Feiticeira - Deftones WHITE PONY (active listening & musical analysis)

Hi I'm "I wanna marry that intro" ixi. White Pony is one of my favorite albums! I spent a few hours nerding out about the whole thing live and edited it into individual song videos so we can fawn (er, horse?) over them together. Thanks for watching!
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[@iximusic]

Little easter egg for you! 🥁 kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJ7IpHWsm7GNd9E

[@sandorhartig3957]

Im maybe reaching but i think that this Is their BEST song ( my opinion ),.............. im Deftones stormtroopers!!!

[@TheDeadStretch]

As a lifelong Deftones fan Abe is the key element to their groove.

[@FrownyMascot]

Hell yeah

[@TheBuckAK]

Those drums never fail to put a smile on my face

[@konstantine8054]

It takes a true Deftones fan to obsess over Abe's drumming. Subscribed!

[@JustenHarper]

...if I remember right, one of Abe's influences was Stewart Copeland (from the police), and yeah, listening to The Police's first album you can hear a ton of similarities - like, Copeland never ever stops drumming, but it's never overwhelming, he just has absurd dynamic control and tastefully accents everything ("So Lonely" is so good). All with huge punk & reggae influence, which ends up sounding super funky but upbeat (on Police's good songs, at least). I can hear an influence, whether I'm imagining it or not...either way, hell yeah he's a gem of a drummer from that era.

[@avedic]

oooh......I'd never made that connection, but now that you said that, I totally hear it.... Especially liked when you said, "Copeland never ever stops drumming, but it's never overwhelming." Indeed. Copeland and Abe are both very "busy" in a sense....but very spare at the same time...somehow. They're also very tight.....but very loose. They both sound like geniuses.....who are confident enough in their genius, to loosen up and just FEEL what's happening. Now I really want to hear Deftones cover Walking On The Moon. Probably my favorite (The) Police song. It's hyper catchy, total top 40 single material......but also quite musically interesting. With those tense groovy verses...the cliffhanger pre-choruses, and the gloriously uplifting harmonically perfect choruses. I've always felt a weird affinity between the choruses of Walking on the Moon......and Springsteen's "Streets of Philadelphia." Both songs sort of rise up out of these darker verses into choruses full of light and subtle joy, harmonically simple....but with the perfect dash of unexpected complexity.

[@ariaomega]

@@avedic I NEED a Deftones cover of Walking On The Moon!

[@krautgazer]

Somewhat unrelated but still related - I love Stewart Copeland's soundtrack for Spyro the Dragon. Very intricate drumming there too but still sounding simple and upbeat.

[@drewpd7]

He also really loves the drummer from soundgarden. I remember reading an interview with him a long time ago and he said he always appreciated how that drummer never used the same fill so he doesn’t like to either.

[@jayfarris9752]

The way Chino sings the word “were” almost sounds like a middle-eastern influenced style vocal run. He does that in many songs. His vocals and Abe’s drums are brilliant.

[@safety_dirt]

yep, those few lines are all in harmonic minor which is like stereotypical “egyptian music” stuff. love that run on “were” and really love the jumps up to the note on “riiiight”

[@ChristopherRoss.]

The White Pony drum sound is the elusive sound I am always striving for, but never quite finding. Abe and Terry Date found some once-in-a-lifetime level magic for these sessions.

[@NotIfICU1st_]

At the time only having adrenaline and around the fur from them, I remember when the whole band comes in for the first time my friends jaws all dropping. A new era for us all. I love how chino selectively uses his breath as part of his vocal delivery, especially in this link is dead. It's like he tells a narrative with his breathing and gives me second hand anxiety from just that part. He keeps growing as a performer. I hope they never stop.

[@renecarrillo9393]

I loved this album so hard when it came out. I was Asst. Manager of a Dominos at the time and my best friends worked there with me and I’d sing to them “Soon I’ll let you go” during the rush right before they were suppose to be off! Good times 😆

[@kevingregoire2764]

Looooooooooooove this album so much. It changed my life and perception of music. Went to a show in Vancouver after the release and the opening band was mediocre at best. I asked a friend why we bother with concerts anymore then the Deftones came on and floored us and we knew why. Also met Chino backstage at Vancouver Summersalt fest and had a chance to talk music. Watched from side stage when they did their set and Maynard came out and sang Passenger. Amazing performance. Amazing show.

