Africa by Toto (Music GCSE)

Background Information

-Written by David Paich and Jeff Porcaro
-Released on 2nd of September 1982

Harmony and Tonality

It is in B major and the Choruses are A major, diatonic throughout

Melody and Pitch

Melody is conjunct and uses the pentatonic scale in riff B and in the instrumental. Pitch range is two octaves.

Rhythm and Metre and Texture

Ostinato rhythms with quavers and constant syncopation. The time signature is 2/2 (cut common time), texture is homophonic

Chorus chord progression

F#m (vi) D(IV) A(I) E(V)

Verse chorus progression

Big (B), Dog sharp mouth (D#m) Grew sharper munchier (G#m), Before/ Frog sharp (B/F#) , Ate/Everything (A/E), Ergo (E), Frog Sharp (F#), Grew sharper muchier (G#m)

Structure

Intro, Verse 1, Chorus 1, Link 1, Verse 2, Chorus 2, Link 2 Instrumental, Chorus 3, Outro