#Long Face Lestat

[jameslongforjimshortforgabriel]

here come the gays 🥳🥳😍😍😍🎉🎉🎉🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈😻😻💋💋 here comes the fear 😱😱😰😰😰😢😢😢😖😖😿😿🌚🌚👹👹👹

[toscrollperchancetomeme]

One thing about „Long Face” I haven’t seen discussed yet is its “perfectly premeditated flaw”. While it’s obviously primarily meant to bait Louis, it does so in a very smart way.

The writers have gone out of their way to make us understand that Louis has built himself up to be this super posh art dealer. He’s a connoisseur, he has “ze eye”, he is extremely distinguished in his tastes. Or, as Lestat probably sees it: He’s super pretentious, “like every pompous art student” he’s ever eaten. (I think he gets it from his mum, but that would be a whole essay.) And a part of this is: He does not like camp. This is quite evident from the way he talks about “Lestat’s tastelessness on the float” in episode 1x7, but also reflects in his reaction to the “weirdness” of the Paris theatre.

Except - I think he secretly does like it, because otherwise he would not love Lestat. Him being in denial of his love for Lestat and of his enjoyment of “camp” art almost seem to stem from the same place within him - he is still denying parts of himself.

So, Lestat writing a song for him, that is this camp? That literally says “Come appraise me” to his art dealer husband? That says “see me for what I am and stop lying to yourself and pretending that you don’t love me and that you don’t enjoy having fuuuuuuun”? The lack of metaphor has never been more striking. I’m so here for this.

[savagewildnerness]

OK, let's GO!

So - I MADE A SCORE and there is is!!

But in words... first of all, I’ll answer the question that was asked!

Here’s the bit the OP asked about:

As you see from this image, there’s no getting around it… this analysis is going to be musical.  To me, it is daft and basic and I don’t know what I’m talking about, but I can imagine if you don’t read music it’s a bit like I’m talking to you in a random language, so I’m going to try to explain what I can in non-notation ways too & if I lose you, I do apologise.  Before I get into notes and keys and chords and the like, let’s start with an unusual thing about Long Face that the OP might have noticed that isn’t to do with key…. It’s the tempo.  As you can see, I transcribed it in 12 8, but it could easily be transcribed in 4, and it’s easier to talk about as being in 4… (Without getting into the technicalities, 12 8 is also in 4..!  And 18 8 is in 6!  You can see by the number of notes in each bar in the bass guitar line.) 

So, if we consider it as being in 4, every time the vocals stop and you get a NER NER NER NER NER NER bit (the bit the OP is talking about), the song goes into 6 in a bar instead of 4… only ever for one bar.  But that’s going to throw you because it’s like 1 2 3 4 - 1 2 3 4 - 1 2 3 4 - 1 2 3 4 - 1 2 3 4 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 - 1 2 3 4 etc. so you’re expecting another 1 2 3 4 and instead you are thrown by the tempo alteration!  There’s the first reason these bits sound weird/unusual.  You can see it in the image by looking at the notes in the bass guitar part image here - 6 and then back to 4.

Next, the bass note is E and the E (a continuous note that carries on and on in music can be called a pedal, so we can call it a pedal E) continues through almost the entire song… BUT in the bars in 6, the note moves to D.  In the keys of E major and E harmonic minor (the keys you’d most expect to have E as the root note), you’d have a D sharp, not a D - so it’s a flattened seventh note, which again to our ears, used to Western scales, will sound potentially unusual (or, I would say - fantastic!  YUM!)  It’s so interesting that the OP heard it as discordant in terms of chords, because a lot of the song only has bass and there are only really chords (as far as I can hear!) In the “Fuuuuuun fuuuuuuuuuuun” bits in the chorus.  However, the OP is 100% correct, it will still sound discordant, because the D natural instead of a D sharp is an unexpected note to our brains so your mind might be trying to pull towards either the D sharp or towards the tonic, E which is why you’ll feel that “Ooooh, it’s crunchy and discordant and weird!” in your insides!

