The DELICIOUS musical tension in "HIDE AND SEEK" // Imogen Heap 

Admittedly I don't know much of Imogen Heap's music otherwise but I love this song so much and have always wanted to fall deeply into the harmonies and get to know their intricacies. Is it true that this song is about her parents' divorce when she was a kid? It's so warm and so sad and nostalgic and empty all at the same time. It's amazing to me that she keeps us hanging on her every word and completely engaged without anything but her voice.

this song is utterly unhinged genius in its staggering beauty

One of those rare albums where I love every single track. I went afterwards and got every single album released by her as well as Frou Frou.

You should check out her other songs like last train home ,earth , me the machine , she is a musical genius her work is amazing . The tiny desk version is actually one of my favorite versions of her songs .

this song makes me feel more than maybe any other sound in my life

Secretly i’ve been waiting for you to pick apart Imogen Heap and all of her music. It reminds me oddly of NIN, even though the sounds are distinguishable. I hope you look more into her!

It's a testament to the genius of the music that I got emotional and teared up DURING YOUR EXPLANATIONS even... what a song! Thank you for the lovely analysis!

Teachers of music theory will be using this song for years to come to demonstrate how certain chords provide a solid backdrop to the emotion of a song.

I would LOVE to see a song breakdown of another track from this same album - "The Moment I said It". I always felt bad about the internet turning this song into a meme after that one episode of the OC and the subsequent SNL skit parodying it. This song is truly gorgeous and you do an excellent analysis showing just how pretty it is and how it works.

These song breakdowns are honestly so good! Your whole demeanour is really peaceful and calming but your enthusiasm and passion for the subject is infectious and it’s evident that you have a total mastery of the subject. More please!

I love Imogen Heap! Frou Frou's song "Let Go" was the one that hooked me, and Hide and Seek captured my ears. Love her electronic textures, and all of the things she samples in her music.

Now Imogen? Good gravy, you're covering the entire catalog of my heart. This has always been in my top 5 since the first time I heard it. You give a wonderful analysis, as always. I always found it fascinating (if it's true) that Imogen wrote this after her computer lost power, and the only device that worked because it was battery powered, was her vocoder... thank you ixi

Imogen Heap started classical musical training as a child, she absolutely knows what she's doing with these chords and resolutions. As someone also classically trained, it makes me happy knowing she understood it all and did it intentionally.

I've never heard so much dissonance sound so resolved because at least you know what's going on and yet there's still so far to go from what the ear desires that you just want more. That shit is like magic.

Thank you so much for making this. I really wanted someone to break down the harmonies of this song and use the language you did to explain the theory behind the emotive power of the 9th and the various kinds of dissonance. I'm so impressed that it seemed you picked all this up just by listening!! will subscribe immediately!!

This was a brilliant, clear, and wonderfully thought-out video. It is rare to find a musician who can straddle the boundary between "classical" music theory concepts and more intuitive musical expression ideas -- let alone talk about it in such an interesting and engaging way. Thank you so much for this!

unbelievable. Two minutes in and I'm streaming this to my TV to watch, listen, learn more intently. I wondered why I was so moved by the music and your explanation, while playng key parts, is so helpful, instructive, and enjoyable. Thank you!

I’ve been playing music all my life. I’m 36. I was 19 and had a brain injury during a biopsy of a brain tumor I was diagnosed with. I had to learn to walk and talk again for 4 months after spending 3 months in a coma. The music therapy I had during my therapy sessions was where I sang this song. It means the world to me ❤️❤️❤️

Goosebumps EVERYTIME !! Reminds of 2008 and ipod nano's.

I absolutely love the musical edging that goes on in this song 😭 I've always felt it and heard it and I love how you've explained it ❤

Wow. What a glorious celebration of a song. Killing me. Thanks so much. Yer like going to church, Ixi:)

Thinking about chords as "friction" and "spacing" is so much more intuitive to me. Music starts to seem less like a secret code and more like a feeling. Very cool breakdown!

Her Tiny Desk performance is absolutely stunning.

This song and "The Moment I Said It" are guaranteed to make me cry, with no hesitation 💔 SMASHHHhhh

Wait. You aren't Imogen heap? I thought you were this whole time! ;) So glad you're covering this monumental song! It's so good!

Please please do an old Tori Amos breakdown! There’s a reason her and Trent were really close. She’s another important character in this critical time period of the 90s

One of my favorite songs of all time. I’ve cried countless times to it, not even really understanding what she’s singing about. I’ve always known it’s something about the theory behind the arrangement that draws the emotion out of me. Thank you so much for this.

