"Teardrop" | MASSIVE ATTACK musical breakdown

Рет қаралды 90,829

2 жыл бұрын

For song & album requests and to support my channel and musical projects, please consider joining my Patreon (I can't monetize my videos): / iximusic 🙌 You can also commission me to analyze your original music or do a piano cover. 🎹 And I teach private & group lessons, do film/video game scoring, and music transcriptions 🎶 TIPS: www.buymeacoffee.com/iximusic 💄
___________
🙏 SPECIAL THANKS to my amazing Patrons, without whom these videos would not be possible: Victoria Hogg, Dario Cotti, Zachary Stevens, Darius McCaskey, John Kirkilis, Ada Cohen, James M. Bowers, Beguile, Philip Sharp, Kevin Meyer, Eric Blum, richchupac, JT, Dustin Sinkey, Justin Owens, Ste McFreeman, Shane Gartner, Andrew Hussey, Jeff Hamm, Katie Murphy, Tyler Shaw, brandon, Tim Moore, Bradley Kemp, Fernando, John Schadegg, Brian Gunn, Marc Jeray, Giorgio Tidei, Vesuvian, Luc De Brouwer, snettles1143, Erik Hermansen, Jerry Langwell, Andrés Fernandez, Brian Hard, Travis Ames, Joseph Martin Giralt, Noah, Gaven Cornaby, Matt Shepcar, Midwinter Minis, Michael Thomas, Kent Oversteet, Sid Sothoth, Toney Vecchio, Shane Welch, Michael Elliot, Brian, Stephen Marsh, Simon Evans, Nick Teague, Sam, Daniel Baer, Chris Power, Matt Spurlin, Kai Ellis, Rory Wilson, Forrest Karbowski, Dan Kelly, Skippityboo, Nate Beckman, Chrifis, Joseph Souder, Konrad P-Kala, Brian Gunn, Seth Startix, Etvid, Rick Grush, Alexander Ekman, Steve Bock, dreamsaremaps, Maze, HeliosVIII, Wayne Bristol, Jesse Russel, Joel, Samtallic, Filip Marcinowski, Josh Nobel, Black Magic Ti, Jerry Burch, Lon Farenwald, Dr. Jeff, andrea cerini, N0UGHT, Elle Lassiter, Jan Scholtz, Thomas Rishel, Ted Carrol, Travis Hyde, Sean Vaske, noah yagi, Jesse Russell, Kai Bertsch, Dream in Digital, LEBRUN Fabien, Anastasia Beaverhausen, Eugene Leeds, Cesar, Marl, Bryan Dych, Jonathan, A.David Silverman, madartichoke, Matt, Anthony Grant, Celeste Epstein, Kieran Yanner, Watch Clark, Brian Bitner, Mike James Gallagher, Sammantha L, Moritz Bunkus, JJ, Renaud Bédard, Stevie Sanchez, Blake Walker, dave, Tabitha Sheehan, Charnel Mansion, Atom Fellows,, Ben Wills, Richard Cortez, Shawboy278, Cameron C. Brown, Matt Munro, TrufflePig42, Sean Bowman, Melody Klein, Steve G, Gabriel, Paul Means, Jay Farris, Chad, Austin Amberg, fiarce, Nathaniel Garcia, Drew Celestino, Kevin Connell, Jessica Farrow, Liz Washer, Phrenological, Hovan Tajerian, Ericw1, Danielle, Colin Brockwiz, Alec Collins, João Veiga, SATAN OVISION, Robert Harrison, Erwin Hartenberg, Dylan Santurri, MC1017, Renn Brown, 5-MeO-DMT, Paul, Holly Kindsvater, Michael James Pettit, Telephone Sound, Keith Boucher, Tomasz Marciniak, Glenn Marmon, Anna S., Jacob Rush, A Traveler On The Sea, Eva, Christopher G Maliszewski, BL00DW0RTH, Bryan Bishop, Chris Lehmann, Perceptes, Jason Brogan, Blåq Unicórn, Craig Griffith, Steve Littrell, G, JL62417, Muir Lyman, Alexander Bernbaum, Melissa, Joshua Opolko, Matt Altobel, Alex, Jay Rowe, Nick Griffith, Brian Kim, som3oneMw, Tony Heupel, evolutionQ, Boris Todorov, John Mogensen, Bryan Sandor, Marcus Smith, Leia Camilla, Justin Meader, Zach Kay, Mitch Banks, Adam Lecktron, and Jack Cagle.

Пікірлер: 841

@iximusic 2 ай бұрын

For song & album requests and to support my channel and musical projects, please consider joining my Patreon (I can't monetize my videos): www.patreon.com/iximusic 🙌 You can also commission me to analyze your original music or do a piano cover. 🎹 And I teach private & group lessons, do film/video game scoring, and music transcriptions 🎶 TIPS: www.buymeacoffee.com/iximusic 💄

@angelobruschini4899 Жыл бұрын

Dave the cleaner wrote the piano chords one evening, the long notes was me using feedback on a Cello guitar and using the studio monitors from different positions... All is not as it seems, remember when this was made years ago we did not have the computer power we have now. !

