Syntax - groovy

In some bizarre sense I feel as if the syntax of "psychedelic" music is that is has no syntax. Although I am sure there are definite attributes to constitute sets of sounds as such, I am not as well versed in the technical to be able to point that out. Although I believe there is overdriven guitar and aplified feedback, often times with a eastern sounding influence. How to tell you exactly what that is, I do not know.

The song itself goes like this:

"Fooling around in the dark" -> intro -> verse and chours combined in to one, with the chorus tagging on at the end of the verse ("I will survive")-> repeated -> interlude slower section -> verse/chorus -> repeated -> slower interlude/conclusion.

There are two guitarists, one bass player, one keyboard and two percussion. There is heavy cowbell through the song that keeps a steadfast beat. Jerry is on vocals. There are repeating melodies and the song follows the pattern very closely. There are a series of ascending notes just before "I will survive", and a catchy 5-note sequence on the keyboard in between "I will survive," and "I will get by." I feel like they used space well and did not try and cram too many notes or too much sound into it at once.

It was directed by Gary Gutierrez, with whom the Dead had worked with on their animated video. Gutierrez animated the beginning part of the skeletons tuning up, then it switched to life size puppets. A little over half way through the video, the skeletons "transmorgify" into the human band members for most of the rest of the piece.

The song is recorded at a slower tempo so the puppets can match movements as accurately as possible. Each band member had a team of designers and animators/puppeteers that tried to copy their "idiosyncrasies" as closely as they could. Each puppet has the personality of its human counterpart. Jerry's oldest daughter Annabelle created the puppets.

The music video was recorded in front of a live audience on May 9, 1987, which gives the piece a performance feel, just like the Dead's music was geared toward.



There is a "Making of the Touch Of Grey Video and more!" movie that goes behind the scenes of the video.