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Formal Functions and Rotations in Top-40 EDM

Brad Osborn University of Kansas [email protected] “Top-40 EDM” Selena Gomez & “Wolves” (2016)

Time Section Formal Functions 1:24 Verse 2 (V) unique lyrics, neutral texture 1:39 Prechorus (Pr) vocal hook, thicker texture vocal hook (song title), 1:55 ? rhythmic build, rising pitch beat returns, thickest texture, 2:26 ? untexted vocalise, vocal samples I. EDM sections— Riser (R) and Drop (D) Part II: “Riserchorus” (Rc) Part III: Rotational form in Top-40 EDM Riser (R): rising pitch function Riser (R): rhythmic build function

Quarter Notes….…………………………Eighth…………………………Sixteenth Drop (D): beat returns, highest volume

[The riser] “build[s] up a heightened sense of anticipation in the listener, whose attention is directed toward the rising frequencies until it is time for the drop” (Peres 2016: 19) Drop (D): beat returns, highest volume

Riser……………………………………… Drop………………….. Part II: the “Riserchorus” (Rc) V–C–Pc (pop–rock) rotation in Carly Rae Jepsen “Party for One” (2018)

Time Section Formal Functions 1:10 Verse 2 (V) Unique lyrics, medium volume 1:25 Chorus (C) Vocal hook (song title), thicker texture

PRESERVES CHORUS BEAT, 1:56 Postchorus (Pc) untexted vocalise, thickest texture V–Rc–D (Top-40 EDM) rotation in & David Guetta “Laserlight” (2011)

Time Section Formal Functions Unique lyrics, medium volume/ 1:31 Verse 2 (V) texture, least memorable Title lyric, build, rising pitch, highest 2:01 Riserchorus (Rc) expectation, thinnest texture, most memorable Beat returns, climactic, sidechaining, 2:31 Drop (D) no vocals/vocal samples V–Pr–C–Pc (pop–rock) rotation in “Chandelier” (2014)

Time Section Formal Functions Unique lyrics, medium volume/texture, 1:39 Verse 2 (V) least memorable 1:50 Prechorus (Pr) Vocal hook, thicker texture Title lyric, most memorable, louder 2:02 Chorus (C) volume Thickest texture, PRESERVES 2:46 Postchorus (Pc) CHORUS BEAT V–Pr–Rc–D (Top-40 EDM) rotation in Selena Gomez & Marshmello “Wolves” (2016)

Time Section Formal Functions 1:24 Verse 2 (V) Unique lyrics, neutral texture 1:39 Prechorus (Pr) Vocal hook, thicker texture Vocal hook (song title), 1:55 Riserchorus (Rc) rhythmic build, rising pitch Beat returns, thickest texture, 2:26 Drop (D) untexted vocalise, vocal samples V–Pr–Rc–D (Top-40 EDM) rotation in & “Outside” (2014)

Time Section Formal Functions 1:24 Verse 2 (V) Unique lyrics, neutral texture 1:39 Prechorus (Pr) Vocal hook, thicker texture Vocal hook (song title), rhythmic 1:55 Riserchorus (Rc) build 2:24 Drop (D) Beat returns, thickest texture Intensity curves: pop–rock vs. Top-40 EDM

V Pr C Pc (pop-rock)

V Pr Rc D

(Top-40 EDM) Part III: Rotational form in Top-40 EDM Pop–Rock: “Compound AA(B)A Form”

A1

A2

B

A3 Top-40 EDM: “Compound AAA Form”

Rotation Time Section Description A1 0:01 Intro Arpeggiated bass 0:07 V1 Vocals enter, unique lyrics 0:22 Pc Vocal hook, thicker texture 0:37 Rc Title lyric, thinnest texture, most memorable, build, rising pitch 0:52 D Beat returns, sampled vocals (“a-lone”), thickest texture A2 1:07 V2 Recap verse, unique lyrics 1:22 Pc Recap Pr 1:37 Rc Recap Rc 1:52 D Recap D Riserchorus- A3 2:07 Rc vocal melody with thinner texture bridge Riserchorus- Combine Rc title lyric and vocal melody with D beat and vocal 2:22 Drop samples 2:52– Riserchorus- Rc vocal melody with intro texture 3:04 outro Anne-Marie & David Guetta “Don’t Leave Me Alone” (2018)

Rotation Time Section Description A1 0:01 Intro Arpeggiated bass 0:07 V1 Vocals enter, unique lyrics 0:22 Pc Vocal hook, thicker texture Title lyric, thinnest texture, most memorable, 0:37 Rc build, rising pitch Beat returns, sampled vocals (“a-lone”), 0:52 D thickest texture Hyper-hybrid sections in A3

Riserchorus- A3 2:07 Rc vocal melody with thinner texture Bridge Riserchorus- Combine Rc title lyric and vocal melody 2:22 Drop with D beat and vocal samples 2:52– Riserchorus- Rc vocal melody with intro texture 3:04 Outro The Riserchorus-Drop in A3

Song Year Artist(s) Riserchorus-Drop Scary Monsters and Nice 2010 Skrillex 3:05 Sprites Party Rock Anthem 2011 LMFAO (ft. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock) 3:16 Right Now 2012 (ft. David Guetta) 2:13 Sweet Nothing 2012 Calvin Harris (ft. Florence Welch) 3:11 Heroes (We Could Be) 2014 (ft. Tove Lo) 2:40 Lean On 2015 Major Lazer (ft. MØ & DJ Snake) 2:32 Rockabye 2016 Clean Bandit (ft. & Anne-Marie) 3:21 Ritual 2016 Marshmello (ft. Wrabel) 3:20 Let Me Love You 2016 DJ Snake & Marshmello (ft. ) 2:24 Would You Ever? 2017 Skrillex & 3:21 …Ready For It? 2017 Taylor Swift 2:49 Don’t You Ever Leave Me 2018 David Guetta (ft. Anne-Marie) 2:22 Your Love 2018 David Guetta and 2:43 Battle 2018 David Guetta (ft. ) 2:07 IDGAF 2018 Dua Lipa (Hazers Remix) 3:04 Woman Like Me 2018 (ft. ) 3:06 The Riserchorus-Drop in A3

Successive rotations in music are often subjected to telling variation…

Not infrequently these varied multiple recyclings build cumulatively toward a longer-range goal (Hepokoski and Darcy 2006: 611) Hybrid sections as reflecting DJ practice Formal Functions and Rotations in Top-40 EDM

Brad Osborn University of Kansas [email protected]