@byronmarais 2 ай бұрын

Insane this comment only has five likes. If this is Angelo Bruschini then this is a part of music history…

@DeeNimmin 2 жыл бұрын

Mezzanine is a masterpiece. Fantastic breakdown.

@AKAtAGG 2 жыл бұрын

It's one of the greatest albums ever recorded. So good.

@smkh2890 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, it's a great groove. and ixi is a good analyst.

@ThaoLe-pi4hk 2 жыл бұрын

Facts

@Lol_Pig Жыл бұрын

Mezzanine.....just an iconic album. It was an entire vibe

@KoBez44 5 ай бұрын

Along Heligoland a true timeless masterpiece

@callumw9067 2 жыл бұрын

Teardrop used to be used in the industry to test audio production equipment in the 2000's. Thankyou for the breakdown, I love this tune so much.

@Cristalskulle Жыл бұрын

Do you know why that was ?

@aglees2b Жыл бұрын

I always thought that Angel was very similar for sub testing. An absolute beast for low resolution

@matthijsclaessen8152 2 ай бұрын

Yeh. Not only is it a great song, but it sounds awesome as well! Those smooth deep bass notes gives me an almost unnameable sense of ‘safe danger’ that’s palpable, wholesome and enticing at the same time.

@NeonBeeCat 19 күн бұрын

@@Cristalskullemy guess is because it's a well mixed song.

@Cristalskulle 18 күн бұрын

@@NeonBeeCat it is for sure but I'm guesing there's another reason

@freemansteinslab 2 жыл бұрын

This is one of the reasons why I love the city of Bristol...it gave us Massive Attack and Portishead

@helenchelmicka3028 Жыл бұрын

Cheers drive 😋

@TheValueOfN 7 ай бұрын

Tricky too

@annettecorbett9842 4 ай бұрын

And Martina Topley Bird. I was in musical heaven for the whole time these guys were a big thing

@soyale360 3 ай бұрын

Didn't Portishead technically give us Portishead?

@levivalentinovideos 2 ай бұрын

COYR!

@professoryaffle 2 жыл бұрын

I was at university when the song came out. I walked into the Student Union bar as the video for Teardrop came on playing on the TV’s dotted around the walls and the WHOLE PLACE ground to a halt. Everyone just stopped what they were doing and stared at it. Unforgettable moment.

@iximusic 2 жыл бұрын

woah!

@professoryaffle 2 жыл бұрын

@@iximusic whoa indeed. I loved this analysis btw (and your others). You have the ability to take away that unfortunate feeling you get when you get older where you lose some of the visceral nature of music and you bring back the emotion. Thanks for that. I only just found out that Elizabeth Fraser had a relationship with Buckley. That’s a combination of voices!

@tronlady1 2 жыл бұрын

Goosebumps reading this!

@KevinSpooner 3 ай бұрын

I had a similar experience - shortly after I graduated college this song dropped and they played the song with its video at a club I frequented. Normally the dance floor was very packed and lively. For this video everyone just stopped and stared at it, as if an angel had spontaneously appeared. It was magic.

@exerciserelax8719 2 жыл бұрын

The vocals on this song are so magical. And a good example of what's lost if everything is autotuned. Those "between the cracks" notes really contribute to the ambiguous, expressive, and mystical quality of the song, like an ancient folk melody.

@iximusic 2 жыл бұрын

Really good point!

@lichtfilme 2 жыл бұрын

Massive Attack are genius to me because they make a lot out of very little. They choose their few ingredients so wisely and create MAGIC with them.

@tuomashelin555 2 жыл бұрын

I saw Massive Attack in a concert in Pori Jazz Festival, Finland. I think it was in at the end of July 2008. If you know about the Finnish summer, the daylight is very long lasting. The band had to delay beginning the concert, because they had a very impressive light and media show that needed darkness. Anywhooo, the concert started and it was incredible and to top it all, just before Massive Attack started playing "Teardrop", the setting sun went behind a curtain of clouds and it started to rain a little - a warm summer rain. Like little tears falling from the sky above. The sun was showing sympathy to the song and the story behind the lyrics.

@iximusic 2 жыл бұрын

That must have been unforgettable!

@OurSpaceshipEarth 5 ай бұрын

Just reminded me of when my uncle died it rained for a week and a half here. The funeral [procession] was soo long caused shutdown straight through the middle of the city for long enough for the news to show up [to cover it].. Where's this Mandella effect when you need it.. He was only 33 but for years after his death people from all over the world would be sending him mail. I've travelled and made good friends all over Canada and no one's ever written me a letter. Let malone many letters for years after my passing. I'm sadly serious when I say one can still see the chaotic ripple effects of the loss of such a respected successful keystone figure of the city's underground right at his peak.

