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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Nothings Gonna Change My Love For You” is a romantic ballad featuring a smooth and melodic chord progression characteristic of the pop and jazz fusion genres. The Verse’s chord progression contains some elements of a standard jazz progression while also making use of several borrowed chords. The chords contribute to the warm and sentimental atmosphere that captures the essence of the song’s theme.

The outro of George Benson’s “Give Me The Night” features a smooth, soulful chord progression that is common to jazz, R&B, and pop music. The progression has a descending movement with alternating minor 7th and major 7th chords. This repetition creates a sense of ambience and resolution, making it an ideal conclusion to the song.

The key of ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’ is G Major, a common key for pop and country songs which provides a bright and uplifting sound. Throughout the song, only four different chords are used: G, D, Em and C. The progression is repeated consistently, with only the sudden introduction of an F major chord (borrowed from the parallel minor of G) towards the end of the song during a transition phase.

The Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations” presents an interesting mix of major and minor chords with excellent use of chord inversions and borrowings. The song is harmonically adventurous, showcasing the band’s pop mastery with Brian Wilson’s unmatched compositional skills. This song is primarily in the key of A Major, with many borrowed chords and modulation that creates its unique feel.

“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.

George Benson – Nothings Gonna Change My Love For You – Chorus

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Chord Progression

Db, Gbmaj7, Ab, F7, Bbm, Eb7, Gb, Ab7, Db, Gbmaj7, Ab, F7, Bbm, Eb7, Gb, Ab, Db, Gbmaj7, Ab, F7, Bbm, Eb7, Gb, Ab7, Db

Chord Progression Analysis

Db Major (I) – Gbmaj7 (iv7) – Ab Major (V) – F7 (VI7) – Bbm (ii) – Eb7 (II7) – Gb Major (IV) – Ab7 (V7)
Db Major (I) – Gbmaj7 (iv7) – Ab Major (V) – F7 (VI7) – Bbm (ii) – Eb7 (II7) – Gb Major (IV) – Ab Major (V)
Db Major (I) – Gbmaj7 (iv7) – Ab Major (V) – F7 (VI7) – Bbm (ii) – Eb7 (II7) – Gb Major (IV) – Ab7 (V7)
Db Major (I)

Similar Chord Progressions

1. “Just the Two of Us” by Bill Withers and Grover Washington Jr.
Bbmaj7 (I7) – Gm7 (vi7) – Am7 (ii7) – Abmaj7 (bVII7) – Gm7 (vi7) – C7 (V7)

2. “Killing Me Softly with His Song” by Roberta Flack
F#m7 (ii7) – B7 (V7) – E Major (I) – A7 (IV7) – Am7 (iv7) – B7 (V7) – E Major (I)

These songs feature similar chord progressions that mix diatonic, borrowed, and secondary-dominant chords, creating a harmonic richness and emotional appeal. They showcase sophisticated harmonies and smooth transitions, demonstrating the influence of jazz and pop styles in their composition.

Musical Analysis

The chorus begins with a tonic chord, Db Major, followed by a borrowed chord, Gbmaj7 (iv7), which introduces a smooth and emotional transition. The piece then moves to Ab Major (V), building towards the dominant function. The F7 (VI7) is a borrowed secondary dominant chord that adds a touch of bluesy tension before resolving to the Bbm (ii) chord.

The following Eb7 (II7) is a secondary dominant chord that prepares for the Gb Major (IV) chord. The progression moves back to Ab7 (V7), creating a strong dominant to tonic resolution to Db Major (I), which firmly re-establishes the tonic. The progression then repeats, with its expressive harmonies, offering stability and a sense of conclusion.

Overall Analysis

“Nothings Gonna Change My Love For You” by George Benson is a romantic ballad in the key of Db major. The piece features a soothing and harmonically rich chord progression that is characteristic of the pop/jazz fusion style popular in the late 70s and 80s. The chorus features a mix of diatonic, borrowed, and secondary-dominant chords, creating an expressive palette of colors and tensions. This progression shares similarities with other ballads and pop songs from the era.

Style Analysis

Benson’s chord progression exhibits stylistic elements of both pop and jazz fusion. The combination of diatonic, borrowed, and secondary dominant chords showcases sophisticated harmony and creates a lush and colorful sonic landscape. Such harmonic richness is a hallmark of jazz fusion, while the resolution of tension and repetition of the progression are pop music traits.

Chords in the Chorus section of Nothings Gonna Change My Love For You by George Benson are:

Db, Gbmaj7, Ab, F7, Bbm, Eb7, Gb, Ab7, Db, Gbmaj7, Ab, F7, Bbm, Eb7, Gb, Ab, Db, Gbmaj7, Ab, F7, Bbm, Eb7, Gb, Ab7, Db