Lady Gaga's MIXED METER Star Spangled Banner?!

Analyzing Lady Gaga's version of the star spangled banner she sang for Joe Biden's inauguration. It's pretty cool!
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[@bigmichael2765]

“Used normally in... math rock” _cries in prog_

[@_ikako_]

I prefer my rock to be that of the butt variety

[@bigmichael2765]

@@_ikako_ hey don’t do that to King Gizz

[@_ikako_]

@@bigmichael2765 I don't really like king gizz, I prefer the Lizz Wiz

[@bigmichael2765]

@@_ikako_ understandable have a nice day

[@SimGunther]

7 minutes 11 seconds of 7/11 meter at a 7/11 on July 11, 2011

[@deathbower]

When Adam Neely can't say the chord name, you know you've hit Jazz.

[@xinlo]

I think that was a joke because it might be an Eb11 chord and he's referencing a previous video.

[@antimatter2376]

@@xinlo mmm i dont think so but its plausible maybe? His video talks about not to do Eb11 in a straight block chord voicing thing, i think its more of him messing up "sharp" for "sus"

[@rmulryan]

Someone call Beato's kid. All he has to do is hear it once. Apparently.

[@antimatter2376]

@@rmulryan Hearing individual notes within a chord is what takes practice, however once he learned how to do it then perfect pitch tells him what those notes are. Kinda like how jacob collier trained himself to sing the seventh of every chord in Take Six's music when he was a teen, except singing isnt really knowing what the note is. Singing is just utilizing your entire vocal system to sing a pitch, and most people arent tone deaf, they just arent trained to sing a pitch that they can hear in their head. Same thing is happening with dylan, except perfect pitch helps a lot if you wanna know whether youre singing the right note... so thats why hes able to sing the pitches and name them

[@rmulryan]

@@antimatter2376 Yes, we know. We now also know that you are completely humorless. Apparently.

[@yuvinkang5189]

i feel like i walked into the wrong class but sticked around just out of curiosity, and then became a believer

[@bluemosquedesign]

Me too bruh...me too.

[@hariniel]

Same

[@spamcan9208]

I got here from 3D printing tutorials and Formula 1 videos lol.

[@yuvinkang5189]

@@spamcan9208 lmao what

[@spamcan9208]

@@yuvinkang5189 That's what I was watching until KZbin suggested this video. Then I got derailed and went down the music rabbit hole lol

[@johnk.atchley5079]

Thank you Adam. I am 79, so I've heard a lot of Star Spangled Banners. Many of them seemed tricked up and hokey, pop music influenced, but the ones that were sung in operatic mode also seemed somehow heavy, clumsy. I had no idea what Lady Gaga would do, assumed it would be pop style. But when I heard her, I was just knocked out, very impressed. It just seemed perfect, somehow a classic version for ages, interesting sounding, but avoiding the pitfalls of either too many pop flourishes or too deadly an operatic style. But as a non-musician, I had no idea why my ear was so pleased. You have broken it all down and explained it to me. Wonderful. Thank you again. (And I am a great fan of yours.)

[@andrew_owens7680]

Adam can make your brain young again.

[@Barakon]

Lol am the 567th like lol.

[@jasonfieler]

This is the best video about Lady Gaga's mixed meter star spangled banner that I've seen all day

[@matheuswohl]

is it the only one?

[@spacejazz6272]

it's a close second for me

[@Aurora-oe2qp]

@@spacejazz6272 What's the best one?

[@levwhitelaw5561]

yo its the jacob collier boi!!

[@MonotoneCreeper]

This is the worst video about Lady Gaga’s mixed meter star spangled banner that I’ve seen all day!

[@rangamsarmah2061]

Everybody gangsta till Adam Neely pulls out a keyboard from under his keyboard.

[@furmanarrangements]

I put a keyboard under your keyboard so you can keyboard while you keyboard

[@InventorZahran]

"For the big iron there among them had a big iron on his big iron!"

[@musicdev]

Honestly, I wasn’t ready for that, I need that in my life

[@pwnwin]

why tf is this so accurate?

[@ShaharHarshuv]

God I wish I had something like that too lol

[@jeffreyjamison6074]

Me, when I heard her start to sing: Oh, she's doing it in 4. Me, when I heard the first meter change: Ooh, there's going to be an Adam Neely video. That didn't take long!

[@padrejohnruffle]

Originally written in 3/4 right?

[@JimMeehan]

@@padrejohnruffle Yes. Someone should make a video of couples waltzing to "The Star Spangled Banner."

[@JewishAmsterdamChamberEnsemble]

It's all in 4

[@andrew_owens7680]

Me: I'm just tired of listening to music. It's SO boring. Me after Adam Neely: I love music. It's so interesting.

[@wallacenapier1327]

LoL Jeffrey Jamison

[@Triairius]

I love how people are still discovering the artistic force that is Lady Gaga and her team. She never does anything thoughtlessly.

[@louisgelvezon9530]

@Porl Inch lmaoo Gaga wrote several songs by HERSELF.. You and I, Speechless to name a few is written, produced and sang by Gaga.. Mindless pop? Lmaoo You're just a hater accept it Gaga is a genius!

[@benjaminjackson9449]

@Porl Inch you sound sad... Gaga is an artist through and through, not even your mindless words can change that.

[@d.w.1805]

@Porl Inch the beatles have 4 people in them lol. working alone is the worst thing a creative can do.

[@flippineck2825]

@Porl Inch by your own analysis of "talent" or "skill" John Lennon and Paul McCartney fall into the untalented sector as they cowrote as lennon & McCartney. Because "the beatles" aren't one person. Also, her producers (RedOne, Mark Ronson, Madeon, and more) have stated that she shares writing credits for any slight input and on "Teeth" shared writing credits with a producers family member as a gift. Furthermore, her contracts leaked in 2019 and clearly state that for about 99% of her music she has majority writing credits, which means she legitimately wrote majority of the music. As you've implied the music she wrote on her own is mindless or weak, you simply have no knowledge of her work. A few songs she has written alone or cowritten such as "Rockshow", "Gypsy", "Speechless", "Dope", "Murder my heart", "master heartbreaker", they stand on their own merit. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but not when its objectively wrong, which yours is. Good day to you.

