Chris Isaak – Wicked Game – Verse 2
Wicked Game < All Analyses
Chord Progression
[‘Bm’, ‘A’, ‘E’, ‘Bm’, ‘A’, ‘E’, ‘Bm’, ‘A’, ‘E’, ‘Bm’, ‘A’, ‘E’]
Chord Progression Analysis
Here is a complete listing of the full chord names and their Roman Numerals:
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B minor (‘i’),
A Major (‘VII’),
E Major (‘IV’)
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There are no borrowed chords in this chord progression.
Similar Chord Progressions
“Every Breath You Take” by The Police and “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King use similar, though not identical, progressions. The following are the chord progressions of these songs:
“Every Breath You Take” by The Police – [G Major (‘I’), Em (‘vi’), A7 (‘VII7’), D (‘IV’), C (‘♭III’)]
“Stand By Me” by Ben E. King – [C# minor (‘i’), E Major (‘III’), F# Major (‘V’), B Major (‘VII’)]
Although these progressions are not completely similar to “Wicked Game,” they share the quality of repeating the same sequence of chords throughout the entire song, and have a similar mood.
Musical Analysis
The song utilizes a basic three-chord progression throughout most of the song, revolving around the B minor key’s tonic (‘i’), subtonic (‘VII’) and subdominant (‘IV’) chords. This progression contributes to the song’s dreamy and melancholic mood. The use of the E Major chord in the progression (‘IV’) is interesting, indicating a deviation from the conventional diatonic chords found in a typical B minor key, which would typically have an E minor instead of an E Major.
Overall Analysis
“Wicked Game” by Chris Isaak is in the key of B minor. The chord progression for the section provided, which is the verse, is unique due to its simplicity, making it easily accessible and memorable. Even though it is incredibly simple, consisting of just three chords, the progression manages to evoke a strong sense of melancholy and longing, which resonates powerfully with the song’s lyrical themes.
Style Analysis
“Wicked Game” is heavily influenced by the rockabilly and roots rock styles of the 1950s and early ’60s, as evidenced by its simple, yet effective chord progressions and soaring falsetto vocals. However, its production and atmosphere lean more towards an echoing, dreamy style which was popular in late ’80s and early ’90s pop music.
What are the chords in: Chris Isaak – Wicked Game – Verse 2?
[‘Bm’, ‘A’, ‘E’, ‘Bm’, ‘A’, ‘E’, ‘Bm’, ‘A’, ‘E’, ‘Bm’, ‘A’, ‘E’]