@atraveleronthesea9806 2 жыл бұрын

Mezzanine is a great album all around. Risingson is one of my favorites followed close by Angel.

@iximusic 2 жыл бұрын

So good!

@DeeNimmin 2 жыл бұрын

It’s still one of my all time favorite albums. A masterpiece from start to finish.

@TheMarotron 2 жыл бұрын

Totally agree, Risingson was my introduction to Massive Attack, my favourite track on the album definitely. the bass line was the killer.

@TheMarotron 2 жыл бұрын

“💋 …fantastic genre” part was a masterpiece, instant subscribe.

@Lunarplex 2 жыл бұрын

Same!

@neonom1024 2 жыл бұрын

Another Massive Attack & Tool connection: Tricky, a sometime member of Massive Attack, was in Tool's "Parabola" video.

@sodestroyed8364 2 жыл бұрын

wow

@familiarsting4108 2 жыл бұрын

Whattttt that’s crazy

@righteouswhippingstick 2 жыл бұрын

I love Tricky. I have been spreading his grooves since 1997.

@gigachad192 2 жыл бұрын

What other connections are there between them?

@atrus3823 2 жыл бұрын

Tricky also opened for Tool in 2001, at least at their Vancouver show.

@Antonio_Ortiz 2 жыл бұрын

This song was my first exposure to Trip-Hop when I was 10-years-old back in the 90's. It's impact has never aged for me.

@night_speed 2 жыл бұрын

I bought this album on vinyl in the 90s and for a long time never knew the crackly texture was part of the song and not just my dusty turntable. I miss this era of music. I think without bands like this and Portishead and Tricky and trip hop in general the whole lo-fi thing wouldn't be as popular now. My favorite album from this time is Becoming X by Sneaker Pimps. The entire album is great beginning to end and i prefer the original release from 96. Subsequent releases used different versions of a few songs particularly Post Modern Sleaze which took out a cigarette reference and was one of my favorite lyrics in that song.

@sulecen 2 жыл бұрын

Totally agree the roots of lo-fi is trip hop!

@avedic 2 жыл бұрын

Oh yes! Becoming X is stellar. Great mix of trip hop and shoegaze. Such a thoroughly 90s album lol. Every song is great, but i def prefer the alternate mixes on the two singles Spin Spin Sugar and 6 Underground. "a one two...a one two..."

@night_speed 2 жыл бұрын

@@avedic yes you're totally right. There is that darker mix of Spin Spin Sugar that's way better than the more pop version but you have to admit the original lyrics to Post Modern Sleaze are much better. 'All through the night. She's chokin' on Marlboro Lights'. Also, how great are the lyrics for Roll On? 'When you're breathing through your elbows, down on me'. A lot of people prefer their second album, Bloodsport? I think. But unfortunately Kelly's vocals are what does it for me. Same with *SALEM* and Heather's voice. I'm a sucker for breathy female vocals.

@night_speed 2 жыл бұрын

@@henriquematias1986 tis the circle of life. Every generation grows up and sells their childhood to the current youth. In the 90s all the baby boomers sold us Woodstock 94 and 99, The Beatles 1 and psychedelic colors for our iMacs. Not to get all 'yellow king' on you but if you think about it, to be nostalgic of the 90s is to also be nostalgic of the 60s and 70s. Dazed and Confused, That 70s Show. Time is a flat circle.

@blatherskite3009 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, Becoming X (the original release with the DJ-killer circuit-board artwork) is a work of genius. I tend to "rediscover" it every few years and the production still blows me away today :) The modified re-release version was an abomination. I guess the aim was to make it more "commercial" and radio-friendly when the album suddenly got popular. Big mistake :(

@isajmody2344 2 жыл бұрын

If God explains my life half as well as you dissect songs, I may have some resolve when I shuffle off this mortal coil. You are almost a heart surgeon explaining why someone's heart is broke into pieces listening to music. Once again, bravo and belissima!

@benharvey2881 2 жыл бұрын

This Mortal Coil is another amazing British group associated with Liz Fraser! Check out "Song to the Siren" with her on vocals - another absolute heartbreaker!

@isajmody2344 2 жыл бұрын

@@benharvey2881 I didn't even know. Wow!

@770yd1n5pac3 2 жыл бұрын

Indeed This Mortal Coil was a 4AD side project - It’ll end in tears is a phenomenal album for the time (1984); re Cocteau Twins - Cherry-Coloured Funk as killer track and BBC/Peel Sessions album is also good. Who am I kidding, it all is!

@crackbaby4444 Жыл бұрын

And your way of commenting on that made me feel like I was reading a poem

@TheValueOfN 7 ай бұрын

@@crackbaby4444 That's similar to what I was about to write.

@justincordray 2 жыл бұрын

Wouldn't be mad if you did a breakdown of this whole album

@cito1974tv 2 жыл бұрын

Right?!

@raoullf 8 күн бұрын

I had so mixed feelings and emotions during this... I don't even know how to name it, this video of yours. Basically, you explained perfection, both in a technical way and in an emotional one. I now understand what composing a brilliant song is all about and how another single note, or chord, could have had a different (less than perfect) result. That brought my love for this song to a new level, so thank you...

