“Oceano” is the lead track on Josh Groban’s 2003 album Closer, the top-selling album of the 2000s in the US.
Produced by David Foster, the song begins by fluidly passing between F major and F minor. In the instrumental interlude between verses, the harmony turns very chromatic, passing through Eb major and E minor before winding back to the tonal center of F at 2:06. There is a definitive modulation to Db at 3:05, which then segues into a subdued outro in D minor.
“Crazier Than You” is from the 2010 Broadway musical The Addams Family, with a Tony-nominated score by Andrew Lippa. The song, sung by Lucas and Wednesday in Act 2, gives them an opportunity to express their love for each other.
The verses of the tune are set in D while the choruses modulate down to different keys: the first chorus, at 0:41, is in Bb, and the second at 1:26 is in C. The third chorus returns us to Bb at 2:07, and the final chorus subverts expectations by shifting up a half step to B at 2:24.
“Beautiful,” written by pianist Jim Brickman, is included on his fourteenth studio album, The Disney Songbook, released in 2005. The track features vocalist Wayne Brady; it begins in Bb and modulates up to C at 2:34.
Jacob Collier’s original song “I Heard You Singing” is included on Djesse Vol. 2, the second installment on a planned four-volume set. On the album the track features vocalist Becca Stevens and mandolinist/singer Chris Thile; this intimate version is performed by Collier from his studio/bedroom. It begins in F, wanders into Db around 2:18, and continues into various other tonalities from there.
20-time Grammy winner Tony Bennett passed away last week at the age of 96. With his release of Love For Sale in 2021, a collaboration with Lady Gaga, he broke the Guinness World Record for oldest person to release an album of new material.
His 1993 album Steppin’ Out, a tribute to Fred Astaire, won the Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance. “Steppin’ Out With My Baby” is the lead track, and the music video featured here was aired on MTV.
After a long, winding intro that quotes “Fascinatin’ Rhythm” among other tunes, we ultimately land in D minor for the start of the song. It modulates subtly to D major for the 8 bar “B” section at 1:00, then returns to D minor at 1:12. The tune continues alternating between these two keys throughout, and also briefly detours to C major for 8 bars at 1:40.
A live-action adaptation of Disney’s beloved 1989 animated film The Little Mermaid, starring Halle Bailey, was released this past May. Alan Menken, who wrote the music for the original film, collaborated with Lin-Manuel Miranda on some additional songs, including the one we are featuring here. Menken’s trademark soaring melody is performed by Jonah Hauer-King, who portrays Prince Eric.
The track starts in F minor and modulates up a 4th to Bb at 2:08
The TV movie High School Musical premiered on the Disney Channel in 2006 and was the most-watched premiere in the network’s history; there have since been two spin-offs. “Start of Something New,” written by Matthew Gerrard and Robbie Neil, is the first track on the film’s soundtrack, which was the best-selling album of 2006.
The song begins in C, modulates to D after 8 bars at 0:28, and shifts up to E for the last chorus at 2:26.
Written by Italian composers Daniele Pace, Mario Panzer, and Roberto Livraghi, “Quando M’innamoro” was first performed by Italian singer Anna Identici and the American folk rock trio The Sandpipers at the Sanremo Music Festival, an Italian song contest, in 1968.
The British pop singer Engelbert Humperdinck recorded the most popular English version, re-titled “A Man Without Love” with lyrics by Barry Mason.
The bossa-tinged tune begins in D and shifts up to Eb at 0:44. It returns to D for the second verse at 1:36, and modulates back to Eb for the second half of the final chorus at 2:30.
American singer/songwriter Neil Diamond makes his MotD debut with “Cracklin’ Rosie,” the first track on his 1970 album Tap Root Manuscript. The song was Diamond’s first #1 single, and his third to sell a million copies. It begins in Db and modulates up to D for the last chorus at 2:14.
O-Town is an American boy band that formed in 2000 as a result of the reality television series Making A Band. After releasing two albums, the group disbanded in 2003. “Baby I Would” is the last track on their eponymous debut record, written by MotD stalwart Diane Warren.
The song alternates between Bb for the verses and C for the choruses; coming out of the bridge, it subverts expectations by appearing as if it will modulate as usual up to C, but after a false start shifts up another whole step to D at 2:48.
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