very "brainy". Is like if understanding is all there is. So, fun fact, I'd have to go listen him trying to look out for emotion, or what the emotional is trying to tell.
I understand, but if you go to his show you will love it... I started listening to him, and it wasn't my favorite then I went to one of his shows and it was a whole experience
I just went to see this tour and Jacob is an incredibly generous musician. The concert itself was just so beautiful and fun. Love seeing your breakdowns of his stuff!
as someone who listens to this song religiously every single day, I really appreciate you making this video. I've always wanted an in-depth analysis of this song specifically, and this honestly is a dream come true! thank you Charles!
He's so amazing live. Being in the audience and somehow intuitively being conducted in 3 part harmonies with no rehearsals. Also he's really funny and will weave in heckles into his set.
Im a musician and I understand music theory and stuff, and I appreciate how cool Jacob’s music is. But it still sounds super weird to me, I just wouldn’t listen to it.
yep same. it's definitely not a new or original opinion, but Jacob Collier is probably the most talented musician that i will never willingly listen to for more than a couple minutes. respect for his brain is off the charts though.
Right? I'm not even a quarter as talented as he is and I don't hate him either. It just feels like he inserts complex chord progressions into melodies, not because they sound good but just because they sound complex.
LOL! Of course they sound good to anyone with at least a little sophistication, especially with jazz progressions. Most standard chords are pretty boring. @@BrightsonDavid
@@samarsa.LOL! No soul or groove! LOL! FFS, you must know very little of his music. Although that's not the point of thi song at all which is about heart.
Wrong notes definitely do not exist on the piano because of how it's tuned (arguably, as an instruments that can't be tuned as well as other string instruments), however his choices are held together by context, any note is connected to another through the right progression, expectation breeds disappointment and notes only even exist for our understanding. The spectrum of sound is infinite so even if it sounds bad to our brains mathematical rationality, another species has opportunities to understand even greater nuance in notes than us in the same way we could keep dividing the light spectrum into colours with individual names, sound can have the same happen. It's actually more of a reflection of cultural influence than actual musical understanding in the human brain alone let alone as a whole concept outside of being human.
You sum it up! I challenged a friend of mine to spot the wonderful little lydian detail (which for me lights up for a split second as a little flash of wonder). He didn't "find" it. It's at 1:40. Love it! And that modulation towards the end.... probably one of the nicest transpositions I've heard in quite a while!
I just really don't understand his appeal. You're playing these chords and it all just sounds so humdrum. And JC just always sounds like he's yawning. I just find all his music so incredibly bland.
Ok, I will say it. I do not like how Jacob Collier sing. I don't understand how you guys listent to him. Yes, i get it, there is intresting harmony in his songs but his singing is so awful. Take for example this song. Don't you think that when the female singer joins it sounds 1000 times better. Maybe I don't understand because I am not a professional musician but I will gladly listen to a less complex piece of music with good vocals than what Jacob is doing.
This is evolution from young Jacob using super-extended chords on every 8th note to sound clever, to choosing tasteful moments to inflect a diatonic song.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Every once in a while, we have to geek out over the INSANE music Jacob consistently keeps putting out. This one was a beautifully subtle example of that. Hey, ALSO- New free sneak peek at course material drops TODAY, so if you want to check that out, go here- cornellmusicacademy.com/blackfriday If you don't catch today's email don't worry because I'll be sending out summaries and everything so you'll be sure to get access to all the free stuff prior to this coming Friday.
Let’s go
More Jacob!!
Is this the song from dream works? I mean the melody.
I think there’s a cheeky flat or something in the bass on “dark” in “don’t be an afraid of the dark” at 4:14. I don’t know how to describe it technically but I can certainly hear it.
Thank you for spelling "peek" correctly! There's not enough of that nowadays.
Jacob has talked about this in interviews before. He loves moving clockwise around the circle of fifths, which is exactly what he does here. Starting in Eb, then moving to the C family, moving to the A family, moving to the Gb/F# family, and finally returning to Eb. And notice that every time he changes key families, the first chord he plays is the 4 chord, which always wants to move one step clockwise to the tonic of the family. So he's not only moving clockwise, but creating the expectation that we should keep moving that direction until we "find our way home".
It’s called negative harmony and he has a great video on it.
Daniel Caesar/his producers like to do this too
@@MichaelJohnson-composer Isn't that the other way around? I thought negative harmony was about moving counter-clockwise down the circle of fifths?
@@Dayantonope, negative/plagal harmony is clockwise (eg F - C - G), the standard/authentic harmonies move counter-clockwise (eg G - C - F, or any ii-V-I)
Worth noting that all of those key centers belong to the same fully diminished seventh chord, which leads them all to having very similar resolutions from the same chord (eg. G7 resolves to each of these pretty nicely, but this applies to all the “negative harmony” resolutions too) and allows for some very slick modulations. Setting up some cadence to one of them could end up leading to any of the others. It’s reminiscent to Barry Harris’s chord families, and he’s been talking about the power of diminished chords the last couple of years in streams and stuff so the structure does seem to be based on exploring this vast diminished-world through this clockwise motion around the circle.
