Musical Analysis #2

Musical Analysis of Self Care by Mac Miller 


Self Care- Mac Miller- 2018- U.S.A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn4mVQswfNg



Tempo: The tempo in Self Care is very high energy and is upbeat. Impressively, this attribute is mixed seamlessly with a serious subject matter. At 142 BPM, this song is jam-packed with catchiness as well as an undeniable desire to dance along. This is the primary reason why I adore this song and Mac's discography as a whole. With that, this song is enjoyable for people of all musical backgrounds. The tempo is not too complex. Which allows a complimentary aspect of the lyrics and overall likeness of the song perfectly. 

Timbre- Throughout Self Care, the timbre can be characterized as rich and warm. These sounds are layered. Almost as if they are stacked up on top of each other, which creates the perception of a rich timbre. In addition to that, warm attributes are also present via the use of organs and synths. These instrumental additions give the impression of a "glitchy" undertone.

Lyrics- Lyrically, Self Care is wildly complex. They handle a very difficult subject matter, which is that of Mac's battle with addiction. As discussed by Medium," a poignant reflection of the human experience. Its candid exploration of mental health and self-discovery strikes a chord, reminding us of the importance of prioritizing our well-being", this is an observation that I wholeheartedly agree with. Lyrics such as "Somebody saves me from me, yeah" and "Well, didn't know what I was missing', now I see a lil' different", really encapsulate the depth of the song. As well as doing an effective job at resonating with his listeners, myself included. 

Melody-  I would classify the melody of Self Care as soulful and catchy. The song starts with a very "jumpy" instrumental that is vivacious and catching. As the lyrics start, the music gets much peppier creating the catchy aspect I previously noted. This idea is explained by Jake Bujnowski, "Self Care is the perfect introduction to the album, with the soulful, melancholic intro, followed by a great dynamic shift to a bass groove and horns". I couldn't agree more with this viewpoint. The melody of this song does a great job of painting the bigger picture and conveying the overall theme, not just of this song but the whole album.

Tone- Self Care fits into the R&B genre, which does play a role in tone of the song. Music Gateway notes that "a steady Db major key is present throughout", which adds a sort of edge and complexity to the tone. I enjoy this perspective and think it gives me a better understanding of the musicality behind this song. The tone plays a major role in making this song what it is. Unknowingly, tone is the element that drew me to this song upon hearing it.




Citations!

Bujnowski, Jake. “Self Care.” Jake Bujnowski, Jake Bujnowski, 9 Apr. 2022, www.jbujnowski.com/currently/self-care-mac-miller. 

Fortney, Nicholas. “‘self-Care’ by: Mac Miller.” Medium, Medium, 29 Feb. 2024, medium.com/@nicholasfortney17/self-care-by-mac-miller-a736cdce6d47. 

Music Gateway. “Self Care Key & BPM: Mac Miller.” Music Gateway, 22 Aug. 2019, www.musicgateway.com/song-key-bpm/mac-miller/self-care. 

Comments

  1. CamrynOctober 4, 2024 at 3:56 PM

    Good job and great song choice! "These instrumental additions give the impression of a "glitchy" undertone." I liked how you used "glitchy" as a way to express the background. When listening to this song, the background gives it a distinct sound. Mac Miller was a unique artist and I feel like he always has recognizable beats.

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