[@flippineck2825]

@Porl Inch Gaga is yet to write anything as mediocre as "Tell me what you see". I grew up on the beatles and Queen, Queen had better writing, but lets be honest about this; theyre seen on a higher level partly due to nostalgia. If they were around today, you'd be misinformed about them just as you are with lady gaga. Your analysis isn't analysis, its assumption.

[@hisdudeness09]

At this rate, King Gizzard is gonna play the next inauguration with a 7/4 microtonal rendition of the Star Spangled Banner and instead of the traditional woodwinds they’ll just have an army of Turkish zurnas.

[@srirachanoodles6914]

You don’t know how bad I want to hear what you are describing

[@zsofiaszobonya8571]

someone contact King Gizzard, they will actually get it done once they hear about this idea

[@arcanics1971]

Nonsense, the next inauguration will see the Star Spangled Banner expressed in dance.

[@Lando-My-Love]

Breaking King Gizzard News: They have done everything and it's all in their fated backlog USB of holding

[@michaelhird432]

Jesus christ zurna orchestra zurna orchestra

[@modalinterchange8359]

Adam had to 1.) transcribe Lady Gaga’s national anthem 2.) edit an entire video for 14 minutes 3.) write a script for the video 4.) All in less than a goddamn day!

[@jazzseba]

It's a monster!

[@husnainali-gn8bo]

That's adam for ya

[@l3ird]

Adam was actually transcribing it on twitch - itsadamneely . It was a fun and amazing thing to see the reactions and such to the whole anthem.

[@katrinarose2210]

Honestly, it's insane, I hope to be that good of a musician one day

[@g.hmusicc]

*recording the video too 💀

[@NATcha94]

A lot of people don’t know Gaga went to NYU Tisch School of Arts for a few years. She definitely has the theater background

[@XX-uu2nv]

As a vocalist, I see the brief melisma on "oh" as a healthy way to place her where she needs to be for the next note. Preparation is key.

[@MsDianagentaToYou]

I think it also adds emotionality to the revelation of "the flag was still there". Also a little melisma here keeps the bull of it later from being just tacked on I love how the stateliness of the 4/4, simple and classic beginning, evolves into the emotion of the 3/4 and grace notes. Also how the 4/4 when we are.used to 3/4 gives punctuation, an extra beat to reflect on the lyrics we.just heard. This moved me to tears on that day, and again today. But yeah....she has no talent. 😄

[@nicolasscarfo1721]

When his piano slid out from the desk that was so cool lol

[@andrewrobs]

I just saw that and had to see if anyone else noticed

[@nillewenne2934]

such a flex

[@rpavlik1]

"you call that a keyboard tray? Nah, *this* is a keyboard tray."

[@AMTunLimited]

It's been a trend with producers lately but that doesn't stop it from being so cool

[@nicolasscarfo1721]

@@AMTunLimited oh okay that makes sense, I’ve just never seen it before so it looked cool

[@PicsBoson]

As a non-musician I can only say "I like your funny words, magic man"

[@jaeroplane]

I showed this to my music students. I'm sitting there like, "Yeah! Good point! I heard that too!" and my students are like, "Uhm... what's going on?!"

[@-.a]

as a classical musician, i agree

[@whythehecknot5038]

I like your funny words, music man

[@Sithcario]

Just something about the line "that our flag was still there": while the camera cuts to the flags on the Mall, Lady Gaga is turning to gesture at the flag above the Capitol. Between that and the break in "land", it feels safe to say that she was drawing a parallel between the words of the Anthem and the events two weeks prior. Also, shoutout to the Marine Band for absolutely nailing it, as always!

[@MsDianagentaToYou]

Just like the flag... Democracy is Still Here!

[@mangledjargon5728]

I was going to post the same thing. While the camera cuts to the flags on the Mall, she actually turns and gestures to the flag atop the Capitol. And there is just no denying that she was doing so to point out that American Democracy survived the Anti-Patriot's attack (antipa?) on Jan 6 and their attempted coup. Her staging was *brilliant*. And now, thanks to this video, I hear that her arrangement was also brilliant.

[@scalzmoney]

Shout out to the United States Marine Band accompanying Lady Gaga for all the amazing music they played that day. It wasn't just Gaga and her musical director behind this.

[@LJ-wo1wf]

Yessir. And playing it LIVE, too -- "ev'ry clime and place" just like the Marines' Hymn says. The DC service bands perform outdoors so often that this is a walk in the park for them (or "a walk in Arlington National Cemetery") even being as cold as it was.

[@USMC5537]

Not real Marines....

[@scalzmoney]

@@USMC5537 They’re only the best musicians in the world.

[@USMC5537]

@@scalzmoney Some of the Best Contract Musicians in the world. As Marine Corps Musicians we absolutely Love them.

[@USMC5537]

@@scalzmoney If you ever get a chance to view the Evening Parade in DC it is magnificent. With the president's own and the D&B. Semper Fi.

[@aloysiussd]

jazzheads listening to one chord with more than three notes : WHOOOOOOOO YEA BABYYY THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT

[@WeatherManToBe]

This! I died when he got to that part ✋😂

[@spensert4933]

Yah chocolate in my peanut butter...

[@LanceWillMakeIt]

Love the reference 😆

[@BanDaniel23]

You’re like a star spangled banner musical historian

[@MrMMochizuki]

I would like to see an entire playlist series of this.

