The 100 best pop/rock/etc songs in waltz time

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Beat me daddy, three to the bar...
Also, is there any hip-hop in 3/4?

100. The Byrds - "Get To You"

Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 07:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Broadcast to thread.

hmmm (hmmm), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 07:33 (twenty-one years ago)

99. Metallica - Orion (well, parts of it)

M Carty (mj_c), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 07:57 (twenty-one years ago)

98. Norwegian Wood, Bealtes / Fourth Time Around, Dylan / Sing it Again, Beck - so similar as to count as one entry?

bham, Tuesday, 4 May 2004 08:29 (twenty-one years ago)

except Fourth Time Around is in 6/8, i think...

97: diamonds and gold - Tom Waits

Robbie Lumsden (Wallace Stevens HQ), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 08:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Do Belly's 12/16 shanties count?

Super-Kate (kate), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 08:50 (twenty-one years ago)

95: "High School Dance Hit"(i think its called) and the whole of "waltz" by Rex

Flotsam of the Fishfolk (Flotsam of the Fishfolk), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 08:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Mention 3/4 time and I can't shift "Eye Dancing" out my head. But you won't have heared that one...

mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 08:58 (twenty-one years ago)

94: The Waltz by Dexys Midnight Runners

Robbie Lumsden (Wallace Stevens HQ), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 09:28 (twenty-one years ago)

93. Boom Bang-a-Bang - Lulu
92. A Mouse Lived In A Windmill - Des O'Connor

Quality records, methinks.

NickB (NickB), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 09:37 (twenty-one years ago)

91-87. er, lots of Modern Life/Parklife-era Blur, can't remember titles, can anyone help?

CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 09:44 (twenty-one years ago)

86. The Carny - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Onimo (GerryNemo), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 10:38 (twenty-one years ago)

85. 'my sweet prince' - placebo.

our brian kisses goodbye 2 the hard stuff but writes about doing so as if he were saying goodbye to a lover.

piscesboy, Tuesday, 4 May 2004 10:40 (twenty-one years ago)

There are no bad songs in 3/4 time - it just WORKS for ballads so much better than 4/4 - far more swoony and romantic with a natural momentum to it.

Actually, a few of the Blur-esque farting fairground type ones Charlie talks about were pretty piss poor.

Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 10:48 (twenty-one years ago)

84. "Fairytale of New York" (the main part of the song) - Pogues and Kirsty MacColl

83. "Innocent When You Dream" - Tom Waits

Joe (Joe), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 11:07 (twenty-one years ago)

82. "Hickory Wind" - The Byrds/Gram Parsons

Joe (Joe), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 11:08 (twenty-one years ago)

81. Red House - Jimi Hendrix (hey! a non-ballad!)

Robbie Lumsden (Wallace Stevens HQ), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 11:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Red House, at least any version of it that I've heard, is in 4/4, not 3/4.

Palomino (Palomino), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 11:24 (twenty-one years ago)

oooops. i mean

81: Manic Depression - Jimi Hendrix

Robbie Lumsden (Wallace Stevens HQ), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 11:32 (twenty-one years ago)

80. Into U - Richard X feat. Jarvis Cocker
79. Static's Waltz - Kid Koala
78. Two Hearts In 3/4 Time - The Avalanches
77. Shadow - Britney Spears
76. I Want You - Janet Jackson

Barima (Barima), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 11:42 (twenty-one years ago)

75. Monday Morning - The Church

Palomino (Palomino), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 11:47 (twenty-one years ago)

74. Kiss from a Rose - Seal

Palomino (Palomino), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 11:48 (twenty-one years ago)

74. Ditchdigger--Rocket from the Crypt

and Kanye has one, but I'm too lazy to check it right now

dr. phil (josh langhoff), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 11:48 (twenty-one years ago)

73--sorry!

dr. phil (josh langhoff), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 11:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Can we bow to the inevitable right now and declare Golden Brown the #1?

Palomino (Palomino), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 11:51 (twenty-one years ago)

A 1/3 of Give It To You - Jordan Knight would qualify here.

Barima (Barima), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 11:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Golden Brown is not in 3/4 at all! It's in 5/4 or 7/4 or something seriously odd. That's another thread, and one that involves Paranoid Android.

Super-Kate (kate), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 11:58 (twenty-one years ago)

> Golden Brown is not in 3/4 at all!

It's three bars of 3/4 and one of 4/4 per verse, innit?