I think first Jacob is a theory archive of knowledge and second he is a song writer, as jacob builds and experiments, i think his songwriting abilities will continue to shine even more than they already do.
I read “first Jacob” and thought you were insinuating that there are many Jacobs that are numbered and assigned to different tasks, which honestly would make just as much sense.
This post seems condescending to his incredible songwriting talents. It seems founded on the false idea that you can't be cerebral and creative...or that good songwriting needs to be accessible. I wish we'd get away from this notion.
Also, no offense but I highly doubt you've written anything 1/10th as good as Jacob's earliest works. That's not a judgment of you. It's just a statement of fact: most of us haven't. So this position of "man, he's really progressing as a songwriter" seems pretty smug and unfounded.
@@rome8180 I think @legrand6673 original comment was valid. Jacob is great piano player, great with theory, great with pitch, technically good at singing although his tone and emotional content/conveyance(when singing) is less than great singers. His bass playing is fine, his guita playing is ok, but his songwriting is only average.
So his singing tone/style and his songwriting are his biggest weaknesses, thast why he does so many covers and most of his grammys are for his arrangement of covers. He is a personality, communicator,eductor,pianist with goo dpitch, but his singing and songwriting is not elite level, Most ppl would rather hear other ppls songs and other ppl's singing
@@rome8180 don’t be cringe. OP was just saying that Jacob should try to find a balance between maximalizing creative expression through music theory and working on actual songwriting (which I think he’s doing a better job as of recent). Jacob’s complex style doesn’t make him better or worse than any other musician
@@rome8180I thought the original comment was rather positive, I don’t think it’s a secret that he isn’t hailed as a songwriter, and it’s not like we’re saying he’s a bad songwriter. He’s pretty dang great. But as he keeps going he’ll only improve
Yeah I saw Jacob in Oxford last year and was a part of the audience choir… transcendental is definitely the word… you can feel the whole room vibrate and it genuinely moves your whole soul and body it’s just so beautiful. It makes you feel so human but like you’re a part of so much more than that, it’s truly incredible… I encourage every single person that reads this to never miss the opportunity to see him live
Saw him in Montreal and the audience choir was surreal, felt like nothing I ever experienced
I saw him live in Zurich last year, it really was incredible. Such an inspiring, true and beautiful experience. I‘ve never felt the connecting and moving power of music like that night.
Easier said than done, unfortunately for some. 😢
Saw him in Melbourne, totally agree
saw him in sydney last year and i will agree
Charles, you should totally do a full solo piano performance of this song. I'd listen to it on repeat.
Couldn't agree more
I was waiting for him to react to the transition into phrygian at the end of the song, which is absolutely beautiful
I've been wanting him to do something like this for so long
I need this
Please please please.
You nailed it when you described Jacob Collier's ability to 'move around harmonic spaces without overwhelming the listener.' It's a wonderful way to articulate his unique and creative process of manipulating emotions through unexpected sound choices.
I know there have been hundreds of comments like this, but I gotta repeat this every single time - it's not *just* about his technical chops, he as a person just exudes empathy in anything and everything he does, and that's including his musical projects. Pardon the pun, but he truly resonates with his audience. Not to mention he's just a wonderful and compassionate musical teacher if you watch his interviews and lessons
He's a music teacher... Not quite... He's more of a teaching genius... In an interview with Herbie Hancock They talk together about Harmonic progressions without naming them. In musical theory they make appogiaturas in the video. A music teacher would know how to explain it, he doesn't.
@@jibi9275 not the best example IMO, that was by no means a teaching moment, I see it as two geniuses vibing, nothing more. Watch his actual lectures to audiences, there are many on UA-cam, you'll find he's amazing at explaining the most complex of theoretical concepts in a way that's both intuitive and easy to understand
@@stewiegriffin993 I mean he's a great popularizer, he has a lot of teaching skills, but knowing how to name things is a teacher's thing, and he's not a teacher.
I don't feel empathy coming from him, he seems to be very much in his own world without really caring for people around him. I wish I felt resonance with his music and his performances but I don't.
@e.d.1642 😢 I guess that's why there's chocolate and vanilla, so people can have preferences. Jacob and his musical expression inspire and comfort me.
I was at his concert in Brisbane, Australia, which was one of the three cities where he recorded audience vocals for this song. What we sang didn't sound much like the finished song, but he got what he needed in the course of a seemingly free-flowing exploration. I'll never hear any of myself in the single, but I'm honoured to be in there somewhere.
so do you think he pitch shifted the audionece afterwards ? or in what ways was it altered form what was sung at the event you were at ?
@@CourtWatchAu I doubt he had to pitch shift anything when he could get any pitches he wanted out of us directly, as long as he signaled each part up or down one step at a time. I think we sang each required chord at least once, and if they weren’t in sequence then he pasted them together afterwards.
Check out the Lisbon performance Collier has posted in full. The audience stuff is very similar to my experience.
