What’s The Frequency, Kenneth by REM reminds many of the infamous “Dan Rather incident of the late 20the century” whereby Dan was walking down a residential upper east side street, alone, and a stranger [aggressively approached him] and rather than ask Rather for money or threaten bodily harm, the aggressive stranger continued to shout at Rather—”WHAT’S THE FREQUENCY KENNETH?!” in repetition–how many times, I do not know. Maybe that’s what cause that swift-boat thing confusion, who knows, ya know?
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REM: What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?
| REM: What’s the Frequency, Kenneth? … anchorman Dan Rather, who jumped the newsman from behind on a Manhattan street and repeatedly hit him in the head, … www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2478584 - 49k - Jul 30, 2006 - Cached - Similar pages |
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By tempo as compared to emotional expression, my theory can only predict that REM in this song, notwithstanding what anyone–even the band dudes– thinks the song “means,” are in full exploration of the meanemotion range, 90-97, of enthusiasm. I have heard the song 300 times and I still cannot make out a word. Well, a few here and there–but I get no “message” from the song–so said, it does soud full of confident enthusiasm in its expression–to me anyway. You be the judge.
Also, you might note on the graph how the song was recorded live, allowing for the linear trendline and natural speed movement. I have no idea if this is so, but it sounds as if the band members were all together, live, in the studio for the main part of this track.
The frequencies of What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?:
meanspeed=95.2 beats per minute
meanemotion=enthusiastic
meanspace=0.630 seconds per beat
meanphase=1.586 cycles per second
meanpitch=406.19 Hertz, 61 cents above G4=391.995 and 39 cents below G#4/Ab4=415.305 Hertz.
Ian Schneider
New York, NY
July 21, 2008
