Why do I adore melisma in Indian, African, Middle Eastern and Eastern European music but loathe it in 95% of contemporary r&b? Can someone with theory chops help me understand this? It’s been bugging me for a while now. I don’t have the vocabulary for it but my general hunch is that contemporary r&b veers more readily towards the major key – is there any truth to this? I generally enjoy the stuff when it’s more melancholy and/or reserved.
(Inspired by that new SZA single, whose form and production are compelling to me, but I can’t cope with the melodic lines and it makes me feel like a total weirdo).
― pomenitul, Saturday, 5 September 2020 03:16 (three years ago) link