@@alexdundas-taylor3420 Ok thankyou so he used the recorsdisng adn rearranged the order of chords etc ? Thast fair . Thanks Ill check out the Lisbon concert
i was there too and it was one one of the most magical experiences of my life, i'll never forget it
Tivoli? I was also there. I feel used though -- he made us all sing and make beautiful sounds (it was fantastic) and he probably profited from that. Such a wanker.
The “Mahogany” performance of this song is so beautiful and inspiring! If you haven’t heard it check it out! It is only a guitar, his voice, and a choir. It is simply sublime!
one of his friends and great fan (and one of me and my wife's other favorite singer) is in that clip too, dodie :)
@@hvanmegen that girl from here comes the sun
Do you think you could bring back putting the names of the chords on screen when you play them? I think it would really help with particular complex progressions such as this. Love your videos!
What's more, since Charles is many times analyzing the harmony, I would love to see the roman numerals of the chord to easier understand the function.
@@Retrokid007yes, Roman numerals would be super helpful when we're in an established key!!
Seconded, thirded, fourthed, whatevered!!
Especially for us who live/work with in the Nashville number system.
There might also be programs for that that make it easier to edit
This was such a gospel chord progression throughout the whole song. Lovely
You see that he's doing a straight Gospel song right now?
Yes it’s with Kirk Franklin
This is what I’m saying, I’m a gospel pianist and this stuff wasn’t really so unfamiliar to me.
There’s some interesting harmony, but a lot of the melody chords he calls unusual are actually pretty normal for me.
What I love about Jacob. There is a lot of technical wizardry and virtuosic moments in his songs. However, he doesn't include these moments to be flash or show-off, he includes them because they sound great and the don't feel at all out of place.
a lot of them do actually sound like trash to me but hey its all subjective!
THIS👌🏼
Yeah, he doesn't do it to be "impressive." He does it because he loves to make sounds and to create sound that evoke feelings. In him and in us, the listeners. I hear his music as an expression of generosity of spirit, joy, and appreciation of the miracle of sound.
So glad to see another video of Jacob on this channel! Feels like it’s been a while. So much more to come with DJESSE Vol. 4 hopefully! Thanks Charles!
Great analysis and skills. You're amazing yourself. I wish I could play like that. So free.
Hey Charles, amazing video!!! Just wanted to comment to say that the chord you are talking about at around 10:00 is the Tristan chord! (From Wagner’s famous prelude to Tristan und Isolde) It’s the exact same key and everything. Jacob is definitely aware of the chord’s infamy as his mom is a classical musician and professor and I’m sure that’s what he is referencing because the chord is famous for being used as a pseudo dominant that can resolve any number of ways depending on how you interpret it. Anyway, love all your videos you do such a great job at breaking this song down!
Well spotted 👍
Everybody knows that chord. Seriously, stop gushing over Jacob. It’s just pretension. His lyrics are horrible, like something from a 13 year old. Nobody actually likes his music, it’s about pretending to be a theory snob.
No, not everybody knows that chord. And obviously "nobody actually likes his music" is complete BS, since both Quincy Jones and Herbie Hancock are enamored with his music.
I understand your feeling though. It can be pretty devastating to our ego when we encounter someone so far over us that even in our fantasies we can't spin it to our favor.
It's like dreaming of playing in the majors and then having to come to terms that that was never going to happen. And simply because we never were or will be go enough to be called up from the minors.
So, possibly the person who should get over himself is the person who brought it up. 😊
@@russellsnodgrass9374 his ‘music’ isn’t devastating to my ego, it’s annoying to my ears. No thanks. He’s a self-indulgent one-trick pony with his negative harmony schtick which doesn’t even sound good. Ever him play The Beatles or Simon & Garfunkel? Never even close to the original. In 100 years, nobody will be listening to anything by Collier; but everybody will still the original Beatles and S&G.
@@RC-qf3mp I'm sure your not alone in your feelings about this kid's music. However the others simply moved on to what they like listening to. You've hung around, though, still listening. If you sincerely find it so distasteful, why are you still here making comments to a group that clearly feels otherwise?
You couldn't possibly be under the illusion that we'll awake from our delusions to realize your right?
No, your tone of language says that your either still a teenager(either actually or emotionally)and the attention this young man has gotten has stirred up a pettiness in your soul. An increasingly common character shortcoming these days.
Face it dude, I might be the most attention you're getting in your life right now. And I don't overrate myself, so you're not doing so great just getting me for feedback.
Just one more thing: there is always at least two ways of seeing, or hearing, anything. So maybe the problem isn't Collier's music but your ears.
The fact that you have the AMAZING ability to analyze and explain this song perfectly YET STILL being mind blown by the skill of Jacob Collier skill is just proving how good Jacob is!
At 7:17 I think the chord is probably an Eb7#9 rather than a Dmaj7 because it fits into the ii-V-I motif that Jacob uses throughout the song, just with an extra spin at that bit! Cool analysis through and through!
