Military cadences have seemingly taken over Popular Music. Everywhere you go, there’s four fours on the floors.
The people used to jitterbug, spastically flailing their limbs, just to break free from the boring ole beat of war drums—in a kind of music known as “Jizz” or “Jazz”. But now they welcome the March and dub it Dance music.
A classic military cadence is found in the movie The Wizard of Oz (Trigger Warning!). It is known as the “Winkie Chant” and is performed by the Wicked Witch’s Winkie Guards.
The “Winkie Chant” covers the interval of a Perfect Fifth—up and down from the root A to the fifth E. It’s essentially a Winkie Bassline.
Many different lyrics are heard to the chant–Oh we love the Old One, All We Own We Owe Her—but according to the script the correct lyrics are: O-Ee-Yah! Eoh-Ah. Here’s the scene (Trigger Warning).
No one mourns the Wicked!
More topical military cadences coming soon…
