Millennial whoop
The millennial whoop is a vocal melodic pattern alternating between the fifth and third notes in a major scale, typically starting on the fifth, in the rhythm of straight 8th-notes, and often using the "wa" and "oh" syllables.[1] It was used extensively in 2010s pop music.[2][3]
Overview
—Music blogger Patrick Metzger[2]
The term was coined by the musician Patrick Metzger, who described it in a blog entry on The Patterning in August 2016.[1] He suggested that, while the millennial whoop gained popularity from the late 2000s to 2010s, it has probably always been around.[4] An earlier use can be heard in the 1983 song "Jungle Love" by The Time.[5]
The 2017 song "Millennial Whoop" by American rock band the Pilgrims was written as a response to the idea of older generations looking down upon the younger for using such tropes: the song makes use of the interval pattern.[6]
Lawsuit
In 2013 songwriter Ally Burnett sued Carly Rae Jepsen and Owl City over their 2012 song "Good Time", arguing similarities to her 2010 song "Ah, It's a Love Song" and its use of the millennial whoop.[2] Jepsen settled out of court, but Owl City won.[2]
Uses
Songs where the millennial whoop appear include:
- "Jungle Love" (1983, Morris Day and the Time)[5]
- "Tarzan Boy" (1985, Baltimora)[1] (the B-part of the ABAB-structured chorus)
- "Aaya Mausam Dosti Ka" (1989, Maine Pyar Kiya) (parts similar to "Tarzan Boy")[7]
- "In the Shadows" (2003, The Rasmus)[1][2]
- ”Poker Face (song)” (2008, Lady Gaga)[5]
- "Tik Tok (song)" (2009, Kesha)[8]
- "Bad Romance" (2009, Lady Gaga)[5]
- "California Gurls" (2010, Katy Perry)[5]
- "Good Time" (2012, Carly Rae Jepsen and Owl City)[2]
- "The Mother We Share" (2012, Chvrches)[9]
- "Habits (Stay High)" (2013, Tove Lo)[1]
- "Really Don't Care" (2013, Demi Lovato featuring Cher Lloyd)[9]
- "Ivy" (2016, Frank Ocean)[9]
- "This Is Me" (2017, from The Greatest Showman) [10]
- The theme for the American animated television series DuckTales.[11]
References
- Metzger, Patrick (August 20, 2016). "The Millennial Whoop: A glorious obsession with the melodic alternation between the fifth and the third". The Patterning. Retrieved 2016-09-19.
- Haynes, Gavin (August 30, 2016). "The Millennial Whoop: the melodic hook that's taken over pop music". The Guardian.
- Bui, Hoai-Tran (August 29, 2016). "What is the 'millennial whoop' and why is it in every pop song?". USA Today.
- Bartleet, Larry (September 1, 2016). "What Is The Millennial Whoop? Once You Hear This Virulent Pop Hook You Won't Be Able To Unhear It". NME. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
- Epstein, Adam (August 27, 2016). ""The Millennial Whoop": The same annoying whooping sound is showing up in every popular song". Quartz.
- "The Best Vermont Music of 2017 (So Far) – County Tracks". County Tracks. 2017-06-22. Retrieved 2017-10-23.
- "10 Bollywood Movies With Blockbuster Soundtracks". MensXP.com. Archived from the original on 7 March 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
- Menta, Anna (August 30, 2016). "All Of Today's Pop Songs Are Basically The Exact Same, According To New Theory". Elite Daily.
- O'Donnell, Carey (August 29, 2016). "The Theory of the "Millennial Whoop" Might Be The Key To A Hit Pop Song". Paper. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
- http://www.curzonblog.com/all-posts/2018/1/28/best-original-song-2018
- NerdSync. "Why the DUCKTALES Theme Song is Stuck in Your Head Right Now...", YouTube. 4 November 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
External links
- Original blog entry on thepatterning.com
- Metzger, Patrick (February 28, 2017). "Why do so many pop songs sound the same?". Retrieved 2017-11-14 – via YouTube.