So I think that’s the answer to the OP’s question as to why those bits sound discordant!  I hope that makes kind of sense?

BUT, did I stop there?  OH NO I DID NOT!

Now, I just want to caveat that I do not consider myself a musician and neither do I have a useable piano at home!  So please take all this with a salt mine worth of salt. But once I have begun, I am all in!  Also, I do use music in my work (predominantly via means of singing “CRASH!” When folk bash cymbals and three-year-olds using my hand as an extension of their own to play glissandi on the piano until I begin to wonder if said 3-year-old might crack my bones, my fingers have glissandi-ed so much is the truth of it, hahaha…. You think I exaggerate… but I do not!  Sometimes a violin gets thrown to the other side of the room too.  It’s all fun and games! Hehe!) but I absolutely do not use music as a performer or in any way using or analysing or thinking about written music!!  Or in being personally creative in any way.  I didn’t do a music degree or anything.  So… that said… this is only what I can ascertain, as a non-musician who plays to a basic level and did music in school!

I *think* (and it is very much THINK!  I am not sure!) Long Face is pretty much in (or at least based around) an E Dorian mode scale: 

Notes:

E Dorian scale: E F# G A B C# D

You can compare this to 

E major: E F# G# A B C# D#

&

E harmonic minor: E F# G A B C D#

E blues: E F# G G# B C#

As you can see, E major and minor both have D# in and Long Face does not (well, it does occasionally - it’s a rock song and it has jazzy/rocky/bluesy notes, especially in the guitar part… but it doesn’t most of the time.)

You can read about the Dorian Mode and some other songs and pieces that use it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorian_mode

Here’s a wee quote about the Dorian mode and rock music - “Because of its melancholic-yet-somehow-upbeat mood, the Dorian scale is most often spotted in its natural habitat: jazz and blues music. However, it’s certainly not limited to these genres, and is often featured in pop, rock, and metal music to add interest.” - Source - https://www.musical-u.com/learn/get-familiar-with-the-dorian-mode/ (I bet it isn’t even in the Dorian mode now… I cry!!  But I’m going to continue as if it is!)

So, it has the key equivalent to D major/B minor, but the tonic is clearly E because basically, as stated before, there is an E pedal bass note through nearly the entire song, apart from when it switches to that flattened 7th D and it ends in E… and the chorus resolves (when it resolves) to E major too.

Chords in E Dorian:

I    E   G B - E minor

II  F# A C# - F# minor

III G  B  D - G major

IV A  C# E - A major

V  B  D   F# - B minor

VI C  E    G - C major

VII D F# A - D major

I say pretty much in the Dorian Mode, because while it keeps its flattened 7th, it sometimes has a G sharp, not *always* its flattened third…. And sometimes it has C naturals (a flattened 6th, like E minor) and basically it’s a bit blues and a bit jazz and the fuuuunnnnnnn bit (the main bit with chords!) is a lot more E major, whereas the effect of the dorian scale mainly is a minor vibe because the root (I) and fifth chord (V) (and chord II too) are minor and I & V are the anchoring chords in a key, sooooooooo……. HOWEVER, in Long Face, when it resolves to an actual chord for the root during the chorus, it does resolve to the major chord instead of the minor, with a G sharp!  He’s having fun, folks!  It’s not gonna be a minor chord, is it!!?!

Anyway… let’s look at the bits with chords first:

Oh MY… I’m out of my depth…. Let’s have another picture! Here’s a bit of the second chorus: 

I think the chorus chord progression on “Fuuuuun, fuuuuuuun” is:

VI-III-V-IV-(I) - it resolves on the first funs and not on the second funs…

I found online… ““Sad” progression: vi-iii-V-IV”…. but that’s because in a major key, chord III and chord VI are minor chords.  However, in the dorian mode, they’re both major chords, and thus the progression is mainly happy.  It’s all major apart from chord V.

