The millennial whoop is a vocal melodic pattern alternating between the fifth note — the dominant —and the third note — the mediant — 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
In the slavishly playlisted, gnat's-attention-span world of daytime radio, the Whoop has become a signalling device, often cropping up bang on cue around the one-minute mark, saying: "Hey wait! Don't run away just yet!"
—Music blogger Gavin Haynes[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 1984 song "Jungle Love" by The Time, and, arguably, in Baltimora's 1985 hit "Tarzan Boy".[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 appears include:
- "Jungle Love" (1984, Morris Day and the Time)[5]
- "Tarzan Boy" (1985, Baltimora)[1] (the B-part of the ABAB-structured chorus)
- "DuckTales" (1987, Mark Mueller)[7]
- "Aaya Mausam Dosti Ka" (1989, Maine Pyar Kiya) (parts similar to "Tarzan Boy")[8]
- "In the Shadows" (2003, The Rasmus)[1][2]
- "Use Somebody" (2008, Kings of Leon)[5]
- "Tik Tok" (2009, Kesha)[9]
- "Looking for Paradise" (2009, Alejandro Sanz featuring Alicia Keys)[5]
- "Bad Romance" (2009, Lady Gaga)[5]
- "California Gurls" (2010, Katy Perry)[5]
- "Love Like Woe" (2010, The Ready Set)
- "Till the World Ends" (2011, Britney Spears)[5]
- "Good Time" (2012, Carly Rae Jepsen and Owl City)[2]
- "The Mother We Share" (2012, Chvrches)[10]
- "Habits (Stay High)" (2013, Tove Lo)[1]
- "Really Don't Care" (2013, Demi Lovato featuring Cher Lloyd)[10]
- "Ivy" (2016, Frank Ocean)[10]
- "This Is Me" (2017, from The Greatest Showman) [11]
See also
References
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.