@themidgardguy9796 2 жыл бұрын

I have consumed your analysis like a delicious treat. Teardrop holds an emotional place for me. It was the first time music told me how to feel and i complied willingly.

@grahamberrie2462 Жыл бұрын

Just a great comment

@IvanoForgione 2 жыл бұрын

"you can feel the majorness wash over you", yes. Yes I can. Spectacular wording.

@ThisCreepingLife 2 жыл бұрын

I've been a hardcore Massive Attack fan for years, and every time i listen to their songs i always find something new in them. Their music is so incredible

@xpkareem 2 жыл бұрын

The first time I heard this album it was in a bar, I interrogated the bartender until she told me the album name and I went out and bought it on CD the next day (we still bought CD's back then). I listened to it for at least a month straight on repeat, really opened up a whole new universe of music for me. Amazing album.

@James7995 2 жыл бұрын

Those haunting line “You’re stumbling in dark, you’re stumbling in the dark” like she’s calling out to Jeff.. It’s just heartbreaking

@joebright862 Ай бұрын

*You're stumbling a little

@amplethought 7 ай бұрын

I love how passionate you are. I feel the same way about this song and pretty much anything Beth Hirsch sings. But I cry for a LOT of songs. I don’t think I’m an empath- and I’m not depressed- and I can’t read music- but I CAN FEEL it.

@CircRhyth1981 4 ай бұрын

❤

@beclamide 2 жыл бұрын

I knew it was an incredibly well written song but it really takes watching a deconstruction by a music theory expert to make you fully appreciate how perfect a song it is.

@TheValueOfN 7 ай бұрын

That's what I was just thinking.

@iximusic 2 жыл бұрын

Hope you enjoyed the video! 1) Apparently the lyric site I used is wrong, it's "fearless on my breath", sorry! 2) The black lipstick and white shirt is to match the album cover and 3) Aurora has an awe-inspiring cover of Teardrop I'd like to recommend: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/fbaEjJmdxLa8ZZ8.html. I particularly love her vocals between verses! 🖤 BLOOPS: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/h76hl8iQnKiZdH0.html

@dajje100 2 жыл бұрын

I'd say that this version is one of those few times that the cover might actually be better than the original for me.

@christophermcginnis2790 2 жыл бұрын

You should try giving a listen to "The Box - Full/Extended Version" by Orbital. It has great vocals from Alison Goldfrap and Grant Fulton as well as some great harpsichord.

@kohhna 2 жыл бұрын

The Mad Professor Mezzanine remix tapes are on Spotify now too. That stuff is insanely good.

@esdhin 2 жыл бұрын

Jose Gonzalez did a cover a while ago that is great too. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/adJiZMJ6ndiplKc.html

@duroxkilo 2 жыл бұрын

@@dajje100 don't say that :} it is indeed exceptionally good

@joemann2178 2 жыл бұрын

Remember this song from the year when I finished Uni, I studied in Bristol where Massive Attack are from. The Aurora version rekindled this beautiful song for me.

@iximusic 2 жыл бұрын

That version is truly amazing. I watch/listen to it regularly!

@Hakucho64 Жыл бұрын

Came here to tell you about it, but you already know. Bless that JJJ.

@woolfy101 2 жыл бұрын

The crackle, the vocals, chords and well, everything really as I already had Liz on my wall. This goes right down my spine.

@SpyderTracks 2 ай бұрын

That does it, it's a Sunday on a bank holiday weekend. I have no choice but to stick this album on LOUD!!! Neighbours be damned. It's just too damn good! What I adore about artist like Leftfield, Massive Attack, Underworld, they were so good at contrast, that angelic, quite "immature" voice, the pure harpsichord, and then the over produced kicks, the gravity of the piano low keys naturally overdriven, the vinyl crackle, all those raw and rough contrasts. Same with minors mixed into majors. So damn clever.

@kambinoxwins 2 жыл бұрын

Seeing the beetle from 'Mezzanine' in my notifications made my day as I've been listening to it heavy recently. THEN I saw it was a breakdown from your channel and I was elated. Thank you SO much for this! I adore your channel. Keep it up!

@ianashmore9910 Жыл бұрын

Trip hop is my favorite genre of music. It's a tiny slice of time and style. There's nothing else quite like it.

@JAYDUBYAH29 2 жыл бұрын

This was fantastic. I cry over musical analysis and why the emotions are so orchestrated by the harmony too. 🥰

@jaykong1128 2 жыл бұрын

BETA!

@TheValueOfN 7 ай бұрын

I was close.

@DJKuroh 2 жыл бұрын

This song is in my top 5 of "changed my life as a budding musician" songs for sure.

@sintheal 2 жыл бұрын

A missed trip hop classic in my book is a group named Daughter Darling. The song broken bridge is my favorite.

