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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Glory Box” by Portishead is primarily in the key of D minor, with some moments of modal interchange. The chord progression contains a distinct spice of jazz influence while remaining in the realm of synthesized trip-hop sound characterizing the band’s style.

“Glory Box” by Portishead is a Trip Hop masterpiece which blends elements of blues, rock, soul, and electronic music together in an innovative and influential way. The song’s chord progression, as illustrated by the verse, is D minor, D minor with C in the bass (notated as Dm/C), B minor 7 flat 5, and B flat major 7. This particular chord progression gives an overall melancholy and haunting feeling throughout the song and sets the tone for the track.

“Bennie And The Jets” by Elton John, released in 1973, features a distinctive chord progression that exemplifies Elton’s advanced harmonic sensibility and taste for grand piano-based balladry. The song is mainly in the key of G Major.

“Get You” by Daniel Caesar is a soulful R&B ballad featuring a smooth and emotive chord progression that is both melancholic and uplifting. The progression is derived from the key of D major, but features a borrowed chord from its parallel minor key, D minor, which adds a unique flair to the song. Daniel Caesar’s vocal performance, accompanied by soulful instrumentation, creates a sense of nostalgia and emotional evocation that is characteristic of the R&B genre.

The chorus of Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” utilizes a chord progression that elevates the song’s emotional resonance, serving as a climactic counterpart to the reflective verses. This section combines lush harmonies with straightforward pop sensibilities, creating a poignant and memorable musical moment that aligns with the song’s thematic exploration of self-awareness and complexity.

Portishead – Glory Box – Chorus

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Chord Progression

[‘Dm’, ‘Dm/C’, ‘Bm7b5’, ‘Bbmaj7’, ‘Dm’, ‘Dm/C’, ‘Bm7b5’, ‘Bbmaj7’, ‘Dm’, ‘Dm/C’, ‘Bm7b5’, ‘Bbmaj7’, ‘Dm’]

Chord Progression Analysis

“`
Dm (‘i’)
Dm/C (‘i with VII in the bass’)
Bm7b5 (‘vi half-diminished’)
Bbmaj7 (‘♭VI Major 7’)
Dm (‘i’)
Dm/C (‘i with VII in the bass’)
Bm7b5 (‘vi half-diminished’)
Bbmaj7 (‘♭VI Major 7’)
Dm (‘i’)
Dm/C (‘i with VII in the bass’)
Bm7b5 (‘vi half-diminished’)
Bbmaj7 (‘♭VI Major 7’)
Dm (‘i’)
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

1. Radiohead’s “Exit Music (For A Film)” also utilizes a minor to major seventh movement, though in a different key:
“`
Am (‘i’)
E (‘V’)
G (‘♭VII’)
Dmaj7 (‘IVmaj7’)
“`

2. Billie Eilish’s “when the party’s over” uses a similar pattern to start, moving from minor to half-diminished:
“`
Fmaj7 (‘I’)
Fm7 (‘i’)
G7 (‘V’)
Fmaj7 (‘IV’)
“`

Musical Analysis

This progression is quite intriguing, utilizing a mixture of chord types – minor, half-diminished, and major seventh – that adds considerable depth to the piece. This progression does not follow a typical pop/rock pattern but rather leans into Portishead’s characteristic trippy, brooding style. The chord transitions smoothly thanks to common tones and stepwise movement in the bass.

Overall Analysis

The “Glory Box” by Portishead chorus progression is based in D minor and moves between this primary D minor chord and three other chords: Dm/C, Bm7b5, and Bbmaj7. The Dm/C chord is the same as the D minor, but with a different note in the bass (C). The Bm7b5 is a half-diminished chord. The Bbmaj7 is major seventh chord.

Style Analysis

Portishead is known for their unique, cinematic blend of styles known as trip-hop, which marries elements of jazz, rock, hip-hop, and electronic music. The unusual chord progression in “Glory Box” helps create the moody, atmospheric sound that defines this song and much of their work. The progression’s focus on dark, minor chords and half-diminished chords highlights their jazz influences, while the bass movement underscores the rhythmic drive found in hip-hop and electronic music.

Chords in the Chorus section of Glory Box by Portishead are:

[‘Dm’, ‘Dm/C’, ‘Bm7b5’, ‘Bbmaj7’, ‘Dm’, ‘Dm/C’, ‘Bm7b5’, ‘Bbmaj7’, ‘Dm’, ‘Dm/C’, ‘Bm7b5’, ‘Bbmaj7’, ‘Dm’]