Portishead – Sour Times – Chorus 2
Sour Times < All Analyses
Chord Progression
[‘F#m7’, ‘Emaj7’, ‘D#7’, ‘F#m7’, ‘Emaj7’, ‘D#7’, ‘F#m7’, ‘Emaj7’, ‘D#7’, ‘F#m7’, ‘Emaj7’, ‘D#7’, ‘C#m’]
Chord Progression Analysis
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F#m7 (II7), Emaj7 (Imaj7), D#7 (VII7), F#m7 (II7), Emaj7 (Imaj7), D#7 (VII7), F#m7 (II7), Emaj7 (Imaj7), D#7 (VII7), F#m7 (II7), Emaj7 (Imaj7), D#7 (VII7), C#m (i)
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The chords D#7 and Emaj7 can be considered borrowed chords from C# major and C# harmonic minor respectively.
Similar Chord Progressions
A song featuring a somewhat similar progression (though not entirely alike) is “Creep” by Radiohead. Its verse progression of I III IV iv in the key of G has a similar melancholic feel and borrowed chords IV iv from the parallel minor.
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Creep (Radiohead): G (I), B (III), C (IV), Cm (iv)
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Musical Analysis
In essence, the repetition of the II – I – VII progression gives the chorus its unique shade. The F#m7 to Emaj7 involves a common step downward that maintains fluidity. However, D#7 to F#m7 ascension brings tension before the cycle repeats. This progression spotlights the “back-and-forth” dramatic effect which inherently fits the expressive values of the trip-hop genre. And the final C#m re-affirms the root of the song, providing a calming resolution.
Overall Analysis
The song, “Sour Times” by Portishead, is in the key of C# minor. The chord progression of the chorus that you’ve provided swings between three chords (F#m7, Emaj7, D#7) four times before ending on a C#m chord. It suggests a II – I – VII progression in the chorus, which is rare and distinctive in contemporary music genres. This choice of chord progression creates a mysterious, dark, and contemplative mood, characteristic of the trip-hop genre that Portishead propounds.
Style Analysis
Portishead’s style is often categorized as trip-hop, and this song embodies the atmospheric, melancholic nature of the genre. There’s an existential, moody quality to the sound, no doubt enforced by the unusual II – I – VII progression. The use of 7th chords lends a jazzy, sophisticated aura to the music, which blends well with the drum beats typical of the trip-hop style.
What are the chords in: Portishead – Sour Times – Chorus 2?
[‘F#m7’, ‘Emaj7’, ‘D#7’, ‘F#m7’, ‘Emaj7’, ‘D#7’, ‘F#m7’, ‘Emaj7’, ‘D#7’, ‘F#m7’, ‘Emaj7’, ‘D#7’, ‘C#m’]