So cool to see somebody really break down and appreciate the harmonic work in this piece. It always bums me out when I hear covers of it that flatten all of the dissonance out of the chords and simplify them too much, because all of that tension is what really makes the song work so amazingly well in the first place. And if you haven’t listened to much of Imogen’s other stuff, I would highly recommend it. She has other pieces that are equally fascinating.

Excellent analysis. I've been learning this for years and trying to do it justice live, and still not ready. Nice to see you pick it apart on keys. I do kinda wish you'd have dedicated a little time to the timing and chord transition timing. This bit is a bugger to learn as the technically is not timing.

Fucking love Imogen heap. Awesome video 🔥👌🏽👌🏽

This song has always feat important to me in a way I can’t describe. Important on a grand scale. Like if we could all understand it all conflict would end… or perhaps we would all quietly walk into the sea…

I don’t know this song or artist but that will probably change after I watch this video. Just need to grab my headphones first…. And a cup of coffee

love Imogen. Great to see you deconstruct this one.

My god, you explained everything. What an amazing analysis. I have no music training but you explained theory so well.

love the way you think about it, emotionally. really puts it into a different perspective! its great to see someone else who understand the theory too. and then use that in the explanation. you rock Ixi

I've never heard of this artist at all, but after hearing the song I really like it. If not for your introducing it to me I'd never have heard it. Thanks!

You keep covering all of my favorite artists! Aphex, Imgen, and other people doing unique and surprising things with music. This song is very different from a lot of her music, but I absolutely love the 'sequel' Hide and Seek 2.

I think you would love Imogen Heap. Writes and produces her own stuff. The Gloves. Song Request live streams. I really feel the vibe of Imogen in you. I would binge her videos or her working in her home studio. Taught me a lot.

20:37 - that B9 is a really nice catch. Seriously elegant composition, has to be one of the best uses of borrowed chords I've ever heard. I'm so going to incorporate it to my song writing (If I have enough skill haha).

im a music theory and composition major. i absolutely adore this song and have always believed it to be a masterpiece. thank you so so much for your analysis.

It's always nice to know why i like a song. This is my favorite non-NINalasys!

Regarding how she's constantly varying chord voicings and tensions, I'm positive I once heard her say in an interview that the harmonizer she used originally had a limited number of voices, so she would hit a bigger chord and it was random which of the voices ended up sounding. She also said something like that her first run-through was magical and she struggled to ever get something recorded that had the same magic.

Thanks for talking about all the extensions and tension notes. Most other "analysis" and cover videos of this beautiful song only use the basic 4 chords and totally miss the rich harmonies that are actually going on.

Hold up I need to go listen to the bridge 10 times... alright I'm back.

Thank you so much for this. This is one of my favorite songs of all time. I didn't think I could appreciate it more. Now I realize I was barely scratching the surface of the true genius of it.

What a beautiful song. It's not a vocoder; it's a MIDI controlled harmonizer. If it was a vocoder, a synthesizer would be the predominant sound, with the voice imposing its timbre and articulation onto it-- think "Mr. Blue Sky". I suspect it would be an equally cool song, if it was vocoded, but I think the sound would be less lush and unique. Imogen Heap's music is almost entirely diatonic-- I'm not sure if I'm using the term right, but she stays in one scale and uses the chords within that one scale (without adding new chords or changing keys). She does so much within that constraint-- still making music that sounds unusual, fresh, edgy, and utterly engaging.

Mind absolutely blown watching this. Thank you!!! Imogen you too obviously. 🎉 genius.

It still blows my mind that some people think Imogen is using auto tune, not realizing that she’s playing an instrument during her performance. Good analysis btws.

I absolutely love this song and love the way you broke down all the nuances in her always changing chord structures. Do you by chance have sheet music you could share?

I am freaking out, thank you SO MUCH

Excellent, parfait, bravo ! :)

It absolutely made my day to see you going over this song! Thank you so much. One of my all-time favorite "solo" performances. And naturally, your explanations and extraction of detail & meaning are second to none, while doing the emotional side of the song just as much justice. Freaking fantastic job! Also, as usual, every time I see your videos, I am intensely jealous of your hair. XD You're just all-around magnificent! Thanks for existing and doing what you do. :)

Outstanding breakdown of this incredible song !

Best analysis ever.

I suggested this! :D I think this is a song about her parent devoice and this song is for her sibling but im probably wrong. Maybe it's just me but it seems like your singing is improving. When she's wearing the gloves is a new ver. of it. She was using new tech. Great breakdown, wish i was smart enough to understand it all lol.

Either you or your fans and I have very similar taste in music. Imogen is one of my favorite synth pop breathy vocalists. Her work as Frou Frou is mesmerizing. Looking forward to some Joywave analysis too (look them up!)

