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The song "Small World" by Mac Miller is analyzed in this transcription. It discusses how the instrumentation, lyrics, and their combination create a unique sonic experience. The song starts with a simple bassline and percussion, setting a down-to-earth tone. Mac Miller adds vocals and John Mayer contributes with chords, creating a homey feeling. The lyrics reflect a shift in perspective from youth to fame, addressing the pressure to produce more music. The lyrics also reveal a struggle with loneliness. The synergy between the sonic and lyrical elements is emphasized, with the guitar mimicking a falling feather during a specific line. The tempo slows towards the end, bringing a sense of resolution and peace. Overall, "Small World" effectively combines sonic and lyrical elements to deliver a powerful message about pursuing dreams and finding peace. Hello, my name is Aiden. Today, we're going to be diving into the intricate world of Mac Miller's Small World. Let's explore how the instrumentation, lyrics, and their combination create a unique sonic experience. The song opens with a soft bassline hitting quarter notes in succession, setting a warm, simple, and down-to-earth tone. Percussion follows in suit, reinforcing this motif of simplicity. Mac Miller adds an interesting element, a single vocal note mapped out onto a piano giving a juvenile pitch that aligns with a theme of naivety of the lyrics. John Mayer contributes with major 9ths, 7ths, and jazzy-like chords to add a homey feeling to the overall composition. The lyrics told in the first person retrospectively are impactful. The recurring line, the world is so small until it ain't, suggests a shift in perspective from youth to fame. It's as if Mac Miller is saying to himself, my world felt so small when I was young, but the fame brought a bigger world with more pressure. Lines like, I don't want to keep you waiting directly address the audience. Humanizing the artist and acknowledging the pressure to produce more music. Diving into the lyrics, a clever double entendre emerges in the line, nobody knows me, oh well, it's hard to complain from this five-star hotel. Recognizing know me as his ex-girlfriend adds depth, implying the fame has made him known, but that nobody really knows him on a human and personal level. The lyrics reveal a struggle with loneliness, which is a common idea that shows up frankly in his music. You You You Synergy between the sonic elements and the echo elements are striking When Mac raps, there is somewhere above, you keep reaching up. John Mayer plays a descending chromatic scale on the guitar, sonifying a feather falling. This not only highlights the line, but creates a lighthearted and inspiring effect. Synergy between the sonic and lyrical elements is striking. When Mac Miller raps, there is somewhere above, you keep reaching up. John Mayer plays a descending chromatic scale on the guitar, sonifying a feather falling. This not only highlights the line, but creates a lighthearted and inspiring effect. In the last minute, the tempo slows, the guitar takes a backseat, and finger snaps are added, which feels like a change in attitude and a resolution. The lyrics reinforce this with, Win or lose, win or lose, I don't keep count, nobody check in. Bringing a sense of peace, song ends on one chord, providing a feeling of resolution and progress. In conclusion, Small World effectively combines sonic elements and lyrical elements to deliver a powerful message. It's about the world feeling small and crushing, stepping back and pursuing your dreams can bring true peace. Mac Miller's artistry shines through creating a song that resonates with the audience on a deep and personal level.