Question 1

Work: ‘Let’s Dance’ by David Bowie

Performers: David Bowie
Length: 4′11″
The song will be played three times. There will be silent working time after each playing.
First playing (4′11″) – 2 minutes of silence
Second playing (4′11″) – 3 minutes of silence
Third and final playing (4′11″) – 4 minutes of silence

a. What music style is ‘Let’s Dance’? (1 mark) ___Funk blues? ___________________

b. Discuss how the musicians achieve an expressive outcome through three of the
following:
(10 marks)

• articulation
• balance of music lines
• tone colour
• tempo

Tempo:
-The time signature is 4/4 and the speed of the song is slow and smooth, as part of
being a funk/love song

Articulation:
-Electric guitar is prominent in the mix, usually during the verses and sometimes
during the chorus there is sometime a random riff that is played and sounds sort of
haunting
-Backing vocalists are in the chorus bit but do not appear much in other parts
-There is a clicking noise, or something similar that is forward in the mix

Tone colour/timbre:
-The heavy tone of the bass (and sometimes the electric guitar) help to highlight the
main vocalists voice
-Main vocalists voice is sensual and kind of eerie and is more centred towards being
brighter to help with the funk style