David Bowie – Space Oddity – Verse 1
Space Oddity < All Analyses
Chord Progression
[‘C’, ‘E7’, ‘F’, ‘Fm’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘Fm’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘E7’, ‘F’, ‘Fm’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘Fm’, ‘C’, ‘F’]
Chord Progression Analysis
The chords for Verse 1 are as follows, with their respective Roman numeral analysis:
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C Major (I)
E7 (III7 or V/V/vi)
F Major (IV)
F minor (iv)
C Major (I)
F Major (IV)
F minor (iv)
C Major (I)
F Major (IV)
C Major (I)
E7 (III7 or V/V/vi)
F Major (IV)
F minor (iv)
C Major (I)
F Major (IV)
F minor (iv)
C Major (I)
F Major (IV)
“`
The E7 chord here can be seen as a Secondary Dominant, specifically the Dominant of the dominant (V) of the sixth (vi) degree in C Major. The Fm chord is a Borrowed Chord from the parallel minor, C minor.
Similar Chord Progressions
The Beatles’ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” has a similar chord progression with a IV-iv-I progression (in this case, it’s actually Db-Dbm-Ab in the key of Ab major), and similar to “Space Oddity,” the use of the minor iv chord creates a dramatic surprise, breaking listeners’ expectations of traditional major key harmony. Norah Jones’s “Don’t Know Why” also exhibits a similar progression, establishing a tranquil and simultaneously melancholic mood.
Musical Analysis
The use of the Fm for a brief moment generates a hint of C minor’s tonality momentarily, moving the tonal center. This is a frequent practice in pop music, the transition from IV to iv before returning to the Tonic (I). It creates an exciting and dramatic contrast. The chromatic progression creates a melancholic mood which contrasts with the happiness of the major chords before and after.
Many critiques state that this constant back and forth between major and minor signifies the uncertainty and evokes a sense of emotional stress, which really fits the lyrical theme of space travel, uncertainty, and feeling completely out of place.
Overall Analysis
David Bowie’s song, “Space Oddity,” is typically interpreted as being in the key of C Major. It’s an interesting song harmonically, featuring not just Primary Triads and Secondary Dominants but also uses Borrowed Chords, non-functional harmony, and chromatic chord changes. The kind of harmonic movement might be called Bowie’s deviation from the traditional harmonic patterns, which is part of what gives his music its characteristic ‘alien’ vibe. This progression has a more modal feeling due to the use of borrowed chords and the shifted tonal center.
Style Analysis
Bowie’s tendency to incorporate nontraditional chord progressions and structures plays a significant role in his unique sound. Melodically, Bowie’s work is noted for its wide-ranging and odd vocal lines, which often obscure or deviate from the typical harmonic structure.
What are the chords in: David Bowie – Space Oddity – Verse 1?
[‘C’, ‘E7’, ‘F’, ‘Fm’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘Fm’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘E7’, ‘F’, ‘Fm’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘Fm’, ‘C’, ‘F’]
