Lucas White

Professor Granillo
English 101
August 30, 2019

Bop Song Writing Diagnostic

I've never necessarily been a person to listen to music. Don't get me wrong music has
one of my favorite pastimes, as a matter of fact, I've been in choir for almost 5 years now and
most of life for me has revolved with music in it. However, having and great knowledge of artists
or bands or even song names as most people have never been something I was drawn to. It
does feel alienating at times, that I can't relate to other music. I understand it's my own fault and
that all I would need to do is listen, but I don’t. What people enjoy listening to is what they
connect with on a deeper level within themselves and with my very limited library of music I've
achieved that. The stories are songs that are extremely important but how they're told is what
pulls me in. The best way I've seen storytelling represented through music has only been
through Married Life. It is more commonly referred to as the theme for the Pixar movie Up, but
once it's broken down it becomes more than just a popular movie score. The emotion and time
embedded in this song produce a story of a young couple experiencing the happy beginning,
recovering midway, and a lonely end of the relationship.

We start with the main melody moving in warm and cheerfully on a mute trumpet soon
being tapped out by a little more sophisticated sound of a violin with the same enjoyable tone.
Both then coming together while they are different but perfect for each other. Then being
supported by a partnering rhythm behind them drawing along the pace for their tender sparring.
Once together it moves into the lively and recognizable piano solo representing their unity and
combining traits. This all proper shows the emotional beginning of marriage between two people
who are inseparable and meant to be for no one else but their other half. Having that feeling of
knowing that you'll always have someone to lean on and that same person counts on you is
something that I can't imagine trying to explain. It changes your perception of how incredible of
an impact a life can have on another. I've cherished this feeling every chance I've gotten to
experience it mainly because I've never felt more satisfied with existence with it.

Halfway through the song, the piano melody introduced by the beginning now takes a
heavy and dimming turn. As the bright piano tone fades, a soft clarinet takes hold of the story
briefly wrapping it in suspense. Something is wrong. The piano returns with its original ballot
play being held back and slowed as though it collided to a sudden stop and must roll on
begrudgingly. The couple has suffered a fatal unfair intrusion on their lives and hearts. The
piano furthers it's distant peacefully going away. Until a reemerging trumpet starts to gentle
carries the weight of the piano. With the trumpets slow but positive crescendo escalating back
into the tune repurposing the previous joy and happiness. The melody then grows and evolves
from its familiar adolescence into a new matured tune. The part of the violin is taken by a
deeper but equally elegant cello and the trumpet playing its celebratory melody. Love stories are
commonly romanticized because it's what sells and there's nothing wrong with that. Although I
enjoy these more than any other because it presences a sense of realism to the story. Having
the problem not be caused by one of the two but by the hand that was dealt to them and how
they grow to live with it because life goes on.

After a long-lived duet between the violin and trumpet, the song begins to reach the end.
We once again hear the dreaded and familiar faded piano solo. With strings encouraging
momentum in the background and a now happy clarinet solo keeping it at bay it isn't long until
the piano overcomes both. The rhythm has now been missing and the strings now dissipated
and the clarinet has stopped. No more Violins or trumpets play. All that remains is the piano. It's
sharp and hollow notes cry to keep playing as each one is brought down. Each note becoming
further from its last. Coming to a close and suggesting it is ready to repeat. With it now being
over I usually become overwhelmed with the thought of what happened. The married couple
has now gone away leaving only one to be left a widow. I like to think that the piano symbolizes
a couple as a whole. In the beginning, it's happy and cheerful and then when they get struck by
a challenging issue piano turns depressing but it always ends was itself ready to start over.

The song has meant a lot to me and even more each occasion I hear it. As I said in the
beginning, I don't know many songs I do know however that this one is special and if not just to
me then to many who hear it I’m sure. They like myself must appreciate the story for showing us
happiness with loved ones, growth from sadness, and sadness from when our loved ones are
lost. All while encouraging all of us to go back to the beginning.