Comments on: The 4 Greatest Key Changes in Pop Music [Think Tank] http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/04/03/the-4-greatest-key-changes-in-pop-music-think-tank/ Overthinking It subjects the popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn't deserve. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:16:09 +0000 hourly 1 By: butch studley http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/04/03/the-4-greatest-key-changes-in-pop-music-think-tank/#comment-11114 butch studley Sun, 02 Aug 2009 14:11:36 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=6419#comment-11114 Song endings? There are only four available in Rock & Pop: The Single chord stop ( da-da-da-da, DA!) Or the the multiple Chord stop ( da-da-da-da, DA! DA! DAAAAA! ) The rolling ending ( DAAAAAAAAA! ) and the Fade ( DAAaaa... ) Song endings? There are only four available in Rock & Pop: The Single chord stop ( da-da-da-da, DA!) Or the the multiple Chord stop ( da-da-da-da, DA! DA! DAAAAA! ) The rolling ending ( DAAAAAAAAA! ) and the Fade ( DAAaaa… )

]]> By: lee http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/04/03/the-4-greatest-key-changes-in-pop-music-think-tank/#comment-10999 lee Mon, 27 Jul 2009 23:38:07 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=6419#comment-10999 @Mike SW: Dare I ask, what was the one song out of the four that you knew? @Mike SW: Dare I ask, what was the one song out of the four that you knew?

]]> By: Mike SW http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/04/03/the-4-greatest-key-changes-in-pop-music-think-tank/#comment-10997 Mike SW Mon, 27 Jul 2009 23:01:08 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=6419#comment-10997 Nice choices. (Didn't know three of the four songs.) My personal favorite key change is in All By Myself, seen here in the opening sequence to Bridget Jones' Diary (@1:28) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0D0zfB1l1x0 Love the way the vocalist (in this case Jamie O'Neale) holds the note and the key changes around them. my2¢' Nice choices. (Didn’t know three of the four songs.)

My personal favorite key change is in All By Myself, seen here in the opening sequence to Bridget Jones’ Diary (@1:28)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0D0zfB1l1x0

Love the way the vocalist (in this case Jamie O’Neale) holds the note and the key changes around them.

my2¢’

]]> By: Postmark http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/04/03/the-4-greatest-key-changes-in-pop-music-think-tank/#comment-7670 Postmark Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:36:53 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=6419#comment-7670 @John P. I was a *sob* wedding and special events DJ for a few years, as well as a lead songwriter for a band, and IMHO the fade is just a way to avoid ending a song when you have already reached the climax. Any good DJ knows the BPM and matching keys, and a bad songwriter doesn't know how to end a song. Again, just my opinion. All the same, I'm surprised that OTI missed the hippest band to famously change keys unexpectedly for dramatic effect: The Pixies. I would reck'n that 1/3 of their songs suddenly dash pop sensibilities against the rocks in order to make your mind and brain work harder. Too bad that apart, Kim and Frank never got anywhere; but at least we have our cassettes :) -Mark @John P. I was a *sob* wedding and special events DJ for a few years, as well as a lead songwriter for a band, and IMHO the fade is just a way to avoid ending a song when you have already reached the climax. Any good DJ knows the BPM and matching keys, and a bad songwriter doesn’t know how to end a song. Again, just my opinion.

All the same, I’m surprised that OTI missed the hippest band to famously change keys unexpectedly for dramatic effect: The Pixies. I would reck’n that 1/3 of their songs suddenly dash pop sensibilities against the rocks in order to make your mind and brain work harder.

Too bad that apart, Kim and Frank never got anywhere; but at least we have our cassettes :)

-Mark

]]> By: Gab http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/04/03/the-4-greatest-key-changes-in-pop-music-think-tank/#comment-7584 Gab Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:52:46 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=6419#comment-7584 I'd hope the votes were based on the key changes, not the creepy kids. I’d hope the votes were based on the key changes, not the creepy kids.

]]> By: Tom http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/04/03/the-4-greatest-key-changes-in-pop-music-think-tank/#comment-7549 Tom Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:22:20 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=6419#comment-7549 lee -- you chose a video with dancing ninjas and glowing-eyed, zombified pop people. Not a fair fight. lee — you chose a video with dancing ninjas and glowing-eyed, zombified pop people. Not a fair fight.