[@itspatflynn]

@@MrMMochizuki I had a professor in college who is probably the eminent historian on the star spangled banner. We spent like half a semester on it lol. If you want to learn more about it he has a million things online including this lecture: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqXVonainryhrNU

[@scarl2t]

i love it

[@tomasdahuabe]

Love how gaga's in-ear monitor matches the gold in her outfit and mic

[@kitster900]

Adam getting turned on by the Gb/Cb chord gives me life

[@isaacdomini]

I understood about 10% of the words he was saying, but I feel like everything made sense.

[@leannesmith5818]

She did a great job

[@idkhehe658]

i like when he says sus

[@PKAPE004]

Me 2%. The musical notes look very alien.

[@shmoolicious]

@@PKAPE004 me too.... I don't what what he is talking about but I loved the video anyway ;-)

[@olivialanker6744]

Me having not read music in 6 years: 👁👄👁👍

[@lasteternal7611]

a land divided. hence the awkward pause in between “land”.

[@armstrong.r]

You just made my jaw drop, that must be it!

[@pedrogarcia8706]

Oh shit

[@ManelRuivo]

I thought something like that. its like theres the ones of the land AND the free ones.

[@victortrying]

Whoa!

[@OutsideShoreMusic]

FWIW, my theory here is that the arrangement was *meant* to have "land" on the Gb, then the break, then "of" on the Ab, then "the" as a melisma over the remaining notes.

[@kiela2]

Her gesture towards the flag in “was still there” gave me goosebumps and I think someone’s cutting onions. I like how Adam brushes right up to that but leaves out the larger context that we all know is there.

[@MMAOnPoint]

CHON! - Good to see math rock get some shine here.

[@galanoth619]

hold on im talking brother

[@cx777o]

Hell ye, CHON rules!

[@JordanBlue1]

MMA On Point!

[@schuug]

Chon is life

[@rom4102]

WHAT how did I go through this whole video without noticing the chon reference edit: didnt pay attention to the beginning lmao

[@Protectthesun]

It’s almost like the “land” is divided...

[@Superphilipp]

🤯

[@maximus6791]

That was probably the intention, that's crazy man

[@vanitybenevolent]

This has to be the only reason for why it was done in this manner 🤯

[@mikemacsween7789]

When I first heard that, I wondered if she'd just misjudged, and had to snatch an extra breath. Because yes, breathing in the middle of a syllable is definitely unusual. But she was clearly right on top of the performance - everything about it looked and sounded extremely well prepared. And as Adam Neely points out, the band has a rest there, so it looks as though it was intentional.

[@MegaSouled]

I think the effect was like subtly adding an extra word to the lyrics land "and" of the free to emphasize

[@cyberskelet0n]

"We normally associate mixed meters with, like math rock" >shows one of the few CHON songs entirely in 4/4

[@kennhern]

Probably interntional to irk CHON fans. You know his humor

[@zxp3ct3r41]

Shit happens

[@JeffreyAdamiDrums]

Very true haha. I’m just glad CHON’s getting some love

[@brunor.m3276]

Not true actually, the solo is in 7/4 and 9/4 . Two bars in 7/4 and two bars in 9/4, alternating.

[@cyberskelet0n]

@@brunor.m3276 I think that would be a really goofy way to break up an anticipation of the beat, usually you'll see them on the + of 4 and know what's going on. I might see it if the snare didn't stay on the backbeat the whole way through

[@vincentdonnadio6455]

The first i said when she sang this was that her musical theatre background is showing haha

[@tonyrox5]

I love how Adam just casually slides his piano out at 1:21

[@audiochris78]

Like Will Ferrell takes out his flute in Anchorman. "I'm not prepared..' * zip *

[@colevano]

OH MY GOD. WHEN HE SLIDES THAT KEYBOARD OUT... 🥵 I need that.

[@annehorton9033]

I so didn’t expect that! ... so cool 😎

[@nylist5762]

when i saw that keyboard i swooned

[@aimeethereseperhach1055]

I came to the comment section needing to read comments about that!

[@ShariUlrichHere]

ha ha ha!! My thought EXACTLY!!!!

[@Leviathandk]

It made me think he only made this video too casually show off that :D

[@lianmatic2]

bro the whole thing barely ended and you're already here posting this video

[@nemo-tb8jm]

Adam watching the inauguration thinking: "these people don't even know that this is a mixed meter arrangement"

[@destinseese34]

@@nemo-tb8jm I noticed during the performance and I thought it was weird. It's interesting to hear someone's perspective on what mixed meter can bring to a song.

[@nemo-tb8jm]

@@destinseese34 I hadn't watched it until after Adam's video I always cringe a little when I see singers performing national anthems by themselves because sometimes they do lots of melismas or funny faces like they're trying to stir the audience's emotions. But I thought she did good vocally, even though it did sound a little weird

[@destinseese34]

@@nemo-tb8jm I agree. I thought it was really good, just a little different than I'm used to.

[@QwertyByte]

@@nemo-tb8jm we sure do now 🙃

[@dereksteffen7219]

Adam Neely makes me feel like I can intelligently appreciate music even though I don't understand any of it.

[@jaym3566]

She told a new story with meter. Lady Gaga is fucking amazing.

[@Horstapen]

Im just here pretending I understand music theory like: mhm, agree agree...

[@jayweh]

I love music, I have been playing instruments for 30 years, but the mathematical part of musical theory has never opened up to me. but I kinda like hearing other people talk about it.

[@eduardokalil4245]

Same here

[@podunkcitizen2562]

Do you have your arms crossed while stroking your chin with your thumb and forefinger?🤔

[@devina8812]

Mhm yes indeed

[@mahibmansibriju9136]

Mhm yes

[@JoshuaWillis89]

If there’s one thing I definitively know about Lady Gaga, it’s that she does nothing by accident during a performance. That woman is a machine. She doesn’t make mistakes.

