I love Journey. But for some reason I hated, “Don’t Stop Believin” and I could not understand why I loathed that song until I recently rewatched The Sopranos for the second time after 16 years and the final episode had that song playing until the “blackout.” And now I know why…
Anyone else had a similar experience with a popular song that you couldn’t explain why it rubbed you the wrong way?
Music nerd here so bear with me.
I liked Third Eye Blind when I first heard them, probably as a teen? (I’m an older millennial.) But then every song they released afterward sounded the same and I couldn’t stand them anymore. I took enough music theory (read: too much, I have degrees) so I was able to figure out why. They lean hard on singing on the third scale degree over a IV chord, which I suppose you could claim is a IV7, but their melody is always on the third. So yeah. I think they’re hacks without any ideas except that one. I get why people think they’re catchy though.
I’ve never noticed this but I have a feeling I’ll never be able to listen to them the same way again
I’m not super familiar with a lot of 3EB’s work, but I do like “How’s It Gonna Be”, and you’re absolutely right, they lean on that third pretty hard as a melodic element. The third tends to be sung a lot against the ii in that particular song (so yielding a ii9), but when they do use the IV, I notice the melody will often do the same, and it serves as kind of a tension breaker given how much emphasis is given to the third against the other chords leading up to the IV. The bass line is also great in this song, not just using the root of the chord, but different degrees and transitions between them for interest. That said, I can’t speak to the rest of their catalogue.