I feel it as an A9(#11)
Yeah definitely Eb7#9 works better theorically and by ear. The other user suggesting passing A chord is almost as right as the Eb7#9(#5) voicing is the same of an A9#11/13, but I don't really hear the bass line descending like that to Ab. Still I'm intrigued about Charles hearing a D chord, even though I'm not sure that's correct. It's probably because of that passage being played on some sort of vocoder and Jacob often goes microtonal and such, so I wouldn't be surprised if that bass note is actually some hz in between D and Eb.
yep I don't here any D neither
To me, it looks more like tritone substitution of secondary dominant chord, maybe Eb7#9/A or something like that
Yep sounds kinda like an A lydian structure over Eb, so basically altered Eb. Thanks for noticing, I thought I was going crazy ^^
bass note is deffo an Eb and it sounds like Eb7#9b13
Something that blows my mind is something super interesting that happens rhythmically in the song: There’s a bass kick that sounds one sixteenth note late that sets up a rhythmic shift to a new rhythmic centre halfway through the song, then it shifts again. I know there’s that set up that happens really subtly, at first it feels off then it gets into a groove then woahhh it’s shifted. But the actual “HOW IS THIS HAPPENING” is totally blowing my mind. Like if the phrase “little blue” is divided into 1-e-&-a, halfway through the song, the rhythmic centre magically shifts to e-&-a-1 and then magically shifts back to the previous pulse of 1-e-&-a. I’m used to like throwing a 3/4 bar in or a 2/4 bar in to mix things up but what the heck is happening to shift things by a semiquaver?? BLOWS MY MINDD
There's only one thing better than Jacob's incredible music and that's Charles' passionate analysis of Jacob's incredible music. 😊
Thank you so much for this top down view when you start improvising/recreating things on the piano.
For so long I’ve had to pause your videos a million times over to figure out what you’re doing to make everything you play sound so “full” for the lack of a better word, and having that top down view of where exactly your hands are, and where they’re going helps so much in making it a little more understandable.
What profound use of harmony. Chills almost everytime! What a fantastic world we live in music-wise!
we just started singing little blue at my university choir, and even with our mostly pretty inexperienced choir, it already sounds magical after just one rehearsal. there's just something special about how jacob collier uses harmony
Little Blue really turned me back on to Jacob. It's just such a tender and beautiful piece.
His (at the moment) latest one of Witness Me is also just fantastic. I feel like his music is keeping the insane musical intelligence, but adding in so much more depth of emotion - and I couldn't be happier.
No matter what, you’re an amazing pianist bro. The way you play makes me wish you’d make an actual album of covers man.
As phenomenal as the original is, I loved his mahogany session version of this song. I felt it was even more powerful and the last few minutes is pure bliss!
I do disagree, but only because I’ve listened to the original 50 times (it’s my #4 on Apple Music Replay 2023)
I agree, it’s something about the rawness of the guitar along with the reverb of the building making it more impactful, but the original is great
Agreed. The mahogany session strips it back to something beautiful, full of emotion and resonance. And those people in the choir know they're in the middle of something extraordinary, you can see it in their faces. Just outstanding...
As much as I love that version, my love of Brandi Carlisle keep the original in #1 for me
@@jonnywebster9245i agree
The mahogany version is my fav!
Thank you for sharing. I don't know why but seeing your genuine enthusiasm throughout this breakdown and hearing jacob with the audience choir is sparking an overwhelming joy and inspiration for music and everyone involved.
Seriously moved to tears by the music and Charles's passionate analysis
He also collaborates with a ton of great musicians. The second singer on this song is Brandi Carlile. He's collaborated with Lizzy McAlpine recently too. This is a really smart way to bring in other fanbases who may be receptive to his music.
He also collaborated with Lawrence! I recently discovered their music and now have firmly planted themselves in every playlist I have. They’re not really a big ‘mainstream band’ but Jacob appreciates good music, regardless of the popularity of the artists.
Prettysure jacob doesnt collaborate to gain more potential fans. He genuinely really loves their music too. Lizzy, brandi, lawrence, etc they dont have huge fanbases yet, but a lot of the fans kinda intersect because of how we all appreciate the complexities and character of each of their music
I genuinely don't think that's what motivates Jacob to colab with other musicians - he's just a kid that loves to play with other fun kids that are into the same game as he is? the extra fanbase is just a plus. He's the kind of guy that is eager to learn from others. His motivation is never to please the audience. Just the fun he gets out of music.
Seriously, look up 'In the Real Early Morning' by Jacob Collier. That song is enough to make a fully grown man cry, just like myself. Some gorgeous emotion provoking harmonies and musicality in that song. One of my all time favorites by Jacob.
I totally agree. That song means so much to me
Never fails to make me cry either
I've been so obsessed with the cover of this song he recorded with fans in a church for Mahagony sessions. Loved that you covered this.
You are so invested in this.
Its almost like your happyness about this music radiates from the screen as you play these chords.
Growing up in church this song definitely gives a church vibe and black churches like when we sing are known for being very expressive in how we play other instruments as well. Jacob a genius in his unique way of how he can break it down and make it something that sounds common into something so complex yet simple. It’s the perfect balance.
Being in the audience of his concert in VEGA in Copenhagen and be played as an instrument was an absolutely amazing experience
I feel the Jacob is our Mozart. He's supremely talented, somewhat out of the norm, and it honing his talents to what the audience wants vs. what is in his head. It's special to watch. Moon River is the greatest vocal arrangement I've ever heard.