Palomino (Palomino), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 12:01 (twenty-one years ago)

72 - Killer Mike's verse on Outkast's "The Whole World"

71 - James Brown, "It's a Man's Man's Man's World"

Joseph McCombs, Tuesday, 4 May 2004 12:02 (twenty-one years ago)

70. Rebel Waltz - The Clash

paulhw (paulhw), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 12:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Waltz #2 - Elliot Smith

predictable enough?

umop apisdn (umop apisdn), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 12:07 (twenty-one years ago)

68. Third Stream - 4 Hero

Barima (Barima), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 12:22 (twenty-one years ago)

61: Once around the block - Badly Drawned Boy

mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 12:25 (twenty-one years ago)

60 - "Luau" - Drive Like Jehu

gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 13:12 (twenty-one years ago)

59. 7 Juillet - Dots And Borders

Barima (Barima), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 13:21 (twenty-one years ago)

58. Beach Boys - Busy Doin' Nothing
57. Beach Boys - Time To Get Alone

mms (mms), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 13:23 (twenty-one years ago)

"Busy Doing Nothing" is in 4/4 all the way through. Try counting it.

Anyway, 56. A Minor Forest - ...But the Pants Stay On

Colin Meeder (Mert), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 13:32 (twenty-one years ago)

55. Animals - House of the Rising Sun (*unless that's actually 6/8 time - I'm not always sure)

54. Eno - Back In Judy's Jungle

Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 13:40 (twenty-one years ago)

53. Turn Back The Hands Of Time - R Kelly

Barima (Barima), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 13:48 (twenty-one years ago)

52. "Waltzinblack" by the Stranglers
51. "Golden Brown" by the Stranglers

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 13:50 (twenty-one years ago)

50 A bunch of songs bu Calexico ('Sunken Waltz')
49 Almost every ballad by cowboy junkies

Rush Rhees (Rush Rhees), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 13:57 (twenty-one years ago)

The Rascals (or David Cassidy, or Dusty Springfield) - "How Can I Be Sure"

Joseph McCombs, Tuesday, 4 May 2004 16:03 (twenty-one years ago)

(very x-post)
One of the Blur songs you're talking about is called 'The Debt Collector'

Jamie Fake (the pirate king), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 18:10 (twenty-one years ago)

47. Patti Smith - Birdland

Marcel Post (Marcel Post), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 18:26 (twenty-one years ago)

46. Jay-Z, 'My First Song'
45. D'Angelo, 'Untitled'

Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 18:29 (twenty-one years ago)

44. Ween - "The Blarney Stone"

Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 18:44 (twenty-one years ago)

43. Jimmy Buffet, "Living and Dying in 3/4 Time"

hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 19:44 (twenty-one years ago)

42. carole king (or dusty springfield), "no easy way down." (though maybe that's actually 6/8 or 12/8, as i imagine at least a few of the above are.)

fact checking cuz (fcc), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 19:49 (twenty-one years ago)

41. Black Sabbath "Behind the Wall of Sleep"

dave q, Tuesday, 4 May 2004 19:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music to thread.

jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 19:55 (twenty-one years ago)

91-87. er, lots of Modern Life/Parklife-era Blur, can't remember titles, can anyone help?
Ernold Same is the only one I can think of.
39. Depeche Mode -- Blue Dress (doesn't sound much like it, but it is in 3/4, I've seen the sheet music).

Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 20:10 (twenty-one years ago)

38. Prince - Slow Love
37. The Herbaliser - Mr Chombee Has The Flaw
36. Kelis - Suspended
35. Cornelius - Point Of View Point

Barima (Barima), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 20:51 (twenty-one years ago)

34. Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Maid Of New Orleans

Atnevon (Atnevon), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 22:11 (twenty-one years ago)

33. Mogwai - Take Me Somewhere Nice
32. Mogwai - Ratts of the Capital

Nice Pete, Wednesday, 5 May 2004 05:13 (twenty-one years ago)

31. The Fall - Hip Priest

Sasha (sgh), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 05:47 (twenty-one years ago)

30. "Valse Chinoise", Volapük

(...30. it should be, perhaps? for Alex fired in, attention span-lessly, Stranglers' "Golden Brown" that had already been mentioned upthread)

t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 07:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Sorry to be obscuro, but

29. Kantner/Slick/Freiberg, "Harp Tree Lament" (my favorite Robert Hunter lyric)

Joseph McCombs, Wednesday, 5 May 2004 12:57 (twenty-one years ago)

"Some Velvet Morning" - or parts of it at least.

Huey (Huey), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 13:05 (twenty-one years ago)

27. Alicia Keys - "Falling"

aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 13:11 (twenty-one years ago)

"Waltz #1" ba-bam
"Keepers"- del Amitri

Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 18:26 (twenty-one years ago)

re: 3/4 hip hop, there's a track on Group Home's Living Proof album, tho' it may be a 'lude.

Barima (Barima), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 18:32 (twenty-one years ago)

23. American Without Tears, Elvis Costello

mookieproof (mookieproof), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 19:56 (twenty-one years ago)

bingo!

Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 19:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Shellac 'Didn't we deserve a look at the way you really are?'

mei (mei), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 20:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, Costello seems to like a good waltz. I just noticed this one...

21. Elvis Costello - "Sunday's Best"

Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 23:15 (twenty-one years ago)

That Ramones one that starts "One! Two! Three!".

jazz odysseus (jazz odysseus), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 23:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Flying Burrito Bros. "Juanita"

gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 23:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Pavement - "Shoot The Singer (1 Sick Verse)"

gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 23:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Sam Cooke "Fool's Paradise"

Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 5 May 2004 23:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Os Mutantes "Senhor F" It goes back and forth between 3/4 and 4/4.

not Graham (Inuuu), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 23:48 (twenty-one years ago)

16. The Smashing Pumpkins - "Obscured"

Curt1s St3ph3ns, Thursday, 6 May 2004 00:36 (twenty-one years ago)

15. Red House Painters - "Grace Cathedral Park"

Curt1s St3ph3ns, Thursday, 6 May 2004 00:38 (twenty-one years ago)

14. Nick Drake - "Place to Be" (can't believe I almost forgot that)

Curt1s St3ph3ns, Thursday, 6 May 2004 00:39 (twenty-one years ago)

13. Amateur -Aimee Mann

ipsofacto (ipsofacto), Thursday, 6 May 2004 00:50 (twenty-one years ago)

12. Cocteau Twins "Pearly Dewdrops Drops"

Trayce (trayce), Thursday, 6 May 2004 05:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Another Costello: "New Amsterdam"

Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Thursday, 6 May 2004 06:24 (twenty-one years ago)

10. Coba - "After Dinner (Plaid Mix)"

probably my favourite bit of music to be released last year.

dog latin (dog latin), Thursday, 6 May 2004 07:34 (twenty-one years ago)

9. George Michael - "Cowboys and Angels"

Joseph McCombs, Thursday, 6 May 2004 12:48 (twenty-one years ago)

8. J.Lo and R Kelly - 'Baby, I Love You'
(10 times better if J.Lo was replaced with Kiley Dean, Aaliyah, Javine, Kelly Rowland even*!)

*OK, maybe not.

Barima (Barima), Thursday, 6 May 2004 13:17 (twenty-one years ago)

7. "Solar System," the Beach Boys.

Speaking of the BBs, I'm listening right now, on a sunny day filled with my doin' mostly nothin', to the great "Busy Doin' Nothin'" and it's really a modified bossa nova--I count it in 2/2, not 4/4...classic bossa time signature...

eddie hurt (ddduncan), Thursday, 6 May 2004 19:02 (twenty-one years ago)

6. Weezer - Holiday

Roberton, Thursday, 6 May 2004 20:45 (twenty-one years ago)

5. Sly and the Family Stone - Que Sera Sera

Dr. Annabel Lies (Michael Kelly), Thursday, 6 May 2004 21:35 (twenty-one years ago)

4 - Delgados - "The Light Before We Land"

Ben Dot (1977), Thursday, 6 May 2004 22:00 (twenty-one years ago)

3. Richard Thompson, "Waltzing's for Dreamers"

m.e.a. (m.e.a.), Thursday, 6 May 2004 22:09 (twenty-one years ago)

2. Kate Bush, "Army Dreamers"

mookieproof (mookieproof), Thursday, 6 May 2004 23:00 (twenty-one years ago)

1. the linger effect - aquaman

hehe.

Kent Burt (lingereffect), Friday, 7 May 2004 10:16 (twenty-one years ago)

2/2 is generally just a short-cut to make written parts more readable, but you're right about it being a bossa.

Colin Meeder (Mert), Friday, 7 May 2004 11:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Political Nightmare - Minutemen (As I remember..but I could be wrong.)

dave225 (Dave225), Friday, 7 May 2004 12:00 (twenty-one years ago)

late entry but too good to miss:

Moose - I'll See You In My Dreams

rentboy (rentboy), Friday, 7 May 2004 12:34 (twenty-one years ago)

depressing that you all missed "The Millionaire Waltz" by Queen

Scotto (Scotto), Saturday, 8 May 2004 00:12 (twenty-one years ago)

>2/2 is generally just a short-cut to make written parts more readable, but you're right about it being a bossa.

Well, not exactly. Bossas and sambas are in 2, not 4. If you count bossas--including "Busy Doin'"--in 4, it becomes a fast 4/8, or 8/8, not 4/4. You can hear the "boom" of the 1 and 2 in "Busy" quite clearly. You're right about it being, at times, a convenience, but in bossa nova it's just the way the music is structured. "Waters of March" by Jobim is notable as one of his few songs that are actually in 4/4.

eddie hurt (ddduncan), Saturday, 8 May 2004 19:27 (twenty-one years ago)

"Never Loved a Man The Way I Love You," by Aretha Franklin.


