UK – Page 30

Steps | Scared of the Dark

Today we feature “Scared of the Dark” by Steps, UK Eurovision winners, released in 2017. Twelve hours after its release, it reached number one on the UK’s iTunes charts and debuted at #37 on the UK Singles Chart. The key change is at 3:05.

Sting | If I Ever Lose My Faith in You

Sting‘s 1993 single “If I Ever Lose My Faith In You” features plenty of pipe organ in addition to traditional rock instrumentation. It modulates at the bridge (2:20), then reverts to the original key. A striking downward modulation (3:19) runs until the last key change (3:38).

Genesis | Turn It On Again

One of the singles from Duke, Genesis‘ 1980 album, “Turn It On Again” features plenty of modulations — as well as mixed meters! This album marked the band’s biggest departure from its “prog” rock origins towards its later pop-friendly material — all the while never losing its infectious harmonies. Phil Collins serves yeoman’s duty on both vocals and drums.

0:48 transitions up a half step, then back to the original key at 1:03; back up at 1:17, then back to the original key at 1:26. We start the cycle again with verse two at 1:34. Plenty of pedal point on this track, with the bass note remaining static while chords change above.

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.

Madness | Our House

Madness occupied a very specific corner of 1980s New Wave — a UK-based ska/pop hybrid band that that was more about the music than the era’s flashy fashions. “Our House,” released in 1982, reached top-5 status in the US, Canada, the UK, and much of Europe.

The tune cycles through piles of modulations: 0:46, 0:54, 1:10, 1:18, 1:26, 1:41, 1:49, 2:05, 2:13, 2:44, and then every four bars all the way to the end.

Elvis Costello + Burt Bacharach | I Still Have That Other Girl

Today’s modulation is brought to you by Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach’s “I Still Have That Other Girl” (1998). The huge modulation is around the 2:09 mark. Enjoy!

Yeo Valley advertisement

Modulation of the Day would like to present the 2011 commercial for Yeo Valley, a large farming operation in the UK. There is a modulation, around 1:20, that you don’t want to miss. But don’t miss the huge number of boy band cliches which are served up throughout!