Breaking Down The Most Streamed Song Of All Time

Rick Beato
13 Apr 202437:57

TLDRThe video discusses the most streamed song of all time, 'Blinding Lights' by The Weeknd, analyzing its musical components and popularity. It delves into the song's production, melody, and chord progression, attributing its success to its catchy and well-crafted composition. The video also touches on the importance of ear training and understanding music theory to appreciate and recreate songs like 'Blinding Lights'.

Takeaways

  • 🎶 The most streamed song of all time is 'Blinding Lights' by The Weeknd, with 4.2 billion streams on Spotify.
  • 🎧 The criteria for the most streamed artists considered those who haven't released a record in 30 years, excluding active artists like Elton John.
  • 🎵 Spotify streaming numbers were used as the metric for determining the most streamed songs and artists.
  • 🎼 The song 'Blinding Lights' is noted for its well-written melody, harmony, and interesting chord progression.
  • 🎹 The song uses only four chords and can be analyzed in both major and minor keys, highlighting its musical complexity.
  • 🎷 The production of 'Blinding Lights' is praised for its 80s sound, fat synth bass, and perfect reverb on the voice.
  • 🎸 The melody of 'Blinding Lights' is primarily pentatonic, with a significant use of the note D natural in the verse that leads to the chorus.
  • 🎹 The song's chord progression could be considered as a C minor pentatonic melody, but it starts on F minor and has a Dorian sound.
  • 🎤 The script also discusses the importance of ear training and recognizing intervals, chords, and the tonal quality of different musical modes.
  • 🎧 The concept of 'monoculture of music' is touched upon, where not everyone listens to the same music due to algorithmic recommendations on streaming platforms.
  • 🎵 The script emphasizes the value of learning to identify and understand musical elements by ear, which can enhance one's appreciation and understanding of music.

Q & A

  • What is the main criterion used in the video to determine the most streamed song?

    -The main criterion used in the video is the Spotify streaming numbers.

  • Which artist has the most monthly listeners according to the video?

    -Elton John has the most monthly listeners with 52 million.

  • What is special about the song 'Blinding Lights' by The Weeknd?

    -'Blinding Lights' by The Weeknd is the most streamed song of all time with 4.2 billion streams.

  • How many chords are used in the song 'Blinding Lights'?

    -The song 'Blinding Lights' uses only four chords.

  • What is the significance of the D natural note in the melody of 'Blinding Lights'?

    -The D natural note is significant because it occurs only once in the verse and leads into the chorus, making it a memorable and ear-catching element.

  • What production elements does the video praise about 'Blinding Lights'?

    -The video praises the 80s sound, the fat synth bass, the right reverb on the voice, and the perfect production that makes the song sound natural and flowing.

  • How does the video describe the use of the ninth chord in songs?

    -The video describes the use of the ninth chord as powerful and common in many songs. It is the first note outside the scale that leads back to the root, creating a strong melodic effect.

  • What is the role of ear training in music as discussed in the video?

    -Ear training is crucial in music as it helps in recognizing intervals, distinguishing between minor and major chords, and understanding the relationships between chords in a song.

  • Why does the video mention different minor keys like F minor, E minor, and C minor?

    -The video mentions different minor keys to illustrate how each key has a unique emotional quality and tone color, affecting how a song is perceived.

  • What is the significance of the F minor key according to the video?

    -The F minor key is significant because it has a particular melancholy sound that is recognizable even to those without perfect pitch, and it is used in many popular songs.

Outlines

00:00

🎶 Analyzing Popular Music and the Impact of Streaming Numbers

The paragraph discusses the influence of streaming numbers on the popularity of bands and artists, specifically mentioning Spotify's role in shaping the music landscape. It highlights the debate around the relevance of streaming numbers for all demographics and focuses on artists who haven't released new music in 30 years. The speaker uses Spotify's monthly listener counts to emphasize the enduring popularity of bands like ABBA, Queen, The Beatles, Nirvana, and The Police. It transitions into a discussion about The Weeknd's song 'Blinding Lights,' which has broken streaming records, and the desire to analyze what makes this song so compelling to listeners.