We can make room for it by getting rid of "Kiss From a Rose" and "How Can I Be Sure" (and maybe more), which are in 6/8, not 3/4.


Rick Massimo (Rick Massimo), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 18:14 (twenty-one years ago)

one year passes...
"Manic Depression," The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Friday, 3 June 2005 23:58 (twenty years ago)

"We're brothers who are brothers" - The Brothers Brothers

tremendoid (tremendoid), Saturday, 4 June 2005 00:37 (twenty years ago)

Beach Boys - Busy Doin' Nothing

This song isn't in 3/4, so:

Beach Boys - Friends

PappaWheelie (PappaWheelie), Saturday, 4 June 2005 01:06 (twenty years ago)

Flitcraft: The Mekons

kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Saturday, 4 June 2005 01:17 (twenty years ago)

Not ONE mention of "I Put a Spell on You"?

Nat King Cole: "It's All in the Game"

Burr (Burr), Saturday, 4 June 2005 03:51 (twenty years ago)

aussie band - v capri 1986 "this dance" has waltz beat.
the words: "waltz our lives away".
their songs used to play in aussie soap " neighbours".

ross tinney, Saturday, 4 June 2005 08:03 (twenty years ago)

isn't there at least one beatles songs ?
i'm not a musician but i'll guess - her majesty (if you slow it down)

ross tinney, Saturday, 4 June 2005 08:07 (twenty years ago)

"Her Majesty" isn't a waltz. I don't think the Beatles used 3/4 too often--the only one I can think of is "A Taste of Honey."

Keith C (kcraw916), Saturday, 4 June 2005 13:31 (twenty years ago)

As of 3 days ago, 'Roadside' by The Shortwave Set made my top 10 waltz-time pop songs. This is the NEW (third) thread for requesting and offering songs via YSI/Gmail/Etc.

Negativa, True Believer (You know you love it when I'm dressed in drag) (Barima), Saturday, 4 June 2005 13:44 (twenty years ago)

As of 3 days ago, 'Roadside' by The Shortwave Set made my top 10 waltz-time pop songs. Get it at This is the NEW (third) thread for requesting and offering songs via YSI/Gmail/Etc.

Negativa, True Believer (You know you love it when I'm dressed in drag) (Barima), Saturday, 4 June 2005 13:45 (twenty years ago)

Maybe not quite the genre(s) you're looking for but- John Coltrane to thread with
"My Favorite Things"
"Greensleeves"
"Chim Chim Cher-ee"

k/l (Ken L), Saturday, 4 June 2005 14:07 (twenty years ago)

GGEESUS. This deserves to be number one:
Leonard Cohen ~ Take his Waltz

The Cuddly Cactus, Saturday, 4 June 2005 14:13 (twenty years ago)

72 - Killer Mike's verse on Outkast's "The Whole World"

"The Whole World" does not have a time signature change, and I'm positive that it's in 4/4 throughout the whole song, but it's 4/4 with a swing feel that makes it feel like a sped-up 3/4 measure appears in every beat of the song.

There's a small amount of modern rock bands who owe their success to 3/4 and 6/8 time, including A Perfect Circle ("Judith," "Three Libras"), Chevelle ("The Red," "Closure") and AFI ("Silver And Cold").

Weezer has a decent amount of high-quality 3/4 and 6/8 tracks, including "No Other One," "Devotion," "Waiting On You," and the Rentals' "Naive." (The aforementioned "Holiday" appears to be in 4/4.)

billstevejim (billstevejim), Saturday, 4 June 2005 14:21 (twenty years ago)

Winterlude: Bob Dylan

kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Saturday, 4 June 2005 14:30 (twenty years ago)

Cocteau Twins own this thread.

The plastic yoghurt guns of Ian Riese-Moraine! (Eastern Mantra), Saturday, 4 June 2005 14:57 (twenty years ago)

The Beatles' "For the Benefit of Mr. Kite," but only for a few seconds.

My favorite waltzes of all time are Randy Newman's theme to Ragtime and "I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls" by M. W. Balfe (slaughtered by Enya in The Age of Innocence, but still one of my all-time favorite songs...)

Pete Scholtes, Saturday, 4 June 2005 21:57 (twenty years ago)

did anybody vote for eagles, "take it to the limit"yet? if not, this thread is totally fucked.

jeri curlan, Sunday, 5 June 2005 06:13 (twenty years ago)

Kanye West - Spaceship

Hari A$hur$t (Toaster), Sunday, 5 June 2005 11:15 (twenty years ago)

Kelly Clarkson - Breakway

!