@kaicanyonellis 2 жыл бұрын

Listening to this song now. Not hard to see why it's your favorite!

@NealSanche 2 жыл бұрын

I'm probably not alone but the first time I heard this was leaking out of Neo's headphones in The Matrix, just before following the white rabbit. I had to find what that music was, and found Mezzanine. Thanks for this.

@Krugljar Жыл бұрын

He's actually listening to Dissolved Girl, another great song off Mezzanine

@NealSanche Жыл бұрын

@@Krugljar Yeah, you're right. Whoops. ;) Thanks for the correction.

@Wayne_Robinson 2 жыл бұрын

Great video! This song was my introduction to Massive Attack years ago. Despite my love of the song, I never bothered to analyze it. You clearly expressed the harmonically ambiguous aspects that makes it so intriguing. There's so much complexity inside this otherwise quiet and superficially simple piece.

@jonstapp6179 2 жыл бұрын

Ho-lee-shee-YIT. You’re onto Mezzanine, one of my all time favorite albums ever. Awesome analysis of Teardrop, Ixi. It’s funny, you name dropped several of my favorites from this album at the end of your video: Angel, Dissolved Girl, Risingson, and Inertia Creeps. I saw Massive Attack live in around 2006ish; it was my and my wife’s first official date (we had hung out a few times prior), and I fell in love with her so hard at that show. So Massive Attack will always have a special place in my heart.

@crazy___diamond Ай бұрын

Love ‘Black Milk’ too. Also, the vocals on ‘Man Next Door’ are outstanding.

@tobielang5730 2 жыл бұрын

Having grown up with this tune as the backdrop to my youth, and over the last two years throughout lockdowns attempted to learn the piano, finding this channel today I must say has been a wonderful find to end the year. So many of your breakdowns are of tunes I loved but don't often listen to anymore. So to revisit them through your medium is going to be glorious!! wonderful analysis and such a great channel!!

@iximusic 2 жыл бұрын

Happy New Year! Glad I could help 🎹

@defensivewag 2 ай бұрын

Stumbled onto this, it highlights some of the reasons for the emotional tension that I always feel hearing and listening. Wonderful analysis, really enjoyed this thank you.

@lichtfilme 2 жыл бұрын

Its stunning to know it’s about the death of a friend, but sounds so life-affirming. Shows insight into the universe to me. The whole song with the heartbeat and neverstarting harpsichord is so much about LIFE

@grahamberrie2462 Жыл бұрын

Great comment

@equinox1304 2 жыл бұрын

I’ve never heard of that show House but I’m a fan of Massive Attack, so super happy you’re breaking this gem down. Thank you!

@familiarsting4108 2 жыл бұрын

House is a medical procedural drama. It’s badass. Check it out.

@equinox1304 2 жыл бұрын

@@familiarsting4108 cool I’ll have to get on that!

@andrewkatz3845 2 жыл бұрын

@@familiarsting4108 Its worth pointing out that Hugh Laurie, as well as being superb actor, is also an incredibly accomplished musician. He does play the piano a few times in the show.

@duroxkilo 2 жыл бұрын

@@familiarsting4108 like any (too) long shows, the characters and situations get overplayed towards the end in a soap opera style :} great writing and acting for such a long running series...

@NinjaArts 2 жыл бұрын

I think it’s “fearless” on my breath:) Nice work, tho! 🙏

@bokiphoto 2 жыл бұрын

It is

@davidesparon1487 2 жыл бұрын

Wow. I just dropped there... I wasn't actually prepared.. This is a sensational analysis, and it literally helped me find out why this song mesmerizes me like that... THANKS !

@jamesbarron5590 2 жыл бұрын

Yes!! Huge fan of all of your NIN breakdowns and Massive Attack would be my next fave! Liking it and I haven’t even heard/watched this yet.

@alkatorsh07 4 ай бұрын

I listened to your Radiohead video on understanding the time sig. and then the harmonies in that song as well. Needless to say I now have 10+ tabs queued of your videos on all my favourite bands! :') Really, really click with how you explain, the vocabulary, visuals on the piano, the passion and enthusiasm. Such awesome content and juicy music theory. Found a new fan here

@moondog548 2 жыл бұрын

The vocals on this are such a transcendental marvel to me: Her voice is small and vulnerable, but never *anything approaching* weak! Small, vulnerable, and POWERFUL. Astonishingly, I can think of one other example in the universe of such a phenomenal performance: Art Garfunkel's A Bridge Over Troubled Water.

@mattd8725 2 жыл бұрын

Crazy thing is she can do it even better live.

@eboethrasher 3 ай бұрын

@@mattd8725cause Liz is fucking magical.

@markmitera4521 2 жыл бұрын

Trip Hop is my all time favorite genre. Massive Attack was my first experience in the genre, as well. I recommend a deep dive into their work. Thievery Corporation, Morcheeba, DJ Shadow are other greats. Welcome to the most beautiful music in the world. Your analysis is amazing. Sub'd and checking out more videos!!

