Nine Inch Nails – Every Day Is Exactly The Same – Chorus
Every Day Is Exactly The Same < All Analyses
Chord Progression
[‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’]
Chord Progression Analysis
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E minor (i)
A major (IV)
C major (bVI)
G major (III)
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This is a relatively uncommon chord progression, but gives the song a distinct melodic quality. The progression is cyclic, repeating the exact same four chords throughout the chorus. Also worth mentioning, the sequence of falling and rising fifths between the chords.
Similar Chord Progressions
Though the exact progression doesn’t appear frequently, aspects of it do appear in other songs. The IV-bVI transition appears in the song “You Get What You Give” by New Radicals, but in the key of G.
Their progression in the chorus goes:
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G major (I)
D major (V)
A♭ major (bII)
E♭ major (bVI)
B minor (iii)
E minor (vi)
C major (IV)
D major (V)
“`
It’s a slightly complicated progression compared to Nine Inch Nails, but the bVI and the IV chords show a similar idea.
Musical Analysis
The song’s melody is based on the E minor scale, which gives it a somber feeling. The use of borrowed chords from the parallel major scale adds an unexpected twist to the harmonics and contributes to the overall moodiness of the song. These borrowed chords add harmonic color and tension, giving the song added depth and complexity.
Overall Analysis
“Every Day Is Exactly The Same” by Nine Inch Nails utilizes a unique four-chord cycle in its chorus – ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’. The song is in the key of E minor, and therefore, the functional analysis would interpret this progression as i-IV-bVI-III. The bVI and III are borrowed chords from the parallel major scale. This chord progression creates a moody atmosphere that aligns with the overall melancholic and introspective theme of the song.
Style Analysis
Nine Inch Nails, led by Trent Reznor, is notable for its innovative and genre-defying composition style, combining elements of industrial rock, electronica, and alternative rock. The use of the slightly unusual i-IV-bVI-III chord progression in “Every Day Is Exactly the Same” is a great example of this, demonstrating the band’s unique approached to songwriting.
What are the chords in: Nine Inch Nails – Every Day Is Exactly The Same – Chorus?
[‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘E’]