Hari A$hur$t (Toaster), Sunday, 5 June 2005 11:17 (twenty years ago)

Victpr Sylvester and his Orchestra - 'World Cup Waltz'

Negativa, True Believer (You know you love it when I'm dressed in drag) (Barima), Sunday, 5 June 2005 16:42 (twenty years ago)

some corny indie fuxx songs (I made this list like 3 yrs ago)

Pavement, "Stop Breathin'"
Death Cab for Cutie, "No Joy in Mudville"
Stereolab, "Pop Quiz"
High Llamas, "Three Point Scrabble"
Clem Snide, "Your Night to Shine"
Beck, "Dead Melodies"
Blonde Redhead, "Loved Despite of Great Faults"
Rachel's, "The Mysterious Disappearance of Louis LePrince"
Ben Folds Five, "Boxing"
Black Heart Procession, "The Invitation"
Nick Drake, "Saturday Sun"
Pullman, "Lysayna"
Badly Drawn Boy, "Stone on the Water"

jaymc (jaymc), Sunday, 5 June 2005 16:53 (twenty years ago)

"Dear Doctor" - Rolling Stones
"Sin City" - Flying Burrito Brothers

Keith C (kcraw916), Sunday, 5 June 2005 17:02 (twenty years ago)

three years pass...

"Perpetual Change" by Yes (on the live Yessongs album) has a great middle bit jam in 3/4 time. Bruford drumming. I steal that.

"Unquiet Slumbers for the Sleepers in That Quiet Earth" has a very nice, long drawn early section in 3/4 time. Phil Collins has a cool beat going on there.

there are others

FlametopFred, Friday, 6 June 2008 19:04 (seventeen years ago)

In response to some posts a bit higher up, the Beatles did 3/4 for a few other tracks. Baby's in Black, You've Got to Hide Your Love Away, I Me Mine (on verses), She's Leaving Home. Probably some others. I don't know if I'd put any of them on a 100-best list, though.

As for Blur, for some reason the only one coming to mind is the Parklife b-side Theme From an Imaginary Film.

So my only contribution to the list for the time being is Elliott Smith - Between the Bars.

asey, Sunday, 8 June 2008 14:38 (seventeen years ago)

(The aforementioned "Holiday" appears to be in 4/4.)

Holiday is 12/8.

You've Got to Hide Your Love Away is 6/8. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds is 3/4.

St3ve Go1db3rg, Sunday, 8 June 2008 15:14 (seventeen years ago)

Black Sabbath-War Pigs (the intro)

Bill Magill, Monday, 9 June 2008 16:40 (seventeen years ago)

Holiday is 12/8.

Replace with "No Other One."

billstevejim, Monday, 9 June 2008 18:53 (seventeen years ago)

Weezer has a decent amount of high-quality 3/4 and 6/8 tracks, including "No Other One," "Devotion," "Waiting On You," and the Rentals' "Naive." (The aforementioned "Holiday" appears to be in 4/4.)

"No Other One" is true 3/4 time throughout. The rest are 6/8.

billstevejim, Monday, 9 June 2008 18:59 (seventeen years ago)

Can't believe nobody's mentioned the best cheesy waltz pop song:
Tom Jones - What's New, Pussycat

sparkletuna, Tuesday, 10 June 2008 12:37 (seventeen years ago)

'This Boy' - The Beatles

BlackIronPrison, Tuesday, 10 June 2008 13:04 (seventeen years ago)

Also, is there any hip-hop in 3/4?

Was that rap in the Adams Family movie in 6/8 or something? "do what they wanna do say what they wanna say"

RabiesAngentleman, Tuesday, 10 June 2008 13:19 (seventeen years ago)

'This Boy' - The Beatles

That's 12/8.

3/4 = ONE and two and three and
6/8 = ONE two three TWO two three
12/8 = ONE two three TWO two three THREE two three FOUR two three

St3ve Go1db3rg, Tuesday, 10 June 2008 14:40 (seventeen years ago)

and 9/8 = ONE two three two two three three two three

Simple time signatures have beats that get broken into two parts, compound time signatures have beats that are broken into three parts. The basic beat in 3/4 is the quarter note, the basic beat in 6/8, 9/8, and 12/8 is the dotted quarter. 3/4 is simple triple (three quarter notes), 6/8 is compound duple (two dotted quarters), 9/8 is compound triple (three dotted quarters), 12/8 is compound quadruple (four dotted quarters).

St3ve Go1db3rg, Tuesday, 10 June 2008 14:45 (seventeen years ago)

I turned my monitor upside down and tried reading that again and it still sounded like someone threw the silverware drawer down the steps.

