Music Theory Alchemy

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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.

“Give Me The Night” is a classic R&B and jazz-infused song by George Benson, released in 1980. The song was written by Rod Temperton and produced by Quincy Jones. It features a smooth, soulful groove, lush harmonies, and a sophisticated chord progression that is characteristic of the late 70s and early 80s R&B and jazz fusion style. The verse of the song makes use of diatonic chords with a few borrowed chords, giving the progression a rich and interesting harmonic content.

The song “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails is written in C minor key, and the overall structure of the song consists of a verse, pre-chorus, and a chorus. The progression is simple yet effective in creating a dark and moody atmosphere, consistent with the industrial rock genre that characterizes Nine Inch Nails’ music.

Pre-Chorus 1 –

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“Closer” by Nine Inch Nails is a repetitive, hypnotic song that relies on a dark tonality and electronic elements to create its unique sound. This is achieved with the use of only two chords: Cm7 and F. Notably, a distinctive feature of this song is the lack of chordal diversity which aids in creating a minimal, industrial vibe.

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“Time to Pretend” by MGMT is a psychedelic pop/rock song that incorporates elements of electronic and indie rock music. The chord progression in the pre-chorus, which we will specifically analyze, shows MGMT’s experimentation with harmonic structure, drawing influences from both traditional classical and popular music techniques.

George Benson – Give Me The Night – Pre-Chorus 1

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Chord Progression

Dbmaj7, Bbm7, Db/F, Db/Eb

Chord Progression Analysis

Dbmaj7 (I), Bbm7 (vi), Db/F (I6), Db/Eb (I6/4)

“`
Dbmaj7 (I): The tonic chord, which sets the overall key for the progression
Bbm7 (vi): A borrowed chord from the parallel minor scale that adds a hint of darkness
Db/F (I6): The first inversion of the tonic chord for smooth voice leading and continued stability
Db/Eb (I6/4): The second inversion tonic chord, which provides a suspension before resolving back to the main progression or repetiton
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

1. Stevie Wonder, “Isn’t She Lovely”:
Dmaj7 (I), Bm7 (vi), D/F# (I6), Gmaj7/A (IV6/4)

2. Earth, Wind & Fire, “September”:
F#maj7 (I), D#m7 (vi), F#/A# (I6), F#/G# (I6/4)

3. Daft Punk, “Get Lucky” (verse):
Bbmaj7 (I), Gm7 (vi), Bb/F (I6), Bb/Eb (I6/4)

Musical Analysis

This pre-chorus is an excellent example of a common-tone modulation that showcases the versatility of the tonic chord as it moves seamlessly between its inversions. The primary role of the pre-chorus is to build tension and anticipation before the arrival of the chorus section. This is achieved by moving away from the tonic, then coming back to it through the inversions, and finally introducing the suspension with Db/Eb. This suspension eventually resolves either by reiterating the progression or approaching the main chorus.

Overall Analysis

“Give Me The Night” is a smooth jazz, R&B, and funk-infused composition by George Benson. The pre-chorus is particularly interesting, as it features a brief but captivating chord progression that navigates through a variety of moods before looping back to the main progression or chorus of the song.

Style Analysis

The feel of George Benson’s “Give Me The Night” is due to its cohesive blend of R&B, funk, and smooth jazz. The chord progression in the pre-chorus contributes to this combination, as the smooth Dbmaj7 and Bbm7 chords create a sense of relaxed sophistication often found in jazz, while the use of borrowed chords adds a touch of darkness and soulfulness common to R&B styles. The rhythmic feel and groove present in the entire track is also heavily influenced by funk music.

Chords in the Pre-Chorus 1 section of Give Me The Night by George Benson are:

Dbmaj7, Bbm7, Db/F, Db/Eb