Gwen Stefanis 2005 hit Hollaback Girl utilizes percussion and two harmonies to depict a rivalry or fight between two presumably high school students: Stefani and a cheerleader. The two harmonies can be attached to these two characters; Stefani is D-sharp minor (as she spends most of her time rapping/battle-crying on D-sharp) and the pom-pommed character is B major. Indeed, the chorus alternates only between these two harmonies as Stefani asserts that this is her shit. The first chorus has just the plucking of a guitar while the first and second repetitions add a whole brass section, indicating that Stefani has really gathered her pack to sock it to the cheerleader. The alternating harmonies add to Stefanis words, both of us want to be the winner, but there can only be one. The song ends with the third repetition of the chorus and the brass strongly finishing A-sharp to B natural. If we are to attribute the B major to the cheerleader, then it appears that the cheerleader has the last say with her leading tone to tonic finish (and not some D-sharp minor/Stefani triumph). What is this trying to say to the listener? Perhaps that high school bullying does not pay off in the end? Perhaps that violence is not the answer. Music theory strikes again!
Posted on: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 03:39:03 +0000
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