r&b – Page 15

Say No to This (from “Hamilton”)

In recognition of the live film of the stage production of Lin Manuel Miranda‘s blockbuster 2016 Broadway musical Hamilton dropping on Disney+ earlier this month, today we feature “Say No To This.” Coming in Act 2 of the show, the song outlines Hamilton’s one-year affair with Maria Reynolds, which eventually led to the first major political sex scandal in US history. Beginning in F# minor, the tune glides smoothly into the relative major for the chorus at 1:23 and continues to play back and forth between these two tonal centers. A modulation to B major occurs at 3:03.

Yesterday, the original cast recording for the show became the first cast recording to reach the #2 spot on the Billboard 200 chart since the revolutionary 1969 musical Hair, which spent 13 weeks in the #1 spot the year of its premiere.

Black Artists for Black Lives | Feeding Off the Love of the Land

As described by the performers, Black Artists for Black Lives, “This arrangement of Stevie Wonder’s ‘Feeding Off the Love of the Land’ was born out of grief, and evolved into a communal message of healing. In the midst of our grief, we sing with renewed strength and love. We sing for them… We sing for US.”

Stevie’s original appeared under the credits of Spike Lee’s 1991 film Jungle Fever, but didn’t appear on any of Stevie’s studio albums.

Starting with a gorgeous a cappella arrangement in B major, an instrumental accompaniment sneaks in at 0:30 and swells at the early modulation to D major at 0:48. The energy continues to build until the ensemble hits its fullest stride at 2:04.

Stevie’s original, which doesn’t include a modulation:

Brenda Russell | Piano In The Dark

“Piano In The Dark” was the first single released from Brenda Russell‘s 1988 album Get Here. The track earned Russell two Grammy nominations in 1989, including one for Song Of The Year, and went on to be her biggest hit, peaking at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. When asked about the genesis of the song in an interview, Russell said:

“Piano In The Dark” was a wonderful experience. I had two co-writers on that song. Scott Cutler and Jeffrey Hall. And they had sent me this music. And I’m a person that collects song titles. You know, if I hear a good title, like talking to a friend or whatever, I’ll write it down. I keep a little song title book. I always think that in every title there’s a song somewhere, and you’ve just got to thin it out. So when they sent me this music, I thought, Whoa, it’s so haunting and beautiful, I love that. And I was flipping through my title book and I just thought, piano in the dark, I wonder if that would go with that music I heard. That’s as easy as that happened. I had that title and I thought, Hmmm, maybe that’ll work.

…[the song is] about this woman. Her lover plays piano. And she wants to leave him, because she’s really kind of bored. But every time she does that, he sits down and starts playing. And it sucks her right back in. She’s so in love with the way he plays. And he plays in the dark, theoretically. It’s not that literal, necessarily. But that’s what keeps her to him, basically, is his music. And I just found that was an interesting story to write about.”

The verses are set in F minor, and Russell modulates seamlessly to the parallel major for the choruses at 1:03, 2:06, and 2:59.

Mariah Carey | Always Be My Baby

The fourth single released from Mariah Carey’s fifth studio album, Daydream, “Always Be My Baby” was the most played song on the radio in 1996, and the first single to debut at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 list. The lyrics describes the lingering attachment the singer retains towards her former lover, even as they both go their separate ways. The track is one of Carey’s most successful, reaching Triple Platinum status with well over 2 million sales.

The key change is at 3:01. Many thanks to MotD fan Rob Penttinen for this submission!

Whitney Houston | I Believe In You and Me

Originally released and recorded by Four Tops on their 1982 album One More Mountain, “I Believe In You and Me” was covered in 1996 by Whitney Houston and included the 1996 flick The Preacher’s Wife. Much more successful than the original, Houston’s rendition became a top 5 R&B hit in the US and topped many charts worldwide. The key change, in Whitney’s customary dramatic fashion, is at 2:52.

Sisqo | Thong Song

“Thong Song” was the second single released from American R&B/pop artist SisQó‘s 1999 debut studio album Unleash The Dragon. The track was nominated for four Grammys, and peaked at #1 on the Billboard Rhythmic Top 40 chart. It was a major success worldwide as well, reaching the top ten throughout European charts, number three in the UK, Netherlands, and Denmark, and #1 in New Zealand.

The key change at 3:16 comes out of nowhere, leading the listener to believe we’ve moved to a distant key, when it is in fact only a half-step away.

Jacob Collier (feat. Mahalia + Ty Dolla $ign) | All I Need

Jacob Collier‘s latest single, “All I Need,” dropped last week, and it is a doozy. Featuring Mahalia Music and Ty Dolla $ign, the track trends more toward mainstream pop than most of his other work, while still maintaining the incredible harmonic and rhythmic sophistication that are trademarks of this UK native’s style.

The key changes up a quarter tone at 2:14 before winding its way back down to the original key from 3:15-3:17.

The Stylistics | You Make Me Feel Brand New

“You Make Me Feel Brand New,” an R&B/Philly Soul ballad released by The Stylistics in 1974, reached the #2 position on the both the US and UK pop charts, but was kept from the #1 position in the US by the omnipresent bubblegum pop tune “Billy, Don’t Be a Hero.” However, the track achieved top 10 positions from Australia to Canada to South Africa.

Written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed, the tune has been covered by Babyface, Simply Red, Boyz 2 Men, Roberta Flack, Ronnie Milsap, and Rod Stewart/Mary J. Blige (as a duo), and more.

The intro starts in A major, transitioning to E major at the verse at 0:32, G major at 1:06, and C major-ish at 1:58 for the chorus. The cycle repeats for the second verse and chorus. Many thanks to Mark Shilansky for this submission!

Tori Kelly | Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing

Stevie Wonder‘s “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing” was originally released in 1973 on his album Innervisions and exudes a positivity that we could all use a little bit of right now. The performance here features Tori Kelly in a cover included in the 2016 animated feature Sing Movie. Beginning in Eb minor, the tune kicks up one half step at 2:16, and then another at 2:32.

Aretha Franklin | Who’s Zoomin’ Who?

In this time of social distancing (or social solidarity, as a wise neighbor described it) and the resulting popularity spike of a certain video conferencing platform, Aretha Franklin’s smash hit album Who’s Zoomin’ Who? (1985) has been top of mind. The album featured several uptempo hits, including “Freeway of Love” and her iconic duo with Annie Lennox, “Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves.” The album became the best-selling non-compilation release of Aretha’s career, often compared to Tina Turner’s blockbuster 1984 album Private Dancer.

From Rolling Stone’s review: “Though Who’s Zoomin’ Who? never quite comes together as an album…this is some of Aretha Franklin’s best work since the 1960s…The example of Tina Turner acted as goad and inspiration, and the edge of rich brashness in Aretha’s performances seems sparked by Turner’s electric drive … enough vocal brilliance here to stun any listener within range.”

After a bridge starting at 2:45, the title track modulates up a full step at 2:59 — oddly, just as the wall-of-sound accompaniment dies down. But the lull in the action sets the stage for Aretha’s vocal fireworks to return at 3:20.