Mod of the Day

Tom Lehrer | Who’s Next

Here’s something a little different: this is the genius Tom Lehrer’s “Who’s Next” (1965), featuring FIVE modulations: 1:06, 1:21, 1:35, 2:02, and 2:17.

Carrie Underwood | Whenever You Remember

Here’s Carrie Underwood’s track “Whenever You Remember,” released in 2005. Key change at 2:46.

Fountains of Wayne | Stacy’s Mom

“Stacy’s Mom,” a 2003 power pop classic by Fountains Of Wayne, written by Adam Schlesinger, was nominated for a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance. The New Yorker magazine’s Ben Greenman called it the “second-catchiest song ever written about a girlfriend’s parent” (after Simon and Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson.”) The initial key of E Major shifts to G major at the bridge (2:25).

Heather Headley | All the Man That I Need

Broadway star Heather Headley dropped a new album today entitled Broadway My Way, so today we feature her rendition of “All The Man That I Need” (2018), performed by Whitney Houston in 1991. This song was included in the 2012 West End musical The Bodyguard. The key change is at 3:09.

The Guess Who | These Eyes

From MotD regular Rob P.: Canadian band The Guess Who released their breakthrough US hit, “These Eyes,” in 1969. It peaked at #6 on the US Billboard chart.

After a few verses, a string of direct modulations builds during the chorus (starting at 1:42); the tune reverts to the original key for the next verse at 2:40. 3:00 marks the start of chorus/outro, stacking yet more modulations until the fadeout, augmented by boffo amounts of strings and brass.

Shania Twain | From This Moment On

Here’s a double modulation (1:45 and 3:02) from Shania Twain’s “From This Moment On” (1997). The tune was written by Twain and producer Mutt Lange, Twain’s then-husband.

Talk Talk | It’s My Life

British New Wave band Talk Talk scored a #1 US dance hit in 1985 with ”It‘s My Life,” written by Mark Hollis and Tim Friese-Greene. The tune was later very successfully covered by No Doubt in 2003, resulting in top-20 chart positions around the world. The intro and verse are based around an Eb to Db/Eb vamp — a deceptively simple progression obscured by the percolating bass line and layered synths. The chorus (starting for the first time at 0:53) is centered around A minor. The instrumental bridge (2:31 – 2:55) is based on Bb minor.

Barbra Streisand | What the World Needs Now

Here’s Barbra Streisand’s 2018 version of Burt Bacharach’s classic 1965 tune “What The World Needs Now” with a special guest appearance from Michael McDonald! Key change at 2:49.

Don Henley | Sunset Grill

1984 saw the release of “Sunset Grill,” a top-10 hit from vocalist / drummer / singwriter Don Henley (best known for his work with The Eagles.) The horn section and Pino Palladino‘s fretless bass lines are standouts on this track, which was written in honor of an actual Los Angeles burger joint — still in business on the legendary Sunset Boulevard despite several ownership turnovers through the years. The direct whole-step modulation is at 4:03.

Roberta Sa | Pelas Tabelas

A performer of Portuguese lineage, Roberta Sá is one of the most recognized artists of her generation in Brazil. Her version of the classic tune “Pelas Tabelas” (2005) modulates twice (1:15 and 2:21).