@HungryForTastyFoodAndComicArt 2 жыл бұрын

Being GenX, I remember enjoying the original version of the song w/friends lonnnnnng before the "House" version. And even decades later, R.I.P. Jeff B. You meant so much to us even if you were not "Ministry", or Sisters of Mercy or Peter Murphy or Siouxsie Sioux. May you hit every note perfectly as you sing beyond-the-limits-of-corporeal-form, wherever your soul now resides, J.B.

@parkerswaxmuseum3746 2 жыл бұрын

Don't forget the Elton John stint...;)

@normajoe 2 жыл бұрын

Why the dig on Ministry, Sisters, Murphy, and Sioux? They’ve got fuck all to do with Jeff Buckley.

@mikebailey783 2 жыл бұрын

Every time I hear Teardrop it sends shivers up my spine; such an arrestingly beautiful tune. Mezzanine was an absolute tour de force, and I don't think it left my CD player for months when it came out. This was a very enjoyable analysis, thank you. As for being MA's most famous song... I think that might actually be Unfinished Sympathy (!) - fancy doing a breakdown of that'n?

@reykjavik666 2 жыл бұрын

That was so incredibly thorough. From the sampled break and Elizabeth’s lyrics, to the chords and harmonic DNA, and to the improv at the end. Beautifully done.

@kaicanyonellis 2 жыл бұрын

One of my favorite moments in Trip Hop history: Tricky was on the Late Show with Craig Kilborne performing "Evolution Revolution Love". Afterwards, Kilborne is interviewing him and says, "So you're the inventor of trip hop! What exactly is trip hop?" And Tricky just shrugs and says, "I have no idea" 😂

@RyanStone143 2 жыл бұрын

I just realized "Tricky" was in The Fifth Element. lol

@kaicanyonellis 2 жыл бұрын

@@RyanStone143 Yes!!! And so good!!! Despite having zero ability to project his voice. He's the real life version of the quiet girl from Pitch Perfect 😂 but he says so much through body language and facial expressions.

@cooptrol 2 жыл бұрын

one of the first videos uploaded to youtube: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/a7SYgJR6tMW3iXk.html

@DustyCustard 2 жыл бұрын

I'm hoping this is going to be a gateway to analysis of the Cocteau's Cherry Coloured Funk. x

@endaquealy 3 ай бұрын

+10! 😄👍

@steveteare3865 2 жыл бұрын

This was so enjoyable. Truly revealing analysis and so expressively communicated! Loved it!

@AbbyJasmine-xu1kg 2 жыл бұрын

Still moves me the same way as when I first heard it. I didn’t know about the sample or that she had heard about Jeff. It’s ageless

@WiredTalkWithBigG 2 жыл бұрын

Discovered your channel while trying to find the correct chords for towards the end of this song, subscribed instantly when I watched and listened to how you break down the song and explain the relationships between the chords. Have now added a whole slew of your videos to my watchlist to binge on, brilliant channel full of passion and love for music! 😀😀

@ansmfella 2 жыл бұрын

Your music breakdown feels nearly as inspired as this masterpiece itself! Brilliantly and concisely explained. Love how you explain theory in congruence with its visceral feeling. So very important. Blessed thank you

@Barravian 2 жыл бұрын

This was a lovely walk through one of my favorite songs. Thank you.

@iximusic 2 жыл бұрын

My pleasure!

@tavishn 3 ай бұрын

It's hard to say what my favorite song is, but when I think about it, "Teardrop" always comes to mind.

@shaunoakford9272 Ай бұрын

Great teardown of this song - a magical piece of music and the pinnacle of triphop. I'm eagerly awaiting its revival.

@leoself9858 2 жыл бұрын

First time watching you, you’re really cool & clearly a very knowledgable talented musician. Teardrop is a Gorgeous song, a delicious melting pot of the band members different musical backgrounds. Great instrumentation chord progression major/minor resolution. Record crackle heart beat bass & the main arpeggio. But Liz Frasers vocals & lyrics made me really fall in love with this song. (Watch Cocteau twins Carolyns fingers) Didn’t know the Jeff Buckley factoid. 👍🏻

@kohhna 2 жыл бұрын

Yeeeees! Trip hop was one of the best music genres to come out of the 90s, it was huge for a while then it just disappeared. Please do Glory Box some time xo

@Hairyfoot_Studio 2 жыл бұрын

Great breakdown. I've loved this album and song since it was fist released, so many years ago now. I did not know Elizabeth Fraser recorded this on the same day Jeff Buckley died. It makes so much sense now hearing the lament in her voice. Your singing voice sounds so much like her, I had goosebumps listening to you. Thank you

@M-demo 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for posting. Really great break down of Massive Attack. Elizabeth Fraser is an absolutely brilliant singer and songwriter. My favorite Pearly dewdrops and Song to the Siren. Thanks again.

