The instruments used are rhythm, bass and lead guitars, piano, drums, vocals and a kazoo. The verse features stop-start drum rhythmswith each break inbetween snare drum hits allowing Jim's vocals to be heard more clearly. Before each chorus (and before the forst verse) a monophonic fill launches it in.
Structural Features
The piece begins with the pan, followed by an instrumental intro which precedes a fill into the verse at 22 seconds. The chorus follows at 41 seconds. The verse comes again at 58 seconds with the at 77 seconds. At 95 there is a 7 second middle eight before the chorus repeats until the extract's end (fade out) The piece is very simple, the structure being (ABABCA) with the only deviation from either verse or chorus being the short middle eight. the chorus however, is very polyphonic with many interwoven melodies. The draw of the song therefore, is the short length of the track and each section.
Contextual Features
The song is Crosstown Traffic by Jimi's band 'The Jimi Hendrix experience' on the album Electric Ladyland. Jimi played most of the instruments except bass and drums. The album can be described as psychedelic soul rock with a touch of blues, and is seen as the peak of Hendrix's guitar skills (following this album he went on create a new band and record some 500 songs) This song can be considered as particularly special in its time with its use of a kazoo in a mainstream rock song.
This song was written about one of Jimi's girlfriends. She was trying to force him into a long term relationship but his career and life was too fast-paced and he had no time to accommodate her. But of course, she would like to join him, but he knows she would just slow him down.
Musical Features
The instruments used are rhythm, bass and lead guitars, piano, drums, vocals and a kazoo. The verse features stop-start drum rhythmswith each break inbetween snare drum hits allowing Jim's vocals to be heard more clearly. Before each chorus (and before the forst verse) a monophonic fill launches it in.
Structural Features
The piece begins with the pan, followed by an instrumental intro which precedes a fill into the verse at 22 seconds. The chorus follows at 41 seconds. The verse comes again at 58 seconds with the at 77 seconds. At 95 there is a 7 second middle eight before the chorus repeats until the extract's end (fade out) The piece is very simple, the structure being (ABABCA) with the only deviation from either verse or chorus being the short middle eight. the chorus however, is very polyphonic with many interwoven melodies. The draw of the song therefore, is the short length of the track and each section.
Contextual Features
The song is Crosstown Traffic by Jimi's band 'The Jimi Hendrix experience' on the album Electric Ladyland. Jimi played most of the instruments except bass and drums. The album can be described as psychedelic soul rock with a touch of blues, and is seen as the peak of Hendrix's guitar skills (following this album he went on create a new band and record some 500 songs) This song can be considered as particularly special in its time with its use of a kazoo in a mainstream rock song.
This song was written about one of Jimi's girlfriends. She was trying to force him into a long term relationship but his career and life was too fast-paced and he had no time to accommodate her. But of course, she would like to join him, but he knows she would just slow him down.