Listening Log (Song Writing)

Composer/Artist/Performer: Jeff Buckley

Song/Track: Everybody Here Wants You

Instrumentation: Vocals, Drums, Bass, Clean Electric Guitar and Piano.

Ensemble (balance, roles; also consider pitch and rhythm, dynamics and
articulation)

I think that this Jeff Buckley track in particular stands out from his others because of
the stylistic approach the band have taken towards writing it. Where most of
Buckley’s material is made up of ballades, grunge and alternative compositions; this
track tends to lend towards the R&B genre. The track throughout has this wonderfully
bombastic ‘groove’ played mainly by the bass, guitar and drums. The bass heavily
repeats the same deep, ‘blunt’ note just in time with the drums. The electric guitar,
which I happen to know is a Telecaster, known for their astounding tone, plays part of
a cue for vocals it seems. Repeatedly playing the same chord just once before the
vocals come in on each line. The chord is an Fmaj7 with an E in the bass, a very jazzy
chord that works very well in this groove. The E bass gives that blunt “should that be
in there?” sound.

Use of the voice (technical aspects, specific techniques, timbre)

Buckley being so well known for his vocal talents surprisingly stays within one
octave throughout the verses just until the end when he starts to explore more of his
range, giving the melody more movement. There is some repetition in the verses,
although as we listen through them each time Buckley emphasises different words or
ad-libs to keep the listener on their toes. I particularly like the way he will strain one
set of words e.g. “Don’t you see?” and then sing it again in a complete different
tone/timbre, almost like a moody mumble or groan. He moves in and out of this style
throughout the track, emphasising certain set of words e.g. “Your flame in me”, “I’m
only here for this moment” and “I’ll rise like an ember in your name,” giving them
much more depth and meaning.

Word setting (linguistic structures, semantics, forms, techniques)

Most of the lyrics make sense throughout, however there are some confusing lyrics in
the chorus, leading you to wonder how so many people are involved in this love song,
or if each line of the chorus is different people’s views? E.g.
“I know everybody here wants you
I know everybody here thinks he needs you
I’ll be waiting right here just to show you
How our love will blow them all away”

The opening verse also has some odd lyrics,

“Twenty-nine pearls in your kiss
A singing smile
Coffee smell and lilac skin
Your flame in me”
The imagery suggests that the “twenty-nine pearls in your kiss” are most probably
teeth, however I can’t quite work out the lilac skin part, personally I don’t think the
semantics work here in this verse.

Other aspects of significance

Buckley manages to recreate very ‘gospel – choir’ sounding backing vocals just by
overlapping them in the studio. He uses a high-pitched, voice with a warm vibrato to
do so. I took this idea and used it in my own composition however, I sang very low
instead, trying to imitate a more masculine voice and then tweaked the volume so it
was loud enough to hear on the track.