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“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.

“Give Me The Night” by George Benson is a jazz-fusion piece with a strong R&B and pop influence. The pre-chorus utilizes a smooth harmonic progression, involving the use of common jazz chords and inversions. The progression is primarily diatonic, with a few chromatic alterations, allowing for a sense of tension and resolution that contributes to the overall groove and smooth melody.

George Benson – Give Me The Night – Pre-Chorus 5

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Chord Progression

Dbmaj7, Bbm7, Db/F, Db/Eb

Chord Progression Analysis

Dbmaj7 (I): D♭ – F – A♭ – C
Bbm7 (vi): B♭ – D♭ – F – A♭
Db/F (I6/4): F – A♭ – C – D♭
Db/Eb (I♭7): E♭ – F – A♭ – C

No borrowed chords are present in this chord progression.

“`Chord progression: | Dbmaj7 (I) | Bbm7 (vi) | Db/F (I6/4) | Db/Eb (I♭7) |“`

Similar Chord Progressions

1. Stevie Wonder – “Overjoyed”
Chord progression: | Cmaj7 (I) | E7 (#V) | Am7 (vi) | Abm6 (bVIm6) |

2. Earth, Wind & Fire – “After the Love Has Gone”
Chord progression: | Bbmaj9 (I) | Am7 (viiø) | Dm7 (iii) | Gm7 (vi) |

Both of these songs feature extended chords and smooth voice leading, displaying similar characteristics and influences to George Benson’s “Give Me The Night.”

Musical Analysis

The progression starts with the tonic (I) chord, Dbmaj7, providing a sense of home and stability. It then moves to the vi chord, Bbm7, a common substitution for the IV chord, which adds color and tension. The Db/F (I6/4) chord functions as a first inversion of the tonic, emphasizing the F note in the bass and creating a smooth stepwise descent towards the next bass note. Finally, the Db/Eb (I♭7) features an E♭ in the bass, further extending the chromatic descending bass line. The descending bass line adds a sense of movement and keeps the progression interesting.

Overall Analysis

The chord progression in the pre-chorus of George Benson’s “Give Me The Night” can be described as a smooth, jazzy, and mellow progression influenced by R&B and jazz-funk styles. It features a combination of diatonic chords and extensions, which create a sense of sophistication and complexity.

Style Analysis

The chord progression in “Give Me The Night” showcases characteristics common in R&B and jazz-funk styles. The use of extended chords like Dbmaj7 and Bbm7 adds complexity and sophistication, while the chromatic descending bass line creates a sense of forward momentum. This combination of diatonic chords, color tones, and smooth voice leading contributes to the mellow, laid-back, and expressive quality of the song.

Chords in the Pre-Chorus 5 section of Give Me The Night by George Benson are:

Dbmaj7, Bbm7, Db/F, Db/Eb