Why is Phoebe Bridgers' music so DEVASTATING? | s c o r e s t u d y 1 1

In this video, I'm exploring one single, solitary chord that really punches me in the gut whenever I hear it. And, it happens to be in the vast majority of Elliott Smith's songs, so I named it after him. Phoebe Bridgers seems to love to use it, too. This video features Molly McAdoo on vocals (and myself- be nice).
0:00- Intro
Part One: Between the Bars
2:29- "Miss Misery"
5:40- "Say Yes"
7:01- "Angeles"
9:01- "Ballad of Big Nothing"
Part Two: ICU, Major Two
11:32- "Kyoto"
14:47- "Killer"
15:41- "ICU"
16:23- "Savior Complex"
17:35- Part Three: Harmony Condensed
Music used in the video: "Memphis [remix]" and "Eiderdown (electronic version)" both by Brian Krock; "Fixed Position Piece" by Big Heart Machine. All three tracks are unreleased to the public but available on my Patreon.
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#PhoebeBridgers #ElliottSmith

[@BrianKrock]

Hey all! Based on some comments I’m seeing, I just want to reiterate what I’ve already said in the video: *yes*, there are a lot of factors that make music sad, and *yes*, the chord that I’m talking about here is not exclusive to Elliott’s music by any stretch of the imagination (he just used it so frequently that it’s a prominent feature of his style). Comment below with your favorite instances of the E.S.C. in other songs :)

[@richiesmith6376]

Definitely love the heavy mood shift that a properly placed Major II chord can elicit! For me personally, I don't find it to be a sad emotional pull, necessarily. To me it feels like a "sun breaking through the clouds" type feeling if that makes sense. Maybe it has to do with the fact that the expected tonality of the ii chord is minor when speaking diatonically, and substituting the major there can make things seem "brighter". Cool video. Appreciate your enthusiasm!

[@JohnDoe-dh8xc]

I would love another video on how modal mixture is used on both Phoebe Bridger’s and Elliot Smith’s work

[@rydogglessauldoggles7856]

The song Punisher is specifically about Elliott Smith - she even mentions the Sniw White House because he used to live in one of the cottages where the Disney animators used to work. I used to live in the neighborhood and he would frequent the bars.. especially the Roost so she would hear stories about him still to this day. I feel like the whole album is a love letter to him and it was certainly in my top 3 albums of last year.

[@saturatedneowax]

based

[@maxlove8894]

Please do a video about Porcupine Tree (:

[@soserious4738]

Phoebe is unapologetically a huge Elliot Smith fan, so this makes sense.

[@ooglemonster]

I can’t imagine why anyone would be apologetic about being an Elliott Smith fan.

[@UncleAnaesthesia]

Totally perfect to mention Savior Complex; Elliott was the first thing i heard in that song.

[@thebonscast8857]

no one should have to apologize

[@not.a.robott]

When she was in high school she used to record overly sincere Elliot Smith covers and post them to KZbin. she dyed her hair red and thought you had to fill in your eyebrows with red makeup lmao. she's deleted them from KZbin

[@oldaccount5217]

@@not.a.robott Elliott smith wrote Condor Ave. when he was 17

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Elliott Smith and Phoebe Bridgers... two of my favourite artists! Thanks for the video! 😃

[@user-df9kd4kq7o]

Thank you for your videos

[@itmedana]

i just came here from your secondary dominants video!! reminded me of this gem :)

[@grrrlriot]

mine too!!! plus conor oberst :-)

[@scebsy6524]

i love elliott smith, great to hear one of my fav channels does too

[@oldaccount5217]

I like Elliott Smith. Not Phoebe really… because I’m a musician who admires Elliotts musical intelligence. Bridgers doesn’t seem authentic to me, Jason Molina, from “Songs:Ohia” seems legit chronically depressed at times like Elliott. His music is way better than Phoebes music as well imo. LOL

[@jermyhopkisn9654]

It always blows me the fuck away that he was apparently able to write Everything Means Nothing To Me in one sitting.

