Category: Elise

Paul Simon | Still Crazy After All These Years

One of Paul Simon‘s many solo hits, 1975’s “Still Crazy After All These Years” pushed the album of the same name to #1. The form is quite unpredictable: the first modulation happens at 1:25 (at the start of a bridge, including an odd-metered measure thrown into the mix). Then another pivot at 1:38 into a darkly intriguing instrumental interlude, followed by a key change into a sunnier instrumental section at 2:12, finally settling into another verse and another harmonic shift at 2:50.

Connect-the-dots songwriting, this ain’t!

Tower of Power | Just Another Day

The legendary horns of Tower of Power had hits with uptempo tunes and ballads alike — including plenty of modulations. Their 1973 release “Just Another Day” has key changes starting at 0:34, then returning to the original key at 0:57…continuing on from there.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IBS_OMANozM

Skunk Bear | A Neuroscience Love Song

From Alex Mosher, MoTD member, submits this track from Skunk Bear, a duo which provides (sometimes musical) science-centric explainer segments on NPR. According to its YouTube channel, the duo “(explores) the secrets of the universe, the wonders of nature, and answer(s) your science questions.”

Alex: “Happy Valentine’s Day! Modulation way toward the end, around 2:54.”

Us3 | The Day That I Died

Hiphop isn’t usually the first genre that comes to mind when considering modulations. But Us3, a group featuring UK-based musicians and best known for the 90s hit “Cantaloop/Flip Fantasia,” manages quite a few key changes — built around samples drawn from unprecedented access to the entire Blue Note Records jazz catalog.

“The Day That I Died” (2007) is characteristic of Us3’s eclectic lyrics, which put storytelling front and center. Modulations at 1:28, 1:47, 2:46, 3:07, 3:25, 3:44, 4:44, and 5:03.

Marvin Gaye | What’s Goin’ On

Marvin Gaye’s soul/R&B classic “What’s Goin’ On” (1971) modulates at 1:38 and then back to the original key at 2:06 as it transitions into another verse. Gaye’s consistent use of 7th chords only added to the track’s rich harmonic tapestry. Rolling Stone ranked the album featuring the single #6 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.” From AllMusic‘s reverent review: “What’s Going On is not only Marvin Gaye‘s masterpiece, it’s the most important and passionate record to come out of soul music, delivered by one of its finest voices .. Gaye meditated on what had happened to the American dream of the past … arguably the best soul album of all time.”

Niya Norwood + Nikko Ielasi | Black Girl Magic

Happy February! In honor of Black History Month, here’s a lushly orchestrated, gospel-infused R&B tune, “Black Girl Magic” (2016), co-written by the lead vocalist, Niya Norwood, and performed by Berklee College of Music musicians, led by Nikko Ielasi.

The bridge starts with a sublime modulation at 3:16 and ends with a reversion to the original key at 3:42.

Stefon Harris + Blackout | Until

A beautiful jazz waltz featuring the vibraphone of rising star Stefon Harris. This 2007 tune was originally written by Sting for the Kate & Leopold soundtrack. Modulation at 1:29.

Harris has said, according to All About Jazz: “For me, as an African-American, it’s part of the reason I get up. Jazz is not just fun for me. This is my cultural heritage. When I look at the great Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane, as we go down the line, I feel a great deal of pressure, and honor, to be striving to be a part of this legacy.”