Chords of the "Fuuuuun, Fuuuuunnnnn" bit:

VI (C E G - C major)

III (G B D - G major - actually this is mainly just G & B so in that sense it could be chord III or chord I… one time it has a D in there too and it just doesn’t feel like chord I to me, probably because the chorus actually resolves to a major chord I, not a minor chord I….?)

V (B D F# - B minor)

IV (A C# E - A major)

I (E G# B - E major)

Each chorus has two “Now we’re having fun, fun” phrases in it and the first time it resolves to chord I at the end, but the second time it stays on chord IV and doesn’t resolve till the BASS enters on the root E.

Right!  Why else can I say?  So I have kind of transcribed the song as best I can… which isn’t very well - partly as, as I say I have no piano so if I can’t just hear what the note I am hearing is I have to literally try to sing it like a crazy person (like a crazy child, with my stupid childish voice)…. And I do not have the vocal range of either Sam Reid or a bass guitar, hahaha (actually the bass is easy as it’s just E’s!!!) And Sam does a lot of kind of sing-speaking too so it isn’t all obviously pitched.  Considering how classical the vocal style in Come to Me, I have to say I am so impressed with how Sam sings Long Face!  How do you learn to sing in that rock style when that’s not what you *do*?!  It’s amazing to me! So, to say the vocal line isn’t super-accurate…. Then, I have no idea what drum I’m listening to in a drum kit and I’ve basically just tried to give a general impression of the drum part…. And then what made me laugh most of all was trying to transcribe the guitar part - this dirty, delicious guitar and I’m trying to transcribe the thing on twinkly midi and it was hilarious.

Anyway, it isn’t entirely accurate as it’s actually way harder to transcribe than a classical piece, where notes are clearer as long as you can hear them.  But it’s something *along the lines*…. I also am not sure if I’ve even invented some wee phantom ghost-bass part near the end that isn’t even there?!

There are backing vocals just in the “Fuuuuun, fuuuuun” part.

What else can I say?  I can only really analyse it musically as obviously it doesn’t have any S3 to relate it to yet.  And other people have had a lot of fun already, thinking about the words!  But anyway, I’ll also share the wee score I did, which I have annotated!

I thank you!  I bet you didn’t think it was possible to be quite this geeky about Long Face… but BEWARE - all you have to do is ask one random little question to The Ether - not even to me and I will go all in with my daft, likely all wrong THESIS.  But the nice thing is… now I REALLY know Long Face….. Oh YEAH! (Oh!)

(No copyright infringement intended in my probably all incorrect transcription, with deepest apologies to Daniel Hart!!!)

And again... if this is impenetrable... sorry...! Maybe there's something interesting in it???

And obviously if there’s any musical or music-related thing you want to ask about Long Face now… I have the score (to some extent at least!) & I listened lots of times to make it, so ask away & if I can answer, I will! Or I’ll try my best at least!

Anyone know the chord progression of Long Face?

Or at least what chord is played repeatedly between stanzas. (such as between the lines "That doesn't phase me" and "I'm an actor").

I dunno the whole thing (but especially that chord) feels more discordant than you usually get in rock songs? Like, more consistently discordant. Like it doesn't resolve into a major chord as quickly as usual?

I don't know tho. I'm not a musician here so I'm not sure.

Anyone know?

[notfeelingthyaster]

the song is soooooo bad, 'i'm piano, you're forte" shitty, shitty lyrics, generic chorus. louis hates it. armand hates it. daniel for sure fucking hates it. i am in love with it. put it on spotify.

[ourpearls]

I just realized how sam took a deep breath and was clearly trying to calm himself down right before they dropped the season 3 teaser 🥹🥹 he was really really really nervous for us to see his rockstar lestat for the first time 😭

source

[claudia-lioncourt]

I have loved you with all myself.

INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE, Season 1 Episode 7: "The Thing Lay Still"

[freakcliff]

iwtv universe dashboard simulator

girlmand reblogged

😶‍🌫️gaysexinthecity Follow

not saying vampires are real but i think Daniel Molloy gets way too much shit . like if i was a pulitzer prize winning journalist in my seventies and some guy called me and was like im a vampire want an interview i wouldn't hesitate either. fuck man sure tell me about being a vampire. i'll believe you

🎆 magical-swiftie

reading Interview with the Vampire rn and Claudia and Madeline are sooo Long Face core

#now that i think of it a lot of tvl's songs fit this book really well #like #'she gave me life I gave her death'??? # that's so them!!!

🏞️ girlblogg1ng

btw if you're still listening to the vampire lestat, unfollow me now. and like, seriously consider why you're giving plays to a guy who appropriates ancient egyptian history for his vampire schtick, it's honestly sickening

#the vampire lestat #tvl #maintagging because people need to see this honestly #.txt

🌄sampire

keep seeing ppl try to cancel tvl for things hes said to his fans or how he talks about ancient egyptian mythology and not that song where he talks about fucking his mother. like im not crazy right he wrote a whole song about how he fucked his mother

💟 stingorarr

"we are your children/but what do you give us/is your silence/a better gift than the truth?" sounds like it should be some ancient Greek poetry but it's literally in a song by the vampire lestat!!!

it just hits so hard... like your parents gave you nothing but maybe the truth would be more unbearable than silence...

#tvl #the vampire lestat #twmbk #those who must be kept

sampire reblogged danielmxllxy

🌫️ beatlesrpf Follow

please tell me you guys arent serious about the vampire lestat. please tell me youre not stanning a man who wrote "im an actor in my makeup, i get fatter when we break up"

#guys please #this is worse than the tortured poets department

🤖 carrieblogging Follow

Based on your likes!

Hey, Tumblr, I need a little help here?

So, my best friend has been acting a little weird lately. Like, his sleep schedule has gotten really strange (stranger than normal 😅), and I haven't seen him without sunglasses on in a week?

His diet has changed, too, like he used to always be snacking whenever I'd call him, but now he doesn't eat anything that I can see.

He even cancelled our tickets to ComicCon!! I've been waiting to meet up with him for years, and now he's just bailed on me?!? I'm mad, but honestly more worried than anything....

#carrie speaks

🌌 marbellina124

guys I think I've found the vampire Armand at the MET 😏😂

#it doesn't match the dates from the book so like #yeah #but imagine.... #parisian mutuals you have a power that can be used

interview-with-the-glampire reblogged wormyworms

🪱 wormyworms Follow

mmm tbh the only reason i *don't* believe vampires are real is because if *i* was interviewing two vampires to write a book about their life? i would not be leaving that house without their fangs in my neck and eternal life. just saying

🌇 interview-with-the-glampire

understandable but have you considered. if I went to interview two vampires and got immortality and vampire sex out of that deal I wouldn't go around letting everyone know :/

danielmxllxy reblogged sampire

🌌 marbellina124

so were all in agreement he fucked that vampire right

#oh I think he fucked AT LEAST two of those vampires #iwtv #rb

[lukelemon-art]

Day 18 - ATTIRE👕

Lestat is here and he is a-tired, when we're not about him. Get it? "Attire", "a-tired"? No? No takers?

[failvillain]

armand having to endure hearing Why The Long Face every day in bars. and train stations. and Zaras.

[jameslongforjimshortforgabriel]

he was on his period here

[lizardkingeliot]

when your pretty baby won't come appraise your long fangs because he's too busy squandering your considerable considerables :(

[nalyra-dreaming]

Astarion “quoting“ Lestat was not on my bingo card.

[raggeddypond]

Interview with the Vampire | Here Come the Gays

"Another face, another year, another place, another tear..."

[charlie-rulerofhell]

Pick up the pace, pack up the gear Gimme some face, a souvenir Here come the gays, here comes the fear Now we're having fun

[toscrollperchancetomeme]