I tried to analyze "I" by MESHUGGAH

So.
I tried to make sense of this monstrous song, "I" by Meshuggah.
The rumor is that it's totally random.
And I guess it is !
I couldn't find anything that would explain these rhythms, but maybe you can!
Here's a link to picturs of the number sheets I made.
If you find something, LET ME KNOW!
drive.google.c...
Here's a link to the full live stream:
• Trying to decode "I" b...
'I' original song:
• Meshuggah - I
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Spotify playlists:
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If you have recommendations for songs for this channel, send them over!
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Intro by Sharon Renold (@sharonrenold on Instagram) and myself
Intro music by Shwesmo (@shwesmo on Instagram)
#musicanalysis #I #meshuggah
0:00 intro

[@MannnisEi]

Imagine showing up to rehearsal like "Yo check this new song I worked on last night" and hitting them with this monstrosity

[@anthonyfeliciano4261]

😂😂

[@damiencouturee6240]

It's a good one to play live, absolutely no one is gonna notice if someone messes up lmao.

[@jauws4200]

​@@damiencouturee6240everyone would be too scared to boo the guitarist for messin up, he IS the final boss of metal

[@IAmRodyle]

@@damiencouturee6240 I know you joke but it's fun to think how obvious a mistake would actually be. The drums and guitars are so rhythmically intertwined in Meshuggah songs that if one instrument is off even slightly the whole thing becomes a garbled mess. That's what makes them so impressive to see live, and why Tomas Haake said they'll never include "I" in their sets lol

[@hazardeur]

they also said they never play anything from catch 33 and yet 3 songs have been a staple of their setlist for the last years. @@IAmRodyle granted, I is anothe beast due to it's lenght but i dare to dream

[@AidanMmusic96]

As I said in the livestream, hopefully Meshuggah will see this video, think "ah, that's how it goes!" and start performing I in the future :P Also, bananas.

[@guybuddy1]

As much as I would really want to see "I" live, the time and effort they'd have to put in to even memorize the whole song would be too much. :-(

[@7177YT]

That livestream was super dope. To see how the sauce is made, grinding it out and all. Thank you!

[@AidanMmusic96]

@@guybuddy1 They wouldn't need to memorise it, just use Yogev's chart! ;)

[@scottbroberts]

@@AidanMmusic96 they could have this chart as a backdrop and at the back of the venue so everyone could follow along. \o/

[@AidanMmusic96]

@@scottbroberts God I want this.

[@h2oproductions897]

This song actually serves many purposes . The two main ones are : testing the the limits of decyphering capacities of quantum computers . The second one is to give some hard work for archeologists and scholars in year 10.000 AD .

[@jauws4200]

They look at this and are like "see guys, i told you aliens are real!"

[@alteralien2223]

As someone who has tried to deconstruct Meshuggah songs myself, i can tell those are definitely not your first papers.

[@jauws4200]

Failure is progress

[@nipulkradmsinatagras8293]

Tomas Haake: *"No one knows how 'I' goes."* Sam Mooradian: *"Excuse me?"*

[@norbertkubiec6977]

Don't forget about Morgan Agren, Dane Markanson and Greg Harrison, they were first: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZmsm6iLmqaYeZY Edit: However I assume it wasn't one take/live.

[@doodlethenoodle8635]

i too have learned the song:D

[@tristendry2089]

“You know we’re gonna have to play this *live* right?”

[@kewlkatdave80]

"No. :)"

[@Rowanexen]

This song is a marvel. Meshuggah are the only ones who can carry a metal song for 21 minutes and not wear out their welcome, and it all being so crazy makes it a new experience every listen. I don't think they will ever outdo this song, and I doubt anyone will ever be as cool as you are whilst analyzing music. Grapes, by the way.