@jackiedaytona7681 2 жыл бұрын

Be sure to check out "All Flowers In Time" which is a duet between Buckley and Fraser. Unbelievable especially since they recorded it in Jeff's living room in Memphis. On my Rushmore of songs in my life.

@SelenaSea 2 жыл бұрын

🌻☀️💛

@skyhighdiamonds910 2 жыл бұрын

I've seen this song performed live, few words can describe the experience, just beautiful. Great song and tune breakdown, thank you.

@wellurban 2 жыл бұрын

What a wonderful combination of analysis and appreciation! You perfectly pinpointed those heartbreaking moments that take an already beautiful track to another level of emotional impact. I’ve always preferred Blue Lines and Protection to Mezzanine, but you had me in tears when the song reached its climax, and that really helped me understand why this is so many people’s favourite Massive Attack song. I’d also never really noticed the 3 against 4 harmonic rhythm before, but I can now how important that is in generating the atmosphere.

@brandond.johnson167 2 жыл бұрын

I've always loved this song. Your breakdown is excellent, actually breathtaking. I didn't know the drum was a sample from Layers, an album I've loved from my college years. Your analyses of the chords and vocals is enlightening. Thank you, so very much.

@Kermitonwheels Жыл бұрын

I used to routinely skip this track when playing the album, initially because I had heard it so much vs the rest of the songs, but later because of how I felt listening to it. This goes a long way to describing why this song leaves me feeling so anxious.

@h-dawg969 Ай бұрын

I love how that low octave subby bass stays at the same notes, but how it feels different with the various chords in context around it.

@whodovoodoo2313 2 жыл бұрын

One of my favourites. I didn't know the lyricist's/singer's background to this song and that makes it all the more poignant. Love the black lips in honour of the album cover!

@playcompile 2 жыл бұрын

I used to reconstruct songs to learn from them in a mod tracker and I couldn't do this one. I noticed so many things about how unpredictable and complicated the arrangement was so I gave up in the end. You've done an amazing deconstruction here and the depth you go into is incredible. Awesome job with this!

@iximusic 2 жыл бұрын

Reconstructing a song sounds like an engaging way to learn how to produce & learn your tools. I've seen people do it but haven't tried it myself!

@ggstarwizzrd 2 жыл бұрын

I absolutely adore this song, I'm so glad someone did a deep analysis on it.

@HungryForTastyFoodAndComicArt 2 жыл бұрын

lmao the lipstick choice while discussing this particular song (a massive fave of 90's goths) is perrrrrrfect! 💪

@iximusic 2 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you appreciated that :) I try to match the song or album or the ineffable "vibe" in some way!

@HungryForTastyFoodAndComicArt 2 жыл бұрын

@@iximusic You did so perfectly! Though I "guess-timate" with a Sisters of Mercy song, the shade would be more in the violet-side of the colour-spectrum! (yes, I am a retired illustrator whom equates musical notes to hues, lol).

@tobiasthiel5291 3 ай бұрын

I love (besides everything else) how you used visuals in this video. Not only to support your explanations, but also to showcase the cover art of the album, because visual art is an integral part of massive attack.

@JohnKerans Жыл бұрын

Newton Faulkner did a fantastic acoustic cover, playing the percussion line with fingers and palm on the body of his guitar

@bradp3386 Жыл бұрын

His was the first version of Teardrop that I heard outside of House. He has a beautiful voice.

@adamgranger5725 2 жыл бұрын

Massive Attack (along with Leftfield, Sneaker Pimps and Faithless) really shaped my appreciation for the ambient electronic genre in the 90s... Mezzenine got me through some really lonely introspective times in my life. Haunting music and a classic that has stood the test of time... Subscribed to this channel for this reason as I had the same reaction when I heard it first. Please do some more of their tracks... particularly my second favorite of theirs : Paradise Circus.

@smitcher 2 жыл бұрын

Agree about Leftfield, Sneaker Pimps and Faithless and also the brilliant Paradise Circus, I'd like to see an analysis of that one too!

@friedpicklezzz 6 ай бұрын

18:23 what I love about this part is that at this exact moment there is finally relief. The singer sustaining that word really brings it home, after a long build-up. Goosebumps.

@adam7763 2 ай бұрын

This was amazing and exactly the kind of content I've been looking for! Thanks so much.

@greganderson1681 Жыл бұрын

My thoughts exactly. Watched House for years, then heard the vocal version with Elizabeth Fraser who I loved a saw back in the ‘80s. What a surprise and what a strange adjustment. Took a while but now I treat them as two distinct songs. Both of them amazing. ❤

@julianplacencia 2 жыл бұрын

I've listened to this song about a thousand times in the last 20 years and you've just completely changed it for me. So much meaning and depth in those chords and melodies that we usually take for granted. Thank you for sharing all of this.

@cesarperez-cardenas97 2 жыл бұрын

I never noticed how ambiguos the riff and chords were. Goes to show you how INGENIOUS the piece is. The very airy/floaty sus/5 chords with the melodic singing. A modern masterpiece. And great, lovely video!!!!!!!!!! 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

@phasezero000 2 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for this fantastic video. Congratulations for translating what we listen to this charming interpretation. I believe that the end of the song (which is not an ending) symbolize the end of a young life, a life that did not conclude in a "natural" way.