[@bashisobsolete.pythonismyn6321]

IDK, that vomiting on stage looked pretty improv to me

[@nikitasafronov9700]

@@bashisobsolete.pythonismyn6321 🤣

[@zee3499]

@@bashisobsolete.pythonismyn6321 Are you talking about her vomiting or being vomited on? Because one was intricately planned.

[@woodfinchcrafts7267]

Singing two notes out of tune was on purpose?

[@cherrymaegaliza7285]

lmao. yasssss artpop era hahahah

[@Felicity_Young]

Gaga is so talented. Her VOCALS are insane!

[@kennydreadfuls861]

She had to add an extra beat per measure to really lean in to those diphthongs. I don’t know why she chose to sing this in a 1940’s Transatlantic accent like she is playing a chanteuse on a radio show about a womanizing gumshoe, but she is so fantastic performer and crazy versatile and she can do whatever the hell she wants and I am still going to “YAAAAASSSS!” out loud even if no one is at home. Icon.

[@daddyimsosorry]

merry me

[@kerplunkety]

"a 1940’s Transatlantic accent like she is playing a chanteuse on a radio show about a womanizing gumshoe". That's a gem of phrasing I've not read in decades--thanks for being brilliant!

[@chipgaasche4933]

@@kerplunkety you read it decades ago???

[@kerplunkety]

@@chipgaasche4933 Not KennyDreadfuls comment, but the way he describes her singing is writing you don't see today.

[@travissekutt]

3Kool

[@leolovsen1448]

12:24 in Sweden, we call the bVI bVII I-cadence the "Melodifestivalen"-cadence: Eurovision cadence because it ends the typical Schlager song

[@arnoultti5537]

Same in Finland :D

[@leolovsen1448]

@@arnoultti5537 ❤

[@Sutherland5]

In Finland it's also referred to as the hero-cadence, which in my opinion is quite fitting :D It really is a victorious chord progression!

[@JimMeehan]

It's so overused here that it's corny.

[@wibblewabblewoo6249]

I was SO pleased that the-gaga didn’t litter her vocals with melismas! Was beautiful.

[@hakancarlsson2881]

Yes! That's what stood out to me! Just a beautiful rendition instead of ridiculous ego-singing...

[@wibblewabblewoo6249]

Also.... unlike Beyoncé, Gaga clearly didn’t mime because she was a tiny bit out of tune by the end 😂

[@MrStrangeSensation]

Yeah believe it or not GaGa is a very classy lady lol. Tastefully done, she can sing her fucking balls off.

[@misterscottintheway]

Said every racist who thinks they're not racist

[@wibblewabblewoo6249]

@@misterscottintheway oh goodness me, who said what & how for that response 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@fetamean]

When I was listening to it that morning, I was thinking, "What the fuck is she doing? Is the band fucking up? Is SHE fucking up? Why is the time signature changing!?" Then I realized it was intentional. What a great arrangement. I love how you broke down all the chords, too. Very nerdy of you and I appreciate it.

[@theclimbingchef]

The first time I heard it, it sounded kinda off and then listened to it again and saw what they were doing to it.

[@ArtHoward]

I thought maybe they had monitor problems because it sounded like her and the band were either ahead of or behind each other, struggling to land on the downbeat together. Best policy: Don't get fancy, just sing the damn song.

[@thomasneal9291]

@@ArtHoward no, dimbulb, that's just you. the rest of us appreciate people who put actual thought into their expressions of art. I suppose you like paintings of boxes?

[@mistermoee]

@@ArtHoward I don't think the fanciness of this version is that bad.

[@lizpaiva6315]

same! "oh ofc, she's singing it in 4-WAIT WUT IS HAPPENING?"

[@connieeash7935]

Wow, I never got a music lesson like that in class! When I heard Lady Gaga sing, I was glued. It hit me like I had never heard it before. Now I have an idea how it was done. Interesting.

[@mangledjargon5728]

Me, too. I've never really liked the Anthem. Until Gaga did it. Made me fuckin' cry!

[@virginiaoflaherty2983]

@@mangledjargon5728 Me too, worn out and angry, OUR flag was still there. Lady Gaga sang the anthem to perfection.

[@SoundFieldPBS]

You snapped on this one Adam

[@notoriusdrifter40]

So where did dubstep go? Jk, I love your channel

[@ByteOfCake]

Damn how did I not find your channel. There's so much EDM stuff

[@SoundFieldPBS]

@RH3XIS whoa thanks for the love y'all. we just dropped a cool video on jersey club music

[@BrianGefrich]

@@SoundFieldPBS Oh that's why I recognized your channel name. That great jersey club video came up in my recommendations the other day.

[@DapperHesher]

@@notoriusdrifter40 No time to revisit dubstep, they're working diligently on a video about the fourth-wave of Icelandic-to-Sudanese diaspora crossover jazz hop. Are you even into that stuff yet, bro?

[@Guitargate]

I was thinking the same thing when I was watching it! Dude you're ON IT.

[@iforgotmyname2739]

He was streaming him transcribing it at like 6, and then stayed on a little bit afterwards. I can’t imagine how quickly he recorded this video.

[@Guitargate]

@@iforgotmyname2739 wow. On IG?

[@malcolmadams2105]

Yep 👍🏻 I believe you hear 👂 what she is saying, what she isn’t saying; and what the words are saying for her.. “Well done tribune well done.”

[@iforgotmyname2739]

@@Guitargate Twitch

[@spensert4933]

His driven obsessive compulsive genuis is our win.

[@theresashult2754]

I have some musical background. I played in all the bands starting in elementary school and even in college but don't know much about music theory. I loved Lady Gaga's singing of the anthem as I watched it live. I appreciated her interesting cadence and felt the POWER of her voice and delivery. I'm so glad I found this wonderful analysis of this performance so I really understand the genius behind the powerful performance.

[@Nanaeguitar]

I’m a classical musician and this was so interesting to watch!! Thank you! Excellent transcription and analysis!! I was very moved by Lady Gaga’s performance and thought that the Broadway-like orchestration was genius!

