“Ordinary Miracle” was written by Glen Ballard and Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics, and originally performed by Sarah McLachlan in the 2006 film adaptation of Charlotte’s Web. It won the Film Critics Society Award that year for Best Song. Key change at 2:28.
Tag: 2000s
“Queer Eye” themes (2003 and 2018)
Not a modulation per se, but an interesting reharmonization of the theme of a “make-better” TV franchise which has enjoyed two successful runs in different decades. Queer Eye For The Straight Guy, which ran in the early 2000s, featured a theme by Widelife in a major key.
The updated Queer Eye, which just finished its third season, features a theme by Betty Who which maintains some of the elements of the original — but overall takes a more minimalist approach in a minor key.
Rufus Wainwright | Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk
Vocalist/pianist/composer Rufus Wainwright released “Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk,” the first track on his sophomore album Poses, in 2001. Wainwright benefited from classical piano and composition training and has carved out two career niches: a unique brand of chamber pop and opera composition. From AllMusic‘s review: the tune “combines classic Gershwin/Brian Wilson pop feels along with a strong sense of French cabaret show tunes” — nowhere more clearly than in this live version.
Starting in E major, a modulation to E minor hits at 0:50 and reverts to E major at 1:26; the pattern continues from there.
Scott Alan (feat. Shoshana Bean) | Home
Continuing with Scott Alan‘s music, this is Shoshana Bean (currently starring in Waitress on Broadway) singing “Home” (2008) with an epic key change at 5:42.
There’s a lot of banter at the start of this live video; skip to 2:15 if you want to go straight to the music.
Scott Alan | Never Neverland
Scott Alan‘s “Never Neverland” (2007), performed here by three-time Tony Award nominee vocalist Stephanie J. Block, alternates between A and F major throughout the song.
Tim McGraw | Live Like You Were Dying
Tim McGraw’s “Live Like You Were Dying” was the #1 Country song of 2004, according to Billboard, and the 2005 Grammy winner for Best Male Country Vocal Performance. The title track of McGraw’s 8th studio album, the tune has a dramatic key change at 3:16.
John Mayer | Bigger Than My Body
The first single from John Mayer‘s second album, Heavier Things (2003), was the mid-tempo tune “Bigger Than My Body.” Billboard reported that the tune “delivers a contagious melody, an exhilarating arrangement and lyrics that are thoughtful and touching without stooping to sentimentality or bombast.”
Primarily built around E major, the tune’s bridge centers around F major from 2:39 – 3:06, then reverts to E major.
Run, Freedom, Run (from “Urinetown”)
“Run, Freedom, Run” from the hit 2001 musical Urinetown by Greg Kotis and Mark Hollmann, features a key change at 1:56. Inspired to post this song this week, as I am about to open Kotis and Hollman’s new musical, Yeast Nation, at College Conservatory of Music on Thursday.
Holly Near | Change of Heart
Weekend bonus mod: I came across this contemporary folk tune (2002) by Holly Near today at a church gig. Plenty of modulations!
Pharrell Williams | Number One
R&B/pop phenom Pharrell Williams is best known for his worldwide smash hit “Happy.” Earlier in his career, he released “Number One,” featuring a somewhat more sane version of Kanye West. The 2006 tune features a lot of descending chromatic bass motion — rather unusual. The intro (through 0:17) is based on a 4-chord vamp built around F# major, but the first verse (0:17 – 0:53) drops down into an F major/E minor vamp (the F major serving as a “sub V” for E minor.) The chorus, starting at 0:53, reverts to the same setup as the intro; subsequent verses and choruses follow suit.
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