05:02

🎵 The Melodic and Harmonic Structure of 'Blinding Lights'

This section delves into the musical components of 'Blinding Lights,' describing the melody as predominantly pentatonic and the chord progression as F minor, C minor, E flat major, and B flat major. The speaker points out the unique feature of the song starting on a minor chord but having the option to be analyzed in a major key due to the presence of a D natural note. The concept of Dorian mode is introduced to explain the song's minor pentatonic melody. The paragraph also discusses the importance of recognizing and understanding these musical elements for better appreciation and potential recreation of the song.

10:05

🎼 The Production and Emotional Impact of 'Blinding Lights'

The focus of this paragraph is on the production quality and the emotional resonance of 'Blinding Lights.' The speaker praises the production by The Weeknd and Max Martin, noting the perfect use of reverb and the 80s-inspired sound. The unique melody, particularly the use of the ninth note in the scale, is highlighted for its powerful impact. The paragraph also discusses the strategic use of musical hooks and the transition into the chorus. The speaker reflects on the diversity of listeners and the role of algorithms in creating a siloed music culture, where some may not be familiar with the most-streamed songs.

15:05

🎧 Ear Training and the Importance of Recognizing Musical Intervals

This section emphasizes the importance of ear training for understanding and interpreting music. The speaker outlines the basics of ear training, starting from identifying whether a chord progression begins with a major or minor chord to recognizing intervals between chords. The concept of ear training is linked to the ability to recreate and perform songs, even those with simple chord structures. The speaker shares insights on how to identify the relationship between chords using intervals and the significance of recognizing tonal qualities and the emotional impact they carry.

20:06

🎷 The Complexities of Beatles' Music and Its Timeless Appeal

The speaker reflects on the enduring popularity of The Beatles, despite not having released new music in over five decades. The complexity and sophistication of their songs are contrasted with more contemporary, simple chord progressions. The discussion includes an analysis of specific Beatles songs, such as 'Every Breath You Take,' and how they modulate keys and incorporate advanced musical elements. The paragraph also touches on the general public's ability to recognize the melancholic sound of F minor, as exemplified by several popular songs, and ponders the emotional connection listeners have with this key.

25:09

🎹 Exploring the Emotional Resonance of Minor Keys

The speaker explores the emotional qualities associated with different minor keys, using songs like 'Blinding Lights,' 'Smells Like Teen Spirit,' and Sting's 'I Burn for You' as examples. The focus is on the distinctive 'dark' sound of F minor and how it differs from other minor keys like E minor and C minor. The speaker shares a personal connection to the emotional impact of F minor and discusses how the same song can evoke different feelings when played in different keys. The paragraph concludes with a mention of the speaker's ear training course and an invitation for listeners to enhance their musical understanding.

30:14

🎤 Final Thoughts on Music Appreciation and Ear Training

In the concluding paragraph, the speaker reflects on the journey of exploring various aspects of music, from the technicalities of songwriting to the emotional responses evoked by different keys. The speaker reiterates the value of ear training in appreciating and understanding music, and encourages listeners to check out the ear training course. The paragraph ends with a positive note, appreciating the audience's engagement and encouraging them to continue their musical exploration.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Spotify streaming numbers

Spotify streaming numbers refer to the count of times a song or album has been played on the Spotify platform. In the context of the video, the speaker uses these numbers to discuss the popularity of certain bands and songs, particularly focusing on those that have not released new music in 30 years. The mention of Spotify streaming numbers is central to the video's theme of analyzing the most streamed song of all time.

💡The Weeknd

The Weeknd is the stage name of Abel Tesfaye, a Canadian singer, songwriter, and record producer known for his contributions to contemporary R&B and pop music. In the video, The Weeknd is associated with the song 'Blinding Lights,' which is identified as the most streamed song of all time with 4.2 billion streams. His music and the success of 'Blinding Lights' are central to the discussion about the impact of streaming services on music consumption.