[@yearnpill]

From what I remember, blood was dripping from his arm and he was going through extreme stress when he sat down and wrote that song on the piano.

[@Daneh97]

@@yearnpill Where did you both hear about this? I've never heard of this before, and that's one of my favorite songs

[@yearnpill]

@@Daneh97 www.google.ie/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/elliott-smith-death-figure-8-album-suicide-anniversary-20-years-a9469326.html%3famp go to paragraph 24, it says the following- “Everything Means Nothing to Me” was born of a violent reaction, during a 48-hour mushroom trip, to the pressures of having to worry about the future of his “art”. “A lot of people from the label were telling him he needed to get it together,” producer David McConnell told Spin. “He was so sick of people talking about the future. So he carved the word ‘NOW’ into his arm with a knife. And he sat down at the piano and wrote ‘Everything Means Nothing to Me’ as the blood was dripping down his arm.”

[@Daneh97]

@@yearnpill thanks so much! That’s gnarly as hell

[@yearnpill]

@@Daneh97 yea, kinda disturbing yet fascinating that such a beautiful piece of music can come from such a tortured mental state.

[@JuliaHope1]

Nothing can ever beat Elliott Smith for me, but I keep hearing little nods to his music when listening through Phoebe Bridgers albums and I love it so much.

[@JuliaHope1]

The pissing contest/savior complex melody is 100% what sealed the deal for me too. Ugh SO GOOD.

[@jordanhedington2421]

For me, the only thing that compared to what Elliot Smith made me feel was when I discovered Nick Drake

[@brookelynch5225]

me: so how can i be a sad lesbian AND learn more about music theory? brian: i've got you

[@jo-du6km]

i was going to comment this exact thing

[@dreamstudios9887]

@@jo-du6km is Brian gay?

[@cecilia5093]

Me!

[@user-pt4ic1qu5q]

@@dreamstudios9887 maybe he’s lesbian…

[@jonebenfield]

I don't think I've ever commented on a KZbin video before, but this has to have been one of the most intellectually and emotionally engaging videos I've watched in a very long time. Your willingness to attend to the complexity of this music and present it in a manner that is generous, compassionate, and relatable is awesome. I look forward to spending more time with your videos. Thank you for your care and attention.

[@senoreverything6366]

This took WAYYYYY too long for this to be recommended to me

[@ChrisGarmon]

It's amazing how a major chord, usually considered bright and uplifting, can rip your heart to shreds when used right. By the way, I love your excitement and enthusiasm. You have the attitude of everyone's favorite teacher about you.

[@heatherjohnson5199]

Well said. I concur.

[@brendonleary]

I find it amazing that people still fall for that basis stereo typing of Major scales happy/ Minor scales sad.

[@AberdeenTheBand]

AGREED. “Funeral” will break a heart into pieces

[@eranavni-singer9189]

Woah Aberdeen likes phoebe bridgers! I’m not surprised but it’s just good to know

[@KaitlinGaspar]

it’s my favorite song tBh

[@AberdeenTheBand]

@@eranavni-singer9189 *loves

[@karaangan3660]

love this video! actually, phoebe has said that the song Punisher is actually about Elliot Smith. i like that she’s bringing his music to a whole new generation of sad people :)

[@laradigar]

Man, Savior Complex hits *right* in the feelings 🥲

[@ryanhingorani4019]

I have too much of a crush on her to learn anything from this video. will come back in a month

[@TylerJMacDonald]

So...how's it going?

[@swatchcovers5401]

Elliot Smiths resolutions do it to me every single time.

[@yearnpill]

Yeah, his chord progressions are just something else

[@dougcarll6830]

The way he resolves that final bridge (I guess the bridge?) into the last verse of Say Yes...guhhhh

[@christinefletcher5805]

Hey. This was some of the best self-care I've had for a while. Thanks for all of your work on it.

[@BrianKrock]

Hey, that makes me so happy to hear- thanks for letting me know.

