Calling musicologists: Sometimes It Snows In April

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I know nothing about music theory, so can someone explain, in simple terms, why Sometimes It Snows In April is so damn moving? Particularly the note he hits on the word "wish" in the third line of the chorus - what is that? It's almost like he's hit the wrong note, it's so jarring, but it's perfect. I'm guessing it's some sort of diminished flat, but what do I know? Nothing.

Anyone who understands musicology (music theory, that is, not the Prince album) care to explain?

― davidsim (davidsim), Sunday, 5 March 2006 18:12 (nineteen years ago)

I don't think it's theory that makes a song affect you, davidsim.

― utter joob (smittish yout fawb dill), Sunday, 5 March 2006 18:29 (nineteen years ago)

He is using the same technique as, among others, Ray Davies has been using before - on purpose not hitting the notes entirely right.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 5 March 2006 18:55 (nineteen years ago)

I cried the first time I heard it, but I'm not sure mushroom inebriation falls under the rubric of music theory. I hope this helps.

― tremendoid (tremendoid), Sunday, 5 March 2006 20:35 (nineteen years ago)

could be a quarter tone, i.e. between a C and a C# for example, like john taverner likes to work with

― jonathon, Sunday, 5 March 2006 20:39 (nineteen years ago)

anyone ever hear "erstlive 3" with Burkhard Stangl and christof kurzmann doing a 30 minute version of this song?
i remember thinking it was pretty amazing, these european avante-garde musicians taking an amazing but dated prince song (one that never seems to make it on to many "best of" comps) and treating it with uch reverence
ima have to go dig that out, maybe post an excerpt

― capnkickass (gloriagaynor), Sunday, 5 March 2006 20:45 (nineteen years ago)

I think those intro piano (guitar?) chords sound a little like the opening chords to Fleetwood Mac's Sara--like a C Chord and then a D chord played over a C, etc....also the sound of the chair creaking--yes, very moving...would love to hear the above version, capn!

― douglas eklund (skolle), Monday, 6 March 2006 04:33 (nineteen years ago)

i don't know if he's singing a quarter tone flat or a few cents flat or what, but i think the more obvious thing about the word "wish" is that he's simply going outside the key of the chorus, over an unusual piano chord that's some variation of a Bb, which sounds pleasingly weird, unexpected and dark in a chorus that's in A.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Monday, 6 March 2006 05:28 (nineteen years ago)

This song was largely written by Wendy and Lisa, if I recall kerrectly? We should get them to post here!

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 6 March 2006 18:44 (nineteen years ago)

cried the first time I heard it, but I'm not sure mushroom inebriation falls under the rubric of music theory.

omg same thing here!

― sleeve, away, Tuesday, 7 March 2006 00:51 (nineteen years ago)

Not the first time I heard it, but when the Joffrey Ballet danced to this as the opening number of Billboards, I was ambushed by tears.

― brianiast (briania), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 01:37 (nineteen years ago)

Another lonely Christmas does it for me; but I understand.

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 01:55 (nineteen years ago)

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