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Song Analysis Of Aint No Mountain High Enough

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When I first listened to this song, I felt that it was a song of majestic significance. The sound of “Aint no mountain high enough” made me feel happy as a listener, its uptempo beat and pleasing rhythm allowed me to feel a sense of hope. After researching this song in depth, and diving into its historical context, I have not changed my reaction to the song. Seen as one of the most powerful and beautiful musical compositions of our generation, the Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell duet encompasses numerous western originating genres, such as soul, pop and rhythm and blues (R&B). This songs instrumentation includes bells, the tambourine, the snare and the bass guitar. The snare and the tambourine are the principal features that promote a controlled and consistent rhythm …show more content…

This recording is a classic and inspiring example of the sweetness of pop, the passionate vigor of soul, and the groovy feel of R&B. There are many compositional techniques used to convey message in this song. First there is the bass guitar, which provides the melody throughout the song. It begins with a low pitch, and gradually increases until a climactic rise in the mood of the song during the chorus. This could be a representation of being at the lowest point in life, only to rise from the ashes. The high frequency tambourine play through out the mix and give a mellow, relaxed feel to the song prior to the buildups, once again possibly conveying the message of calm during tense circumstances. The most important compositional technique however was the powerful duet. Terrell complements Gaye’s gospel grit throughout the verses, possessing a striking alto tone, with Gaye pulling back to let her powerful voice soar over his during the commanding chorus. This gives off the notion of togetherness, compatibility and makes listeners feel a yearning to love. Now it is important to understand the background in which this particular piece was composed and how this makes it a message-conveying

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Throughout the short story “The Man Who Saw The Flood” the narrator follows the journey of a man, Tom, and his family caught in the cycle of sharecropping. Recently suffering severe weather conditions, the family comes back to find that the majority of their things are ruined. For most this is a catastrophic situation, however, for Tom and his family they search for anything that can be salvaged and remain positive. While the family is facing catastrophic situations, they continually follow the theme of persevering through any circumstances. The same theme of persevering through any circumstances is also prevalent in Marvin Gaye’s, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”

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