[@Tantacrul]

Very compelling an excellently explained :) Loved it.

[@benjamin._.mcalister1698]

Always happy to see you somewhere on KZbin, you’re one of my favourite youtubers

[@lucawkaminski]

oh my god. i'm a phoebe bridgers fan but i have never listened to elliot smith and my life has been changed. thank you.

[@thebordenasylum7726]

You have to check out Waltz#1, New Disaster, I Didn't Understand, and Can't Make A Sound if you haven't already

[@lucawkaminski]

@@thebordenasylum7726 haha i certaintly have, in the time since i posted this comment i have become a huge elliott fan. i like to think i know most of his songs, but then again he wrote so much its unbelievable. god, i love him

[@perfectoid8376]

@@lucawkaminski haha I've been a huge fan(extreme fan) of Elliott for almost 4 years and i was surprised to hear one song I haven't heard off a couple of months ago.. i would guess he wrote more than 130 songs or more. if you haven't heard them yet go listen to unlucky charm, somebody that i used to know, something to loose, no confidence man..

[@georgierigby2576]

hey luca this is cracking me !up!

[@Hamletshandle]

Ahhhhhh Radiohead's Karma Police does this, as does loads of their material but that's what came to mind first

[@nikolaisoerensen]

Wait, so karma police is in am, so that would be the D major am I right?

[@rumpelRAINS]

Just started getting into her music and then you drop this masterpiece. Thank you.

[@btat16]

19:06 NEEDS to be said more! I write neo-classical music on a daily basis and people usually crap on pop or rap to me as a conversation starter, but I tell them it’s not fair to judge pop or rap by the standards of 18th century classical.

[@FracturedFrames]

You always make videos about music so close to my heart. I remember racking my brain over Elliot Smith's music before I studied music theory! I so desperately wanted to capture that incredible feeling you described. Amazing video as always!

[@youmothershouldknow4905]

Ballad of Big Nothing ain’t nothin’: it’s the greatest song in the entire history of popular music.

[@youmothershouldknow4905]

0:39 to 0:41 of the song-not the video-is the greatest chord progression in all of music.

[@danletras]

AGREED!!!

[@youmothershouldknow4905]

@@danletras It’s a WTF chord progression in the most beautiful way.

[@danletras]

@@youmothershouldknow4905 EXACTLY!!! The weird feeling that: "I've never heard something like this before, but I feel like I've known it my whole life."

[@youmothershouldknow4905]

@@danletras Just to be sure, the progression starts with the chord played over the line, “Waiting for your brother to call.” This first chord, though beautiful, was played in earlier passages. It’s the next chord that evokes shock and awe, the one played over the line, “I saw him down in the alley.” This is one of the most beautiful moments in music, in a pure music sense. As far as lyrics, I don’t pay attention to that. With Elliot Smith, it’s probably some dark shit, nonetheless poetic. I’m just all ‘bout dem chords. For another transcendent chord progression experience, check out the song Transience by Steve Wilson off of the “Hand. Cannot. Erase.” album. Both Wilson and Smith may not be at the level of sophistication of Allan Holdsworth, but, wow, they create beautiful sound.

[@adamhanney]

Great breakdown! Bridgers has been citing Smith’s influence in her music in interviews for nearly her whole career so the connection has been there for long time fans I think, which makes calling the secondary dominant the “Elliot Smith Chord” in reference to Bridgers music very appropriate. I’ve curiously always thought of Radiohead and other British bands (especially of the 90’s) to have distinctly used that chord a lot more for some reason and always think of that sound as the essence of 90’s Brit Pop haha. Would love to see you expand on this concept with other artists and chase down some of it’s origins in popular music!

[@elkcibdej]

Yeah I was thinking the whole time this chord has a very “oasis-y” Brit-poppy kind of flavor.

[@kitpalmer1583]

@@elkcibdej Oasis were obviously massively inspired by the Beatles, as was Elliott, so that makes sense

[@jmoreno600]

The II chord is not a secondary dominant if it resolves to IV.