Jacob is far beyond Mozart.
Am I wrong? Ppl like Bach and Mozart are basically almost overrated today. But we always put them as like the BEST or smth because of their accomplishment that was considered revolutionary during their times. They’re def geniuses but you can’t convince me ppl of the same level of talent have not been around for a long time now, if not even better
@@ArthurPrince03Bach will never be overrated. In any experts' poll he is the most likely to be named GOAT. Mozart and co were all their own sort of genius, but Bach is a singular talent unlikely to be superceded, and as talented as JC is, he won’t be the one to do it.
ppl like beethoven, bach and mozart would still today be great musicians and composers for movie probably too. they were all genius and pushed the limits on instruments. they would do the same today.
@@ArthurPrince03 Mozart you have a point, but I wouldn't go so far as to say overrated.
Bach, on the other hand I simply don't think you've listened closely enough. I'm certain equivalent minds have existed, but I don't believe there has been another soul in recorded history who was willing and able to dedicate that mind to music.
Jacob is so refreshing every single time. What a genius!
I loved the way you unpacked this. What a talent as you say, to carry that incredible harmonic movement beneath accessible melodies. I saw Jacob live last year and it was an unforgettable moment. The band are also awesome. Thanks for this!
Thanks again Charles. Your enthousiasm and your cunning analytic ears brought me even further in appreciating Jacob’s wonderful music. Please continue!
My favorite songs from jacob are Hideaway and Little Blue, I‘ve learned so much from these songs (also generally from jacobs songs) and it helps me out A LOT with my own compositions
at 8:03 the chord changes sound very complex and brilliant ( and they are ), but if you want to look at it in a simpler way: he essentially starts in the key of C minor/ Eb major and then modulates by minor 3rds till he gets back to C minor/ Eb major again. so it’s basically C minor-A minor- Gb minor- Eb minor-C minor/Eb major
This song captured me when I first heard it. This is Jacob at his classiest. I had this song on repeat for about a week straight and it is still one of my favorite songs of his. On his UA-cam he has an acoustic version with a live choir that is other worldly. One of the most beautiful pieces of pop music I’ve ver heard.
I'm so glad you addressed those chords at 6:41. I couldn't sleep over how wonderful these are as I wanted to transcribe it to the guitar badly. I love this song and everything he put out up to this point especially from Djesse vol.4 but my favourite has been Never Gonna Be Alone. It's been a theme for me getting over my ex and then getting back with her and in love with eachother and has such a deep place in my heart.
You probably won’t be able to play it on your guitar because his guitar is a 5 string and it’s tuned in 5ths
I would love if you did like a weekly Jacob Collier playlist where you analyze his music in “layman” terms (like you did in this video).
Thanks!
it truly is a trancendental experience. so glad i got to see him live
Hi, Charles! Music nerd couple here! 👋🏻 My husband is *insisting* that the chord at 5:27 is a Cbmaj7 so that the Bb (coming from the Eb melody line as it does) can be called that instead of changing to an A# all of the sudden. 🙂 We really enjoyed the analysis!
Great comment. I think technically you're correct although as I'm sure you probably already know, many musicians (especially in a jazz context) tend to use enharmonic equivalence in order to sacrifice a bit of correctness and make sightreading notation easier to digest and analysis easier to follow.
@@AdamSpiers I actually didn’t know that, but it makes more sense this way to me! My husband was classically trained, has taught music at the collegiate level, and is a stickler for theory. I on the other hand play more by ear and am totally open to explaining things like this with enharmonic notes - for the sake of readability and understanding, even if it means it’s not *technically* written correctly. We are church musicians, so although we do improv for most of our playing, jazz is outside of our wheelhouse. 😅
I'm a 37-year-old jazz fanatic, so it's not my usual cup of tea-not by a long shot. However, I've been listening to 'Little Blue' on repeat for weeks now. And before anyone points it out, I too hate these types of comments, but it's just true. The harmonies in this just sound otherworldly! It's such a masterpiece.
Edit:
I left this comment before even watching your video, and while I watched it, another thing popped into my mind: the lyrics. The lyrics are so powerful in this one. Really complement the flow of the music.
100% agree. Songs like this, Blind by SZA and Come To Your Senses from Tick Tick Boom have my type of lyrics.
@@SpencerTwiddywhat’s interesting about the blind song by sza is that it was made by leon Thomas who is criminally underrated. Very talented as well.
I've enjoyed his earlier work. This is really showing a musical maturity that I love.
This is so brilliant. Love how enthusiastic you are Charles. Keep up the great work
The thing I think I love most about Jacob's music and his mastery thereof is the kind of thing you explain at 7:51. Jacob finds these almost fantastical ways of taking the art in what he's doing to a whole different kind of poetic level, for lack of a more creative word, on my part. He knows, so intimately and with such staggering expertise, how to use music as a kind of emotional langauge that communicates feelings to people who know how to hear it, and even for those who might not. He truly understands music and sound in a way that so very, very few people do or can, and his mastery really shows in how he can communicate these things, via sound, to people who don't expect to hear them. It's like he's figured out how to unlock music somehow. I keep using this word, mastery, but I just can't think of a more appropriate word, or a more appropriate time to use it. Jacob is truly a high master of his craft.
