Kaetrena Davis Kendrick, M.S.L.S.

University of South Carolina Lancaster

Song: “Play Me (소나타)”

Artist: Taemin

Album: Ace

Album Release Date: August 18, 2014

Press Play to Hear “Play Me (소나타)” by Taemin.

“Play Me (소나타)” echoes…

Song: “Rock the Boat”

Artist: Aaliyah

Album: Aaliyah

Album Release Date: July 7, 2001

Press Play to hear “Rock the Boat” by Aaliyah.

ELEMENTS OF NOTE:

• Similar use of synthesizers to bring out “floating” feeling.
• Breathy vocals
• Artists background vocals augmented with lower melody/harmony registers. (“ 공기가 차네요 커튼을 쳐봐요 저 달이 봐요 어서 내 그림자를 입어요” (Taemin); “Baby, I love your stroke” (Aaliyah)
• Similar tempo and syncopation
• Songs have definitive end (no fade out).

TRADE OFFS:

• Aaliyah’s tempo carried by Latin percussive instruments (e.g, conga drums), beats, and rhythms vs. Taemin’s R&B -based human sounds (e.g. “finger-snapping”) bass drum and beats.
• Aaliyah’s beats filled out with hi-hats vs. Taemin’s fill-outs with guitar.
• Aaliyah’s one-note chorus line vs. Taemin’s varied chorus

Learn more about Aaliyah.

Happy Listening!

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