[@AshleyFloyd13]

I've been playing Kyoto every morning for the last 2 weeks like I needed to hear it, this makes sense. I need a cathartic release! Also my wife has a good ear and I played her Phoebe Bridgers and she said, "oh, it's like Elliot Smith". Thanks for the breakdown!

[@EvanGolfs]

You’ve helped me musically figure out something that felt so intangible before, thank you so much. Amazing video!

[@JoshBrown-wo8qj]

thank you for making this!!

[@seantheprawn9257]

Thank you so much Brian. You’re analysis and insight is an incredible light and gift. I’m looking forward to more videos.

[@charlesnevsimal9235]

Absolutely wonderful video. Thank you for going all in. I am enthralled by this and have been wondering myself at the connective tissue between Elliott and Phoebe. I'm glad this wasn't just a short video. Keep up the great work!

[@unabashed26]

Thank you Brian, beautiful work.

[@matcanary]

You're very coherent in speaking! I don't understand music terms but you make me feel like I do, wishing you great power!

[@samuelhornmusik]

Thank you’re so much for this! For your openness and your big heart and also for the lesson. I’m taking away a lot from this. In every way 😊❤️

[@jiyuzanandrewrockwell2676]

Thank you so much for this Brian

[@yenneved]

you're hands-down my new favorite music educator. Thanks!

[@scottruston9046]

This is an amazing video. Such great musical analysis. Thankyou for making it.

[@Christopher.Marshall]

There are not many music theory analysis videos for Elliott Smith's songs. Thank you for making this video! This is such a treat.

[@brendanhazel8965]

Duuuuude! This video kicks ass! The style, progression, and of course, your infectious passion! Keep it up! I can't stop punctuating with exclamation points!!!

[@princessnerdfighter]

wow... this was in my recommended and i clicked on it like i always click on lots of nonsense but this one hit me so hard. i'm low key at a loss for words. phoebe's music has really carried me through the last year and i deeply relate to the catharsis that you so eloquently and clearly explained in this video. i am really grateful for you for taking the time to go through this. i feel so inspired about expanding my own understanding of music composition/ theory now... when in the past it's always felt a little out of reach. thanks man.

[@PatrickNorris10]

It’s crazy that I know all of these songs so well and felt like I had internalized them but I still get goosebumps when they hit those specific notes with certain lyrics.

[@BrianKrock]

I know, I feel the same! Was just yesterday listening to Roman Candle on the bus and frickin goosebumps the whole time

[@bruh2843]

@@BrianKrock roman candle alwayss gives me huge goosebumps 💔

[@jamiefirman7011]

Brilliant!! Tysm for this!

[@hap3567]

You are an incredible explainer of these concepts. I have learned so much about two of my favorite artists that brings me so much more of a love for their music, and i can really see how much you care about it. From the editing to your playing, thank you so much. Great vid!

[@scifiromance]

Dude, this video is great. Thank you.

[@wavetech_]

Ok my dude, I like you. Twas very good. "Miss Misery" is one of my all time favourite songs!

[@nathannakadegawa-lee8737]

Love this chord! I was just talking about it in the Beatles You Won't See Me and I'll Follow the Sun and probably a better example of the feeling you are describing in Yebbas Where Do You Go. Great video as always 👍

[@pedalpoet204]

Stumbling across your channel and this video in particular is so WILDLY TIMELY for me for three reasons. Thank you!

[@rphuntarchive1]

Phoebe Bridgers is so awesome, and I love the attention she's getting now.

[@bobsbigboy_]

She isnt

[@louieo.blevinsmusic4197]

She is awesome. I wouldn’t mind making music with Conor Oberst.

[@JesusGomez-ob2qt]

You mean Elliott..

[@Mass_Tone]

This was beautifully put. I never knew what it was about Elliot Smith's music (or Bridgers) that made it so heartwrenching. Thank you

[@yusdrum91]

amazing work, man! one of my fav album of 2020! thank you for this.

