Toto - 'Africa'

Background Information:

  • Africa was written by David Paich and Jeff Porcaro

  • It was recorded in 1981 and released in 1982

  • The genre is soft-rock

Elements of Music:

Melody

  • Mostly conjunct

  • Wide vocal range

  • E-pentatonic scale

  • Syllabic

Articulation

Dynamics

  • Mostly mezzoforte (moderately loud)

  • Chorus is forte

Tempo

  • Moderately fast

Structure

  • Pop/Verse-chorus structure

  • There are repeated sections as well as a D.S. al Coda

Harmony

  • Diatonic

  • Chord pattern A - G#m - C#m is in every section apart from the chorus

Instrumentation

  • Drum kit + other percussion

  • 12-string acoustic guitar

  • Synthesisers

  • Recorder

  • Vocals + Backing vocals

Rhythm

  • 2/2

  • Ostinato

  • Syncopation

Texture

  • Homophonic

  • Melody and accompaniment

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