[@emmalouise9588]

as an english person the american national anthem sounds like a mix between the first noel and we wish you a merry christmas

[@jmer9126]

I thought I read somewhere that the melody was originally an English drinking song.

[@emmalouise9588]

@@jmer9126 wouldn't surprise me

[@edwardjamyangmacarchick1847]

@@jmer9126 From Wikipedia: ""The Anacreontic Song", also known by its incipit "To Anacreon in Heaven", was the official song of the Anacreontic Society, an 18th-century gentlemen's club of amateur musicians in London."

[@ariaxrose1]

@@jmer9126 yes it was originally a British song

[@onkelpappkov2666]

"You've been asking about the flag over and over. Again, of course it's still there. You want it in song? Oii mate, can't you see... Hey, that's actually catchy."

[@ShastaMiriander]

Lady Gaga could have wailed and riffed and do a million extra notes but I think she knew people need something comforting and straightforward and bold. Reminded me of her super bowl performance, she was so respectful of the venue.

[@uiscepreston]

That is called "melisma" and it is an exercise in annoyance. As Emperor Joseph II supposedly said, "too many notes!"

[@mettelarssen2151]

Entirely agree, Shasta, deep respect was precisely what I felt from her and I respect her deeply for that!

[@opheliavalentine6058]

Agreed. Fergie is an example of what went wrong

[@aryalogo6624]

@@opheliavalentine6058 looks like a hunger games outfit

[@jkjk8]

Her song was corny and she looked ridiculous. All painted like some crazy evil villain. I didnt like it.

[@larrybakst2651]

She wanted a full voiced version and the multi-metered arrangement is a brilliant, fantastic solution to the vocal difficulties of the piece. Vocal freaks-notice how perfectly she timed the turning over of her diphthongs: not holding the main vowel like an opera singer but not chewing the sound at the cost of her sound. She is a great musician and singer and picked the ideal style for the occasion. As someone who has spent my live singing I was blown away! Your great ears and informed analysis revealed so much about the piece, it's performance history and what she did to make it work. Thanks, and Holy Moley to Lady Gaga

[@bfr3713]

Yup. Check out the last note in particular.

[@tintoii]

You said it right, she was telling a story. Very "musical theater" and listening to it in full, you can really feel the story moving. Very nice

[@thefuturemillionairebanddi4528]

"Music is weird sometimes." - My new explanation anytime I don't want to go into detail with my students lol

[@ShawnComposer]

Hello, Didn't think I would see you here.

[@thefuturemillionairebanddi4528]

@@ShawnComposer this is one of my top 3 favorite channels!!!!

[@ShawnComposer]

@@thefuturemillionairebanddi4528 cool beans... and congrats on being debt free and being on the Dave Ramsey show

[@TechoNeko]

I’ve heard it many times and I gotta say it’s very effective

[@free187s]

I don’t think Lady Gaga was gesturing to the COVID-19 flags. I think she was gesturing the large American flag, as it was challenged just two weeks ago by the attack on the Capitol. It’s also why she held on the “flag was still there”. No matter the challenge or the challenger, the flag will still be there.

[@TheGlassgubben]

I'm not American, but I'd imagine the symbolism of the flag would've been so different, that it would've essentially been a different flag that happened to look the same.

[@EdwindePaula]

everything is a choreography. did you really think she turned around and the camera guy went like "ohh that's a good shot" and then he yelled to the other one "yo man put on those covid flags it's gonna look sick the b*tch is belting" and then it all came together in a magical spectacle??

[@0Clewi0]

Considering the time it must take to prepare the song I guess the story is more COVID has us in a strange tempo than the attack.

[@goofyskittles]

Don’t worry. The plandemic will be over now that joe Biden has found himself in office.

[@sudonim7552]

@@goofyskittles If you really think the entire world is being crippled by a virus to support the ambitions of one politician in one country, you seriously need to go outside more.

[@adolphweber9005]

Lady Gaga did a good job here. I love it when she sing it plain and simple without being too much. 😍

[@kaygilbert5570]

I know absolutely nothing about music. All I know is that I feel Gaga sang this with her heart and soul. ❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️

[@grunions9648]

Me: Oof she's really rushing that. Neely: Metrickery! damn

[@charliekassyk8357]

My goal in life is to find someone who looks at me the way Adam looks at Gb/Cb

[@sandalero]

ha true. funny

[@noeliajaime7656]

I love this Gagas version. It had heart. She sang it from the heart. She felt it,especially when she sang ...the flag was still there. THAT had so much meaning,to ALL of us.

[@richardschnell4842]

The off-kilter feeling, uneasy feeling, awkward feeling would be, ahh, Drama!

[@manreeque5887]

How the hell did he come out with a video on this already

[@MusicForTheBroken]

He’s extremely Well-versed in music theory and history.

[@dudemaister96]

he knows his shit and it's important with topical stuff to be as early as possible for that sweet add revenue

[@averagealice8877]

Ear, or sheet music early access?

[@SgtMacska]

He said he transcribed it himself at 0:21. Goes to show how efficient his editing has become over the years

[@averagealice8877]

@@SgtMacska using his ear plus some other score perhaps. You have to be able to hear what was altered.

[@jamesuMusic]

plot twist: *Adam Neely was the arranger*

[@krodranvin2293]

That's why he was so fast

[@oaaees]

can only wish for my boy adam to make his arrangement of the star spangled banner

[@ShiningTrapezoid]

Not enough licc

[@husnainali-gn8bo]

Honestly I'd love adam to arrange it

[@mk_rexx]

Adam is Lady Gaga

[@pegfutrell4543]

Thank you for this analysis. I knew I loved the performance, the meters she used, and the dramatic touches she added. But you have given the deep dive into why this rendition was so effective and powerful.

