Bruno Mars – When I Was Your Man – Verse 2
When I Was Your Man < All Analyses
Chord Progression
[‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘Dm’, ‘G’, ‘G7’, ‘C’, ‘Em/B’, ‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘Dm’, ‘G’, ‘C’]
Chord Progression Analysis
Verse 2 Chords:
“`
A minor (Imin)
C major (III)
D minor (IVmin)
G major (VII)
G7 dominant (VII7)
C major (III)
E minor/B (vi/III)
A minor (Imin)
C major (III)
D minor (IVmin)
G major (VII)
C major (III)
“`
Note that III, VII, VII7 here are borrowed chords from C major’s parallel minor (C minor).
Similar Chord Progressions
A similar chord progression can be observed in the song “Just the Way You Are” also by Bruno Mars. The progression can also be found in numerous songs by artists like Adele (“Set Fire to the Rain”), Ed Sheeran (“Photograph”), Maroon 5 (“She Will Be Loved”) and many others.
Here’s one example:
“She Will Be Loved” by Maroon5:
“`
B minor (Imin)
D major (III)
A major (VII)
G major (VI)
“`
In this case, Maroon5 also uses a four chord progression that resolves back to the tonic, featuring the borrowed III and VII chords from the B minor’s parallel major (B major).
Musical Analysis
In general, the chord progression in this song follows a common pop song pattern, conveniently moving between the first, third, fourth and seventh degrees of A minor key (and borrowing from C minor). The song also uses seventh chords (G7) which provides a sense of tension and resolution within the progression. The presence of the E minor with B in the bass (Em/B) serves as a common-tone substitution and adds a little surprise to the progression which otherwise follows a consistent pattern, and alters the sonic landscape a bit to maintain listener interest.
Overall Analysis
The piece “When I Was Your Man” by Bruno Mars showcases a common pop ballad structure that follows a typical 4-chord progression with common tone substitution as well as some chords borrowed from the relative minor. Its simplicity is one of its strengths as it allows the focus to fall on Bruno’s vocals and the lyrics, which matches the direct, emotional content of the song effectively.
Style Analysis
“When I Was Your Man” draws heavily from pop ballad conventions and old-school soul, specifically in its emotive and expressive vocal performances and introspective lyrics. The chord progression, while relatively simple, is effective in establishing a deeply melancholic mood that complements the song’s lyrical themes.
What are the chords in: Bruno Mars – When I Was Your Man – Verse 2?
[‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘Dm’, ‘G’, ‘G7’, ‘C’, ‘Em/B’, ‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘Dm’, ‘G’, ‘C’]