17:14 - This part always gives me chills 🫠

I love Imogen so much, you actually reminded me of her, so pretty :D

Awesome breakdown! Thanks. I love how you capture more than just the complex harmonies but the emotion behind them. My new mantra...add 9s to everything haha

GAGA USED THIS PROGRESSION FOR MILLION REASONS AND IM NOT EVEN MAD AT IT

Great choice! And very ixi 🎯🎵🎼🎥👋💕

Re: At 22:36 My head cannon with this song was all the different emotions as she went to different rooms of a now empty/changed house, and each verse’s variation helps the listener travel with her.

My music taste is a wide range of rock, hiphop, jazz, and this song. It doesn’t fit in any genre for me, but is my all-time favorite song.

Thankyou for breaking me into Imogen Heap.

Holyshit - you are amazing! Life long working professional musician here - this is fantastic!!

It's always the tiniest things that make the biggest difference!

based on the thumbnail.. i thought you were Imogene..... I love this song

Imogen reminds me of Bjork, perhaps some more Bjork suggestions to pique your interest.. songs such as Triumph of a Heart, It's Not Up To You, Pagan Poetry, Undo and Joga.

First introduced to this track in 07 Dj Tiësto's In Search Of Sunrise! ❤️

Fantastic breakdown! You have such a great way of explaining things that those 35+ minutes really flew by. Imogen's probably the only artist whose albums I could listen to from start to finish without skipping a single song.

Great break down

I would love to hear you sing this song

"Just add ninths to everything" ~ preach it sister!

this video is amazing

holy shit!!!!!! you have just answered EVERYTHING I've ever thought about this song!! this is the language I have been seeking for a life time!!

This was a wonderful breakdown of Hide & Seek. I'm really happy RU-vid showed me this. Thank you!

just found your channel...admittedly, as i was thinking (nostalgically) about nin's broken... and i see this video. YES. this song has always been so moving for me. and yet... also 'broken.' i just didn't expect many folks are fans of those two very, very opposite-seeming artists. but maybe they aren't.

The fuck is a wheelhouse 😂

This was such a great breakdown, especially the focus on the tension from the extensions. 9ths are just...the best.

I fell in love with Imogen’s Music through FrouFrou - Let Go from the Garden State soundtrack and Hide and Seek gets me every-time. I highly recommend listening to Details if you’re at a loose end for something to listen to, really good album! Your explanation is awesome to watch, doesn’t take any of the magic away, very well explained ❤

Love it! And love the way your face explain how deep u love the music...... and the 9th chords :)

Awhhh I love this song! 🥰

Always liked this song. Very good breakdown of emotive progressions I do love the choice of voicing for what would be a very common 1 5 6 4

Oooooooooooh Whatcha Say!

You have such amazing taste and appreciation for great music... Makes me feel so certain any song or artist you love, I will certainly love. Never heard this song/artist before. F-ing beautiful...

When you listed the main dissonant intervals, I was bracing for a tritone... Oh yay it's a ninth!

I really like imogen. When I sampled hide and seek last month I realized it was also used for jason Derulo's "whatcha say". So much can be done with her songs its fun

The first time I heard Hide and Seek was while watching Gray's Anatomy years ago. Been a Imogen fan since. Your dissection of the music is as amazing as the song.

Do you hear the ambulance in those rising falling notes at 35...

Your analyses make me love songs I already loved in all new and wonderful and profound ways. THANK YOU.

Funny. First time I heard this song was someone used is a backtrack to a bleach movie music video. It was so sad and always made me cry and turned me on to some of her other music as well. Cool breakdown

I've been wanting you to break down Imogen Heap for a long time because you remind me so much of her. Thanks for doing this! Please do the same for her song called "Let Go" as well if possible (under her former Frou Frou name). And I really think you can teach so much by breaking down more Radiohead songs which are so varied and layered even within each song themselves that you could cover so many different lessons over the span of just a few of their songs.

I learned more about music theory listening to you through this video than perhaps the rest of my prior life. I could listen to you explain music theory all day. I usually hate these analysis videos; I love your commentary. Thanks a bunch!

Love your breakdown

For me it’s like watching moulin rouge but musically.

I loved her tiny desk performance! Sad that the memes "get in the way" of a wonderful song

11:56 I can bet she probably was conscious of it. If you listen to the rest of her music you can tell she's a brilliant musician. On her wikipedia page it says she was composing christmas carols for her school's choir at age 10, and then writing songs by age 13.

This song is my Desperado. It demands my attention when its on. Its so haunting and beautiful and heartbreaking all at the same time. Whoever made the "dance remix" of this song needs a boot to the gooch.

I loved her solo and in Frou-Frou, but have you ever seen any of her Ted talks about the glove instrument it looks like she's using in that tiny desk concert? They're very interesting - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-7oeEQhOmGpg.html

"Add 9ths to everything" Thats gonna be my music life motto,