“Footprints In the Sand” appeared on the debut album of UK vocalist Leona Lewis, Spirit, in 2007. The track features two key changes, at 2:14 and 2:34.
Tag: UK
Cat Stevens | King of Trees
Cat Stevens’ “King of Trees” is from his 1974 album Buddha and the Chocolate Box, whose focus AllMusic describes as “the spiritual nature of his creative quest…the songs littered with religious imagery.” In 1977, Stevens rejected his pervasive music stardom, changed his name to Yusuf Islam, converted to Islam, and later questioned whether music has a role whatsoever in that religion. During the 1990s, Yusuf returned to songwriting and performing.
An impassioned plea for full recognition of humanity’s inextricable connection with nature, the tune begins with church-like pipe organ and choral flourishes but then shifts to the rich contemporary instrumentation for which Stevens’ music is well known. Primarily in C major, there’s a modulation to Eb at the bridge at 2:28 and a few quick pivots before returning to C major at 2:59.
The 1975 | I Couldn’t Be More In Love
UK band The 1975 met while living in a council flat as teens. Lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Matthew Healy describes the group as “a post-modern pop band that references a million things. I don’t even know what my band is half the time.”
“I Couldn’t Be More In Love,” a languid ballad from the band’s 2018 album A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships, fits squarely into the breakup anthem category. Soul-infused harmonies pivot back and forth throughout, further underlined by a growing choir of backup vocals. Just as it seems that the tune is tapering to an end, a late half-step modulation hits at 3:12 as the chorus comes roaring back.
Elton John | I’m Still Standing
1983 found Elton John in a period of re-invention after riding out the Disco and Punk eras. He came back strong with a rock-fueled single, “I’m Still Standing,” from his platinum-selling album Too Low for Zero. EltonJohn.com reports that the video’s opening shots “were an homage to a popular movie series…the establishing shots of Elton driving through southern France were a tip of the martini (shaken, not stirred) to the 007 movies’ opening sequences…”
Starting in Bb minor, the tune shifts to Bb major for the verse (0:12), back to minor for the chorus (0:39), back to major for verse 2 (1:11), etc. The booming 4-on-the-floor groove is rivaled only by the strong sense of tonality: the pedal point Bb repeats throughout much of the tune while a variety of chords change over it.
Trial Before Pilate (from “Jesus Christ Superstar”)
From seasoned mod collector JB comes “Trial Before Pilate” from Jesus Christ Superstar. The show started as a rock opera concept album (1970), then debuted on Broadway in 1971.
“The UK’s Andrew Lloyd Webber has always been a sucker for hyperbole, but this has got to be the MotD version of ‘more cowbell’: I count at least two dozen mods, including at least 10 gratuitous half-steps in the ‘Crucify Him’ chorus. The only time the song stays in the same key for more than two bars is when Pilate is counting out 40 lashes.”
Jacob Collier | All Night Long
Vocalist/arranger/multi-instrumentalist and overall musical wunderkind Jacob Collier released a cover of Lionel Richie‘s 1983 hit “All Night Long” this month, featuring a cappella legends TAKE 6 and the cutting-edge Metropole Orkest.
Starting in F major, a bridge at 3:16 lands us in Ab major at 3:54; lastly, we transition to A major at 5:58. But modulation is really the very least of the special effects here. The rollercoaster bridge, saturated with quick key-of-the-moment progressions and exotic harmonic tensions, illustrates Collier’s any tone/any time practice (not just those in a diatonic scale). The sheer variety of the lush arrangement is striking — and worth every second of this seven-minute listen.
Eternal | I Wanna Be the Only One
“I Wanna Be The Only One” topped the UK Singles charts in 1997, and was the British R&B girl group Eternal’s biggest hit. Three key changes — 2:25, 2:44, and 3:04.
Adele | All I Ask
Here’s UK artist Adele‘s MotD debut with “All I Ask,” which was released on her 2015 album “25.” Key change at 3:39.
Level 42 | Lying Still
BBC World Service says of UK band Level 42: “For one brief, shining moment…they were outsiders.” By the mid-80s, the band had seen huge success, becoming one of the best-selling UK groups of the decade, best known for their uptempo funk-driven tunes like “Something About You.” But the band also produced some gorgeous melancholy-drenched ballads, including 1985’s “Lying Still.”
Starting in G minor, the tune transitions to B minor for the chorus at 0:44. At 2:50, the bridge starts as an instrumental (roughly in B minor), then transitions back to vocals for a lushly layered, multi-key-of-the-moment, meter-shifting section at 3:11. At 3:29, an extended outro, built around G minor, rolls out and tapers to the end.
Mama’s Gun | You Are the Music
From long-time neo-soul/r&b aficionado and first-time MotD contributor Aaron L. comes this effervescent, unapologetic love song, “You Are the Music,” from London r&b/neo-soul/pop quintet Mama’s Gun.
The album which featured today’s track, Routes to Riches (2009), was reviewed by Uncut magazine as “a masterclass in blue-eyed bubblegum soul, as heart-warmingly catchy as anything from Stevie Wonder’s ’70s purple patch.” The band has opened for fellow Brits, pop/funk legends Level 42, and American neo-soul artist/producer Raphael Saadiq.
Starting in A minor for the verse, the chorus transitions to compelling A major(ish) mix, then reverting to minor for the next verse. At 2:18, a breakdown/bridge pushes us into D minor, leading to a big modulation into Bb major(ish) for the remaining choruses.