RabiesAngentleman, Tuesday, 10 June 2008 14:57 (seventeen years ago)

6/8 = ONE two three TWO two three
12/8 = ONE two three TWO two three THREE two three FOUR two three

so wait, what's the difference between 12/8 and just going 'ONE two three TWO two three ONE two three TWO two three'? HOW CAN YOU TELL, aside from actually looking at the written music?

asey, Wednesday, 11 June 2008 12:48 (seventeen years ago)

Radiohead have a couple - Subterranean Homesick Alien and Nude, maybe more.

chap, Wednesday, 11 June 2008 12:58 (seventeen years ago)

so wait, what's the difference between 12/8 and just going 'ONE two three TWO two three ONE two three TWO two three'? HOW CAN YOU TELL, aside from actually looking at the written music?

12/8 and 6/8 sound a lot alike, depends on where you draw the bar line in the written music, like you said. In fact, most people would say "This Boy" is 6/8, not 12/8.

James Redd and the Blecchs, Wednesday, 11 June 2008 13:53 (seventeen years ago)

My text rendering of the time signatures didn't quite do them justice -- the difference between 6/8 and 12/8 is like the difference between 2/4 and 4/4. The former has two beats, strong and weak. The latter has four beats, strong, weak, medium, and weak. 12/8 is the typical meter for doo-wop music. I don't have a recording of This Boy handy, but in my Beatles book it's notated in 12/8.

St3ve Go1db3rg, Wednesday, 11 June 2008 15:18 (seventeen years ago)

Beach Boys - Let the Wind Blow
Beatles - Baby's in Black
Nilsson - 1941
Stereolab - One Small Step
XTC - 1000 Umbrellas

mumpsimus, Monday, 16 June 2008 04:43 (seventeen years ago)

A 1/3 of Give It To You - Jordan Knight would qualify here.
-- Barima (Barima), Tuesday, May 4, 2004 11:55 AM (4 years ago) Bookmark Link

Seconded

Tape Store, Monday, 16 June 2008 05:48 (seventeen years ago)

two years pass...

Mull of Kintyre- Wings
I actually learned to waltz to this one.

JesseJane, Wednesday, 11 August 2010 08:55 (fifteen years ago)

four weeks pass...

Sea Song by Doves

alternative ballroom, Wednesday, 8 September 2010 03:44 (fifteen years ago)

The Beach Boys: Disney Girls
Weezer: My Name Is Jonas
The Corrs: Runaway
The Eagles: Hollywood Waltz
Razorlight: Los Angeles Waltz

jorgybear, Saturday, 11 September 2010 14:18 (fifteen years ago)

'Waltz' by the Mekons, from The Curse Of The Mekons, is fantastic. If you don't know it, go listen to it right now. I am sure you will not regret it. Plus, Sally Timms sings it, beautifully.

Fruitless and Pansy Free (Dr. Joseph A. Ofalt), Sunday, 12 September 2010 00:25 (fifteen years ago)

Fever Ray "I'm Not Done"

Doctor Madame Frances Experimento LLC (SNM), Sunday, 12 September 2010 08:49 (fifteen years ago)

Tom Waits, "Another Man's Vine"

Flergblergtennis (aog208), Sunday, 12 September 2010 13:16 (fifteen years ago)

four months pass...

A really good one to waltz to is Open Arms, Journey and don't forget more Eagles: Saturday Night and Pretty Maid all in a Row. There are many country waltzs. I especially like, A woman has her way by Clint Black and When Love Finds you by vince Gill. Anyone interested in ballroom dancing to mank of the pop/rock hits mentioned above check out ballroombythebay.com A ballroom dance every Wed. at 7:00 p.m. in Santa Monica. For more info you can email ballroombythe✧✧✧@gm✧✧✧.c✧✧ Check it out! It's a lively group of friendly dancers and a dance lesson is included with the $10. admission. Tell them Rita sent you.

rosareetie, Saturday, 22 January 2011 17:30 (fifteen years ago)

Cass McCombs- You Saved My Life

ridiculoud (mizzell), Saturday, 22 January 2011 17:31 (fifteen years ago)

that's.......ballroombythe✧✧✧@gm✧✧✧.c✧✧

rosareetie, Saturday, 22 January 2011 17:33 (fifteen years ago)

those diamonds are very pretty, rosareetie.

the loneliness of the dexys midnight runner (unregistered), Saturday, 22 January 2011 18:15 (fifteen years ago)

50 A bunch of songs bu Calexico ('Sunken Waltz')

^ love this

busytits (rip van wanko), Saturday, 22 January 2011 18:23 (fifteen years ago)

Drive-by Truckers - The President's Penis is Missing

Kerm, Saturday, 22 January 2011 18:41 (fifteen years ago)

four years pass...

