Music Irony - Natlaie Merchant - "Wonder" - i-vi-iv-V-I progression + 115 bpm= Unintentional Dimension in Art

The musical irony contained in this song, Wonder, written and performed by former 10,000 Maniacs member Natalie Merchant is that although Natalie is singing about mysterious things, she does so in a joyful way with a diatonic, simple, sweet harmony and melody line. When this song is played at the speed of victory, then, it could well have the unexpected effect of "pushing the song over the top"--meaning that it is just too sickly-sweet, Pollyanna or silly. Here is a song with childlike lyrics, delivered i a gorgeous childlike, energetic manner, where the song keeps it's cool by playing at a haunted danger speed. This is a excellent way to think about writing songs. Most importantly, once you are aware of the speed, the emotion it expresses by speed and how that sits in contrast to the Sesame Street™-like harmonic progression and the sweet "let me take care of you my baby" lyrics will empower you should you open up your mind to the idea.

The MeanFrequencies™ of Wonder by Natalie Merchant are:
meanemotion=foreboding--the ironic, mysterious style
meanspeed=114.7 beats per minute.
meanspace=0.523 seconds per beat.
meanspace=2.092 seconds per measure.
meanbeat=1.91 beats per second.
meanpulse=1.91 cycles per second.
meanpitch=489.387 Hertz, 84 cents above A#4/Bb4=466.164 Hertz and 98 cents below B4=493.883 Hertz .

Ian Schneider
19 September 2006