[@DEATHMETALRUST]

The Cavern by Inter Arma

[@caffeineaddict213]

This might look right this time around, but many fail to realize that “I” is different every time you hear it. It’s not a solid, but a liquid. Most people listen to this so loud, they fail to notice the squeaking and creaking around them - the sound of space time stretching and bending, squealing in pain. Next time you listen to this song, that 5 might be a 7. And that 4 over 3? It’s 13 over 22 now. Thomas is trapped in this polyrhythmic paradox, and he wrote this as a call for help. But every time we come to his aid, the door will have molded into a wall and there’s no trace except a subtle smell of sweaty drumsticks. You can even hear his screams every time the song starts over.

[@YogevGabay]

I love you.

[@MrBaverbo]

Seriously underrated comment.

[@billhicks9056]

Great comment! It's funny because it's true!

[@ryehlb]

It's mind blowing on how Meshuggah composed this song. They're so ahead of their time.

[@carnacstone7309]

You can see the process a bit on some studio footage that was recently posted. Looks like Tomas layed down the drum parts, and then Fredrik literally looked at either the wave forms or midi of the drum sections and played along with the semi-randomized grooves Tomas played. I'm sure it was a bit more complicated than that but actually a lot more doable than it seems

[@thevomit5851]

At the end of the day it's just basic arithmetic. It would be mind blowing if they could perform this live with zero errors.

[@ryehlb]

@@thevomit5851 , no offense but sounds to me like you're just trying to find an excuse to downplay the band. The very fact that they made this particular song into existence is a testimony of their creativity, uniqueness and technicality. Yes, it would be great to see and hear them play it live but it's really none of our business should they not to. I'd be fine listening to it through my speakers and admire how such a monster track was made.

[@thevomit5851]

@@ryehlb I love Meshuggah and think they're very creative but you don't have to endlessly fellate them and treat them like gods.

[@ryehlb]

@@carnacstone7309 , yeah I saw that, too.

[@schraedera]

A guy named Jonathan Pieslak actually did an academic breakdown of about the first third of I, along with some comparisons to more "conventional" Meshuggah, as a master's thesis in music theory. The paper was called Re-Casting Metal: Rhythm and Meter in the Music of Meshuggah, and was published in the 29th issue of Music Theory Spectrum in 2007. It's been interesting referring back and forth between your transcription and his analysis as I watch and listen.

[@schraedera]

p.s. blueberries

[@YogevGabay]

Oh! Where can I find that? Is there a link you can share ?

[@schraedera]

@@YogevGabay I'll send an email shortly

[@ZachMcCordProg]

​@@schraedera I'd love to see it too man! where can I find it

[@schraedera]

@@ZachMcCordProg there's a link from the author's personal website to an upload on scribd (looks like you need to register an account there to download now), or if you have JSTOR access through a university it's in their database.

[@7AKV7]

some might say that this is too raw but I see it as a madmans notes with random numbers and stuff like this track IS. great job. I hope one day you will do Fredrik's "Sol Niger within". That stuff is as close to a alien invasion on drugs while you have a berserk mode in jazz bar basementbasement as it can get.

[@ajkorras]

Yeah I think they have stated that Thomas just recorded cool drum patterns randomly and then Fredrik had to figure out what it was

[@LukeZuniga]

The riff at 9:32 has always been the most mind-blowing riff to me since the first time I heard this

[@JouniK86]

My favorite riff of them all time! /,,/

[@vif3182]

It's like an MC Escher painting, especially like that illusion with sound that always seems to be getting higher in pitch, except that sound is just you 'falling up' the stairs.

[@GabiBrooks]

For me it's the one at 10:30

[@JouniK86]

@@GabiBrooks A great, great choice that one too!

[@RDB93]

Yeah man. It’s like falling from Mt. Everest… in reverse.

[@Jurgen_Wulf]

Imagine Frederik and Thomas like “we will drop absolutely random stuff at rehearsal” and after all of these years Yogev systematized this stuff. Great ep, one of my favorites of Meshuggah songs ever. This track alone keeps telling me that I suck at music still.

[@keschgelb]

Do you really think you suck at music, as long as you are not able to play this? Wow, thats hard. I also like Meshuggah, and i am a musician too. But when i listen to Meshuggah, i just let the music happen in a way. I can not "think" about this. .....just my two cents. Keep up!