[@BrianKrock]

Thank you- one of ny favorites, too!

[@evanphillips2126]

Ballad of Big Nothing is one of my favourite Elliott tracks too! Great video

[@ChrisEffort]

Great video man, I was entertained all the way through. And both Eliot and Phoebe are a huge inspiration for me. Thanks for making this video.

[@ninialintu]

This was great, thank you!

[@avac4285]

thank u for making this! this is so interesting

[@ivaniasalasfranco4286]

this is a beautiful video thank you so much

[@rotroom]

im so glad you made this video because i absolutely love elliott mith and his songwriting has fascinated me and his use of major chords. perfect vid

[@kirstytan7855]

This is such an informative video! I learn a lot from this video and will surely check out more music from Phoebe Bridgers. Thank you for making such high-quality content!

[@sarahelizabethsmith9906]

Brilliant. Thank you for such a helpful and thorough explanation of this music.

[@therneee]

This was such a great video I am so glad I found you. This style of music analysis is what I have been wanting someone to do on youtube for so long I am so happy you are making these

[@ryananderson4352]

Wow, this was a really awesome video! I’m just discovering your channel today and am excited to look through your work here:) thanks!

[@BenjaminJBromley]

Love that you mentioned the W.A. Matthieu book-looking forward to your video on it!

[@zanerzazzerzuzz]

This is a brilliant analysis of some of my all time favorite songwriting inspirations. Music, as poetry, is a language. Great video, keep up the good work❣️

[@refusedone]

I’m wishing you the absolute best too, thanks for this amazing video 🙏

[@marias.9472]

Funny I was crying, listening to between the bars when this video was recommended. Thanks you for this, it’s a great video 😊

[@pwitte777]

Excellent analysis and discussion, thank you for making this.

[@layaldergham3824]

omg I’m so glad this channel was in my recommended. Subscribed

[@ThirdEyeOpen123]

I don’t know how I found this video but I’m glad I did. I love your delivery and how passionately but coherently you convey what you’re trying to say. Subscribed

[@bigh012345]

OMG This video was AMAZING. I was hesitant to click it but you covered so much in this video perfectly. Worth the length. I know the basics of music theory so I found the amping up of all the information PERFECT. Keep up the good work!

[@siddthekid5046]

This was fantastic. Some of it was over my head theory-wise, but I feel like you did a really good job staying technical while walking us intermediates through to see the beauty of the progressions and the ESChord. I could definitely FEEL it. Well done! I loved seeing all the different instruments you used, and the covers were unreal!! The woman who did the vocal tracks has an incredible voice.

[@TrueNeutral]

i didnt know i needed a reminder on why i love elliott smith so much

[@jodysawatzki8647]

Hey, man. Great video. Your analysis of say yes was wonderful. The chord that always hits me right in the fucking chest is the c minor during “they want you or they don’t”. It never fails to fuck me up

[@ironwilltattooclub6116]

Dude what a great video. I need to check out your other stuff!!

[@scottferreter]

Thank you for this! Very excited to get to writing now!

[@FalardeMusicaeLegal]

Man, you're really REALLY GOOD at what you do.

[@omrideutsch4624]

Your video is so wholesome. Your love for music is beautiful. I love it. Thank you

[@DopamineOverload]

Thanks for this incredibly awesome video. Excellent. Subscribed! Videos like this breathe life into me and they are SO freakin' important. Thanks for making this!

[@nadelique]

Thank you Brian for making this video. I have cherished this exact chord in Elliott Smith's music for as long as I can remember, and up until now I have never met anyone who can talk about it the way you do. I feel blessed to be able to share this vulnerability with some dude across the internet that I've actually never met. "Angel in the snow" leaves me on the floor each time I hear it. I just wanted to share a little realization that I've had some time ago. You know how in jazz we sometimes tend to finish a minor tune on basically the IV7 chord (for example ending a Dm tune with a G13). That sound always hits the sweet spot for me, and I've never made the connection until recently but if you think of Dm as the relative minor of F, then you realize that it's the E.S.C in F! Basically two sides of a same coin! Much love from France, Nghia

[@taifromyea]

Wow! Fascinating video! I adore both these songwriters, but as someone who snoozed through music theory as a kid, it never would have occurred to me to look for similarities like that. Liked and followed!

