Tag: TV

Sergio Mendes | Never Gonna Let You Go

A weekend bonus mod from MotD fan Christopher Larkosh:

“‘Never Gonna Let You Go'” (1983) marks a moment where Brazilian composer, keyboardist, bandleader, and performer Sergio Mendes, formerly of Brasil 66, can be considered to be fully assimilated into the US musical scene. The song was a smash hit, spending weeks on the charts — which at the time meant Casey Kasem’s American Top 40 and the TV show ‘Solid Gold.'” The Solid Gold Dancers, emblematic of the popular weekly show, apparently took their coffee break during this segment.

This tune’s keys-of-the-moment and modulations are too numerous to track: Exhibit A, the shift from the intro to the first verse (0:14).

EDIT, June 2021:

Rick Beato managed to wrestle the entire tune into submission. What a chart!

Jonathan Coulton | NDA

Weekend bonus: No pure modulations here, but plenty of fun shifting through key(s) of the moment. Software guy Jonathan Coulton became a full-time singer/songwriter in the mid-2000s, releasing several albums since. Recently, he was commissioned to write a series of Schoolhouse Rock!-style short songs for the TV series The Good Fight — detail-packed miniature musical explainers of legal and political terminology.

“NDA,” which describes the ins and outs of Non-Disclosure Agreements, features verses which are solidly in G Major. But the choruses (first at 0:10!) and bridge (0:27 – 0:41) cycle briefly through other keys.

“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.

The Monkees | Theme from “The Monkees” TV Show

A boy band before the term was even coined, The Monkees were assembled by TV professionals to cast a music-centric sitcom (1966-1968) “about an imaginary band… that wanted to be the Beatles,” according Monkee Mickey Dolenz. Eventually, the actors learned to play their instruments for real, continuing as a band until 1971 and producing several huge hits. The brief theme song from the TV show manages to pack in two direct modulations at 0:26 and 0:36.

Diana Ross | Soulful Strut (Am I the Same Girl)

An extra for the weekend … a guest post from member Paul Steckler. Prime US television variety show fare! The music starts around 1:30.

“Here’s some modulation action for you! Diana Ross dancing to ‘Soulful Strut,’ also known as ‘Am I the Same Girl’ (1969).” After some stage banter, the music starts at 1:31. “A modulation of dubious taste at 2:50, then a series of modulations at 3:54.”

They Just Keep Moving the Line (from “Smash”)

Today, we feature Megan Hilty singing “They Just Keep Moving the Line” from the TV show Smash (2012). While the show itself turned into a bit of a soap opera, some really incredible songs came out of it, and this is one of the best. Modulation at 2:06, but the whole performance is fantastic. Enjoy!