Better late than never:
Sofa by Frank Zappa. A rousing waltz.

bravenewmalden, Monday, 16 March 2015 11:52 (ten years ago)

four years pass...

<3 waltz time

apparently Jason Isbell does too bc:
• Drive-By Truckers, "Outfit"
• Jason Isbell, "Cover Me Up"

and also The National bc:
• "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks"
• Carin at the Liquor Store"

Larry Elleison (rogermexico.), Thursday, 16 January 2020 05:43 (six years ago)

One Crowded Hour by Augie March in, I think, 6/8. Magnificent song.

Life is a meaningless nightmare of suffering...save string (Chinaski), Thursday, 16 January 2020 09:22 (six years ago)

R.E.M. - Try Not to Breathe

stop creeping my instagram storiez (morrisp), Thursday, 16 January 2020 14:28 (six years ago)

^^ so good

Larry Elleison (rogermexico.), Thursday, 16 January 2020 21:55 (six years ago)

Surprised no one mentioned “Take This Waltz” by Leonard Cohen. I also have a soft spot for Billy Joel’s “Piano Man”.

o. nate, Thursday, 16 January 2020 22:05 (six years ago)

America by Simon and Garfunkel.

Life is a meaningless nightmare of suffering...save string (Chinaski), Friday, 17 January 2020 08:19 (six years ago)

Surprised no one mentioned “Take This Waltz” by Leonard Cohen

It was mentioned, in 2005

van dyke parks generator (anagram), Friday, 17 January 2020 08:31 (six years ago)

One, Two, Three and then a ROCK!!

Mark G, Friday, 17 January 2020 12:23 (six years ago)

No mention of the Banshees' Melt, although it is more like 6/8

Dr X O'Skeleton, Friday, 17 January 2020 18:11 (six years ago)

Magazine, The Great Beautician in the Sky, verse sections are in 3/4, chorus in 4/4

Dr X O'Skeleton, Friday, 17 January 2020 18:15 (six years ago)

Isn’t the chorus of “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds “ also 4/4? Someone mentioned it up thread.

o. nate, Friday, 17 January 2020 18:17 (six years ago)

Beatles - I, Me, Mine

Dr X O'Skeleton, Saturday, 18 January 2020 13:56 (six years ago)

Van Morrison - The Way Young Lovers Do (ok, prob 6/8 again)

Dr X O'Skeleton, Saturday, 18 January 2020 13:57 (six years ago)

"Has he got a friend for me"

thomasintrouble, Saturday, 18 January 2020 16:08 (six years ago)

Donovan - "Catch the Wind". "Norwegian Wood" is probably the best but it was nominated in the second post.

"Piano Man" and "Try Not to Breathe" are in 12/8 imo.

One must put up barriers to keep oneself intact (Sund4r), Sunday, 19 January 2020 00:20 (six years ago)

Ha, online sheet music seems to transcribe "Piano Man" in either 3/4 or 6/8 so. I can see how 6/8 makes sense but the drum beat doesn't support counting it in 3/4 imo.

One must put up barriers to keep oneself intact (Sund4r), Sunday, 19 January 2020 00:27 (six years ago)

Thread title says waltz time. I'm using the more expansive definition of waltz time as any triple meter.

o. nate, Sunday, 19 January 2020 02:12 (six years ago)

At least in standard classical theory, 6/8 = (compound) duple metre; 12/8 = (compound) quadruple metre.

One must put up barriers to keep oneself intact (Sund4r), Sunday, 19 January 2020 02:38 (six years ago)

I'm using the more expansive definition of triple meter as any meter with a waltz feel.

o. nate, Sunday, 19 January 2020 02:43 (six years ago)

"Try Not to Breathe" (is) in 12/8 imo.

This article on the song suggests it may actually be 6/8:

The waltzing instrumental returned for the 1992 demo and recording sessions for Automatic, some of which took place at Woodstock, N.Y.’s Bearsville Sound Studios. At that point, the song was nicknamed “6/8 Sailor” for its time signature, then was marked “Passion” when the final touches were added at Bad Animals in Seattle.

Read More: Michael Stipe Explores Life’s Last Moments with ‘Try Not to Breathe’: The Story Behind Every ‘Automatic for the People' Song | https://diffuser.fm/rem-try-not-to-breathe/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral

stop creeping my instagram storiez (morrisp), Sunday, 19 January 2020 02:45 (six years ago)

(sorry, don’t know that extra junk came along with the paragraph I pasted.)

stop creeping my instagram storiez (morrisp), Sunday, 19 January 2020 02:46 (six years ago)

I mean isn't "Norwegian Wood" more 6/8 too? I wouldn't be suprised if a lot of pop/rock songs with a waltz feel are 6/8 rather than 3/4.

o. nate, Sunday, 19 January 2020 02:47 (six years ago)

Apparently the official sheet music of "Norwegian Wood" has 12/8, and "Piano Man"'s has 3/4. I rest my case!

o. nate, Sunday, 19 January 2020 02:54 (six years ago)

The beat and phrasing in "Try Not to Breathe" suggest groupings of 4 to me but duple vs quadruple can get blurry with pop music.