]]> By: lee http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/04/03/the-4-greatest-key-changes-in-pop-music-think-tank/#comment-7547 lee Wed, 08 Apr 2009 03:17:26 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=6419#comment-7547 I just wanted to point out that "Total Eclipse of the Heart" is pwning this poll right now with 63% of the vote. And I only voted two (or three) times for my own entry. I just wanted to point out that “Total Eclipse of the Heart” is pwning this poll right now with 63% of the vote. And I only voted two (or three) times for my own entry.

]]> By: penny http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/04/03/the-4-greatest-key-changes-in-pop-music-think-tank/#comment-7542 penny Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:57:32 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=6419#comment-7542 Greatest music video of all time? Are you serious? I used to be able to enjoy that song as a fun pop song until I saw the music video -- now I can't hear it without seeing creepy glowy eyed kids flying at me. If OTIers could explain what the heck they were thinking when they made the video for Total Eclipse of the Heart, that would be awesome. Greatest music video of all time? Are you serious?

I used to be able to enjoy that song as a fun pop song until I saw the music video — now I can’t hear it without seeing creepy glowy eyed kids flying at me.

If OTIers could explain what the heck they were thinking when they made the video for Total Eclipse of the Heart, that would be awesome.

]]> By: Tom http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/04/03/the-4-greatest-key-changes-in-pop-music-think-tank/#comment-7533 Tom Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:18:38 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=6419#comment-7533 Came for the music theory. Stayed for the frolicking ninjas. Perhaps you should review Total Eclipse of the Heart as the greatest music video of all-time. Came for the music theory. Stayed for the frolicking ninjas.

Perhaps you should review Total Eclipse of the Heart as the greatest music video of all-time.

]]> By: Rob http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/04/03/the-4-greatest-key-changes-in-pop-music-think-tank/#comment-7528 Rob Tue, 07 Apr 2009 05:26:58 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=6419#comment-7528 @Belinkie - I don't know of any music theory podcasts, but it does seem like the perfect medium in which to teach the subject. Hell, I wish "Schickele Mix" were still on the air - it was a radio show by the guy who does PDQ Bach, giving serious compare-and-contrast treatment to classical and pop music. There were upwards of 150 episodes, I think, but NPR cancelled it a few years ago because of royalty issues... And maybe royalties would be a problem for a music-theory podcast. But if you could limit excerpts to 10-second clips (or piano-reductions) and if the podcast were an established non-profit educational venture, then a "fair use" argument might succeed. Till that podcast exists, one solution might be to ask a friend - such as Messrs. Stokes, Lee, or Wrather (hell, if I weren't across the country, I'd volunteer) - to take an hour at the keyboard (and/or fretboard) with you some day and explain the basics of naming chords and voice leading; and then you might listen to stuff on your own for a week or two and break it down on your own, and maybe even enter some of it into notation software if it helps you hear things clearly; and eventually maybe take another hour with them to check your work and ask questions about stuff. You have a good ear - at least, I had fun playing your arrangements (Neuter Your Pets!) back in the day - and the formal theory stuff would come pretty quickly to you... @Stokes - would you be interested in putting together a music-theory podcast, a sort of Shickele Remix? I don't know nearly as much as you do about music history and music theory, but I might be able to think of some interesting examples now and then. @Belinkie – I don’t know of any music theory podcasts, but it does seem like the perfect medium in which to teach the subject. Hell, I wish “Schickele Mix” were still on the air – it was a radio show by the guy who does PDQ Bach, giving serious compare-and-contrast treatment to classical and pop music. There were upwards of 150 episodes, I think, but NPR cancelled it a few years ago because of royalty issues…
And maybe royalties would be a problem for a music-theory podcast. But if you could limit excerpts to 10-second clips (or piano-reductions) and if the podcast were an established non-profit educational venture, then a “fair use” argument might succeed.
Till that podcast exists, one solution might be to ask a friend – such as Messrs. Stokes, Lee, or Wrather (hell, if I weren’t across the country, I’d volunteer) – to take an hour at the keyboard (and/or fretboard) with you some day and explain the basics of naming chords and voice leading; and then you might listen to stuff on your own for a week or two and break it down on your own, and maybe even enter some of it into notation software if it helps you hear things clearly; and eventually maybe take another hour with them to check your work and ask questions about stuff. You have a good ear – at least, I had fun playing your arrangements (Neuter Your Pets!) back in the day – and the formal theory stuff would come pretty quickly to you…

@Stokes – would you be interested in putting together a music-theory podcast, a sort of Shickele Remix? I don’t know nearly as much as you do about music history and music theory, but I might be able to think of some interesting examples now and then.

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