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Related Music Theory Alchemy

The song “Every Day Is Exactly The Same” by Nine Inch Nails has a dark and moody atmosphere, characterized by the repetitive chord progression that sets the gloomy tone. This prolific use of chords throughout snippets of the song creates a musical portrait of monotony and disillusion which is reflective of the song’s title and lyrics. Looking at the chords provided from the second verse, this mood is accomplished through the consistent use of minor tonalities and alternation between two power chords – E and C.

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“Closer” by Nine Inch Nails is a repetitive, hypnotic song that relies on a dark tonality and electronic elements to create its unique sound. This is achieved with the use of only two chords: Cm7 and F. Notably, a distinctive feature of this song is the lack of chordal diversity which aids in creating a minimal, industrial vibe.

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The chorus of Taylor Swift’s song “ME!” employs a bright and catchy chord progression that’s emblematic of pop music’s joyful and exuberant character. This progression underpins the song’s themes of self-affirmation and positivity, making it an infectious and memorable part of the track.

Taylor Swift’s “Black Dog” features a chorus that uses a sophisticated and intricate chord progression to drive the emotional depth and thematic elements of the song. This progression combines inversions and extensions to create a layered and textured musical atmosphere, reflecting the complexity of the song’s lyrics and enhancing its reflective nature.

The given chord progression is from the chorus of “Earfquake” by Tyler, The Creator, a contemporary hip-hop and neo-soul artist. The progression features a smooth and mellow tonality, characterized by the use of 7th chords. The chord progression is in the key of Bb Major and showcases the use of mostly diatonic chords with a repetition that contributes to the song’s catchy nature.

Nine Inch Nails – Every Day Is Exactly The Same – Chorus

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Chord Progression

[‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’]

Chord Progression Analysis

“`
E minor (i)
A major (IV)
C major (bVI)
G major (III)
“`
This is a relatively uncommon chord progression, but gives the song a distinct melodic quality. The progression is cyclic, repeating the exact same four chords throughout the chorus. Also worth mentioning, the sequence of falling and rising fifths between the chords.

Similar Chord Progressions

Though the exact progression doesn’t appear frequently, aspects of it do appear in other songs. The IV-bVI transition appears in the song “You Get What You Give” by New Radicals, but in the key of G.

Their progression in the chorus goes:
“`
G major (I)
D major (V)
A♭ major (bII)
E♭ major (bVI)
B minor (iii)
E minor (vi)
C major (IV)
D major (V)
“`
It’s a slightly complicated progression compared to Nine Inch Nails, but the bVI and the IV chords show a similar idea.

Musical Analysis

The song’s melody is based on the E minor scale, which gives it a somber feeling. The use of borrowed chords from the parallel major scale adds an unexpected twist to the harmonics and contributes to the overall moodiness of the song. These borrowed chords add harmonic color and tension, giving the song added depth and complexity.

Overall Analysis

“Every Day Is Exactly The Same” by Nine Inch Nails utilizes a unique four-chord cycle in its chorus – ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’. The song is in the key of E minor, and therefore, the functional analysis would interpret this progression as i-IV-bVI-III. The bVI and III are borrowed chords from the parallel major scale. This chord progression creates a moody atmosphere that aligns with the overall melancholic and introspective theme of the song.

Style Analysis

Nine Inch Nails, led by Trent Reznor, is notable for its innovative and genre-defying composition style, combining elements of industrial rock, electronica, and alternative rock. The use of the slightly unusual i-IV-bVI-III chord progression in “Every Day Is Exactly the Same” is a great example of this, demonstrating the band’s unique approached to songwriting.

Chords in the Chorus section of Every Day Is Exactly The Same by Nine Inch Nails are:

[‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’]