What's the word for that?
What's the word for an opening verse to a song that doesn't follow the same musical pattern as the rest of the song? Songwriters in the '20s, '30s and '40s used the technique often but when you hear the songs, those intros (that's not the term, though) are usually cut.
Off the top of my head, the example I can think of is "It Might as Well Be Spring". The actual first part of the song is...
The things I used to like
I don't like anymore.
I want a lot of other things
I've never had before.
It's just like mother says...
I sit around and mope.
Pretending I am wonderful.
And knowing I'm a dope.
This part of the song is often cut, and doesn't use the musical pattern of the song that follows ("I'm as restless as a willow in a windstorm" is usually where most recordings begin.
What the word for that unique opening verse?
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 33 | June 22, 2019 1:28 AM
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I know the part in the middle that sounds different is called the bridge. All I can think about is that the first part is called the hook but I’m sure that’s wrong
by Anonymous | reply 1 | June 19, 2019 8:56 PM
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I think it's called the prologue, same as in literature, as the prologue is usually in a different authorial tone. But there may be another term for it.
by Anonymous | reply 2 | June 19, 2019 8:58 PM
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I thought they were refrain was just something I was repeated , kind of like the chorus
by Anonymous | reply 4 | June 19, 2019 9:06 PM
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Night and Day has one of the most famous of such intros.
by Anonymous | reply 7 | June 19, 2019 9:11 PM
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It’s only in American standards. It doesn’t happen in today’s music.
by Anonymous | reply 8 | June 19, 2019 9:13 PM
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I don't know why they usually cut the intro from those old songs. It's funny that two of the best-known songs of all time ("Over the Rainbow" and "White Christmas") have intros that most people aren't familiar with. I understand that they're both from films and were probably edited for time, but couldn't they at least have released the full versions on record?
by Anonymous | reply 9 | June 19, 2019 9:14 PM
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The Rolling Stones song, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” starts with the London Bach Choir opening the song (album version only), highlighting throughout, and bringing it to its conclusion. I think this qualifies.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 10 | June 19, 2019 9:15 PM
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They are usually not very melodic. Cut them to keep up with time
by Anonymous | reply 11 | June 19, 2019 9:17 PM
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Cole Porter’s “You’re the Top” has the beginning described by OP. It’s like two songs in one.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 12 | June 19, 2019 9:18 PM
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A lot of pop standards were originally written for musicals. I think that the half-spoken/half-sung intros were meant to help the transition from dialog to song.
by Anonymous | reply 13 | June 19, 2019 9:54 PM
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Intro / song opening
verse
refrain
verse
refrain
bridge (sometimes an instrument solo)
verse
refrain
refrain
by Anonymous | reply 15 | June 19, 2019 10:07 PM
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R15, please refrain from repeating that word. It’s triggering my fibromyalgia.
by Anonymous | reply 16 | June 19, 2019 10:09 PM
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Let’s Go Crazy by Prince has that intro/song opening.
by Anonymous | reply 18 | June 19, 2019 10:12 PM
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Most people think "We're Movin' On Up to the East Side" is the beginning of "The Jeffersons," Not so.
by Anonymous | reply 20 | June 19, 2019 10:46 PM
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They're called the "verse". I always think of the Gershwin's "But Not for Me" which has a verse that's like a story and then a very lush, melodic chorus.
by Anonymous | reply 21 | June 20, 2019 1:36 AM
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Is she a natural blonde? Her eyebrows are always dark.
by Anonymous | reply 22 | June 20, 2019 2:10 AM
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Gershwin, R22? I think “he” was a brunette.
by Anonymous | reply 23 | June 20, 2019 2:13 AM
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Wikipedia is your friend:
From the entry on Song Structure:
"The most common format in modern popular music is introduction (intro), verse, pre-chorus, chorus (or refrain), verse, pre-chorus, chorus, bridge ("middle eight"), verse, chorus and outro."
by Anonymous | reply 24 | June 20, 2019 2:30 AM
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R15 is Someone To Watch Over Me an example?
by Anonymous | reply 25 | June 20, 2019 2:40 AM
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My story is much too sad to be told,
but practically everything
leaves me totally cold.
The only exception i know is the case,
when i'm out on a quiet spree,
fighting vainly the old ennui
and i suddenly turn and see,
your fabulous face.
by Anonymous | reply 26 | June 20, 2019 4:22 AM
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Cole Porter was not verse! He was a BOTTOM!
by Anonymous | reply 27 | June 20, 2019 4:43 AM
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OP, it’s simply the verse. It was almost Beverly follows he structure of the rest of the song, which is the refrain (in your example, the refrain starts at “I’m as restless as a willow ...”. The bridge is the middle, connecting part of the refrain (often it goes A,A,B,A, and B is the bridge).
by Anonymous | reply 28 | June 20, 2019 4:45 AM
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R27, and if he’s the bottom, are you the top?
by Anonymous | reply 29 | June 20, 2019 4:49 AM
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R28 is correct. Verse, then refrain, then bridge “ I keep wishing...”
by Anonymous | reply 30 | June 20, 2019 5:34 AM
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I still think there may be a special word so I'm bumping it for the DL's Friday night crowd of drunkards and whorechilds.
by Anonymous | reply 31 | June 22, 2019 1:05 AM
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You can get fancy and call it a prelude, only if you call the last repeated refrain a coda.
by Anonymous | reply 32 | June 22, 2019 1:16 AM
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