twenty one pilots have always used tempo changes methodically. ode to sleep, rawfear, guns for hands, overcompensate, next semester, they ALL slow down or speed up (or both) for a reason: to convey the fluctuation of energy. whether physical or emotional energy, it doesn't matter.
that's just a fact in music. a song at 80bpm will probably have a different feel than a song at 150bpm.
but what about when a song's tempo stays the same, and the time within the song changes? like drag path?
the original drag path from the breach digital remains has seventeen time signature changes (that i've identified without looking it up). SEVENTEEN.
the song begins in 4/4. almost every sixth measure from the start of the first verse until the first chorus, it switches from 4/4 to 2/4 for one measure and then back. 4/4 to 2/4 to 4/4 is two changes. that switch happens six times, so the count is already at twelve.
after the first chorus, it jumps into 6/8 (i'm pretty sure) for five measures before switching to 3/4 for "would you please hurry" with the word "would" as a pickup. it stays 3/4 for thirteen measures, then switches back to 4/4 for five measures, and THEN changes to 2/4 for one measure again. the rest of the song is in 4/4.
if you didn't understand, that's okay. the band kid in me is just geeking out. all you really need to know is there's seventeen fucking time signature changes in og drag path. the way you count the rhythm in the song changes seventeen times while the energy stays consistent.
but speaking of being a band kid, the first thing i was taught in band (besides how to play my instrument lol) is to always watch the conductor. ESPECIALLY when there are tempo or time signature changes because it's so SO incredibly easy to get lost if you're not paying attention.
so thinking about the song in terms of lore, would it be so far off to say that all the time signature changes in drag path is clancy "testing" torchbearer? seeing if he really WILL find him?
if those changes are metaphor'd into all the times clancy has been lost, or diverged from "the plan", or intentionally gone down an unexpected route just to see if torch follows, then josh's drums keeping up with every seamless change in the song proves that yes, torch WILL always follow. no matter how many times clancy "switches it up".
torch searches for clancy with the same steady determination no matter how many times he's thrown off. he will find him. because he always does.
tldr clancybearer is real and the complexity of how og drag path is played proves it. thank you for coming to my ted talk.
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