Kickin’ it back to the 1930s today, with “Sing For Your Supper” from the Rodgers & Hart show The Boys From Syracuse (1938). Modulations at 1:32 and 2:28.
10cc | The Things We Do For Love
1977 saw a bouncy, harmonically restless pop hit by British band 10cc, “The Things We Do for Love.” The instrumental intro starts in key A; verse 1 modulates at 0:19 into Key B; another key change at the intro to verse 2 reverts back to Key A (1:15); another at the bridge (which could also be heard as an instrumental verse) into key B at 1:38; back to Key A at 2:16; and finally back to key B at 2:34.
Barbra Streisand | Lover, Come Back to Me
We’re kickin’ the week off with some early Babs (1965) — this is not a performance to be missed! Key change is at 1:44, but you are short-changing yourself if you don’t watch this whole video.
Hosanna (from “Jesus Christ Superstar”)
“Hosanna” from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar (1970) won a 2017 Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival. The modulation is at 2:20.
Cliff Richard | We Don’t Talk Anymore
A 1979 UK #1 (US #7) hit for British pop star Sir Cliff Richard, “We Don’t Talk Anymore” was released just before Richard won the Order of the British Empire for his service to music. The tune starts very simply, throws in some more complex progressions to get us a bit off-balance at 1:30, modulates at 1:40, then reverts to the original key at 1:49. The cycle repeats in the second verse/chorus (3:02 / 3:11 / 3:19).
Soul of a Man (from “Kinky Boots”)
Featuring some contemporary Broadway today with “Soul of a Man” from Kinky Boots (2013). Key change around 2:18.
Gabriel Kahane | Charming Disease
Pianist/vocalist/composer Gabriel Kahane writes chamber music for the classical stage, but also gigs regularly in bars and pubs with his genre-busting contemporary acoustic music. “Charming Disease” (2011) has a bridge which hits at about the 2:00 mark, modulates at 3:01, and then settles back into the original key at 3:13.
Marian McPartland | Send In the Clowns
Here is Marian McPartland’s beautiful arrangement of Sondheim’s “Send In The Clowns” (1978), originally written for the 1973 musical A Little Night Music. There’s a dramatic key change at 3:13.
Barbra Streisand | Children Will Listen
Today we feature Barbra Streisand’s “Children Will Listen” (1993). Modulation comes early at 1:34, but the whole track is just stunning. As Allmusic.com reports, ” As a singer, Streisand‘s rise was remarkable because her popularity was achieved in the face of a dominant musical trend — rock & roll — which she did not follow.”
Bon Jovi | Livin’ on a Prayer
A classic key change: Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ On a Prayer” (1986) features a modulation that sneaks in at 3:23. VH1’s viewers voted the track #1 on its “100 Greatest Songs of the 80s” list. The tune is in 4/4 overall but skips a beat at the key change — as our ears do a double-take.
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