[@educostanzo]

It is Portuguese and your pronounciation at 0:26 is so on point, lol! It means sorceress.

[@sussurro9]

I love the passage on how Chino does not follow the chords and pushes against them. It was explained very well and it helped me to better grasp the feeling of the song and why it works so well. This song is great, but after your analysis is greater! Thank you for the video, I cannot wait to watch the others about this album 😊

[@StevenBencomo]

Its called a double! Abe's little signature fill that he does alllllllll the time but it never gets old LOVED THIS btw

[@iximusic]

Ah! Is the double the quick snare before the kick or what was I talking about? And glad you enjoyed it!

[@StevenBencomo]

@@iximusic yep! lol Looking forward to watching your other content. Thought it was very interesting what you said about chino singing against the music and like a jazz vibe. Love these guys :)

[@joeyloucks912]

Still one of the best albums ever!! Saw these guys with Glassjaw the summer this album came out and it is a core memory.

[@wolmarrrrr]

Thanks for the accurate words and reactions ! I'm also blown away by Abe's drumming... Smooth, crystal clear groove, syncopating yet so straight to the point. Can't praise that man enough.

[@JoseSanchez-lk1ic]

Maynard James Keenan was brought in as a consultant of sorts for this album. He downplays his role but their sound changed in a good way from this album on. Also, this song was about a dream Chino had about a Brazilian model that had kidnapped him. I’m assuming that’s why he is singing in major, disturbing but pleasing.

[@iximusic]

cool! And I just learned feiticeira translates to "witch" or "sorceress".

[@bbarre4601]

Makes sense. A song like this cannot be created solely from the conscious realm. There is nothing else like this song, especially in the world of metal

[@ariaomega]

Subscribed immediately. You share my love and excitement for Abe's drumming (and Deftones in general). Been having a tough couple of weeks and this video instantly put a smile on my face!

[@iximusic]

One of us! One of us!

[@obscillesk]

"I'm singing in this chord, then I'm singing in this chord" just, the piano and that line with that little pause on the second immediately made me think Ben Folds :P

[@avedic]

I like how you pointed out Chino's almost jazzy melodic inflections. I've always loved his approach to melody and how it works against the harmony. As you mentioned, he def favors the 2nd degree of the scale, but also the 4th, 6th, and major 7th. Very shoegaze approach in that sense. I also love how, despite being a "metal" band, they don't lean so heavily on that whole minor pentatonic thing. I often wish Tool would take a cue from them and branch out harmonically a bit more.... :P Often, Deftones songs will be dark and eerie and menacing sounding.....yet be primarily in a major key, really leaning into the major 3rd and major 6th and major 7th notes. It gives everything a more sensual and complex nuance that mere minor pentatonic riffery just can't accomplish. Another "heavy" band that does that very well is Jane's Addiction. I think Dave Navaro is seriously underrated as a guitar player and song writer. And he too likes to play metal-adjacent music, but with a more "feminine" sensual emotional feeling. I think that's what really elevated their music, especially in the early days. It gave everything a very mystical sexy vibe. I think the thing both bands have in common is that their music is often very......pretty. Pretty and delicate and romantic and emotionally lush. I love heavier music....but I definitely prefer when that kind of music breaks away from the constraints of the usual Black Sabbath school of harmonic composition. Not that there's anything wrong with that! :) Speaking of heavy pretty music.....how familiar are you with Silverchair? I honestly think they're THE most underrated band to have come out of the 90s. It's too bad....because their run of albums from Neon Ballroom, to Diorama, and ending with Young Modern.....are masterpieces. As is The Dissociatives side project Daniel Johns did after Diorama....an album of distilled pure perfect Beach Boys inspired psychedelic alternative dream pop. ok.....I need to stop. I'm ranting again about things I love lol..... :P

[@MrBmnmtfk]

Your love and psssion for the music is so contagious, I'm here stupidly grinning to myself as I watch you vibing lmao

[@james726b]

The term shoe gaze is in reference to the guitar player looking at his pedal board. Controlling the board with his shoes. Great review! Love the deftones!

[@yeah_noface]

deftones drumming has always been so intricate and well felt out -- he's in the pocket yeah, he has his defined grooves he's settled on, and they get progressively more complicated as the song builds, adding in pickups and the implied notes and ghost notes you feel in the earlier parts, but it all feels so natural and still in the same groove. great stuff.

