One of the songs I listen to often is “Crazy,” performed by Willie Nelson. The song was written by Nelson, but it was originally recorded by another singer, Patsy Cline. Nevertheless, I like this version and think that it is a staple of Willie Nelson’s style. The first term I want to discuss in connection to this piece is genre. It is one of the most popular country songs, and it quickly became a hit during its first release (“Crazy”). The genre of the song is characterized by its choice of instruments – acoustic guitar takes the lead. Moreover, it has a simple structure and lyrics that are introspective, which also could define most country songs. In fact, the song has a simple duple meter and a very clear beat – another term that defines country music, especially slower songs driven by lyrics.
The form of the piece is AABA, meaning that the song has two verses, one bridge, and then another verse. Each section is eight bars long, which is also common for lyrical, slow, and melancholy pieces. The tempo of the song further describes a country ballad and is interesting to mention. Nelson’s “Crazy” is performed at 76 BPM, having a slow and measured tempo where the singer almost speaks rather than sings. This allows Nelson to put emphasis on the emotional parts of the lyrics. For example, he states a state that he is in – “crazy” and then answers, why – “… crazy for being so lonely” (“Crazy”). The song feels like a confession to oneself, and the slow tone adds to the feeling of finally understanding one’s emotions. Here, the connection between lyrics and the music is unusual as Nelson often speaks off-beat, speeding up or slowing down, while the beat stays the same throughout the song.
Work Cited
“Crazy.” YouTube, uploaded by Willie Nelson, 2018, Web.