Song structure
Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad? is based on two eight-bar themes, A and B. There are two versions of theme B (B1 and B2).
The percussion part uses rhythms from the Roland TR909 drum machine plus a sampled hip-hop breakbeat (drum solo).
Theme A
Theme A is based on the following chord sequence:
A minor - E minor - G - D
Listen to theme A. Notice the simple chordal piano accompaniment.
Theme A
Theme B
B themes are of two types, B1 and B2. Each B theme is also eight bars long, made by looping a 2 bar phrase.
They have the following chord sequences (each chord repeated for 2 bars):
B1: C - A minor - C - A minor
B2: F - C - F - C
Listen to theme B1. Notice the repeated (looped) two bar phrase.
Theme B1
Theme B2 uses major chords. When you hear the full song, listen to the difference this makes. Theme B2 sounds more positive and uplifting after we have heard theme B1.
Structure of the song
Here is the overall structure. All the sections are eight bars long. It could be seen as verse and chorus with the A sections as the verse and the B sections as the chorus.
| Theme | Description |
| A1 | Intro piano only |
| A2 | Male singer |
| A3 | Percussion |
| A4 | Bass and string synthesiser |
| A5 | Syncopated piano chords |
| B1 | Female singer |
| B2 | New chord sequence |
| A6 | Male singer and second vocal line |
| A7 | A6 repeated |
| One bar pause with fading echoes | |
| B1 varied | Female singer, no piano or percussion |
| B2 varied | Piano and percussion return |
| B2 varied again | B2 repeated |
| A8 | Male singer, no piano or percussion |
| Theme | A1 |
|---|---|
| Description | Intro piano only |
| Theme | A2 |
|---|---|
| Description | Male singer |
| Theme | A3 |
|---|---|
| Description | Percussion |
| Theme | A4 |
|---|---|
| Description | Bass and string synthesiser |
| Theme | A5 |
|---|---|
| Description | Syncopated piano chords |
| Theme | B1 |
|---|---|
| Description | Female singer |
| Theme | B2 |
|---|---|
| Description | New chord sequence |
| Theme | A6 |
|---|---|
| Description | Male singer and second vocal line |
| Theme | A7 |
|---|---|
| Description | A6 repeated |
| Theme | |
|---|---|
| Description | One bar pause with fading echoes |
| Theme | B1 varied |
|---|---|
| Description | Female singer, no piano or percussion |
| Theme | B2 varied |
|---|---|
| Description | Piano and percussion return |
| Theme | B2 varied again |
|---|---|
| Description | B2 repeated |
| Theme | A8 |
|---|---|
| Description | Male singer, no piano or percussion |
The themes are varied throughout the song. Techniques include:
- changing the texture - adding and taking away instruments and voices
- adding a synthesiser countermelody in A3
- adding electronic effects, eg delay and heavy EQ in A6, reverb in B1 varied
Delay refers to any type of effect that adds a delayed version of the original signal, to create effects such as echo.
EQ is short for equalisation. It is the lessening or boosting of different frequencies to add more bass or treble to a musical part or track.