[@dckmusic]

I missed the first part of the inauguration so this is my first listen to her rendition. I really like the mixed meter and how she uses it to build up to the end. This arrangement obviously wasn't thrown together last minute - they appear to really have worked at it and it really worked.

[@zachwuorinen9345]

The devil works hard but Adam works harder

[@L00MER]

Yeah. He turned that one around really fast.

[@roadchord]

well my father walked out faster

[@ALXandroATS]

The devil was in charge of God’s music department before he was banished from heaven, might explain why Lady Gaga loves Spirit Cooking.

[@ModernDevotion]

@@roadchord 🤣

[@mt1fulfilled921]

@@ALXandroATS My thoughts exactly! Cabal’s choir girl

[@gingerfloof777]

When I was a kid I thought “dawn’s early light” was “donzerly light.” Never knew what donzerly meant.

[@gavintantleff]

I thought that until it said dawn’s early light on the score just now

[@tuffleader2448]

this is hilarious. urban dictionary also has an entry for 'donzerly' lmaoo

[@raybergstrom]

That's in the Ramona Quimby books too

[@thermalegoogle]

This is now canon to me.

[@KeithRowley]

LOL! Me too!!

[@bilbobaggins5704]

Girl at CPAC 2021 said to Gaga..."Hold my beer. :-) "

[@NROS2012]

"I Dreamed a Dream" is early on in Act One. "One Day More" is the finale of Act One. No big deal, just can't let a hero live not knowing that.

[@FarragoTheFox]

For the 47th, let's all hope for an experimental polytonal jazz fusion prog version of the anthem, with some Dream Theater style time signature changes.

[@SirLightfire]

\*Invites Tool somehow\* \*Star Spangled Banner is now in 35/16 and D Dorian somehow\*

[@koenschaper8821]

Just let Dream Theater do the anthem

[@KennethWestervelt]

@@koenschaper8821 As an instrumental, no Canadians allowed.

[@notoriusdrifter40]

And Kirk Wahmetts wah

[@Accavish]

I'm just hoping for "Star Spangled Banner But It's Giant Steps".

[@StatusMusicDesign]

Both when I watched it live and now, the "was...still...there..." part got me teared up. I'm not an insanely patriotic person, but something about her whole performance, and espeically that part (perhaps the almost lurching nature you mentioned) got to me. Lady Gaga is a class act. She has the chops to do just about anything. Knowing how reserved she was purposefully being in her vocal approach made me appreciate her all the more.

[@delaneyfayce]

SAME. I cried again just hearing it here. Incredible.

[@ailawil89]

This is so nerdy. I love every second of it.

[@craigeverhart4755]

And she handled the time-signature changes perfectly. An effective performance.

[@yishaylevin1784]

Anybody: Performs national anthem at large event Adam: WHAT IS TYE MEANING OF THIS

[@husnainali-gn8bo]

Lmfao ikr

[@harpdc]

It's incredible that Whitney Houston's Super Bowl performance has so fundamentally changed the way we interact with our own National Anthem.

[@AlightingOnAir]

Greatest lip sync of all time

[@willem8031]

Sure Whitney Houston was in her prime a better singer as Lady Gaga, but at the superbowl she was singing the anthem in a dead microphone it was pre - recorded. Lady Gaga at least had the courage to sing it in the cold live, maybe it wasn’t perfect but considering the circumstances she did a great job.

[@croonermel]

Adam Neely hit's it out of the ball park! My goodness, Adam knows his stuff. He makes me appreciate how great was Lady Gaga's arrangement and performance of the National Anthem at the 2021 Inauguration of President Joe Biden. Makes me think of the lyrics "How little we know, how much to discover, what chemical forces flow ..." from that famous song. What a treasure Lady Gaga is! Adam Neely and Lady Gaga: love you both very much!

[@wardippy226]

Bm/D: Nah Cbm/Ebb: Perfection

[@gtrdave]

In common rock-n-roll guitar player language, Bm/D would be fine, but in Gb-key-and-chart-specific theory, Cbm/Ebb is the rule.

[@dinsmoor366]

The equivalent to the Queen's english.

[@gnpahdc]

LOL!

[@ericshenefield3355]

b-/d same thing

[@jacobhartley2637]

@@gtrdave why?

[@stevenl8054]

It's usually refreshing to hear "land of the free" sung straight, because that high note really belongs to Whitney.

[@MezztovenShort4DannY]

Facts

[@stevenl8054]

@@MezztovenShort4DannY Yep. Lady Gaga makes me happy.

[@whatdoyousuppose]

I did like when Gaga did it like that at the Super Bowl but yes Whitney is forever the GOAT of that opt-up

[@GH-oi2jf]

That high note doesn’t belong, period, in my opinion. LG’s rendition is far better than WH’s and any other modern interpretation that I’ve heard.

[@christopherstetson4808]

For most of us, "land of the free" sung straight IS the high note. Just saying.

[@julianrojo]

"tresillo" in spanish is a simple triplet. The name of what he called tresillo, is more like a clave, the 3-3-2. Is widely used in milongas, tango (piazolla create an almost new form of tango with that rhythm) and of course is used a lot in Uruguay in the murga style. A humble argentinian info to a marvelous video and channel. Great stuff always

[@1missing]

Tresillo isn't just a "simple triplet", it's specifically a triplet over 2, which the clave starts on. While she doesn't exactly sing a tresillo in that phrase, he describes it as such because of how that second note in the phrase is just ahead of the beat, similar to how the 2nd note in a tresillo is ahead of the beat.

[@julianrojo]

@@1missing I understand. I only said that in spanish means triplet, more accurately, a 3:2 triplet like you said.

[@andresgualdron]

Julián: al ritmo que tu y Adam describen se le llama también "tresillo cubano", y en ese sentido Adam la está utilizando correctamente. En efecto, como dices, se utiliza en las milongas y el tango en tanto estos dos tienen un "ancestro" común en el caribe (pues aparece también en ritmos como la habanera y en infinidad de ritmos antillanos). En mi opinión la utilización que él hace de la palabra es correcta.

