"Sweater Weather" Music Analysis 2
"Sweater Weather" by The Neighbourhood - Music Analysis 2
The Neighbourhood has been a band I have been listening to with my family for the past 10 years. I have many fun family memories listening to this band in the pool or just hanging out, dancing. While this is my favorite song by them for a fun reason, I struggle with Reynold's Syndrome, which causes my hands to become extremely cold and turn blue. I related this song to Reynolds Syndrome originally because it talks about being cold. As I have gotten older and gained more maturity, I have understood this song to a deeper level. Now I understand that when they talk about being cold, they are missing someone they love. Though I always look back on this song now, laughing at how I related it to Reynolds Syndrome, while it has another very different meaning. Sweater Weather came out March 28, 2012, written by Jesse Rutherford, Jeremy Freedman, and Zach Abels, all members of the band. The Neighbourhood writes most of their own songs. The band is from Newbury Park, California, as they talk about California in numerous songs!
"Sweater Weather" by the Neighbourhood
Lyrics
I have connected with the lyrics of the song twice for very different reasons. I have been listening to this song for about ten years now, and as I have matured, I have gained another reason for connection within the song. When I was younger, I thought when they sung about being cold, they meant they suffered from Reynolds Syndrome like I did. I felt understood listening to this song growing up because I had never had anyone else understand how frustrating Reynolds could be. As I have matured, I have gained another emotional connection to this song. Now I gather from the lyrics when they explain there cold, it means they are missing someone they love, it could mean distance, or they feel their emotionally gone. I have connected with that as I have lost some family and friendships. When I lost someone I was extremely close to, I felt cold without their presence. I have really enjoyed how I have gained more reasons to connect with this song as I have gotten older!
Chords
The Neighbourhood decided on a very different key for this song, "Sweater Weather" is in the Key of Eb Major with the chords that are being used throughout the song C, Am, Em, and G. What I found interesting that most people who learn this song on an guitar will play it in the Key of C Major with a capo on the 3rd fret because Eb can be an extremely hard to play on a guitar because of the chord shapes. This song has a darker tone to it, making you feel the pain behind his lyrics in this song, but I love how he changed the outro to an entirely different tone. It makes me personally feel like he is coming to terms with his feelings, and it makes me feel that maybe I can fully understand my own feelings.
Melody
The melody of "Sweater Weather" hits me with a passionate vocal delivery by using the elements of longing. I think it shows how he really misses his girl. The melody makes me feel like he is being vulnerable with his audience, which makes it easier to connect to the song. Throughout the melody, he changes his vocals to express his emotions in an easier way to understand. Personally, I think he goes from hot to cold, or passionate to intense. I love it when he changes his voice because it gives the song a different sound. I enjoy it when artists move their voice to give their band a different overall sound and appearance. The Melody of this song just brings me memories with my family growing up, and feeling understood. This song is a place where I go when I just need to feel like I am going home.
Timbre
The Timbre of "Sweater Weather" uses cloudy, overdriven guitars, which I think creates a mix of light and dark tones. The dark tones come from the chords used in the key of Eb, which makes the song sound emotional. While the Vocals from the lead singer Ruthford, are smooth but have an edge to it. When the guitars sound cloudy, it makes me feel like a storm is coming with lots of emotions. When that happens, it makes me get a little emotional, but I love feeling everything during a song. It brings more depth and love to the song "Sweater Weather" and makes me want to listen to it more! I also connected with the darker tones in this song to my Reynolds Syndrome because I felt alone, until I listened to this song.
Range
The range of "Sweater Weather" does not change much throughout the song; guitars and vocals stay very similar throughout. I enjoyed how the song did not change much because it brings the darker tones to the front of the song. When I feel sad or invisible, I immediately go to this song because the entire song has those darker tones. I feel seen when I listen and that the world isn't too scary to face alone.
Form
While the form of "Sweater Weather" is not uncommon, as it used a verse-chorus song form which includes verse, pre-chorus, chorus, bridge, then outro. It brings catchiness as it builds up on repeating sections. I love how this song is set up because after I listen to it, I always have the chorus or verse stuck in my head. It makes me excited to listen to the song again because of how catchy it is. I enjoy how "Sweater Weather" also keeps it very similar throughout the entire song until the song reaches the bridge. When the song reaches the bridge, it changes the pace of the song, which for me brings different emotions. I feel like I finally see the light at the end of the path!
This is what I imagine when I listen to "Sweater Weather"! I think I connect this with the song because of the darker tones and feelings of intimacy throughout the song.
Controversy
The Controversy that stems from the song "Sweater Weather" is how the song unexpectedly became the bisexual community's "anthem". The band never came out and announced it was, while it was just adopted by the community to become their "anthem". I think they choose this because the song lyrics are gender neutral and there is themes of darkness and intimacy throughout the entire song. The band has come out and said they were a little surprised when they heard, but they said they found it cool that the community has adopted it as their anthem.
Conclusion
Overall, "Sweater Weather" is a song I love and have grown with as I have grown up. I have so many memories with this song, and I cherish this song for that! This was the first song I learned on guitar and still play it to this day for my family! I really enjoyed that I got to share my thoughts on "Sweater Weather" with all of you!
Sources
Sources
“Sweater Weather by the Neighbourhood Chords, Melody, and Music Theory Analysis - Hooktheory.” Www.hooktheory.com, 2021, https://www.hooktheory.com/theorytab/view/the-neighbourhood/sweater-weather
"Sweater Weather.” Wikipedia, 16 Sept. 2022, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweater_Weather.
-Gabby Sincraugh
I really enjoyed reading your analysis of Sweater Weather. I like how you connected the song to your personal experiences with Raynaud’s Syndrome and later to emotional loss, showing how your understanding of the lyrics has grown over time. Your insights about the chords, melody, timbre, and form clearly explain why the song feels so powerful and emotionally resonant, and I especially liked how you tied those musical elements to the memories you’ve shared with your family. It’s clear this song holds a special place in your life and that connection comes through in your writing.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of Reynolds' syndrome. It sounds very Elsa-like, and that's cool (literally). I am sorry that you had to deal with it all; I am glad you found comfort in the song. Every song holds a different meaning for every person. This shows in your perspective change as you got older, and in our difference of opinion on the meaning of the song. I always found the meaning to be them finding warmth in each other as the weather got colder. I love how you brought your emotions into the musical elements analysis. I, too, find comfort in the Melody.
ReplyDeleteThis song is one of my favorites because I connected it to loneliness. The lyrics and vocals are really nice but the instrumental is what hooks me. This song has always made me feel like a ghost was hugging me. Trying to warm me while themselves are frigid.
ReplyDelete