💡Max Martin

Max Martin is a Swedish music producer, songwriter, and singer who has been involved in the production of numerous hit songs for various artists. In the video, Max Martin is credited as one of the producers for 'Blinding Lights,' contributing to the song's successful production. His involvement underscores the importance of production quality in the creation of popular music.

💡Pentatonic Melody

A pentatonic melody is a musical phrase or tune that uses notes from a pentatonic scale, which consists of five notes per octave. In the context of the video, the speaker describes the melody of 'Blinding Lights' as being predominantly pentatonic. This melodic choice is significant as it contributes to the song's catchiness and memorable quality, which are factors in its widespread popularity.

💡Chord Progression

A chord progression is a series of chords played in a particular order, forming the harmonic foundation of a song. In the video, the speaker analyzes the chord progression of 'Blinding Lights,' noting that it is simple, consisting of only four chords, which makes it accessible and easy to follow. The chord progression is a key element in the song's structure and its ability to engage listeners.

💡Dorian mode

The Dorian mode is one of the seven musical modes used in Western music theory, derived from the natural minor scale. It is characterized by a distinctive sound, often described as having a minor tonality with a raised sixth degree. In the video, the speaker suggests that 'Blinding Lights' could be analyzed in the Dorian mode, emphasizing the song's use of the second chord in a major scale and its minor tonality.

💡Ear Training

Ear training is the process of developing the ability to identify and recreate pitches, intervals, chords, and other musical elements by ear. In the video, the speaker discusses the importance of ear training for musicians, particularly in recognizing and understanding the elements of popular songs like 'Blinding Lights.' It is presented as a valuable skill for anyone wanting to play or analyze music.

💡Tamber

Tamber, often misspelled as 'timber,' refers to the quality and character of a sound, particularly how it differs from other sounds produced by various musical instruments or voices. In the video, the speaker discusses the importance of recognizing different tambers as part of ear training, which helps in identifying the instruments used in a song and contributes to a deeper understanding of the music.

💡Music Theory

Music theory is the study of the practices and possibilities of music, encompassing elements such as pitch, rhythm, harmony, and form. In the video, the speaker applies music theory to analyze 'Blinding Lights,' discussing concepts like chord progressions, scales, and modes. Understanding music theory is portrayed as essential for a comprehensive analysis of popular songs and their structures.

💡Streaming

Streaming refers to the delivery of digital media content, such as music, over the internet, allowing users to listen to or watch content in real-time without the need to download files. In the video, the concept of streaming is central to the discussion of music consumption in the digital age, with the speaker using streaming numbers on platforms like Spotify to gauge the popularity and reach of various songs and artists.

Highlights

The most streamed song of all time is 'Blinding Lights' by The Weeknd, with 4.2 billion streams.

The criteria for the most streamed artists were those who haven't released a record in 30 years.

Spotify streaming numbers were used as the metric for identifying the most streamed artists and songs.

Despite not releasing new music, artists like ABBA and Elton John still have a significant number of monthly listeners.

The song 'Blinding Lights' has a fascinating structure that contributes to its popularity.

The four chords of 'Blinding Lights' are played in a way that makes them sound either in a major or minor key.

The melody of 'Blinding Lights' is largely pentatonic, which is a simple and effective musical technique.

The use of the Dorian mode in 'Blinding Lights' gives it an adorian sound, contributing to its melancholic feel.

The production of 'Blinding Lights' has an 80s sound, which adds to its appeal.

The song effectively uses the ninth chord extension, which adds a powerful melodic element.

The tambour or tone of instruments plays a crucial role in the overall sound of a song.

Ear training is essential for recognizing and understanding the different elements of music, such as pitch and intervals.

The song 'Blinding Lights' is an example of how a simple chord progression can create a highly successful track.

The key of F minor is often used in popular music due to its dark and melancholic sound.

The Beatles, despite not releasing new music for over 50 years, still maintain a significant number of monthly listeners.

The song 'Every Breath You Take' by The Police is an example of a song that modulates and changes keys, showing complexity in its structure.

The importance of recognizing the different 'colors' of minor keys is emphasized in understanding music theory and songwriting.