From
hitsongsdeconstructed.com/Not many rock songs, but they give this song its fair assessment.
Artist: Foo Fighters
Song/Album: Rope/ Wasting Light
Songwriter(s): Dave Grohl
Chart Position: #1 – Rock Songs Chart – 20 Weeks
Genre: Rock
Sub Genre: Modern and Classic Rock
Length: 4:19
Structure: A-B-A-B-Inst. Break/Solo-B
Tempo: Mid/Up
First Chorus: 1:09 (27% into the song)
Intro Length: 0:30
Outro Length: 0:34
Primary Tone (Electric/Acoustic): Electric
Lyrical Theme: Love/Relationships
Primary Lyrical P.O.V: 1st Person
Title Occurrences: The title occurs 9 times within the song – three times in each chorus, appearing on each line and the 4th word in.
Section Length (Length of each individual section within the song)
Here we see a pretty symmetrical song structure (at least for the first three quarters of the song), with the intro, 1st verse, and 1st and 2nd choruses all landing at 0:28. The pre-choruses, turn-around and 2nd verse are exactly half of the aforementioned sections, all landing at 0:14 (though the first pre-chorus does land one second shy of 0:14). The instrumental break/solo section clocks in as the longest section of the entire song, at 0:41. Note that the 3rd chorus deviates from the first two in that its length is 0:35 as opposed to 0:28. This is due to one additional line being included in the section (“Give me some hope, I’m coming through…”). The outro is basically just a repeat of both parts of the intro, but shorter in length and condensed.
Structure Timeline (Shows when each section hits within the timeline of the song)
Total Section Analysis (Total time consumed by each section and its percentage of the total song)
It’s no surprise that the vast amount of time within “Rope” is allocated to that strong, infectious chorus, comprising 35% of the total song. That being said, compared to quite a few other hit songs in Rock, and especially in Pop, the total chorus time allocation is quite low. Pop, and more Pop oriented Rock songs typically have the chorus comprise anywhere from 43% to 50%+ of a song.
It goes to show that when “Rope” was written, Dave Grohl and the Foo’s wanted to spread the weight around, giving ample emphasis to other sections of the song in addition to the chorus (most notably the 0:41 instrumental break/solo section that comprises 16% of the total song – the same amount as the two verses added together).
Momentum/Intensity Factor (Evaluation of the intensity of each section within the song timeline on a scale of 1 – 10, 10 being the most intense)
“Rope” kicks off in a subtle manner, with the first half of the intro characterized by the left-panned distorted guitar with a delay effect (occurring between 0:01 – 0:06), followed by a second guitar coming in at 0:07, panned right, which is slightly off-kilter with the left panned guitar. Together, they do a great job of creating some tension, or an “uneasiness” type of vibe.
At 0:13, the intensity is kicked WAY up during the 2nd half of the intro section, with the whole band now joining in, propelled by that fantastic start and stop guitar riff coupled with a solid back-beat by Mendel and Hawkins.
At 0:28, the momentum established during the 2nd half of the intro continues as we enter the first verse. Note that the guitars are pulled back in the mix to enable the vocals to stand out a bit more (though they still get buried a bit). The momentum remains stable throughout the section, save for the up-front guitar “stabs” and drum fills that give a bit of a jolt in between vocal sections.
At 0:56, we enter the pre-chorus, which kicks the intensity up a notch from the verse specifically due to the increased levels of the guitar in the mix and a more “frantic” drum pattern brought on by Hawkins.
At 1:09, we hit that powerful, infectious, driving chorus, which is characterized by a “wall” of guitars and propulsive drums (notice how the ride cymbal really drives the section along). The chorus peaks in intensity during the second half of the section, brought on by the even heavier guitars and drums (and really accentuated with the addition of the crash cymbal).
At 1:37 we head into the turn-around, which is basically the same as the second half of the intro (plus an additional guitar line), but is more intense this time around. This is specifically due to the higher levels of guitar in the mix, and also the more trebly nature of some of the guitar (which enables it to pierce through the mix – giving the sound more bite).
The 2nd verse, pre-chorus and chorus sections that follow are in-line with the momentum and intensity levels of the sections that preceded them.
Things really change up in the song once we get to the beginning of the instrumental break/solo section at 2:47. The section kicks off with a guitar riff and vocal carry-over (“looooooose”) from the chorus, followed by a 0:02 pause, and then a guitar riff/drum fill (“solo”) exchange that repeats three times before the entire band kicks in full-throttle at 3:00. What follows is an ultra-intense, fuzzed out, wha-wha effect guitar solo at 3:07.
