"So Serious"

I happened to see the phrase "so serious" this morning, was reminded of the ELO song with this title, and realized that the phrase exhibits a feature that I've been noting a lot lately:  the repetition involved in the consonance lends a slight sense of degree.

"Time after Time"

In the line "The beauty of the earth from way up high" in "Time after Time," "high" is sung with a melisma (G# F# E), giving a sense of degree (for "way up").

"Bluebird"

I listened to Secret Messages last week and noticed a couple small points.

In the line "It makes me feel so sad" in "Bluebird," the phrase "so sad" alliterates, and the repetition involved lends a slight sense of degree.