Category: Elise

The Manhattans | Shining Star

The Manhattans’ 1980 release “Shining Star” won a Grammy for best R&B vocal performance for duo/group. The tune reached top 10 across a range of US charts: Adult Contemporary, R&B, and Hot 100 (Pop). After a false modulation (a quick key-of-the-moment-shift, followed by a return to the original key) at 1:34, the tune finally modulates for real at 2:46.

Arturo Sandoval | Emily

The all-too-often overlooked jazz standard “Emily” (Johnny Mandel and Johnny Mercer) has been covered by many greats, from Sinatra to Tony Bennett — and here by trumpeter Arturo Sandoval. The tune was the title song for the 1964 movie The Americanization of Emily. This arrangement features a lovely intro through 0:19; the form begins in earnest in C major before briefly touching on a key-of-the-moment (A major) for a few bars (0:39 – 0:48), then reverting to C.

Queen | We Are the Champions

This epic modulation stared me in the face for decades before being noticed. Queen’s “We Are the Champions” (1977) features verses which start in C minor, shifts into Eb major for the pre-chorus (first at 0:23), then transitions to F major for the choruses (first at 0:39). Commenting on the tune (among Queen‘s most successful singles of all time), the band’s guitarist Brian May said “We wanted to get the crowds waving and singing. It’s very unifying and positive.”

Captain + Tennille | Love Will Keep Us Together

Originally co-written by hitmaker Neil Sedaka, who released the tune only in France, ”Love Will Keep Us Together“ hit #1 in the US, Canada, and Australia when covered in 1975 by American duo Captain and Tennille. Backed by members of the famed group of session musicians The Wrecking Crew, the tune features a huge upward half-step key change as the outro starts at 2:55. Daryl Dragon, half of the duo (who were married for many years), passed away this week at the age of 76.

Elvis Costello | Accidents Will Happen

Elvis Costello‘s 1979 release, “Accidents Will Happen,” modulates back and forth between D major on the verses and D minor on the choruses; the first of these shifts hits at 0:19. Starting at 2:10, the outro of this compact tune accelerates the pattern by shifting between the two keys every two measures!

Donna Summer | MacArthur Park

Donna Summer’s 1977 dance epic ”MacArthur Park” likely represented Peak Disco. Summer’s unmistakeable vocal style is accompanied by full orchestra, harp, and plenty of synths (all part of producer Giorgio Moroder’s signature sound). There are several key changes, the first appearing at 0:26 as a Baroque-inspired string intro transitions into pop ballad, preceding a shift to straight-ahead disco. If you need more, there’s also a 17-minute “suite” version. 😉

Childish Gambino | Pink Toes

Childish Gambino – Donald Glover (two names for the same artist, depending on whether he’s engaging in music or acting) released “Pink Toes” (featuring Jhené Aiko) in 2013 as a track on his sophomore album Because the Internet. The album later received a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album.

A blend of psychedelic Neo-Soul, rap, and R&B, the track modulates at 1:51.