[@onursahin7970]

The lyrics of this song make me imagine a some sadistic corrupt female cop torturing to a guy that's caught drunk while he was driving. The cop uses the guy to touch a crime weapon so that he will be found guilty ("She made me touch the machine, new murderer"). The imagery goes very well with the overall feeling of the music IMO.

[@groendahll]

Huge band!!! I follow them since their first album...I love them and I feel they changed my life !!!

[@ezequielrajoy5024]

Chino's vocals and Abe's drums just do this deadly dance of drugs and sex; this inebriated, naked, bloody tango in the dark

[@Gerardomanns]

Abe its amazing. Such a musical drumming

[@iximusic]

Yes!!

[@bitodd]

I can't pin down a favourite album of theirs, but White Pony and Gore (wildly underrated) probably have the most rotations. Very excited to hear the rest of your dissections!

[@iximusic]

I'm getting song requests in the comments so wanted you to know I take requests on the Patreon livestream at the end of each month! October's will be themed for dark/creepy/scary music: www.patreon.com/iximusic

[@sandorhartig3957]

You know this song

[@MuammarElKhatib]

Everytime I watch your videos analysing music of bands I love, I find we are rocking the same parts of the song. ahahahah

[@UpspoonOneTwo]

All the things. All the damn things. Bravo.

[@matthewgriffin5155]

Deftones? Yes, please. New subscriber. I would LOVE to hear your take on Cherry Waves off Saturday Night Wrist.

[@hgoaf]

08:46 hahah - love this

I'm so glad you're doing more deftones videos 🖤

[@willowpiano]

one of my favorite starting tracks to an album, holy SHIT.

[@ryanchase9058]

Abe is a beast on the drums and a super cool guy. I ran into him at a bar here in Sacramento late last year and chatted with him for a bit.

[@ChristopherRoss.]

I'm also hyped for your vocal analysis for Knife Party

[@benjamink7105]

I know exactly the intervals you're talking about that he gravitates toward. I always thought of that as a signature. It's really dissonant and sounds off key. I always thought of it as the Are you ready? ... The Def Tone.

[@iximusic]

ha! Brilliant. 👏

[@labgnat]

Great cd. Your well good to be all about them drums. His groove is great and his tone is phenomenal.

[@kenai6547]

Love all your vids.

[@bigs6x]

Amazing album.

[@CFChristian]

It took me 23 years to figure it out, but whenever I would try and cover their songs on drums, it always felt like something was "off." But then finally, for whatever reason, I learned that he's in-time, but dragging. It's at the *very last* moment before it would be considered off-time. It's like he's super late to the party but he still fits in and has a good time anyways.

[@NickyD-99]

Watched a few videos on tool & some other stuff. Really like your composer viewpoint that's different from my drummer viewpoint. Still, it's hard for me to stop thinkin' 'wow what a hottie'.

[@moondog548]

Does anyone else do discord in such an ultimately constructively harmonious way? Like plenty of "noise bands" use disharmony to make beautiful music, but I can't think of anything comparable that uses so many harsh and bitter ingredients to such a melodious end. Even NIN is usually using bitter flavors in a pop recipe. Deftones just do EVERYTHING perfectly WRONG and yet it adds up to such a soothful fancy.

[@sandorhartig3957]

This is how you start a album!!!

[@LoganWolf]

I am so happy ^_^ thank you!

[@jeffgillson]

Request: Band: God Loves Underwater Based on your NIN vids I think you would love them. As I recall they put out 1 album in 1993 or so, it was AMAZING, but got lost in the shuffle of so many big name bands of that era. Genre: Industry Rock Check it out. I'm also a keyboard player, I write and produce electronic music like you do and I love NIN, Tool, Perfect Circle, so I'm pretty sure we have similar taste. Keep up the good work, I dig your theory analysis videos. They had a single I think it was called "All Wrong" but the album was solid front to back with really unique music that drew from various genres, clearly talented musicians/vocalists. Gritty harmony vocals and really raw and primal synths and drums.

[@CFChristian]

Never thought I'd see a God Lives Underwater shout out. 2 albums out in 95 and 98 and apparently 2004.

