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“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.

The song “Every Day Is Exactly The Same” by Nine Inch Nails has a dark and moody atmosphere, characterized by the repetitive chord progression that sets the gloomy tone. This prolific use of chords throughout snippets of the song creates a musical portrait of monotony and disillusion which is reflective of the song’s title and lyrics. Looking at the chords provided from the second verse, this mood is accomplished through the consistent use of minor tonalities and alternation between two power chords – E and C.

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“Landslide” by The Smashing Pumpkins, originally by Fleetwood Mac, is written in the key of G major. The song features simple, but effective, chord progressions that are common in the folk and rock genres. The progression utilizes primary chords in the key (G, D, and C), along with some modal mixture via the borrowing of the minor iv chord (C) and minor vi chord (Am) from the parallel minor key (G minor). The secondary dominant D/F# creates tension and movement towards the Em chord. There is also the use of a G6 chord which adds color to the piece.

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“Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails features a melancholic and introspective chord progression. The song is predominantly in the key of B minor. The verse and outro sections revolve around the Bm, D, and E chords, while the chorus uses a progression of Bm, G, D, A. The use of borrowed chords enriches the harmonic landscape, adding depth to the composition.

“Cant Buy Me Love” by The Beatles, is a song in the key of C Major, but it has an interesting harmonic structure, especially in the chorus. The song features a number of borrowed and secondary dominant chords to create tension that resolves into the tonic chord. The chorus’s progression can be seen as a series of descending minor thirds, with an unexpected shift to a ii-V-I progression which is quite popular in jazz music.

Nine Inch Nails – Every Day Is Exactly The Same – Chorus

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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

E | A | C | G
Em (i) | A (IV) | Cmaj (♭VI) | G (III)
Borrowed chords: A (IV) and G (III) from E major.

Similar Chord Progressions

1. Radiohead – “Creep”
Chord Progression:
G | B | C | Cm
Gmaj (I) | Bmaj (III) | Cmaj (IV) | Cmin (iv)

2. The Beatles – “In My Life”
Chord Progression:
A | E | F#m | D | G | A
A (I) | E (V) | F#m (vi) | D (IV) | G (♭VII) | A (I)

These examples show a similar use of borrowed chords in their progressions, which contribute to an engaging sound that stands out as a signature element of the artist’s style.

Musical Analysis

The main progression in the chorus is built with two borrowed chords (A and G) from the parallel major key (E Major). The progression starts with the tonic chord (Em) that defines the E minor tonality. It then progresses to the A major chord, which is borrowed from E major, adding interest and brightness to the sound.

Next, the progression moves to C major, which acts as a submediant chord in the E minor key. This chord is not borrowed and belongs to the original key. The progression then moves to the G major chord, which is also borrowed from E major, before returning to the tonic chord (Em). This combination of common and borrowed chords creates a unique and engaging chord progression.

Overall Analysis

The song “Every Day is Exactly the Same” by Nine Inch Nails is in E minor key. The chord progression found in the chorus consists mainly of common chords found in the E minor key, along with a couple of borrowed chords from E major. The use of borrowed chords adds unique color and tension to the music.

Style Analysis

The band Nine Inch Nails is known for its dark, moody, and atmospheric sound, which combines elements of industrial, rock, and electronic music. The use of borrowed chords in this chord progression contributes to this signature style, having a darker feel by taking elements from both E minor and E major keys.

Chords in the Chorus section of Every Day Is Exactly The Same by Nine Inch Nails are:

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