Summer Heat of the 2000s: Nelly + Katy Perry (Pt. 1)

What made summer jams of the aughties like Nelly's "Hot in Herre" and Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl" so hot? The answer: big, sweaty, doses of harmonic tension. Specifically, each track relies on the Baroque technique of the ground bass. Wait, we mean: the Baroque technique of PEDAL POINT!  When the chords in these songs don't match up with their bass notes, the ratcheting tension adds heat—fueling both dance moves, and controversy.Featured:Nelly - Hot in Herre Katy Perry - I Kissed a GirlKaty Perry - Teenage DreamAnd check out Owen Pallett's excellent article on the use of harmonic tension in Teenage Dream.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices