Norah Jones, Not Too Late--The elementary speeds viewed through meanspeed music theory

Norah Jones in concert, April, 2003


Not Too Late is the third album by American jazz and pop singer Norah Jones, released by EMI in Australia on January 27, 2007 and by Blue Note Records in the United States on January 30, 2007. It was produced by Lee Alexander, a songwriter and bassist on Jones's previous albums (Come Away with Me and Feels like Home), and it features guest appearances by organist Larry Goldings, singer-songwriter M. Ward and Kronos Quartet.

The elementary speeds of each of 14 tracks on the album were measured as:

Track #1
song title=“Wish I Could”
meanspeed=146.4 beats per minute
meanemotion=waltz
meanspace=0.410 seconds per beat
meanphase=2.44 beats per second
meanpitch=624.55 hertz, 6 cents higher than D#5/Eb5=622.254 hertz, 94 cents lower than E5=659.256 hertz.

Track #2
song title=“Sinkin’ Soon”
meanspeed=92.1 beats per minute
meanemotion=enthusiasm
meanspace=0.652 seconds per beat
meanphase=1.53 beats per second
meanpitch=392.85 hertz, 4 cents higher than G4=391.995 hertz, 96 cents lower than G#4/Ab4=415.305 hertz.

Track #3
song title=“The Sun Doesn’t Like You”
meanspeed=111.9 beats per minute
meanemotion=lust
meanspace=0.536 seconds per beat
meanphase=1.86 beats per second
meanpitch=477.32 hertz, 40 cents higher than A#4/Bb4=466.164 hertz, 60 cents lower than B4=493.883 hertz.

Track #4
song title=“Until The End”
meanspeed=62.3 beats per minute
meanemotion=ceremony
meanspace=0.964 seconds per beat
meanphase=1.04 beats per second
meanpitch=265.67 hertz, 26 cents higher than C4=261.626 hertz, 74 cents lower than C#4/Db4=277.183 hertz.

Track #5
song title=“Not My Friend”
meanspeed=74.4 beats per minute
meanemotion=grace
meanspace=0.807 seconds per beat
meanphase=1.24 beats per second
meanpitch=317.30 hertz, 33 cents higher than D4=293.665 hertz, 67 cents lower than D#4/Eb4=311.127 hertz.

Track #6
song title=“Thinking About You”
meanspeed=61.9 beats per minute
meanemotion=sincerity
meanspace=0.969 seconds per beat
meanphase=1.03 beats per second
meanpitch=264.21 hertz, 17 cents higher than C4=261.626 hertz, 83 cents lower than C#4/Db4=277.183 hertz.

Track #7
song title=“Broken”
meanspeed=106.7 beats per minute
meanemotion=lust
meanspace=0.562 seconds per beat
meanphase=1.78 beats per second
meanpitch=455.16 hertz, 58 cents higher than A4=440.000 hertz, 42 cents lower than A#4/Bb4=466.164 hertz.

Track #8
song title=“My Dear Country”
meanspeed=147.6 beats per minute
meanemotion=waltz
meanspace=0.407 seconds per beat
meanphase=2.46 beats per second
meanpitch=629.64 hertz, 20 cents higher than D#5/Eb5=622.254 hertz, 80 cents lower than E5=659.256 hertz.

Track #9
song title=“Wake Me Up”
meanspeed=108.3 beats per minute
meanemotion=lust
meanspace=0.554 seconds per beat
meanphase=1.81 beats per second
meanpitch=462.21 hertz, 85 cents higher than A4=440.000 hertz, 15 cents lower than A#4/Bb4=466.164 hertz.

Track #10
song title=“Be My Somebody”
meanspeed=138.7 beats per minute
meanemotion=[mixed fast]
meanspace=0.433 seconds per beat
meanphase=2.31 beats per second
meanpitch=591.81 hertz, 48 cents higher than A4=440.000 hertz, 52 cents lower than A#4/Bb4=466.164 hertz, 13 cents higher than D5=587.330 hertz, 87 cents lower than D#5/Eb5=622.254 hertz.

Track #11
song title=“Little Room”
meanspeed=122.3 beats per minute
meanemotion=victory
meanspace=0.490 seconds per beat
meanphase=2.04 beats per second
meanpitch=521.95 hertz,96 cents higher than B4=493.883 hertz, 4 cents lower than C5=523.251 hertz.

Track #12
song title=“Rosie’s Lullaby”
meanspeed=121.7 beats per minute
meanemotion=victory, as a waltz
meanspace=0.493 seconds per beat
meanphase=2.03 beats per second
meanpitch=519.32 hertz, 87 cents higher than B4=493.883 hertz, 13 cents lower than C5=523.251 hertz.

Track #13
song title=“Not Too Late”
meanspeed=88.2 beats per minute
meanemotion=renewal
meanspace=0.680 seconds per beat
meanphase=1.47 beats per second
meanpitch=376.35 hertz, 27 cents higher than F#4/Gb4=369.994 hertz, 73 cents lower than G4=391.995 hertz.

Track #14
song title=“Sinkin’ Soon”
meanspeed=90.0 beats per minute
meanemotion=enthusiasm
meanspace=0.667 seconds per beat
meanphase=1.50 beats per second
meanpitch=384.00 hertz, 64 cents higher than F#4/Gb4=369.994 hertz, 36 cents lower than G4=391.995 hertz.


Ian Schneider
meanspeed.com
January 31, 2007