africa

• | background information

  • written by DAVID PAITCH & JEFF POCCORO
  • recorded 1981
  • released 1982
  • toto IV album
  • soft rock
• | harmony : riff A, intro

  • syncopated (off-beat)
  • chords: A, G#m, C#m

  
• | harmony : riff B

  • ostinato (repeated phrase)
  • based on E major pentatonic scale

  
• | harmony

  • chorus chord sequence!
  • F#, D, A, E (VI, IV, I, V)
  • diatonic
• | instrumentation

  • lead electric guitar
  • bass guitar
  • drum kit
  • backing vocals
  • lead vocals
  • synthesiser
  • 12 string acoustic guitar
• | instrumentation

  • rock band
  • use of overdubbing
  • additional percussions
  • congos, bow bells, caxixi, kalimba, marimba…
• | tonality

  • major: A & B
  • choruses = A major
  • everything else = B major
• | melody

  • mostly conjunct
  • wide range of vocals
  • riff b = pentatonic scale
  • vocal improvisation at end
• grace note: extra note played before main melody
• | texture

  • mostly homophonic
  • melody & accompaniment
• | metre

  • 2/2
  • 2 beats per bar, 2 minim beats
• | tempo

  • moderato
• | rhythm

  • ostinato in both riffs
• | dynamics

  • MF
  • chorus = F