The most elegant key change in all of pop music

Watch the extended version of this video on Nebula!

0:00 Introduction
1:21 Part 1 - Song Analysis
7:57 Part 2 - The Key Change!!
11:33 (interlude - mom cameo)
15:27 Part 3 - Narrative and Metaphor

Mom!

Scott J. Hanenberg Rock Modulation and Narrative

Andrew Huang’s very excellent Harmonic series video

Feb 2016 All By Myself Performance

Some other All By Myself Performances

(⌐■_■)

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Peace,
Adam

[raveltherapy]

I don’t understand even 8% of what this guy is talking about… But I watch his videos because this is quality production.

[acostaliving]

I went down the YouTube rabbit hole. I don't play an instrument, or know how to read music, and I have no clue what he is talking about, but somehow I find it very interesting?

[colinellicott]

I'm amazed that Celine could perform at all so soon after such loss. After my wife died it took half a year before I could play my piano again, it was more emotion that I could bear, so I am truly amazed she got that far through her performance before yielding to the overwhelming power of her music. Peace. And today is the anniversary of my wife's death.

[chevymagcaling]

23:26

“She’s singing “All By Myself”, a song whose structure is specifically designed to feel the thought of not being alone. Imagine living this catharsis night after night on that stage for years, living the story of ritualistically calling out to the heavens and demanding to not be alone anymore. And through the sheer physical power of your voice and the technique that you have developed on your instrument (and a clever key change or two), the world around you acquiesces and bends to your will.

Until one night, it doesn’t.”

Man, those are some powerful words right there. Couldn’t have explained it better.

[DBruce]

Music makes you feel feelings, lyrics make you think thoughts, songs make you feel thoughts, Neely videos make you understand thoughts and feelings!

[ozsurg]

This is not something I would normally share, especially with complete strangers on the internet. But here goes. My father requested, in his will, that the slow movement from Schubert's String Quintet in C major be played at his funeral. We assembled a group of musicians and I played the first cello part. Personally I have long regarded this as the most beautiful piece of music ever written. It plumbs depths of emotion like nothing else I have ever heard. And here's the funny thing: I poured my heart and soul into that performance, but somehow, never let my own personal grief in, until the final chord - at which moment I broke down. How would I be honouring my father if I lost it during the performance itself? So I just immersed myself in the music, forgot who I was, and gave it the best that I could. I don't think it was any better than I could do on any other day, and I doubt that Celine hit her high note any more spectacularly than she usually does. The point I'm making, like Adam's mum, is that during the performance, you can't afford to feel the emotion in the music. What's important is to communicate that emotion to the listener.

[SaladBar-xyjy]

She lost her husband, and singing about being all by herself no doubt was a trigger for emotions, besides the effort she always puts in to make her singing outstanding, it pulls emotion from any singer who feels the lyrics.

[ReclusiveMountainMan]

Anyone who has performed with a full orchestra supporting them, knows what it's like to actually "feel" the music. Subscribed.

[nataliespitz]

I can understand why she had to stop. She lost the love of her life and she didn't want to be by herself anymore. I'm sure she truly felt those lyrics. Music is so powerful

[Wonderhussy]

I used to work at her show in Vegas, and got so tired of listening to what I considered overblown, overwrought, overproduced bombastic B.S every night...but as this video reminds me, you just can't deny her amazing vocal ability --nor her professionalism in taking to the stage with a broken heart! I remember another show she did, right after her father died --she was late coming on, and people in the audience complained about what a diva she was because of it. I guess we tend to forget that these artists are human like the rest of us. Much respect to Celine for her amazing talent and work ethic.

[MsRuth]

When My husband passed away, I was singing in a choir competition in China. I found that singing helped me in so many ways. It always lifts my spirits!

[gailtrotman]

The pause for Celine was deeply emotional as she was still vulnerable, in profound grief over the loss of her beloved husband, Rene and the words moved her . ❤😢❤

[treyxaviermusic]

Rachmaninoff reaching into the future to demonetize this video from beyond the grave

[AimeeNolte]

This video is as epic as that modulation. Also...I love your mom.

[jebbiejoober]

yup! love the fact that David Foster surprised Celine with the high note WHILE RECORDING and she just smashed it. serious talent from everyone involved.

[billmoran]

The minute you mentioned Rachmaninov’s 2nd, I realized why I love All By Myself. Rachmaninov’s Second piano Concerto is, in my opinion, the most beautiful piece of music ever written.

[JustTanya.]

When Celine just stopped, trying to hold it together despite the fact she just lost the love of her life, breaks my heart every time. Even if you can't feel the emotion of the song, you'd have to be dead inside to not feel the emotion of Celine and the loss of her husband, the father of her children. This is a pretty powerful song for those of us who feel alone in this world. The chords and lyrics hit a place inside a person that says, "I know what you're feeling because I feel it too." and though you still feel all by yourself at least you can know that you're not only one that feels that way.

[WreckOfLamb]

“Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music.”

-Sergei Rachmaninoff

[RobHigbie]

When the band drops out, she literally sings all by herself. Stunning. Great video!

[dapper]

It’s amazing that there is science to back up what we feel. The makeup of Celine’s instrument, the physics of sine waves and mathematics converge to create a moment that is felt almost whole-body. And it’s fascinating that it could’ve been written without knowing the specific technique, just that it made the writer feel something. This video was so well done — thank you!