‘Let It Happen’: Tame Impala’s genius use of a three-bar loop
Whenever you operate within a creative industry, there should always be a push to expand the boundaries within that industry. Generally speaking, all creatives have a willingness to do this built into them. From classic artists such as The Beatles to modern acts like Tame Impala, there is a want to take what already exists and grow it, creating something new and giving listeners something unique in the process.
That being said, despite most creatives being keen on creating something unique, that doesn’t mean that they are immune to the fact that some patterns reoccur. A lot of the time, these patterns reoccur and we don’t even realise it. One of the best examples is the repeated use of the four-bar phrase in contemporary music.
Whenever you listen to popular music today, whether that’s rock, indie, hip-hop, or any other genre you can think of, it’s more likely than not that you’ll be listening to a four-bar phrase. This is because most modern music is put together in phrases of four, then songs become those phrases stacked on top of one another.
There isn’t a specific reason as to why so many songs use this structure (or if there is, we don’t know about it). It’s more likely that because this kind of song was used early, bands and artists fell into the rhythm or arranged them this way. Now, when you listen to most music, you don’t even realise that you’re hearing a four-bar phrase; your ears immediately accept it as the norm.
Of course, some artists know this structure is common and, therefore, likes to operate outside it. When they do this, they write what is commonly known as a three-bar loop. It has been adopted by many bands, such as T-Rex, Slipknot, and Smashing Pumpkins; however, one of the artists who has been able to incorporate this structure most successfully is Tame Impala.
If we were talking about a lesser musical mind, we could accept the following as a coincidence, but when it comes to Tame Impala, there are no coincidences. They are the perfect example of how an in-depth understanding of music doesn’t have to result in sounds that only resonate on an academic level. This enhanced knowledge can create popular music that is layered and commercially successful.
When they wrote the song ‘Let It Happen’, the aim was clear: They wanted to create something psychedelic that felt as though listeners could travel. The song is a sonic journey, equal parts enticing and addictive. When you listen to it, you don’t feel like time passes and the song with it; rather, it’s as though time stands completely still, and you make your way through it as you explore the song yourself.
The genius method that Tame Impala incorporates in a bid to achieve this is using the three-bar loop. Because of the fact it isn’t a common form of song structure, when we hear it, it takes us by surprise. We end up listening more intently to a song, trying to catch a familiar rhythm with it and understand it better. Because of the fact this occurs on ‘Let It Happen’, while the track is embracing its psychedelia, it also forces you to pay attention. As a result, it becomes borderline hypnotic.
We cannot turn away from the song because we are persistently trying to understand its rhythm. As a result, we get lost in its inflammatory nature, which is a huge testament to how music theory can be used when making something intended to be commercially successful. The track remains one of their most successful to date.
