Author: Mod of the Day

Dave Edmunds | Girls Talk

The 1970s post-punk UK songwriting scene brought to light many dynamic songwriters and performers — including Elvis Costello and Dave Edmunds. The original version of “Girls Talk,” written in 1979 by Costello, clocked in at only two minutes in length, as bare-bones as could be. Edmunds’ cover version, released the same year, added plenty of new features, including a fuller sound and three modulations: the first at the end of the intro (0:11); the second for the duration of an instrumental verse (2:07); and third, returning to the main key at the end of that verse (2:22).

The Crusaders feat. Randy Crawford | Street Life

Stacked with compound chords from its very first measure, “Street Life” (vocalist Randy Crawford, along with The Crusaders, featuring Joe Sample) was one of the most harmonically rich hits of the Disco area (1979). Modulating up a half-step at 1:33, the compound chords hit again around the 2:00 mark, dropping us back into the original key — and then up again at 3:32. The track made a strong appearance on the US pop, soul, and disco charts and hit #5 on the UK pop charts.

Paula Cole feat. Peter Gabriel | Hush, Hush, Hush

“Hush, Hush, Hush,” a supporting track on Paula Cole‘s breakout 1996 album This Fire (the single was something about cowboys), guest features the singer/songwriter’s mentor, Peter Gabriel as well as some gorgeous and unusual instrumental features. Starting in a minor key, a transition to a major-key bridge starts at 2:01; at 2:33, we return to the original key. An unexpected 4-chord repeating harmonic progression loops from 2:50 to the end.

Nik Kershaw | Radio Musicola

Nik Kershaw‘s classic 1986 New Wave release, Radio Musicola, was full of the UK singer’s moody, richly textured sound; the title track was no exception.

A textbook half-step ascending direct modulation at 2:03; a bridge (2:21 – 2:40) ending with a downward half-step modulation to the original key; and another modulation back to the second key at 3:06.

Jonah Nilsson | Coffee Break

Here’s a single by Jonah Nilsson, vocalist and keyboardist for powerhouse Swedish funk/pop band Dirty Loops, “Coffee Break.” Starting out with a minimalist rap, Nilsson rapidly shifts to singing supple yet rhythmically precise lines over his trademark wall-to-wall harmonic textures.

Key shifts hit at 0:53, 2:02, 2:10, 2:17, and 2:41, plus a few other quick keys-of-the-moment.