[@alamunez]

I didn’t expect to ever see God Lives Underwater mentioned here (or anywhere, really). Good band, good memories.

[@BR0K3NARCH3TYP3]

It is pronounced Fay-Chee-Say-Ruh. It means sorceress or witch

[@anselmokeenan138]

Love your reaction

[@mosshark]

Hi. I am also transfixed by Abe's drumming. The snare.. oh my goodness. Lovely video. :red_heart:

[@iximusic]

my people!

[@mosshark]

@@iximusic subbed 30 seconds in. ❤ You nerd out on deftones and that makes me feel all proud and cozy to love such a band.

[@BullyMaguire4ever]

A big part of that snare sound is sample layering, but his performance and writing is obviously most important.

[@ryansylvia9710]

I’m gonna say something I’ve always thought, but I’ve never heard from the music community at large. I believe that Adrenalin-Around the Fur-White Pony is every bit as amazing as the growth reached by Radiohead via Pablo Honey-The Bends-OK Computer. Granted though, Radiohead may be ultimately working with more from a music theory angle, the overall growth in maturity riding on a wave of talent is astounding to me. I had just really gotten into deftones a few months before this came out and I was convinced this was the greatest thing I had ever heard outside of ok computer.

[@iximusic]

Have you listened to Koi No Yokan yet? That's another standout Deftones album to me. Maybe I could compare it to In Rainbows in terms of the trajectory! Personally I think Adrenaline is one of their strongest albums. It's not mixed as well as the others (they basically recorded those songs live in the studio) but all the elements that make Deftones great are already there!

[@ryansylvia9710]

@@iximusic Yes actually now that I think about it adrenaline is a stronger first album than Pablo Honey. I have always secretly liked it the best, I don’t know I can never decide which one I really like the best. I have not listened to KNY yet, I skipped everything after Saturday Night Wrist. I’ll have to check it out you’re not the first person to suggest it

[@Timpranillo]

@@iximusic every time I listen through Koi I like it more. Tempest - Gauze - Rosemary - Goon Squard is as good a run on any album that they’ve done.

[@iximusic]

@@Timpranillo Yes! My favs are: Swerve City, Romantic Dreams, Leathers, Poltergeist, Graphic Nature, Tempest, and Gauze! Rosemary is great. There are no skips on that album for me.

[@iximusic]

@@ryansylvia9710 I kind of dropped off after White Pony, but when I caught up, I wasn't feeling a lot of it but Koi stood out to me and it was instant love. I think you'll dig it!

[@dpinskey]

How ‘bout a breakdown of the time bending Deftones song Diamond Eyes

[@MrGreendayzed]

I was listening to the smiths and on the song "heaven knows im miserable now" the lead singer ties to hit the high notes "style"

[@AdamLeckron]

Soooon this will be all overrrr... but no, not really! Lots of great tracks to come 🔥

[@zyzhou3060]

10:08 Finally somebody pointed this out!🤓

[@iximusic]

It's satisfying to figure out why he sounds the way he does! I've always loved his melodies. They are so unusual.

[@zyzhou3060]

@@iximusic Feiticeira and Knife Prty are my favourites on this album in terms of melodies.

[@Xxsopxx]

Would love to hear some deftones covers by you!!!

[@robertoclemente7066]

FAY-T-SAY-RA (portuguese word for witch) thats probably how a non portuguese speaker could say (I do speak portuguese). Cheers.

[@RuthlessMojo]

Hey Ixi. Great break down. I'd like to see your take on one of my favourite songs, "Beauty Has Her Way" from The Lost Boys Soundtrack. There's not a lot on it online as it was just a cult song because of the soundtrack. It's a sleeper. Really is a great stack.

[@iximusic]

Thanks :) I take requests on the Patreon livestream at the end of the month! www.patreon.com/iximusic

[@DaveBloodstream]

I just love how Chino sounds like he just met with his molly dealer xD

[@proptosis2682]

bery nice boice

[@willtheelectrician8184]

Yess!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@lyann4250]

I always thought Abe Cunningham was the best drummer ever :)

[@moondog548]

same, bestie

[@MrGreendayzed]

Funny, i just started getting into this album a month or two ago. To me his vocals are like a torch singer or kinda like the smiths lead singer.

[@terryanstee647]

Chino is a fan of The Smiths, and the band has covered 'Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want'

[@MrGreendayzed]

@@terryanstee647 Really? I thought they both had similar runs (of notes if that makes sense).

