Andra Day Rise Up Song Analysis Paper
Song Analysis Assignment
The song I have chosen for this paper is called “Rise Up,” by Andra Day released August 28, 2015, in her album “Cheers to the Fall.” Day was born in 1984 in Edmond Washington. Her family moved to Southern California at age 3. She began taking dance lessons at age 5 and sang regularly at her local church. In 2010 during a singing performance at a strip mall, Day was noticed by Stevie Wonder's then wife, Kai Millard. The connection was made between her and Stevie Wonder and he eventually introduced her to music producer Adrian Gurvitz who assisted her with her debut album a few years later.
As noted in Time Magazine, Day wrote this song at a time when she was dealing with stagnation and difficulties in her own life, as well as for a friend who was recently diagnosed with cancer. “Rise Up started as a sort of prayer—I thought about what I needed to hear to be able to get back on my feet.”
The opening lyrics of the song - “You’re broken down and tired...” are right away indicating that this song is addressing feelings of fatigue and perhaps hopelessness in the face of whatever adversity or obstacles of life one might be facing. Sometimes the struggle is so real that even small things can feel like “moving mountains.” Notwithstanding all of the aforementioned, the chorus of the song leads us into a change of mindset. It echoes an inspiring message of courage and inner strength. “I’ll rise up, in spite of the ache” and “unafraid.” As is natural in life, many times we rise but then fall down again. “I’ll rise up, and I’ll do it a thousand times again!” Meaning, I may fall another thousand times, but my spirit will not be broken, I will not give up. The song proceeds along similar lines, pointing out how heavy and difficult the human struggle can be, and how we can nevertheless “take the world to its feet.” Finally, in the bridge of the song we have another powerful message. “All we need is hope, and for that we have each other.” We mustn't carry our pain alone. “We will rise...” We can support and lift each other up. When we have unity we know that we can truly weather any storm that comes our way.
Melody: the chorus of this song has ascending and descending parts. Towards the end of the chorus by the words “for you,” it takes a leap upward. The range is very wide.
Meter: Quadruple meter 4/4
Tempo: Largo/Andante
I chose this song because it is meaningful to me. Its message resonates with me and I’ve listened to it many times to lift me up. I originally discovered this song during a very dark time in my life when I was having difficulty getting out of bed in the morning. I used this song many times as a push to get myself out of bed. This song definitely helped me find the courage and hope I needed in order to move forward and “Rise Up” again.