[@willfaithnomore]

Strawberries or Raspberries for sure. What an epic breakdown, that last riff is absolutely NASTY 😬

[@oscargill423]

That moment when neither "berry" is actually a berry but actually a fruit.

[@YogevGabay]

hahahahahahah

[@fcr619]

And the strawberry actually belongs to the family of nuts. Seriously, I'm not making this up.

[@Burnt_Gerbil]

@@oscargill423 - Fun fact: A Strawberry is not a berry, but a Banana is. Go figure.

[@oscargill423]

@@Burnt_Gerbil Yeah, it's so crazy how botany works

[@georgzimmermann4154]

Strawberries pulled at random

[@palazzo1113]

Pineapple Gland Optics

[@KidneyFailureGaming]

All I can say is, holy shit. I is a behemoth of a song.

[@_stitch]

I was originally released on Fractured Transmitter records, and as a teenager obsessed with Mushroomhead and 7 strings I promptly went out and bought it. Never heard anything like it. I figured out and memorised the section at 6:09, but could never get my head around the rest of the incredible record. Incredible work as always, Yogev. Always felt that Catch 33 was just the continuation of the theme set with I, and always baffled that more people didn't rate this as one of their best records. Incredible from start to finish. Would love to see it live, but the band have always maintained they a) can't and b) won't.

[@cyrollan]

"I" is waaaaaaaaaay better than Catch Thirtythr33 IMHO. There's just a lot more going on, still feels a little organic like their earlier material. C33 was too robotic to me, with a lot less Thordendal solos.

[@AidanMmusic96]

They played Mind's Mirrors and both In Death pieces on the recent tour.

[@climbrR]

@@AidanMmusic96 He's talking about playing I live.

[@sheldonwright8770]

Always felt like 33 is kinda the opposite sibling to I..

[@ophhate]

mushroom head huh...do you like slipknot?

[@dmytrotsvyntarnyi799]

My favorite fruit is apricot. Because it grows in May, and contains a lot of shuggah.

[@YogevGabay]

I see what you did there

[@bjrnthorness1151]

i wonder what Zappa would’ve thought of this song.

[@AidanMmusic96]

Zappa was alive when Contradictions Collapsed was released, so I wonder if he ever heard that.

[@owenbrafford6479]

Kumquats! Thanks for doing this - massive project! As a guitarist, I love the riffs starting at 9:32 - the guitars and bass sort of bow down to the drums. Every time the snare hits, they all budge down from their slow ascent. It sounds helpless to me, like they’re stuck. It’s a simple compositional trick, maybe, but I haven’t heard anything like it.

[@YogevGabay]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@rhandolfredd2801]

What you put onto paper accurately portrays how my mind is working when I’m listening to this song. Props on your hard work because this song is not easy to break downs 🤘🏼👁🤘🏼

[@bobbydigital8111]

Hey Yogev!!!! ive been listening to this tune for 18 years, and ive always looked at this track as a challenge to be able to memorize every detail of what these guys were playing, especially what Tomas was playing being a drummer myself and huge Meshuggah fan....i cant express how much i appreciate you sharing your breakdown and notation methods on your channel...its so amazing to see how they thought about the common themes and the variations within the themes..."I" isn't random at all...its a 20 minute movement. thank you so much for all the amazing work you do on your channel. This is so satisfying to get a my questions answered...

[@YogevGabay]

You're welcome Bobby !!

[@lochness_sasquatch]

Raspberries! Well done and thank you Yogev! \m/

[@timberfinn3131]

Mango mango mango. Also wtf meshuggah

[@SeanD313]

Strawberries... or maybe plums... I don't know! This was an excellent breakdown! I was actually able to follow along for like 5 whole seconds at one point! I consider that a win! 🤣

[@trevormichael1851]

This is an absolute beast of a song and you somehow made it comprehensive. You’re absolutely bananas ;)

[@nvyshrmp]

Fukkin awesome, man. One thing I love about 'Shugg is the way these rhythms must be created according to some incredible, maniacal clock. And it expresses so much as it ticks away. Seeing you track the ticks and tocks on paper makes it more beautiful to me. Orange is my favorite.

