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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Nothings Gonna Change My Love For You” by George Benson is a romantic ballad in the key of Db major. The piece features a soothing and harmonically rich chord progression that is characteristic of the pop/jazz fusion style popular in the late 70s and 80s. The chorus features a mix of diatonic, borrowed, and secondary-dominant chords, creating an expressive palette of colors and tensions. This progression shares similarities with other ballads and pop songs from the era.

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.

Taylor Swift’s “Black Dog” features a verse chord progression that is both simple and evocative, utilizing variations of the tonic chord to create a sense of movement and build tension before resolving into more straightforward chord changes. This kind of progression is characteristic of songs that aim to evoke a contemplative or narrative-driven mood, which is a frequent theme in Swift’s songwriting.

“Something I Can Never Have” by Nine Inch Nails features a haunting and melancholic chord progression typical of the alternative rock and industrial rock genres. The tonality of the piece centers around the key of C major, with occasional borrowed chords and chromaticism adding emotional color and tension. The verse and chorus sections both feature a similar pattern of repeating chords as well as a descending bass line connecting the chords, giving the piece cohesion.

“God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys showcases the artistic depth and compositional craft of Brian Wilson, the band’s primary songwriter. The song utilizes a complex chord progression and key changes that are unconventional for pop music of its time. The chord progression creates a sense of constant mood transitions, similar to arias in Romantic era music.

George Benson – Nothings Gonna Change My Love For You – Verse

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Chord Progression

C, G/B, Am, Em/G, Fmaj7, C/E, Dm, G, C, G/B, Am, Em/G, Fmaj7, C/E, Dm, F/G, E, Fmaj7, C/E, Bb, Fmaj7, Dm7, C, F, F/G, G

Chord Progression Analysis

“`
C (I)
G/B (V6)
Am (vi)
Em/G (iii6)
Fmaj7 (IVmaj7)
C/E (I6)
Dm (ii)
G (V)
C (I)
G/B (V6)
Am (vi)
Em/G (iii6)
Fmaj7 (IVmaj7)
C/E (I6)
Dm (ii)
F/G (IV6/5)
E (V/vi)
Fmaj7 (IVmaj7)
C/E (I6)
Bb (♭VII)
Fmaj7 (IVmaj7)
Dm7 (ii7)
C (I)
F (IV)
F/G (IV6/5)
G (V)
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

1. “Just the Way You Are” by Billy Joel:
“`
C (I)
Em (iii)
Am (vi)
F (IV)
C (I)
E (V/vi)
Am (vi)
“`

2. “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston/Dolly Parton:
“`
A (I)
E/G# (V6)
F#m (vi)
C#m7 (iii7)
Dmaj7 (IVmaj7)
A/C# (I6)
Bm7 (ii7)
E (V)
“`

3. “Careless Whisper” by George Michael:
“`
Dm (i)
Gm7♭5 (iv7♭5)
Am7 (v7)
A♭maj7 (♭VIIM7)
Gm (iv)
A (V)
“`

Musical Analysis

The Verse of the song begins with a I-V-vi movement, creating a strong sense of resolution. The iii6 chord adds some emotional depth and tension before resolving to the IVmaj7 chord, which further contributes to the romantic atmosphere of the song. The I6 chord emphasizes the tonic chord and leads to the ii-V-I progression, giving a temporary sense of closure.

The second half of the verse follows a similar pattern, with some deviations. The IV6/5 chord provides a unique twist, leading to the V/vi chord which functions as a secondary dominant chord, hinting at a temporary shift in tonality. The ♭VII chord is a borrowed chord from the parallel minor, emphasizing the heartfelt emotion of the lyrics. The ii7 and I chords re-establish the tonality, and the IV-IV6/5-V movement at the end of the Verse provides a strong cadential resolution, preparing for the next section of the song.

Overall Analysis

“Nothings Gonna Change My Love For You” is a romantic ballad featuring a smooth and melodic chord progression characteristic of the pop and jazz fusion genres. The Verse’s chord progression contains some elements of a standard jazz progression while also making use of several borrowed chords. The chords contribute to the warm and sentimental atmosphere that captures the essence of the song’s theme.

Style Analysis

The style of “Nothings Gonna Change My Love For You” draws from a mixture of pop and jazz genres. The smooth chord progression, melodies, and romantic nature of the song are characteristic of pop ballads from the 1980s. At the same time, George Benson’s background in jazz is evident in the more sophisticated harmonies, secondary dominant chords, and the IVmaj7 and ii7 chords, commonly used in jazz progressions.

Chords in the Verse section of Nothings Gonna Change My Love For You by George Benson are:

C, G/B, Am, Em/G, Fmaj7, C/E, Dm, G, C, G/B, Am, Em/G, Fmaj7, C/E, Dm, F/G, E, Fmaj7, C/E, Bb, Fmaj7, Dm7, C, F, F/G, G