I've always wanted jacob to approach his stuff more subtlely. I felt like in every song he'd just go "its jacob collier time" and would proceed to jacob collier all over the harmony which took me out of it.
I'm definitely following the guy but, yeah, it keeps feeling like a cake you get tired of after two bites because it's too sweet. Just like how I love prog music, but to an extent, there needs to be a recognizable theme in there. It seems like he's now doing a more balanced approach and like a pixar movie it's sprinkled with details adults and kids can enjoy on multiple levels like Chuck in this video
Would I give a kidney to have his talent? maybe, but I'd also ease back on the harmony voice effect. This song weirdly at times invokes some Sting vibes and he is definitely a master of the trade, I would never have known about different time signatures without my older brother pointing it out, but still Sting makes songs you can hum the main melody to, and so can we to little blue.
Yet a collaboration I'd love to see in the future. I already picture Sting with a kind of suppressed smile as you see he realizes the insane competence/talent of the guy.
A lot of times his music just sounds like how literal motion sickness feels, including the bit at 8:00 here. I don't understand how it's enjoyable.
@@arandomchannel4769just calm down and listen, it's exciting a opens up the music to new emotions before returning back to standard harmonies. He does a 4 second unorthadox section and you guys are freaking out, pretty sad. Also this is super tame compared a lot of prog so i highly doubt you actually listen to anything but basic music. Yet you feel the need to spout garbage opinions for no reason other than arrogance.
I here and detect very little ego in Jacob's music or in his communications with people. He strikes me as a genuinely joyous person who does things that make him feel good and that he loves to share so that many other people can share the good feeling. If anyone perceives his creativity as some sort of ego trip, then I suppose that could interfere with the joy of the music. That'd be too bad. I just love that it's possible for humans to create, share, and listen to the music Jacob is bringing to the world.
I think it will come when he is older
Absolutely beautiful SONG, beautifully EXPLAINED! God bless you both!
Count me among those who can't get enough Jacob craziness, but I agree that his "saner", more subdued songs are similarly mind-blowing, if a bit more subtle. Definitely go see him in person! As great as he is recorded, his live performances are somehow even better. And Charles, your analyses are fantastic...you and I clearly process music the same way. 2 minor quibbles: I wouldn't call the chord Cm7+5, but rather Abmaj9/C. The raised 5th implies that there's no G in the scale or chord, whereas calling it Abmaj7 makes it clear what the scale is (Ab Lydian). But yes, possibly my favorite chord too! And second, I don't think he goes to D in the bass at 6:44, but rather A7b5 (the sub-V of Ab), with the bass maybe also playing Eb briefly. It's a very Take 6 sounding progression, but the D sounds too far out to match what I'm hearing.
6:42
Harmonically, those two chords are simply inserting a quick II V of the IV. The 3rds and 7ths on each chord are most important, the bass has the option to play the V of IV or the bII of IV, and the upper note ascends from f to f# to g.
So,
Bbm7 Eb7#9 Abmaj7 or
Bbm7 A7,13 Abmaj7
A chef here. Music is very much like food. You need those small spices, those hints of something else, small surprises maybe, to make you want to have the dish again. When you know what the ingredients are then you might be surprised, but when you taste the finished product you will be absolute sure that the dish would not have been as pleasurable without every single one of them. Collier is a master chef of music.
Your analogy between music and fine dining resonates deeply. Much like a connoisseur seeks the subtleties and layers within a dish, musicians with refined palettes gravitate toward the intricate harmonies, unexpected nuances, and innovative combinations in music. Just as a master chef artfully blends flavors to create a memorable dish, musicians like Jacob skillfully weave musical elements, creating compositions that delight the senses and leave a lasting impression. It's this pursuit of intricacy and the appreciation of the smallest nuances that elevate both the culinary and musical experiences, offering a deeper connection and a richer enjoyment for those with a refined palate.
For the pre-chorus with alternate chords, described here starting around 08:00, here are the "simple-name" chords (ignoring most sevenths, sixths, ninths, etc.) I came up with:
Cm | Gm | Am | Em | Fmaj7 | Bm A/C# | D | E | B | G#m G# | Eb ....
I RECOGNIZED LITTLE BLUE FROM THE THUMBNAIL YEAHHHHHHH!!!!! Charles, you are so right about that faux modulation section being the musician’s favorite! This video might be the closest anyone besides me has gotten to articulating why this chord progression builds on itself so well. The chord progression in the new key uses whole step chunks like the old one and purposely spells as C sharp instead of D flat - it sets up a contrast between darkening/brightening feelings on the same note. There’s some chords I hear slightly differently than you. I hear the intermediate D chord in between Bbm7 and AbM7 as a B7/A. (Edit: re-listened in the car and I hear that lower note, seems like Eb). I don’t hear the Cb in the “F half diminished 7th chord” you mentioned; I hear that as a Db chord. (My interpretation also allows for the C melody note). If any of you nerds are interested in microtonality I played a 26-tone equal tempered electric piano cover of that song on my channel (don’t listen on phone), and there’s a theory explanation after.
one of favourite artists Ben Folds is a master at these types of substitutions, ones that match the emotion. especially in his trio Ben Folds Five.