[@YogevGabay]

Ahhh man thanks a lot !

[@masterchain3335]

I actually did this same thing with the intro a couple years ago. I even tried taking the two basic rhythmic units and assigning them values of 1 and 0 and inputting that information into a binary data decoder to see if there was a hidden message encoded into the part. It still seems to me like there is some sort of method to it but I couldn't identify any pattern, and if there is some musical cryptography involved, I don't think it's anything simple that we'll ever be able to crack.

[@LorenHolloway]

Cherries 🍒 Very nice job. I didn't realize how much of these riffs I "knew" from muscle memory more than I "knew" musically until seeing it written down. Keep it up Yogev!!! 🤘🤘

[@jaywinkeler7726]

Really enjoy seeing all you videos. My music-major son and I watch them together when we can. He adds extra explanation for me or sometimes just “whoa!!” It’s fun for us. Blueberries are my favorite.

[@YogevGabay]

That is awesome! Father and son Meshuggah bonding? sounds about right.

[@Art1stical]

Friggin' impressive. I've always loved Meshuggah's intricate patterns, but seeing them with another sense other than your ears, really gives another, very humbling perspective. Wonderful video, my friend! Mango!

[@MrBaverbo]

8:30 this is one of the few moments of music where metal terrifies me And oh… it’s apples. They just work. Excellent breakdown!

[@fcr619]

Tomato! Insane work on your end visualizing an insane track. Dope stuff man.

[@sebastiansilva4776]

Best Meshuggah song imo. Love your content, and this video is gonna be my bible from now until I learn it. Watermelon for sure.

[@YogevGabay]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@danielprevratil3149]

Apple, I don't eat other fruits

[@lucanhenrique7457]

Meshuggah is pure art. Gotta love how they create these complex pieces of rythims and confuses our heads LOL great work tho analyze this song.

[@amychristensen4754]

Absolutely mind-bending, from the mind of a classical musician this is absolutely masterfully organized chaos. Imagine putting that together as a band. However, the moment of silence, around 10:29 is absolutely essential to the drama and I am sad you minimized it's role. I challenge anyone to "beet" em.

[@continuum288]

I have a very strong feeling that the reason these seem random is because Tomas just went in and just went for it.. Playing all kinds of crazy ass shit and Fred recorded it all. Then they learned what Tomas played, pieced it all together and it all became what we all know to be as I.. I have programmed drums once before any guitar riffs where created and it was a pretty fun and interesting approach to creating a new song. That's most likely why Fred had that intro section "tabbed" out the way he did. Makes the most sence to me.. Great channel and love all the Mesh stuff..

[@OtterMachine]

Banana! So yeah that was pretty insane, small patterns here and there but nothing repeating really as I expected. I love this song for its pure unrelenting heaviness, it is probably Meshuggah's heaviest song in terms of the mix of speed, chugging and tone!!! \m/

[@daniel_naaden]

bananas and thanks for this video! one step closer to figuring out how to be one of the few people to have covered this song to its fullest..... hopefully

[@humanlife808]

Great job. I'm a drummer & soon after its release I noted these sections in a similar way, but no manuscript for me haha, just my own languages.

[@paubass123]

Thanks for your work. Love And respect! Peace!

[@aceytv4951]

Man, this song is such a trip for me, reminds me of when you first try your favorite fruit.

[@ruairimadigan863]

Brilliant, really well done. A total beast of a song & one of their best. You nailed it. Keep up the great work on the 'Shuggah....

[@danielmartonkovacs3278]

My favorite is also melon 🍈 🤘🤘 I remember vividly the first time I listened to this song. It carved a something out of my mind, and put it back upside down. Effin unbelievable track, for sure, thanks for the work on this video!

[@FranHn1982]

Through the years i can achieve to decipher by ear the sections 3-4, 8-9, 11-12-13 and be capable to follow it, is a kind of religious-chamanic trance, an absolute neurogenesis experience... 🔥🧠🔥 The other sections are just a language from another dimension, and it's hard to believe that something like that level of supra-human madness will be possible to do live. Thanks for your super valuable pedagogic work master!!!