[@julianrojo]

@@andresgualdron Al menos en la notación tradicional europea, el "tresillo" a secas son 3 ataques en el tiempo que ocupan dos corcheas de binario, o sea el 3:2. Quizás en músicas populares se le diga asi también, no sabia. Buena data entonces. Saludos.

[@andresgualdron]

@@julianrojo Exacto es una acepción de la palabra que diverge de la académica/europea, pero está tan establecida que incluso le llegó a Adam (seguro la conoció aprendiendo a tocar música latina). Saludos!

[@iamhondo]

The lyrics are about uncertainty and seeking signs of hope and encouragement. The arrangement did a great job of expressing the tension and drama we watched during the 1/6 riots and over the whole COVID pandemic. Uncertain times deserve an anthem without the bold, over-confident pride that other performers delivered in their own time. I'm not a Gaga fan, but that anthem was instantly and thoroughly engaging. Your great analysis of the musicology (right word?) is icing on the cake.

[@GR_BackingTracks]

The conclusion: "I liked it. It was cool." -A. Neely

[@Josh_Fredman]

She's definitely one of our most intelligent and creative pop music artists. I knew from the time she wore that beefsteak dress that she was the real deal.

[@baylinkdashyt]

There's a clip on here of her performing a number while she was at Columbia, student recital or something. You can see it then.

[@user-bf6gz8ej4o]

Really? I think it's immature as fuck. But somehow this lady has greater musical knowledge than I thought, soo

[@opheliavalentine6058]

She is a great singer and good at making music out of existing melodies but the more I listen the more I’ve noticed that she steals melodies note by note from foreign bands. The chorus for “Speechless” was ripped directly from a Dutch band song. I don’t remember the name. You still gotta give her credit though since she came up with her own lyrics and made the melody her own

[@adrianbarker9547]

I genuinely heard the performance whilst driving so was not paying too much attention but I immediately recognized this was an absolutely brilliant piece of writing. Thanks for explaining why.

[@sbove]

Thanks for this wonderful breakdown. Really helped understand this masterpiece. LadyG and Michael Bearden...so brilliant. This arrangement and performance unexpectedly took my breath away...tears by measure 5... These chords and rhythms read the spirit of the American people...repeated tension & resolution in about 20 subtle flavors that tapped jazz, broadway, gospel, classical, to provide a cathartic release that was perfection. @Nihilist on twitter aptly observed "Like an opera it purged the Capitol of dark ghosts." Instant classic for all time.

[@jeremystig98]

Lady Gaga went from "i wanna take a ride on your disco stick" to the singing the star spangled banner for a presidential inauguration!

[@JayyeMusic]

12 yrs

[@putridfetidini5468]

Don't worry, she hasn't really gone anywhere, she's still there

[@choubidouwah]

As we say in French « l’un n’empêche pas l’autre »;)

[@charlottebligh649]

Bold of you to assume that disco stick isn't what landed her the gig

[@forformgamer]

That Gb/Cb sounds like it's asking me if I want coffee on a dimly lit morning...

[@iainoam2565]

Man just imagine a warm cup of coffee while staring at the sunset rising through the window. You’ve got a blanket around your shoulders.

[@QuiznoDubz]

That piano drawer was so satisfying to watch it slide out

[@joerumler48]

I just fell in love with Lady Gaga....

[@pedroalves6560]

as soon as adam did that "MMMMMM" I immediately thought of Charles Cornell, and he follows it by the exact clip I was thinking of haha

[@JeremyForTheWin]

and what noise did you make when you saw that?

[@pedroalves6560]

@@JeremyForTheWin aw man i did not hold back my "MMMMMMM"

[@ultimapanzer]

Twist: her monitor was de-synced from the band and she was constantly trying to catch back up at the end of phrases.

[@KennethBadger]

Then itd be more impressive she freestyled the national anthem

[@Ensorcle]

That is actually what I thought had actually happened. I heard it not as mixed meter but as her leading and lagging the band.

[@KeithRowley]

I noticed her golden in-ear monitor! Gorgeous!

[@laundromatjones4337]

I spent the first 12 bars or so legitimately thinking this tbh

[@donfitzsimons6673]

@@Ensorcle I'm hearing the performance for the first time and I would have presumed (a) the score was in the traditional 3/4 and (b) Ms. Gaga couldn't be bothered to watch the conductor or read the music. So, I would have been wrong again, darn it

[@aprilsigns4175]

...”home of THE (Firebird change) brave” That’s the change that gave me chills.

[@jjbsnak95096]

yes! Firebird change! :D

[@editingdude122]

I love how this performance is reserved yet energetic and regal yet experimental. Probably one of my favorite renditions of the anthem.

[@jackgerig8910]

The thing is that she isn’t gesturing toward the flags on the mall, she’s looking to the flag on the capitol building. It had been taken down on January 6th by rioters and insurgent militias hell-bent on upending our democracy, replaced by a Trump flag. But the inauguration gave proof through "the night" (or the rocky transition) that not only our flag but our democracy was still there. She is using the national anthem to communicate the importance of this inauguration not COVID.

[@yosuakrisnando]

UP

[@thehepdog]

Yes, she gestures upward to the flag. That was the moment I lost it completely. 😭

[@llaughridge]

*insurgent terrorists (not just rioters)

[@alex0589]

I almost commented this. this was (very) extremely obvious. No one with a brain missed that. I am Canadian...

[@nolaffinmatter]

There was AN American flag on the Capitol Building that looked like the insurrectionists* replaced with a Trump flag on 1/6, but I don't think it was THE American flag on the Capitol Building. Agreed that thematically, the Anthem's idea of "There was a violent battle but we still stand strong regardless" applies better to the insurrection than the pandemic. *Different, and more accurate I think, than either "terrorists" or "rioters"

[@emdivine]

I'm not sure why, but calling the arrangement "contemporary opera" really hit me.

