Matt Corriel
HEAR MORE in “Smooth Criminal" by Michael Jackson (American Popular Song Today)
Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson on American Popular Song Today. This week we add "singers inhabiting characters" to our listening toolbox!
Every week on American Popular Song Today, we give you the tools to HEAR MORE in the songs you love. Whether you're here for music appreciation, for songwriting tips, or just for the entertainment part of edutainment, American Popular Song Today will change the way you listen to music!
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Episode 15: SMOOTH CRIMINAL by MICHAEL JACKSON
Thanks to Kate for suggesting that we do Smooth Criminal this week!
TOPICS FOR THIS EPISODE (High-Level):
Singers Inhabiting Characters:
There are three ways a singer can allow additional personalities to have a voice in the song:
1. Add more singers.
2. Allow the music/sound effects to speak for the other personalities.
3. Voice the other personalities him- or herself.
If the singer voices the other personalities him- or herself, there are three ways to do it:
1. Changes in the lyrics, like announcing the speaker's name.
2. Changes in the music, e.g., by shifting speaker with each new section of the song.
3. Changes in the quality of the singer's voice.
TOPICS FOR THIS EPISODE (Detailed):
1:35 CHARACTERS IN A SONG. In the course of a song, singers almost always refer to other characters. Often, that's just a pronoun like "you," "he," or "she," but sometimes the characters have names. With examples from Little Richard (Good Golly Miss Molly), Bob Dylan (Mr. Tambourine Man), The Grateful Dead (Casey Jones), Rick Springfield (Jessie's Girl), Chuck Berry (Johnny B. Goode), Michael Jackson (Billie Jean), The Rolling Stones (Ruby Tuesday), Paul Simon & Art Garfunkle (Mrs. Robinson), Dolly Parton (Jolene), Dexy's Midnight Runners (Come On, Eileen), Derek & the Dominos/Eric Clapton (Layla), Billy Paul (Me and Mrs. Jones), The Counting Crows (Mr. Jones), The Beatles (Eleanor Rigby), and David Bowie (Ziggy Stardust).
2:36 VOICELESS CHARACTERS. The characters referenced in a song almost never get to speak for themselves, even though singers might quote what the characters have said. Rarely do we break free of the quotation marks. With an example from John Mellencamp (Jack and Diane).
3:16 THERE ARE THREE WAYS TO GIVE OTHER CHARACTERS A VOICE.
3:21 FIRST, ADD ANOTHER SINGER(S) TO VOICE THE OTHER CHARACTER(S). With examples from Ray Charles (Hit the Road Jack) and Ed Sheeren & Beyonce (Perfect (Duet)).
4:01 SECOND, LET THE MUSIC OR SOUND EFFECTS SPEAK FOR THE OTHER CHARACTERS. With an example from Jackson Browne (The Late Show).
4:39 THIRD, DO ALL THE VOICES YOURSELF. Don't quote the other characters; be the other characters. There are three ways to do this.
IF YOU DO ALL THE VOICES YOURSELF, THERE ARE THREE WAYS TO ANNOUNCE A CHANGE IN PERSONALITY:
5:05 ANNOUNCE A CHANGE IN PERSONALITY THROUGH THE LYRICS. With examples from David Bowie (Space Oddity) and Eminem (Stan).
6:05 ANNOUNCE A CHANGE IN PERSONALITY THROUGH THE MUSIC. With an example from Billy Joel (Scenes from an Italian Restaurant).
6:39 ANNOUNCE A CHANGE IN PERSONALITY BY MANIPULATING YOUR VOICE. With an example from Biggie Smalls/The Notorious B.I.G. (Warning).
7:15 TURNING TO SMOOTH CRIMINAL BY MICHAEL JACKSON.
In Smooth Criminal, Michael Jackson uses all three techniques to inhabit multiple personalities. In Smooth Criminal, Michael Jackson is the voice of (1) a detached omniscient narrator, (2) one concerned person on the scene, (3) a whole group of concerned people on the scene, (4) Annie herself, and (5) Annie's devastated lover. There's just nothing like it!
11:32 WHO IS MICHAEL JACKSON? Answer: Everyone!
11:44 WRAPPING UP.
12:00 CALL FOR COMMENTS. Can you think of any songs where the singer goes beyond referencing or quoting other characters and actually inhabits the other character(s)? Also: who are your favorite fictional characters in popular music?
12:22 NEXT WEEK. The Star-Spangled Banner!
12:45 SUBSCRIBE SONG.
MATT CORRIEL is a songwriter and lawyer. He's written hundreds of songs and half-a-dozen musicals, including several shows for teenagers available through Dramatic Publishing Company (https://www.dramaticpublishing.com/authors/profile/view/url/matt-corriel). Matt is a graduate of Nanuet High School, Harvard College, and the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
TEDDY ROOSEVELT is a cavagoldoodle, which is a mini-goldendoodle with a little cavalier king charles in the mix to keep his nose squat and his spirit fearless. He has many opinions.
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