At 3:28, we head back into the chorus, which is the same in nature (from a momentum and intensity standpoint) as the first two choruses. At 4:03, we enter the outro section, which hits abruptly out of the chorus (note that the last lyric of the chorus, “loose”, was left off). The characteristics of the outro are basically the same as the intro section, though condensed and abbreviated (the delayed left panned guitar followed by the heavy riff). The lyric, “loose”, that was left off at the end of the chorus is introduced during the “heavy riff” portion of the outro.
The song then ends abruptly at 4:19, employing a “false” ending that is characteristic of quite a number of today’s hit songs (especially in Pop). It leaves the listener wanting more.
Intro: 8.5/10
The intro to “Rope” is both original in nature and instantly hooks the listener into the song (like any good intro should). It also acts as a good “identifier” – the second you hear it, you know exactly what song it is. At first, you would think that a 0:28 intro is quite long, and you would be right. What the Foo Fighters, do, however, is split it into two completely different sections, both with different vibes, which ultimately keeps the listener engaged.
The first part is just individual guitar chords, panned left, with ringing delay. An additional guitar, which is panned right, then comes in and creates tension by its off-time nature in relation to the guitar that is panned left.
The second half of the intro gets things cooking with the whole band now joining in full-throttle plus the introduction of that killer main-theme riff that will be prevalent throughout the entire song. It also seamlessly leads the listener right into the first verse, which is a “pulled back” version of that main riff.
Verses: 8.5/10
The multi-tracked vocals “drift” and “flow” over the ragged, stop and start riffing that’s going on with the instrumentation, creating a very engaging vibe. The attention of the listener is split between the vocals and backing instrumentation, both of which are given equal prominence in the mix. Overall, the vocal melody is pretty simplistic in nature (it needs to be, otherwise the section would be way too busy), and as a whole the section is quite memorable due to the vocal/instrumentation interplay.
Pre-Chorus: 8.5/10
The pre-chorus in “Rope” sticks with the “main-theme” guitar riff that was going on in the verse, but ups the intensity by both increasing the guitar levels and adding additional guitar into the mix. Dave Grohl changes up the vocal melody, and sings with increased vigor with the repeated line “Choke! On a kiss, I thought I’d save my breath for you.” Overall, the pre-chorus flows seamlessly out of the verse, and perfectly sets up the chorus that follows.
Chorus: 9/10
The Foo Fighters are known for having super infectious choruses within their songs, and the chorus within “Rope” is no different, providing the listener with a very strong payoff. Here are some key points to note:
Notice during the first half of the chorus how each of the three lines start with “Give me some rope, I’m coming…” The repetition engrains the title of the song in your head.
Notice how Dave Grohl is singing each line, changing up the phrasing and putting different emphasis and emotion on particular words to further the impact and intensity of the section. By doing this he also aids in keeping listener engaged throughout (otherwise if he sang it the same way on every line, the listener’s attention might stray). Here’s a look at “Rope’s” chorus:
“Give me some rope I’m coming loose, I’m hanging on you” (the first time nothing is emphasized)
“Give me some ROPE I’m coming loose, I’m PULLING for you now” (the second time “rope” and “pulling” are emphasized)
“Give me some rope I’m coming, out of my head, into the clear when you, go, I, come, looooose“ (for this section of the chorus, the phrasing and melody are changed up for the duration of the section)
The melodic changeup coupled with the build in momentum and intensity during the second half of the chorus brings the section to a roaring climax, ultimately providing the listener with a fantastic “payoff.”
Notice the overall simplicity of the chorus as a whole compared to what’s going on in the rest of the song (i.e. the verses). It’s more straight ahead and “rocking” in nature, both vocally and instrumentally, ultimately making for a very memorable section.
An additional line is added to the third (and final) chorus, where the lyric that you were expecting, “rope”, is changed to “hope.” The line gives the section some additional depth and meaning: “Give me some hope I’m coming through, I’m counting on you.”
Turn-Around: 8.5/10
The turn-around out of the 1st chorus transitions seamlessly into the second verse by returning to the main-theme riff, which is the same flow that was used transitioning from the 2nd half of the intro into the first verse. The only difference is that it’s more intense this time around, and also includes an additional guitar line in the mix.
Instrumental Break/Solo: 9.5/10
A big, unexpected treat within “Rope” is the mid-1970′s influenced instrumental break/ solo section, characterized by guitar and drum solo interplay before launching into the super fuzzed out wha-wha guitar solo. The section takes what was shaping up to be a “typically structured” modern Rock song with a classic Rock vibe and throws us for a loop with added dimension, and enjoyment for that matter. The addition of this section also enables “Rope” to further stand out from all of the other Rock songs that are currently topping the Rock songs chart.
Outro: 8.5/10
Virtually identical to both parts of the intro (though now abbreviated), the outro section of “Rope” does a great job of bringing the song back to where it all began. A great thing to take note of is how Grohl creates tension by leaving the last word, “loose”, out of the final line of the chorus, and makes you wait for the resolution until it comes in during the heavy, main-theme riff part of the section. Additionally, the abrupt, false ending leaves the listener wanting more, and is a great psychological technique for increasing the chances for repeat listens.