This harmony changes fill my soul 😮
The first time I heard Little Blue, I wept… like for days! The chords he plays literally penetrate all blocks, fears, insecurities and connect you to your inner light! Just Magical!!
I was fortunate enough to experience Jacob Live for his D’Jesse Vol. 4 tour. There’s nothing on earth like him!
1:12 I love how the grass in the background echoes your hair.
when charles cornell analyzes jacob collier its just amazing: two geniuses at work
This one, The Sun is in Your Eyes, his cover of Fix You, and his song with Lizzy McAlpine and John Mayer all feel like a warm hug.
There are a few thoughts I had about thus song.
A. It's beautiful. B. It feels a bit like he's creating more accessible music for exactly that reason, to make it more accessible which leads me to C. As a touring artist, I think he always intended to have audience choirs. Writing a harmonically simple chorus made it much easier to have audiences sing along.
I think it's a neat trick and doesn't detract from his musical genius, but I'd personally like to see him go MORE sideways into Jazz territory. There still plenty of time for that though. 😊
You actually introduced me to Jacob years ago and for that I'm forever grateful!!! Your videos on Jacob stand out above many other Jacob analysis due to your immense understanding of music! Thanks Charles :) oh i use to watch your funny videos on Cardi B and all those too... very funny!
beginning is a bit like an uplifting "and so it goes"
It DOES sound like And So it Goes
Little Blue made me happy-sob so hard.. the song really soothed my inner child.. it felt almost indescribable
❤❤🎉🎉❤❤ yes great song for Inner Child healing
I think this song shows how Jacob matured
7:17 I hear an E in the bass, and playing on the piano I hear Cb 2nd inversion add 2. So Eb2, Gb3, Cb4, Db4, Eb4. The notes are the same as the B 2nd inversion add 2 which would be notated F# instead of Gb, etc. Anyway, the Gb (F#) stands out as the melody and an octave below as the dissonance with the Eb bass as he moves from Ab3 (the 7th in the V7) to the Gb3. So he's doing the F, Gb, G run and you can also hear the subtle addition of the 7th rocking down and up Ab, Gb, G.
6:24 As you play the song on Piano it almost sounds like it could be a christmas song.
I wish I would have something in my life to be as enthusiastic as Charles about melodies and chord progressions. I`m not big on music theory but it`s a pure pleasure to watch and listen to you Charles, brings me a lot of joy!
I had the pleasure of experiancing this wonderful song at the Hollywood Bowl on my birthday this past Sept. I've been following Jacob since he bagan on YT some 14 years ago. And you are right about none musicians not understanding his genius because I went with my girlfriend and a few other non musicians. The show was Incredible and the people I went with really didn't care for it. That was actually a bit frustrating. Ah well.
I flew out to see that show at the Hollywood Bowl as well. Such a great night. Little Blue was very memorable. I know this because I don't remember the name of the other songs.
I RECENTLY DISCOVERED THIS SONG AND I LOOOOVE IT SO MUCH! I'm so happy you made a video about this! You are amazing!!
dude. This is, like, the cadence of every other modern worship song.
This is one of the best music analytic videos I have ever watched; i am learning so your explanations and especially your facial expressions make it memorable; Thankyou so much
The live version in the church had be sobbing like a baby it’s so astoundingly beautiful
Yeah, me too. I love him to death but there's something about his live performances that will always crush whatever he does in the studio. His musical...?empathy? is just out of this world, it's like he has direct access to how he wants you to feel
Jacob Collier is a living legend, just an incredible honor to live in a time where you can follow his musical progression.
What I wouldn't give to hear a collab between Jacob Collier and Bill Wurtz. God only knows what those two would create together.
Honestly the ending is the most amazing part to me. The mix and the sounds are just melting my ears. Do love how subtle he was in most of the song throwing in hints here and there.
I love this song. I am a musician, and I can get out on some of the stuff that he does that isn’t quite so accessible, but first and foremost, I like music to listen to it. The same reason that Chopin is my favorite composer. I feel like Jacob has reached that point where he is now focused on the song. This is great for all of us to live in both worlds!
I could listen to just Jacob's chords for an eternity
THIS title, THAT is how you drag people in. GREAT stuff man, love all your content. Just needed to reflect that this title dragged me in immediately.
The more I see of Jacob’s videos with a live audience choir, the more I feel the need to go to one of his concerts. The harmonics lifts my spirit and brings tears to my eyes because the harmony just flows so well and so smooth. Can you say goosebumps…? ❤️🙏🫶😊
I would like to understand my dislike of Jacob Collier. His music does nothing to me. It's like whenever I hear him play, sing, or explain music I feel very unmusical, uninspired, tired, without energy, supressed, suffocated. But I still find him fascinating, because he's basically a library in a way.
