Elton John | Harmony

Elton John‘s smash 1973 album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, considered by many to be the peak of his career, featured plenty of well-known tunes. “Harmony,” the humble B-side of the hit “Bennie and the Jets,” utilized Elton’s unique wall-of-sound multi-layered background vocals. It modulates back and forth between Eb minor and Eb major. Starting in minor, it modulates to major just before the first chorus (0:33), then back into minor for the next verse at 1:09, and then back to major at 1:31 through the short balance of this distinctive tune.

Knower | Hanging On

Via guest poster and longtime MotD booster Carlo Migliaccio comes a this track from Knower, a funk/electronica band. It centers around synthesist Louis Cole and vocalist Genevieve Artadi, both of whom studied jazz as undergraduates. The band released the hyper-kinetic track “Hanging On” in 2016. There are multiple key changes starting around 3:10.

Al Jarreau | Mornin’

Al Jarreau, the only vocalist in history to win Grammy Awards in three different categories (jazz, pop, and R&B), released his top-10 album Breakin’ Away in 1981, at perhaps the peak of his career. A standout track from the album was the feel-good tune “Mornin’,” featuring plenty of modulations in the bridge (1:55 – 2:49). Then we land back in the orignal key with an instrumental verse at the bridge’s conclusion. 3:32 features a classic direct modulation into the final verse.

Todd Rundgren | Hawking

Here’s a 1989 tune by musician, composer, and producer/engineer Todd Rundgren written in honor of Stephen Hawking, the theoretical physicist and cosmologist. It’s a gospel meditation on the challenges of grasping the unknown and maintaining one’s love for humanity.

The modulation arrives with the bridge at 2:57, reverting to the original key at 4:07.

The Tubes | Amnesia

San Francisco-based The Tubes started with unhinged neo-Burlesque performances in the 1970s. They morphed into a unique pop/glam/funk fusion in the 80s, never abandoning their careful balance between keyboard and guitar. In keeping with the band’s bizarre streak, its frontman/lead vocalist/co-writer, Fee Waybill, was once on the band’s roadie team!

There are several brief key-of-the-moment spots in 1981’s “Amnesia.” The bridge (2:27) starts off with a modulation, transitions to a new key at 2:46, then settles back into the original key at 3:05.

Sergio Mendes | Pipoca

Like much contemporary Brazilian jazz, Sergio Mendes‘s “Pipoca,” composed by Hermeto Pascoal, is loaded with modulations. This 1992 track starts off with a tumbling, mischievous feel, throwing us its first modulation at only 0:16 (!) after a playful ascending chromatic run.

The intro sets the scene for key changes which continue to to turn on a dime as they arrive frequently throughout the track.

AJ Rafael (feat. Deedee Lynn Magno Hall) | Only Us (from “Dear Evan Hansen”)

Singer/songwriter AJ Rafael covers “Only Us” (2017) from the musical Dear Evan Hansen, featuring Deedee Lynn Magno Hall. The first modulation (1:43) somehow sneaks up on the listener gradually, while the second (2:55) clearly announces itself.