@alabvix 2 жыл бұрын

I never understand how the musicians in general know to mix the chords in a way thats makes sense, amazing.

@Windowpane88 Жыл бұрын

I cannot believe how many times I've returned to watching this video over the past year. Whenever someone asks me for the greatest song of all time, I usually say that 'Teardrop' has meant a lot to me since way back, then I reference them to your video (Because you've explained it better than anyone so far). Loving the channel, the passion and the music. Is there a possibility to hear something from Portishead in the future, by any chance? Keep up the good work, you're absolutely amazing! Greetings from Sweden!

@iximusic Жыл бұрын

Happy the video made an impact! It really is one of the greatest songs! I did a Portishead listening party on my Patreon for Dummy: www.patreon.com/posts/portishead-party-62816321 Not expecting you to sign up just for that but it's there in case you ever decide to check out my Patreon! :)

@cosmosynthesizer 2 жыл бұрын

Oh yes! Massive. That was the impact on me when it came out. I was at a party that year it came out and was completely hooked when I heard the Albums first track. I immediately stopped talking and drinking to anyone, and read the whole booklet of the CD and listened at that party over and over to the CD (nobody really cared). Fun: listen to the samples they used (Cures 10:15) I drove 200 km to that party to meet a girl, but got home with a completely new experience. I knew MA before (blue lines) but this Album was a total different level. For me one of the most intense albums ever. House: yes, i loved the very first Season and they changed the original Song to the instrumental version and re-arranged it. It wasn’t MA doing this, it was the producer. They had to to this cos of copyright problems with the Label. So they used different takes and unused lines to create a new atmospheric track.

@randyegibson 2 жыл бұрын

I rarely comment on videos, but I have to tell you how much I enjoyed this one. Teardrop is one of my favorite songs, and the minor to major resolution that you discuss around 19:15 is possibly my favorite few seconds of music ever. I love the song even more after hearing your detailed breakdown. Thank you so much. (edit to add) Also, when I first heard it, I thought it was "feathers on my breath" as well. :-)

@disastrophi 2 жыл бұрын

Aahhhhhh thanking the KZfaq algorithm right now! Wonderful video, thank you so much for this

@jm.101 Ай бұрын

When jamming along with my guitar, I like switching back and forth between A minor and A Mixolydian and A Major

@gizza2 2 жыл бұрын

I’m an engineer who loves music; especially tracks like Teardrop. I have a long way to go in my quest to understand more deeply but I very much appreciated your insightful analysis Thank you for sharing!

@Quarker 2 жыл бұрын

I'd absolutely love to see you do more Massive Attack, I think you'd really love the piano bits on Protection!

@Comet72 6 ай бұрын

Yes, Protection is the perfect song for a breakdown like this!

@JAYDUBYAH29 2 жыл бұрын

This is one of my favorite songs of all time and your breakdown is fantastic.

@iximusic 2 жыл бұрын

Glad I could do it justice for you. Happy new year!

@JAYDUBYAH29 2 жыл бұрын

@@iximusic yea you crushed it.

@magpiesnobsob 5 ай бұрын

I just found your channel and i absolutely love how deep your analyses are!

@michaels8607 14 күн бұрын

Underground DJ/crate digger/Sounds/music in NYC...I do not recall right now when I first heard this song, yet it's just as amazing as day one. It has a dreamy feel and crackle, and I play it on Vinyl, where it belongs..Massive Attack sold me with this track to go get singles/LPs...

@claymccoy 2 жыл бұрын

I shed a teardrop when I see the criminally low subscribers on this channel. I actually caught the music video for this song on the MTV show 120 Minutes. When I watched a House M.D. episode, I got excited when I hear the song was used as the theme song to the show.

@tronlady1 2 жыл бұрын

I honestly think that most people aren’t intelligent enough, or get emotional enough about music…..to understand it

@hoon4tw 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for breaking down some Massive Attack. Especially this track. I remember the second time I heard this song on the radio when it was released the DJ said "1 million babies will be conceived around the world while this music sets the mood". I think he guessed low.

@DanRyanCarter 2 жыл бұрын

Your videos are so good, I always tear up at some point in them 🖤

@glazeguy 2 жыл бұрын

Your edits are on point, great illustrations of key moments, thanks!

@Arakiel9 2 жыл бұрын

I also encountered this song for the first time as the theme song on House, it struck me similarly. Then I watched the show... love Hugh Laurie. Then I found out that House = Sherlock Holmes adaptation... I read Sherlock Holmes when I was a child. Always loved it. It was just a rush of synergy and joy. Happy you did this. Oh God... just got to the end... your high, rapid shifting of notes... just broke me. So beautiful. I mean, I was already crying, because... song... but hearing what you added, it was beyond poignant. Perfection.