Portishead – Sour Times – Verse 3
Sour Times < All Analyses
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.
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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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What are the chords in: Portishead – Sour Times – Verse 3?
[‘C#m’, ‘C’, ‘E/B’, ‘E/G#’, ‘C#m’, ‘C’, ‘E/B’, ‘E/G#’, ‘C#m’, ‘C’, ‘E/B’, ‘E/G#’]
