Author: Mod of the Day

Roxy Music | Dance Away

One of our most prolific contributors, mod scout JB, has submitted 1979’s “Dance Away” by Roxy Music. Originally written for a solo album by UK band Roxy Music‘s lead singer, Bryan Ferry, the tune reached #2 in the UK and was Roxy Music’s best-performing single. From AllMusic‘s review: “…the group strips away its art rock influences, edits out the instrumental interludes in favor of concise pop songs, and adds layers of stylish disco rhythms.” The cover design for the album, Manifesto, featuring only mannequins, was also created by Ferry, known as a distinctive frontman second perhaps only to Bowie as the era’s music/visual art/style synthesist.

Starting with a verse built around Eb major, the chorus transitions to F major at 0:50, then back to Eb at 1:10. The bridge begins at 2:00 and transitions to F# major at 2:10, but then an extended percussion break provides cover for an unexpected modulation back to the original Eb major as the verse returns at 2:24.

The Delfonics | La-La Means I Love You

1968’s “La La Means I Love You” was a #4 Billboard pop hit and a #2 R&B hit for Philly Sound mainstays The Delfonics. After two verses and choruses, a brief instrumental bridge starts at 2:25, bringing a modulation with it. This R&B standard was later covered by The Jackson 5, Todd Rundgren, Swing Out Sister, The Manhattan Transfer, and Prince, among others.

Tina Turner | What’s Love Got to Do With It

Soul/R&B powerhouse Tina Turner‘s solo breakthrough hit “What’s Love Got to Do With It” marked the high point of the pop-tinged second chapter of her post-Ike Turner career, scoring her only #1 solo hit in the US and her eleventh Grammy award.

Featuring compound chords throughout, the tune starts in Ab minor through the first verses and choruses, then lands in Bb minor after an instrumental break at 2:03 and a bridge (2:22 – 2:41) which features a few interesting side-steps.

“Queer Eye” themes (2003 and 2018)

Not a modulation per se, but an interesting reharmonization of the theme of a “make-better” TV franchise which has enjoyed two successful runs in different decades. Queer Eye For The Straight Guy, which ran in the early 2000s, featured a theme by Widelife in a major key.

The updated Queer Eye, which just finished its third season, features a theme by Betty Who which maintains some of the elements of the original — but overall takes a more minimalist approach in a minor key.

Yes | Leave It

Prog-rock royalty Yes released their blockbuster album 90125 in 1982, featuring a far more radio-ready sound than most of the band’s other output. “Leave It,” the album’s second single, reached #24 on the Billboard Hot 100. The video, directed by Godley & Creme, utilized cutting-edge digital effects for that era.

The intro (through 0:21) is in D major, as is the bridge from 2:46-3:17. The remainder of the tune is in G minor. Happy weekend to all!

Nik Kershaw | The Riddle

A submission from Vladimir Dragovic, one of MotD’s newest fans:

“Nik Kershaw is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer. He is arguably most popular for the song ‘The Riddle’ from the 1984 album of the same name. Kershaw called the tune’s lyrics ‘nonsense, rubbish, bollocks, the confused ramblings of an 80s popstar.’

The key change is rather interesting: the ever-shifting bridge (2:16 – 2:36) modulates from the original key of F# minor to G Major, then into G minor”

What Baking Can Do (from “Waitress”)

Broadway’s Waitress, by Sara Bareilles, has been running at the Brooks Atkinson since 2016. “What Baking Can Do” features the rare downward modulation, from Gb to F, at 0:52, made even more noteworthy by an ascending melody. Gb returns at 1:28, and the song returns to F at 2:58 and concludes there. Performed here by original cast member and Tony Winner Jessie Mueller.