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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Sour Times” by Portishead is largely written in the key of C# minor, with elements of modal interchange and chromaticism that contribute to its haunting, dark sound. The song exhibits a remarkable amount of harmonic complexity and non-diatonic harmony, which is a defining characteristic of the trip-hop genre. The piece makes use of intricate inversions and chromatic voice leading, along with a frequent use of sevenths and diminished chords for added tension.

The song “It’s A Fire” by Portishead features complex harmonic structures, distinguished by a fusion of pop, rock, and elements of jazz harmonies. The band, known for their trip-hop style, employ chromatically richer harmony and non-diatonic chord progressions in this piece. The chord progression of ‘It’s A Fire’ is consistent with this approach as we see the frequent use of suspended and minor chords alongside major ones, which creates a sense of unresolved tension. Borrowed chords, usually taken from the parallel minor or major key, are also used frequently to add stylistic color to the harmony.

“Give Me The Night” by George Benson features a smooth jazz and funk-influenced style. The chord progression in Verse 3 demonstrates a strong use of extended and altered chords, which create a richer texture and interesting harmonic movement. This particular chord progression is reminiscent of other popular songs from the same period and genre, displaying the influence of jazz harmony on contemporary R&B and pop music.

“Love Of My Life” by Queen, especially Verse 3, showcases a mix of simple and complex harmony, with many secondary dominants, borrowed chords, and diminished chords contributing to varying and shifting tonal centres. This makes for an emotional and contextually appropriate progression that fits well with the song’s lyrical content.

“Hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley is a popular and iconic song that showcases Jeff Buckley’s unique vocal talent and emotional delivery. The song is in the key of C major and features a simple yet effective chord progression. The song’s memorable melody is accompanied by guitar, which uses arpeggiated fingerpicking. This adds to its musical depth and also creates dynamic rhythmic interest. The song builds in intensity as it progresses, and this, along with the powerful lyrics, contributes to the overall emotional impact of the piece.

Portishead – Sour Times – Verse 3

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Chord Progression

[‘C#m’, ‘C’, ‘E/B’, ‘E/G#’, ‘C#m’, ‘C’, ‘E/B’, ‘E/G#’, ‘C#m’, ‘C’, ‘E/B’, ‘E/G#’]

Chord Progression Analysis

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Together, the chords form the following progression:

`C#m – C – E/B – E/G#`

In relation to the C# minor key, they are:

`C#m (‘i’) – C Major (‘♭VII’) – E Major/B (‘III/V’) – E Major/G# (‘III’)`

This repeats and forms the harmonic foundation for the verse of the song.

The `C Major` is a borrowed chord from the parallel key, C# Major. The `E Major/B` and `E Major/G#` are slash chords that implies a melodic movement in the bass.

“`markdown
Borrowed Chord:
C Major (‘♭VII’)
“`

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Similar Chord Progressions

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The use of borrowed chords from the parallel major/minor key is quite common in popular music. Similar chord progressions can be found in the works of Radiohead and The Beatles among others.

For instance, Radiohead’s “Paranoid Android” contains a notable borrowed chord progression: `G – B – C – Cm` in the key of G.

`G Major (‘I’) – B Major (‘III’) – C Major (‘IV’) – C Minor (‘iv’)`

The `B Major` is borrowed from the parallel key, G minor, and the `C Minor` is similarly borrowed from G minor.

The Beatles’ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” also showcases a borrowed chord: `A – Amaj7 – A7 – D`.

`A Major (‘I’) – A Major 7th (‘I7’) – A Dominant 7th (‘I7’) – D Major (‘IV’)`

Here, the `A Dominant 7th` is borrowed from the parallel minor key, A minor.

Musical Analysis

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The chord progression stands out for its brooding and suspenseful atmosphere, which is heightened by the minor key tonality and the use of a borrowed chord. By borrowing the `C Major` chord from the parallel major key, an interesting contrast is created. This along with the atmospheric textures of the song lends a sense of unease and tension to the music.

The `E Major/B` and `E Major/G#` are slash chords, which indicate a specified bass note other than the root of the chord. In this case, the bass note moves from B to G# while the chord remains the same – E Major. This creates a smooth and intricate bass line within the chord progression.

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Overall Analysis

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“Sour Times” by Portishead is a song with a complex and intriguing chord progression. It blends minor key tonality with modulations and chromaticism to give it a mysterious and brooding atmosphere. The song is primarily in the key of C# minor and features some borrowed chords and inversions that color the overall progression.

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Style Analysis

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“Sour Times” is characteristic of Portishead’s distinctive style, which combines elements of trip hop, downtempo, and electronic music with jazz and film score aesthetics. This chord progression is emblematic of these influences as it uses complex harmonic devices such as borrowed chords and slash chords to create an atmospheric and cinematic musical backdrop.

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Chords in the Verse 3 section of Sour Times by Portishead are:

[‘C#m’, ‘C’, ‘E/B’, ‘E/G#’, ‘C#m’, ‘C’, ‘E/B’, ‘E/G#’, ‘C#m’, ‘C’, ‘E/B’, ‘E/G#’]