[@IAM___ARI]

@@MrGreendayzed Chino is a huge fan of post punk bands like The Cure, The Smiths, Joy Division, ecc

[@bobbeckishere]

It sounds like snare, kick and cymbals. Are there no toms in his kit? The snare sounds like a gunshot.

[@iximusic]

Interesting. Now that you mention it he is light on the toms! There are toms in his linear groove for Xenon but that's a much more recent album. I'll keep an ear out!

[@juancitolimon8743]

tremeeeeendo

[@darkalman]

Feiticeira - Feh-chi-se-ra - Portuguese - A Witch Chino said this song is named after a South American girl It's about being kidnapped and describing the scenario involved from being drugged, ball gagged, thrown in a trunk, photographed, and mistreated by a female captor This could be interpreted as being a BDSM session, but that seems unlikely. Chino's not into that sort of thing in his lyrics, and I clearly listen to too much NIN. Seems more likely he watched Pulp Fiction

[@JG-nx3jg]

Where can I listen to your love stream of WP?

[@iximusic]

Hey! You're pretty much watching it, just slimmed down a bit and split into individual songs :) But if you still want to see the whole thing it's on my Patreon! We do listening parties 1-2x a month: www.patreon.com/posts/white-pony-party-71049991

[@drunkship12]

More more more

[@StreetCarma]

I can‘t remember who - I think it was Rick Beato who once said in a Deftones analysis regarding Chinos singing style, he is basically singing Rn‘b over metal riffs, regarding his harmonies.

[@Diamond_Eyes_24]

“She made me touch da machine….”

[@iximusic]

"new murderahhhhhhh, FOCKK!"

[@maicomaico]

@@iximusic 😂

[@johnsun6418]

Abe and David silveria were my favourite drummers from that era

[@michaelwojcikiewicz1478]

Can we assume based on your previous excellent break downs, that Tool is next?

[@iximusic]

I analyzed all of Aenima (the album) and did Lateralus (the song) so far! Definitely want to do more.

[@michaelwojcikiewicz1478]

@@iximusic I must have been unconscious for this I see now you did the 5 hr stream analysis. Hashtag love

[@psyfence]

FInally

[@gman2658]

@iximusic Self Titled next pleeeaaasssseee

[@billyalarie929]

11:20 I’m not sure it’s supposed to be clear what he’s doing there. Mostly bc I think he was going for a note, but missed the mark, but it’s like it could be any note. But ALSO due to its being the fucking Deftones, they were like “no that’s fucking awesome keep that shit in” And they were right.

[@billyalarie929]

It’s microtonal and incidental, at best.

[@deadseveredheads]

Fay Chee Say Ruh

[@deadseveredheads]

'Sorceress' in Portuguese.

[@ericfoster5267]

Ah to be 17 again...

[@lichtfilme]

The a minor is always just implied though. The bass never confirms it, right?

[@iximusic]

What part?

[@rodrigotellom]

Wait, where is the 3 hour White Pony music analysis?

[@iximusic]

It's on Patreon! It was the August listening party. www.patreon.com/posts/white-pony-party-71049991

[@rodrigotellom]

@@iximusic Thank you so much, Ixi!

[@rodrigotellom]

@@iximusic Had to upgrade my subscription. Worth it. :)

[@iximusic]

Thanks Rodrigo!!

[@Miller2h41]

You should react to Crush With Eyeliner by R.E.M.

[@l1fef0rm]

Always weird to me that this band gets lumped in with the neu metal scene. To me it sounds more like shoegaze metal.

[@kommissar.murphy]

The poor man's Faith No More.

[@BullyMaguire4ever]

Lol, no

[@lembarkii8669]

faith no more is mid as hell

[@dickwilloughby]

3:41 yeah no sorry bye have to digital bath now

[@iximusic]

Respect

[@dickwilloughby]

@@iximusic dw I came back after RX Queen 😂 literally irresistible. Great analysis! The vocal lines especially, the way chino is utilising those 7ths always felt so jarring to me, now I know why 💗 and that freaking intro. The way abe half times the hi hat. God I'm hot under the collar here.

[@iximusic]

You're not the only one! 🥵

[@dickwilloughby]

@@iximusic ahahahaha