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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Rocket Man” by Elton John and his long-time lyricist Bernie Taupin is a standout song in Elton John’s discography, well known for its memorable melody line and masterful chord progression that was very innovative for its time (1972). It showcases his trademark style of combining rock with various other genres such as folk.

Overall, the harmony in this song is quite rich and a clear example of Elton John’s ’70s songwriting style: using complex chords and a lot of borrowed chords from other keys that add extra color to the harmonic progression.

“Idioteque” by Radiohead is an experimental and atmospheric electronic song, released on the album “Kid A” in 2000. The chord progression of the chorus is fairly simple, yet features some distinctive chords which create a sense of tension and release. It incorporates modal mixture and chromatic mediants, which are typical elements found in Radiohead’s music.

The progression for the chorus of “Sometimes It Snows In April” by Prince exhibits a rich mixture of non- diatonic chords and borrowed chords. The tonal center of the song is A, but it doesn’t strictly follow a specific major or minor scale, creating an interesting blend of light and dark tonalities. This characteristic is a common feature in Prince’s works, showing his notable talent for blending the traditional with the unconventional.

The chorus from Jeff Buckley’s rendition of “Hallelujah” in the key of C major beautifully demonstrates a diverse range of chords and harmonic techniques. The chord progression incorporates diatonic chords, borrowed chords, and some unexpected harmonic twists, all of which work together to create a sense of emotional depth and tension throughout the chorus.

Elton John – Bennie And The Jets – Chorus

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Chord Progression

[‘G’, ‘Am7’, ‘C7’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘Am7’, ‘C’, ‘D’, ‘Em’, ‘Em/D’, ‘C’, ‘Bb/C’, ‘G’, ‘F’]

Chord Progression Analysis

“`
G (I),
Am7 (ii7),
C7 (IV7 – borrowed chord from G Mixolydian),
C (IV),
G (I),
Am7 (ii7),
C (IV),
D (V),
Em (vi),
Em/D (vi / V),
C (IV),
Bb/C (bIII / IV – borrowed chord from G Mixolydian),
G (I), F (bVII – borrowed chord from G Mixolydian)
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

1. The Beatles – “Let It Be”:
“`
C (I), G (V), Am (vi), F (IV)’.
“`
It is not exactly the same, but similarly, it also uses diatonic chords and the progression has the same “resolved” feeling to it.

2. Eagles – “Hotel California”:
“`
‘Bm (i),
F# (V),
A (VII),
E (IV),
G (bVI),
D (bIII),
Em (iv),
F#(V)`
“`

This song also employs a good amount of borrowed chords, similar to “Bennie And The Jets”.

Musical Analysis

Elton John uses diatonic chords in the key of G Major, like G (I), Am7 (ii7), C (IV) and D (V), to establish a clear tonality. He includes some modal interchange with the use of C7, Bb/C and F which are borrowed from the mixolidian mode. This provides a bit of bluesy flavor to the song. The use of the Am7 (ii7) also suggests a dorian feel, as it’s often used in jazz and soul music, genres that have influenced Elton John’s style. The Em/D is a classic example of a slash chord where the bass note (D) is different from the root of the chord (Em). This chord functions mainly as a passing chord leading back to the tonic G.

Overall Analysis

“Bennie And The Jets” by Elton John, released in 1973, features a distinctive chord progression that exemplifies Elton’s advanced harmonic sensibility and taste for grand piano-based balladry. The song is mainly in the key of G Major.

Style Analysis

“Bennie And The Jets” is a fusion of pop, rock, and glam rock with hints of soul, R&B, and gospel, styles that frequently make an appearance in Elton John’s repertoire. Elton’s powerful and ornamented piano playing, combined with his emotive vocal delivery, add to the song’s overall dramatic atmosphere.

Chords in the Chorus section of Bennie And The Jets by Elton John are:

[‘G’, ‘Am7’, ‘C7’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘Am7’, ‘C’, ‘D’, ‘Em’, ‘Em/D’, ‘C’, ‘Bb/C’, ‘G’, ‘F’]