WAVEFORM BACK TO TOP
It’s not a real surprise here that “Rope” is ultra compressed for maximum sonic impact, especially in the chorus and instrumental break/guitar solo sections. No breathing room there at all – one db higher and your speakers will explode!
Compares the song being analyzed against all Rock songs that have entered the Billboard Rock top 10: Q1-2011
The key elements present in “Rope” are in-line with Q1-2011 top 10 Hit Rock songs except:
“Rope’s” song structure differs in nature from the majority of other hit Rock songs.
The song length is 0:21 longer than the average Hit Rock song length.
The intro length is 0:10 longer than the average Hit Rock song intro.
The outro length is 0:14 longer than the average Hit Rock song outro.
The first chorus occurs 0:16 (4%) farther into the song than the average Hit Rock song chorus.
“Rope” does not contain a bridge, while the vast majority of today’s Hit Rock songs do.
“Rope” has a vibe that focuses primarily on a combination of both Modern and Classic Hard Rock. Most of today’s Hit Rock songs are more Alternative in nature.
OVERALL ASSESSMENT BACK TO TOP
Structure: 9/10
Does the song flow in a cohesive manner? All of the sections within “Rope” flow seamlessly into one another, each building and playing off the momentum and intensity levels of the section that follows or precedes it. The first three- fifths of the song possess a “traditional” verse – pre-chorus – chorus flow, while the second part of the song goes totally retro with guitar/drum solo interplay and a fuzzed out wha-wha guitar solo before launching back into the chorus and out. All in all, “Rope’s” structure is very effective and does a great job of engaging and holding the listeners attention throughout the entire song.
Production: 9.5/10
How does the production stand up in maximizing the songs impact? Butch Vig did a phenomenal job producing this song (and the album as a whole, for that matter). He used analog equipment (yes, I said ANALOG – at least until post production) to capture the raw, live, in-your-face essence of the song, and did it in such a way that perfectly fused both modern and retro-rock vibes into a package that sounds 100% Foo Fighters in nature. One interesting point to note is how the vocals and instrumentation are basically on the same level (sonically speaking) throughout the entire song. Both are deemed equally important within the songs framework.
Music/Tone: 9/10
Does the instrumentation and sound maximize the vibe of the song? “Rope” is a modern rock song with a heavy classic rock vibe, so it’s not a surprise that what you get is a wall of guitars, an up front Fender Precision bass and raw, live drums. It’s interesting how both “modern” and “classic” vibes are fused so effectively into one song, both equaling each other in prominence. The guitars are totally modern sounding in nature, combining both treble and more bass oriented distortions to create a crunchy, “in your face” sound, while the Fender Precision bass cuts through the mix, giving the song additional dimension. The drums have a total live “garage” feel to them – and the actual garage recording environment really comes through in the mix. The end result is that all of these elements perfectly blend together in creating this modern, yet retro natured hit rock song.
Lyrics: 8.5/10
Do the lyrics serve the song and jibe with the vibe of the music? The lyrics in “Rope” possess a “love/relationship” theme, illustrating someone trying to hold on to, and climb back from, a relationship that is crumbling away. Overall, the lyrics are somewhat cryptic, but you can quite easily get the premise of what the story is about. They make you think, and that’s what good lyrics should do. Overall, the intensity of the music perfectly accentuates the vibe present in the lyrics, and vice versa.
Vocal Delivery: 9/10
Does the tonality and phrasing of the vocals maximize the songs impact? The vocals within “Rope” are fantastic, both from an originality standpoint (Dave Grohl has a vocal style that’s all his own, coupled with the multi-tracked vocal layers that give the vocals a very unique vibe), and a delivery standpoint, specifically the way that the vocals are phrased and flow over the guitar riffs.
Memorability: 8.5/10
How easy is it to remember this song after you hear it once? Overall, “Rope” is a memorable song primarily for two reasons. The first is the main theme guitar riff that occurs throughout the song. It gets stuck in your head due to the use of repetition, repetition and more repetition. Once it’s in there, it’s tough to shake. The second reason is the chorus. It’s simple, yet powerful and infectious – everything that a good chorus should be. The end result is that once you hear “Rope”, it’s tough to get out of your head, and it leaves you wanting more.
Payoff: 9.5/10
Does the song provide the listener with a strong payoff (i.e. a hot chorus)? There are TWO major payoffs within “Rope”, with the first being the chorus. As I’ve been mentioning throughout this report, it’s simple, powerful, infectious and memorable in nature, and provides the listener with resolution to the tension that was building during the verse and pre-chorus sections. The second is the 0:41 instrumental break/guitar solo section. I can’t remember the last time I heard guitar/drum solo interplay in a song that ultimately exploded into a super heavy fuzzed-out wha-wha guitar solo (need to go WAY back in my collection for that). Personally – it was this section of the song that provided the ultimate payoff for me! (Also – did you notice the one hit of a cowbell during the second drum fill? When was the last time you heard cowbell in modern rock?!?!?).