[@chrisc.4671]

Yes you need for this part

[@Goodstuff12345666789]

Truly amazing, Sir! Respect!😱passion fruit🖤

[@ChuckRuledTheWorld]

This song is a beast!

[@artsmith5317]

Another awesome video. The more you unpack Meshuggah the more it blows my mind their ability to absolutely crush the norm in the music industry and take song writing to a new level. Their is no other, only imitation. I can’t believe those guys just come up with this stuff. Also, do you use software to slow the songs down to figure them out?

[@YogevGabay]

I don't use one, but there's a software called 'Transcribe' that I know is good. Also there used to be an app called "the amazing slowdowner" but idk if it's still around

[@arickmccance3972]

A True Wall Of Sounds To Beat Your Head AGAINST Theory of Math ManⓂ️

[@Morkeric]

oranges! fantastic video, i've been looking for something like this for a long time. thanks for the work you do!

[@NeonblueIndustries]

Parts * 10,10.1 and my FAVORITE way to warm up at the start of practicing. One of the most brilliant and hypnotic pieces of music ever.

[@juliolsen3570]

Raspberry, and killer video!

[@williamcozart8158]

Remember how people took Tool songs and layered them over other Tool songs and then said Tool must have written the songs that way on purpose in the hopes that some fan would randomly just happen to layer 3 songs together and discover "the ultimate Tool song"? what if... follow me here... what if Meshuggah did that with "I"? We just need to layer other Meshuggah songs over it until it like IDK, unlocks the secrets of reality or something. That's where you come in Yogev, you are the best at breaking down Meshuggah so it's up to you to find the key to unlock the "ultimate Meshuggah song".

[@RFSA180]

Find a combination of other Meshuggah songs that match the length of "I" and start there

[@jravell]

No, I never heard of this. Please point us in its direction.

[@williamcozart8158]

@@jravell Search for "tool hidden track 10 k days" on KZbin. Someone noticed that, when played back to back, Wings 1 and Viginty Tres we're the exact same length as Wings 2(10KDays), so they layered em over it and the beat kind of matched, so they believed themselves to have discovered a hidden track in 10KDays, as if Tool like made this puzzle of a song that only someone like a crazy Toolfan would ever be dedicated enough to happen to notice, or possibly no one would ever know about it.

[@smetatan000]

Meshuggah already did this on Elastic. And the 3 songs they stuck together are NOT the same length.

[@williamcozart8158]

@@smetatan000 Well, something like that

[@alirezabayat6388]

Mango be bussin on god no cap

[@bigwayno]

I'm thinking cantaloupe right now, but I also like a nice Apple sometimes. Watermelons great too. But the effortlessness of a grape can't be denied. Killer video. So happy the algorithm brought me here again your videos are amazing.

[@somepunkinthecomments471]

I love cherries, blackberries, and raspberries. The outro to I is so freaking heavy, and that solo after the 4/4 part halfway through the song, omfg.

[@michaeljohnston8891]

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if Meshuggah eventually decides to whip this one out, most likely for their farewell tour

[@fouyuck89]

Yes I do think it’s a lovely section 😊

[@aaroncourier6452]

freaking grapes man, love them for some reason also the video is absolutely phenomenal.

[@Kuemmel234]

Let's add mangos to the mix! Although bananas certainly fit the theme. Amazing stuff!

[@demirdokum7318]

Pears are cool. But you are cooler! Thanks for this... demonstration. Was definitely worth watching.

[@goldfishoptics]

thanks for all of this, great way to be guided through - orange

[@liquidrpg]

Pear. 🍐 You have the best channel on KZbin. Keep going! It's insane how *looking* at the way Meshuggah sounds brings a whole new appreciation of their music

[@YogevGabay]

Oh man thank you !!

[@Allplussomeminus]

This here is an infinite jam. No rhythmic "center" but the rhythmic "identity" is there. (Mango) I felt like I plunged into the depths of creation listening to this.

[@finnbaulch5944]

Mango. Cheers for great content.

[@nope3015]

My favorite work of theirs. A true ageless masterpiece. And to know it was at least recorded with live instruments.