[@kristopher1133]

Love this! Thank you! 😊

[@kaitlynsimmons3742]

this just makes the song ‘punisher’ even sadder considering phoebe wrote it about how much elliot smith means to her emotionally. she really loved that man so much that she carries him in her music. i’m speechless

[@renovatioimperii3431]

good stuff. thorough, informative, and useful.

[@nickcharles6530]

You’ve over another subscriber! I love it when someone has the same drive and passion about music and songwriting that I have. Especially when you understand the theory BEHIND the songwriting. Truly educational and entertaining, my friend!

[@maxdekroon9487]

Been listening to Elliott Smith for years and ponder over these chords. Thank you for explaining it, might start incorporating it in some songs myself now. I feel like there are still so many elements to Smith's songs that contain more of these gems.

[@scowellmusic3632]

Always loved this chord, so good to see someone finally talk about it!

[@stevena7945]

I love your passion, buddy. Very inspiring.

[@chadfavre]

First of your videos I’ve seen. Keep carrying yourself away, man. Loved it.

[@alexandermjh3528]

Love this! More songwriting tips/functional harmony/songwriting analysis! Please!

[@Salparadise12]

Just hearing you talking about say yes was enough to make me tear up as well. 💔 so precious

[@shawnm7469]

Thank you for this video! I was starting to tear up just at the same moment you said you were in the video. I wish there was more out there about theory and indie music! (In fact I just googled it yesterday, which I guess is why the algorithm suggested this video.)

[@ektopia]

It took me a while for the penny to drop but when it did, it hit hard. Thanks for all the hard work you put into this one.

[@ruyduarte7]

This video is amazing! Thanks for the music lesson :)

[@jimvandersteege]

Interesting watch, also looking forward towards the video on the book! Also almost all my christmas presents were books from your book reccomendation video! The Rest is noise, Anatomy of the Orchestra and Tristan

[@BrianKrock]

This is so cool, let me know how you like the books!

[@matt6288joyce]

This is the first video I have seen of yours but it’s so clear you’re a super cool guy. I also love phoebe bridgers so this is a great video!!

[@jillianschrbr7830]

wow. this video is incredible. i appreciate the depth and the connections and the everything about it. holy shit. pls never apologize for being so thorough ever again

[@henrypowell3708]

no joke i’ve been calling this chord the same exact thing whenever i hear it in phoebe’s music! great minds. love the video by the way

[@TVrayvaughan]

You are such a warm and welcoming person with such a pleasant smile that I subscribed 30 seconds into this video.

[@sdw-hv5ko]

I've also called this "the Elliott Smith Chord" for a while so this video was vindicating. Awesome stuff!

[@danielk.a301]

wow I really needed to see this video! it's such an interesting breakdown of the music theory behind these great songs and really blew my mind!! love your whole vibe as well as your sense of humor and enthusiasm, and really needed to hear that self-care reminder. you just earned a new subscriber!! :-)

[@serexsalex9345]

This was so entertaining. You're seriously good at engaging with your audience.

[@adriatic.vineyards]

Amazing video Ryan!!

[@t1vannas]

As a music teacher, I really appreciate the level of attention to detail in this analysis as well as your use of humor. This is really well done, and I look forward to checking out some of your other material. Take care.

[@rowynjudd]

Love this video! I don’t have a lot of music theory knowledge, I write my music based on ‘instinct’ most of the time, now I understand what I’m actually doing a bit better, thank you!

[@charliejohnson8683]

I love this and can’t thank you enough for having good music taste, a diverse background of knowledge, and a willingness to share this with everyone. All I hope to impart is for you to consider some de-essing compression on your camera mic.