I agree that 6/8 works with the phrasing of "Norwegian Wood", and I'm pretty sure I've actually used it as an example of 6/8 previously. I think I would still object to identifying a waltz feel in anything with an obvious backbeat.

xp

One must put up barriers to keep oneself intact (Sund4r), Sunday, 19 January 2020 02:55 (six years ago)

Where did you find the official sheet music?

One must put up barriers to keep oneself intact (Sund4r), Sunday, 19 January 2020 02:58 (six years ago)

Well, just looking at the first page of the most reputable looking sheet music that came up on the first page of Google results, with official looking copyright etc. I admit this may not be the dispositive finding.

o. nate, Sunday, 19 January 2020 03:00 (six years ago)

Even the 'scores' that get registered with copyright offices are often after-the-fact, sometimes sketched-out transcriptions and are not necessarily dispositive tbh. The Donovan song is actually one of the only rock-era songs I can think of that feels to be inarguably in triple metre to me, not counting songs with 3/4 passages juxtaposed with other metres (Rush - Limelight, Sonic Youth - Pipeline/Kill Time). "Get to You" is mostly 5/4, surely, except for the bridge.

One must put up barriers to keep oneself intact (Sund4r), Sunday, 19 January 2020 03:08 (six years ago)

"Cloudbusting" another example of a song that moves between 4 and 3.

One must put up barriers to keep oneself intact (Sund4r), Sunday, 19 January 2020 03:09 (six years ago)

I just noticed that the Byrds song I nominated in the first post all those years ago is actually 5/4 much of the time, only moving to 3/4 in certain sections. LOL. (Arguably making it *more* noteworthy, but not so great as an opening post re 3/4.)

Nag! Nag! Nag!, Sunday, 19 January 2020 03:17 (six years ago)

Haha XP!!

Nag! Nag! Nag!, Sunday, 19 January 2020 03:20 (six years ago)

xxxp I get you on the fuzziness of sheet music in this context. The canonical text for rock/pop is the recording, and different people can interpret it differently. Heck probably even different musicians who played on it interpreted it differently (such as the drummer vs the singer or guitarist).

o. nate, Sunday, 19 January 2020 03:32 (six years ago)

yeah most triple meter rock songs are in 6/8 (or use a shuffle beat in 12/8 a la everybody wants to rule the world or never tear us apart). 3/4 time is less driving, it can feel a little stilted in a rock context. 6/8 swings, sounds great in power ballads (we are the champions, nothing else matters)

culture of mayordom (voodoo chili), Sunday, 19 January 2020 04:27 (six years ago)

actually never tear us apart is def 6/8 isn't it?

culture of mayordom (voodoo chili), Sunday, 19 January 2020 04:28 (six years ago)

I'd definitely say 12/8. The chords change once every twelve eighth notes (four beats), the melodic phrases are built around the 12 (or 4) groupings, the guitar plays at the beginning of each grouping of 12 when it enters.

One must put up barriers to keep oneself intact (Sund4r), Sunday, 19 January 2020 04:44 (six years ago)

When there is a standard rock backbeat that would be analysed as 4/4 at any other time, it generally seems most logical/natural to me to continue counting it as quadruple metre even if it is subdivided into triplets, so I tend to default to 12/8 in these situations unless there is a really compelling reason to count 6/8.

One must put up barriers to keep oneself intact (Sund4r), Sunday, 19 January 2020 04:49 (six years ago)

Neil Young's "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" feels like an actual triple metre to me: the drums are actually playing groups of 3, the chords change once every three beats. Agree with "Manic Depression" upthread as well.

One must put up barriers to keep oneself intact (Sund4r), Sunday, 19 January 2020 04:59 (six years ago)

The canonical text for rock/pop is the recording, and different people can interpret it differently. Heck probably even different musicians who played on it interpreted it differently (such as the drummer vs the singer or guitarist).

(I agree with this 100%, to be clear. Obv there are wrong interpretations but there can definitely be multiple credible interpretations.)

One must put up barriers to keep oneself intact (Sund4r), Sunday, 19 January 2020 05:02 (six years ago)

"Cloudbusting" moves between 4/4 and 6/4, sorry. Remembered wrong.

One must put up barriers to keep oneself intact (Sund4r), Sunday, 19 January 2020 05:12 (six years ago)


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