[@travcollier]

The realization that Opera is just a type of musical theater? What really hit me was the whole "musical theater" thing, including that opera line. The Star Spangled Banner is a narrative poem... Now I think about it, trying to do it as some regal march or something is the weird thing. This arrangement actually makes sense.

[@MB-xw1tu]

@@travcollier Yes. And context of when that poem was written, where Lady Gaga was singing the anthem that day, and what had just happened there makes it all even more poignant and relevant. Key wrote the lyrics as a poem about the sacking of Ft. McHenry, which he witnessed as a prisoner on board a british ship in Baltimore harbor. A little less than a month before that battle in Baltimore, the British invaded D.C. and burnt down multiple buildings, including the U.S. Capitol. The only other time any group has forcibly and violently invaded that building (and what it represents) was Jan. 6. I loved her operatic performance, and the arrangement was perfect. The slightly unsettling nature of the rhythms, balanced by harmonies that are usually resolved, leaves you with that feeling that you are uncomfortable where you are, but you are pretty sure things are going to end up okay. All of it worked so perfectly to tell a story, and she did it with technical precision. (I'm not a listener of her music, but have been generally convinced over many years that she a musician in every way imaginable). And I could listen to this performance (and watch her face) over and over. )

[@dopolla1]

@@travcollier And that "Broadway" was done with operatic vibrato up until the 1920's-1930's.

[@travcollier]

@@dopolla1 Cool. I don't know jack about music really, which is why I enjoy this channel's analysis so much.

[@bm4114]

She sounds more like an operatic tenor on those high notes than a mezzo Broadway belter.

[@drummergirl4239]

I feel like the groups of 2 notes during “the flag was still there” complements her gesture to the flags extremely well.

[@leehawn9166]

You talk about this performance "telling a story" with it's off-kilter feeling, uneasy feeling, awkward feeling, but also an exciting feeling, that told us that we're going some place new. Don't you think that It's symbolically/musically telling us "that some place new" is the incoming administration? I certainly do.

[@padrejohnruffle]

Sadly.. you are right.

[@Jukka70]

oh it definitely said we were going somewhere new. In that way this disaster was fitting.

[@coastwalker101]

@@Jukka70 Change is unsettling but when things stop changing you stop living and learning.

[@eehlohluell]

@@coastwalker101 change is necessary for progression, however the change isn't automatically good or bad just because it leads somewhere

[@MsDianagentaToYou]

Yes. But also a VERY different administration than the one that left, after multiple crises. Seems the only thing we all have in common is that we all felt unnerved, off-kilter, just like that section of the song. The arrangement also reflected that those crises weren't over, but that there is renewed hope.

[@sluzbenik8089]

The break on "land," I suspect, was a very, very clever musical metaphor for how divided the country has been. The country split but comes back together.

[@thebrowniesaur22]

Yeah, there's no way the left and the right are ever going to "come back together" after the shit that has happened this last year.

[@Rickshaw_Bohammer]

The land here will always be divided, you can’t rule a United people, they’ll become too strong together

[@PetersonSilva]

Came here to say that

[@AimeeNolte]

Great analysis Adam! I just want to point out that at at the 9:58 mark and also the very end, it’s carnival music.Like a direct transport to cotton candy and ring toss land.

[@roboslobonator]

Nice catch, I love that harp zing at the end. These touches support that whimsical theater experience. Grab your popcorn and peanuts!

[@Trailtracker]

I love that part so much

[@felixmarques]

It's the corny band vibe, with those… chimes of some kind?

[@mostesthighest]

This election has been both a theater and a carnival

[@gabrielcecatto6992]

Totally got carnival vibes too, i think it may have something to do with the timing/tempo between the voices. It is like both of the voices are trying to keep up with one another throughout the song. Edit for clarification: I mean the timings in the melody of those voices.

[@desertsinger72]

I think Whitney Houston’s performance of the Star Spangled Banner will always be the Gold Standard. That being said, Lady Gaga’s performance for the inauguration will be a runner up. It is a far more difficult piece than a lot of people give it credit for. Both ladies did a magnificent job and their directors did great jobs for the arraignment.

[@tlskillman]

I knew something good was happening when I heard her sing, thanks for helping me understand why. Nice work..

[@Kaemshot]

I'd love to hear a Adam Neely microtonal chillhop version of the US anthem

[@AnnaKhomichkoPianist]

Chris Kametriser haha yes please!

[@josiahcalva5136]

Yes!!!

[@Abd-kb7tr]

dont tempt him

[@user-uu2cj9ct3j]

“It’s like the big number at the end of Act I.” *Sings I Dreamed A Dream* 😂

[@zebobes]

I know, what happened to “One Day More”??? :-D

[@KedKi]

To be fair, the "I Dreamed a Dream" motif is all over "One Day More" (especially Marius & Cosette's parts), even tho the lyrics are different. And Adam did sing it with the march-like articulation used in "One Day More", not the lyrical articulation from "I Dreamed a Dream".

[@JeremyForTheWin]

that's because les mis is like four songs with different lyrics

[@DanielGonzalezC]

He meant the "I dreamed a dream" counterpoint tho. Not the song per se.

[@ZijunTan]

"i dreamt a dream" is literally the meaning of his ID, in Mandarin.

[@jendralhxr]

the 3/4 part does sound fairy-tale-esque indeed, like a Disney princess who sings it

[@dcse55]

At "our flag Was Still There!" she isn't gesturing to the multitude of flags having to do with the coronavirus. She turns and gestures to the flag atop the Capital Dome, indicating and celebrating that the putsch which had been attempted two weeks earlier had failed, and that the Republic survives again, as it did at Fort McHenry ... only much more so.