I just thought I'd put up a composition that I find very amusing.
It's called Inflatable You and it's by a comedian named Tim Minchin. I first heard him on the Graham Norton Show whilst watching BBC america. Now I hear he's moved on to Conan. Normally, I don't go for the singing comedian, but I think this guy is pretty amazing. I haven't a clue what he's saying, but he used a tritone substitution, and anyone who does that has an "A" in my book.
I love the Jazz feel he gets. In fact, I think the title of this song is actually a play off that old jazz standard Embraceable You. Then again, that could be total crap. I haven't had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Minchin. With eye liner like that, he has to be cool.
First of all, I'd like to draw attention to the chord progression he uses. It's a I-vii-ii-V-ii-V-I type of feel. In reality, he's playing a V/ii as the second chord, and I'd be willing to bet that most of those chords have the 7th and maybe a 9th or two (get it? The 9 is the two, just as a compound interval! I could be a comedian too; screw you, mom. I do have what it takes).
Anywhozitmabobadiddle, the thing that gives it that jazz feel, besides the swung eighth note, is the ii-V-I. Later, he goes into this walking bass thing that is nothing but tasteful in this song about an inflatable love doll. His bass line is very nice, by the way. I would like to note that it's pretty interesting that he has to play a minor 2nd to assert the idea that it's a wrong note he's hitting; there are no wrong notes in jazz.
Another way he jazzes this piece up is with the "B" section. The "B" section changes keys rapidly. I like to determine how crazy people are by what key they modulate to in comparison to the original key. In this case, he's certifiable. He's in Eb Major in the beginning, and he goes into E for a bit! By the end of that section, he's almost completely there. That is pretty crazy if I do say so myself. It's like tritone substitution, but with keys!!
As a closing, he quotes the Beatles very classily. In fact that song is just a I-ii chord progression, but Timmy changes it. He makes it jazzy; he does a ii-V-I. Then after that, he ends with tritone substitution.
This guy is my hero.
By the way, if you want to know more, let me know. I think my e-mail is on this page, and if it's not, you're probably my mom because she's the only one that reads this. If that's the case, I'm in the other room crying about how awry my life has gone and how I have to write a blog for money.