Originality: 8.5/10
Does this song have its own unique vibe when compared to other songs/artists in the genre? Even though you can totally hear where the Foo Fighters influences come from, they compose in a style all their own. Not only does “Rope” have the “Foo-Fighters sound”, but it also stands out from just about every other modern/alt rock song that’s currently placing on the charts. The Foo Fighters brought “b*ll’s out” Rock back into the mainstream, giving the genre a big shot of adrenaline which it so sorely needs.
Longevity: 9/10 (Artist), 5/10 (Overall genre Genre)
Does this song have what it takes to stand the test of time? Will it become a staple of the artist’s repertoire? I have no doubt that “Rope” will be considered a highlight in the Foo’s career and will be featured in their set for as long as they play live. That being said, will it be considered amongst the greats, such as timeless songs by Zep, Queen, the Stones and even Nirvana? I highly doubt it. It’s a great song, but it doesn’t have that “magic” quality about it (that can’t be quantified) that other songs that have stood the test of time possess. None the less, it’s great, straight ahead, intense modern/classic Rock, and it delivers.
The Good:
The production is fantastic, perfectly fusing modern and retro to create an in your face wall of sound.
“Rope” is very memorable in nature, mostly due to the repetitive main-theme riff and the simplistic, yet powerful and infectious chorus.
The song provides the listener with TWO payoffs, one being the chorus and the other being the instrumental break/solo section.
“Rope” puts the “Rock” back in today’s Rock genre.
“Rope” has a lot of dimension to it – from the multi-part intro, to the verse, pre-chorus, chorus, and guitar/drum solo section. There’s a lot in there to keep the listener interested and engaged throughout the song.
The song is very well crafted, with each section working perfectly off of each other.
Even though they wear their influences on their sleeves, “Rope” comes across original and unique, especially in comparison to other Rock songs that are currently topping the charts.
The Bad:
I’m happy to say that there is nothing “bad” to report on with this song.
It’s such a rarity today to find straight-up, raw, analog produced, in your face Hard Rock music on today’s charts (or anywhere, for that matter). Obviously there is still a longing for it in people’s hearts, because “Rope” spent 20 WEEKS at the #1 Rock Songs spot, only to be dethroned by another one of their songs, “Walk.”
“Rope” marks the Foo’s return after a 4 year absence, and has all the elements that you would want in a great Hard Rock song – it’s loud, infectious, memorable, in your face, full of great riffs and gives you 0:41 of guitar/drum solo interplay. All of that plus the retro vibe of the song (people are drawn to what’s “familiar”) and sticking out like a sore thumb in today’s Rock scene. The result: All of the elements came together here to breathe some life into a Rock Genre that’s in serious need of some shock therapy.
Adding a unique, unexpected element into your song can do wonders in helping to make your song stand out from the pack and ultimately maximize its effectiveness and popularity potential. This was clearly the case with the inclusion of the forty-one second instrumental break/solo section in “Rope.”
Employing a False Ending in your song is a good “psychological tool” to use in order to keep your listener wanting more and increase the chance for repeat listens.
An original, unique intro section will act as an instant “identifier” for your song, helping to both hook the listener in from the get-go and serve as “beacon” for the listener in the midst of a plethora of other rock songs. This is something that “Rope” achieved in grand fashion.
Your production values should jibe with the nature of the song to maximize its effectiveness. “Rope” is a raw, in your face hard rock song with a retro vibe. The production values brought on by Butch Vig perfectly accentuated this vibe, utilizing all analog equipment plus recording the band in Dave Grohl’s garage. If this song was “polished” to a tee like a lot of other songs currently topping the charts, it wouldn’t have had nearly as much impact as it did.
Long intro’s do work if constructed effectively. Notice how the Foo Fighter’s broke “Rope’s” intro into three sections – first kicking the song off with the left panned delay effect guitar, then adding the right panned “off-time” guitar, and ultimately slamming in with the main theme riff that carried over right into the first verse. They made great use of twenty eight seconds, and obviously did it in a way that kept their listeners engaged and wanting more.
Repetition. Notice how the main-theme guitar riff in “Rope” is used in both in the intro, verse, turn-around and outro sections. The repetitive use makes it tough to get out of your head. This was also the case with the repetitive line in the chorus, “Give me some rope I’m coming…”, which was repeated three times during the first two choruses and four times in the last chorus. If you want to foster memorability, then repeat, repeat, and repeat some more!
Being a bit cryptic and clever with your lyrical content will help to intrigue your listener and engage them further in your song.