His music is too fancy for me. I love Little Blue though, because of how simple it is, except for all the weird key things happening, which keeps it spicy lol
You don't have to understand it - its fine to not enjoy something, but dont waste energy and space explaining your hate as if you're justified to hate on it - thats where you become ignorant. Just don't watch the video.
I'd be more ignorant if I didn´t watch the video. It's important to understand why we don´t like certain things, it's self-reflexion, it's trying to see our shadows.
In a way listening what we don´t like is also useful. It's not justifying hate, because you can hate whatever, you have that right, as well the opposite. But understanding is good.
The weird cunundrum is that for me his music is very "brainy". Is like if understanding is all there is. So, fun fact, I'd have to go listen him trying to look out for emotion, or what the emotional is trying to tell.
@@MadJack122Dislike is not hatred.
I understand, but if you go to his show you will love it... I started listening to him, and it wasn't my favorite then I went to one of his shows and it was a whole experience
I just went to see this tour and Jacob is an incredibly generous musician. The concert itself was just so beautiful and fun.
Love seeing your breakdowns of his stuff!
as someone who listens to this song religiously every single day, I really appreciate you making this video. I've always wanted an in-depth analysis of this song specifically, and this honestly is a dream come true! thank you Charles!
He's so amazing live. Being in the audience and somehow intuitively being conducted in 3 part harmonies with no rehearsals. Also he's really funny and will weave in heckles into his set.
Finally, the two genius meeting (edit:my bad it already happened before)
Actually, he has done 3 or 4 Videos now about Jacob
@@diplomatic.d5447 thanks for the info, I will check
Showed Jacob to my friends and one literally just said "it's so much music per music"
Having musicians like Jacob Collier alive in the world today must feel like what it felt like when Mozart was alive.
Doubtful. And Mozart didn't use autotune..
Sounds like mid 1990s Muzak to me.
@@morbidmanmusic no music on your profile, not surprised. Keyboard warrior wishes he had 5 Grammys before he was 30.
@@philiphopper4885it’s just an opinion
@@hypotheticalpineapple a bad one
Love the Jacob content. And little blue feels like being hugged by a song. Thanks!
Im a musician and I understand music theory and stuff, and I appreciate how cool Jacob’s music is. But it still sounds super weird to me, I just wouldn’t listen to it.
same. not exactly weird to me - just real boring. no soul or groove - just harmonies anbd cheesy lyrics
yep same. it's definitely not a new or original opinion, but Jacob Collier is probably the most talented musician that i will never willingly listen to for more than a couple minutes. respect for his brain is off the charts though.
Right? I'm not even a quarter as talented as he is and I don't hate him either. It just feels like he inserts complex chord progressions into melodies, not because they sound good but just because they sound complex.
LOL! Of course they sound good to anyone with at least a little sophistication, especially with jazz progressions. Most standard chords are pretty boring. @@BrightsonDavid
@@samarsa.LOL! No soul or groove! LOL! FFS, you must know very little of his music. Although that's not the point of thi song at all which is about heart.
8:44 has gotta be the funniest thing I’ve seen in a while. Fingers malfunctioning from being truly and utterly starstruck by the music
Nice video Jacob is a genius
Wrong notes definitely do not exist on the piano because of how it's tuned (arguably, as an instruments that can't be tuned as well as other string instruments), however his choices are held together by context, any note is connected to another through the right progression, expectation breeds disappointment and notes only even exist for our understanding. The spectrum of sound is infinite so even if it sounds bad to our brains mathematical rationality, another species has opportunities to understand even greater nuance in notes than us in the same way we could keep dividing the light spectrum into colours with individual names, sound can have the same happen. It's actually more of a reflection of cultural influence than actual musical understanding in the human brain alone let alone as a whole concept outside of being human.
Jacob is probably the most musical human to ever live - whatever that means I don't know, but I think it describes him the best.
What a Möbius strip comment.
in a world where Mozart, Prokofiev, Zappa, Coltrane and Luddy Van Beets all existed, that's quite a statement.
You sum it up! I challenged a friend of mine to spot the wonderful little lydian detail (which for me lights up for a split second as a little flash of wonder). He didn't "find" it. It's at 1:40. Love it! And that modulation towards the end.... probably one of the nicest transpositions I've heard in quite a while!
I just really don't understand his appeal.
You're playing these chords and it all just sounds so humdrum.
And JC just always sounds like he's yawning.
I just find all his music so incredibly bland.
I've watched Jacob live twice, once within a couple of meters. To hear and watch him up close is it just amazing.
Always a great time and good fun.
Ok, I will say it.
I do not like how Jacob Collier sing.
I don't understand how you guys listent to him. Yes, i get it, there is intresting harmony in his songs but his singing is so awful. Take for example this song. Don't you think that when the female singer joins it sounds 1000 times better. Maybe I don't understand because I am not a professional musician but I will gladly listen to a less complex piece of music with good vocals than what Jacob is doing.
This is evolution from young Jacob using super-extended chords on every 8th note to sound clever, to choosing tasteful moments to inflect a diatonic song.