[@LaCooper]

I like mandarins! Also this was epic. Thanks for blowing my mind with a break down of something that already blows my mind. Crazy.

[@dusancvetic5254]

Man cold and sweet white grapes, on hot late summer day, doesnt get better than that!

[@8ori5]

Pineapple!! Awesome work!

[@ikeproud6045]

Favourite fruit - grapes. I love your channel dude, keep up the good work!

[@YogevGabay]

Glad you like it!

[@GothicOctopus]

You tried to explain the ridiculous, and you did well. Props.

[@mordentus]

Cucumber. Also that was my favorite Meshuggah song

[@Bad_Chemicals702]

I absolutely love pineapples. Even when I get a stomach after.

[@YogevGabay]

hahahahah #worthit

[@33andre33]

that's awesome, I have a video here on youtube playing that song on the guitar from 2008 when we could only upload 10 min video maximum, so its separated in 3 parts and it has a terrible sound/video quality :P Funny to see that I did exactly the same thing as you trying to figure out the patterns, still have the papers with my nottings on it!

[@NoEasyFeet]

thank you for translating this insanity.

[@BunchyMutt]

grapefruit! Very grateful for all the work you put in to make your videos

[@smokeyjo7420]

Satisfying to watch

[@cyrollan]

oh i'm so excited! this might be my favorite song by the band \m/ this is great content, boss

[@glebbokhan9777]

It's orange and huge kudos for this monster

[@stefanolazzarato8451]

Apricots! Good job Yogev!!

[@TooSlamToGiveADamn]

Very impressive! Thank you for doing this. 🤘

[@cerberus3504]

this is ridiculous xD these guys are genius

[@jrlvvw8792]

i love meshberries or raspsuggies

[@Pehennji]

Cherries. Thx for your work!

[@hauntingthegrave]

Mines 🍉! Well done, mind numbing song

[@davidsantana4276]

Mine is Passion Fruit! Nice analysis!

[@jabp1807]

mango, my favorite

[@frenzyfritter]

Peaches for sure 🤘🤘 thank you for your sacrifice to learning 😅

[@morganshibby8941]

Anyway Tomas said that no one knows how I goes

[@dennisantolovic7169]

Ripe fresh fig. Wow, that was epic! I like the number notation you could sell those at Meshuggah gigs so people could headbang in time!

[@illyeslemaire7790]

Peach (awesome work by the way)

[@brynkirsch5195]

These numeric shorthands are helpful for hearing the underlying patterns. I wonder how they composed this. Like, did they perhaps use a randomizing technique? Also, Mango.

[@MrBaverbo]

They composed it by basically the guitarist came up with riffs, the drummer recorded them real-time with the drums and then the guitarrist records the rest (so there wasn’t much composition, mostly improvising)

[@viscountrainbows2857]

Even in my primitive Unable To Play At This Level Even If I Practiced For Like A Year Brain, something about the cadence of I almost seems to relay some message in a way resembling speech. It may not follow perfect tempo, songwriting convention, and all the like that we expect from music, but it's some sort of sinister binary being related by a higher life form; emotional throes, pauses for effect, all of that. Something we cannot decipher because we merely don't know HOW, since it is so alien to the construction of our own comfortable patterns. Prog and jazz are amazing for that. And its improvisational nature only bolsters my headcanon there; this wasn't some grand pre-written speech; this was an orchestration made on the spot to double as a declaration. I doubt they will try to play this live but, in my speech allegory, maybe they only had to say it once.

[@fabiorenatomeditacao]

Now you're my hero too.

[@Zgf72]

Off topic but I’m so glad to see your channel “blowing up” as it were. I remember your earlier videos I’d watch that were of similar good quality and me being flabbergasted that your subs weren’t more. Keep it up.

[@YogevGabay]

Slowly slowly ! Thanks a lot !

[@sainthostien2739]

plum, I must say I listen only one time to I and it was recently but, it clearly deserves a deep dive into it.

[@newhorizonsforfifty2833]

I have been listening to this song for 7 years, and section 6 is the trickiest part of that song for me to get.