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Related Music Theory Alchemy

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.

“Goodbye Blue Sky” by Pink Floyd is a beautifully haunting piece with a chord progression that demonstrates their innovative use of borrowed chords and modulation to explore various tonal centers. The song is generally in the key of A minor.

“Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd is an iconic rock ballad from their 1975 album of the same name. The song’s verse chord progression evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing, featuring a combination of major and minor chords, as well as borrowed chords and inversions that create a unique and emotional soundscape.

“Kiss” by Prince is a well-loved song known for its catchy tune and funky, upbeat style. The song is composed in the key of A major. However, it lacks typical diatonic major harmonies because Prince used power chords (fifth chords) instead of full major or minor chords. The progression is largely built around the ‘A5’ and ‘D5’ power chords, with the occasional ‘E5’ and ‘E9sus4’ worked in to add some variation.

Portishead – The Rip – Verse 1

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Chord Progression

[‘Em’, ‘F’, ‘Em’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘Bb’, ‘Am’, ‘G’]

Chord Progression Analysis

Here are the full chord names along with their roman numeral representations:

“`
Em (‘ii’), F (‘bIII’), Em (‘ii’), C (‘VII’), Am (‘iv’), Bb (‘bV’), Am (‘iv’), G (‘III’)
“`

The chord F (‘bIII’) and Bb (‘bV’) are borrowed chords.

Similar Chord Progressions

1. Radiohead – “Creep”:
“`
G (‘I’), B (‘III’), C (‘IV’), Cm (‘iv’)
“`
The progression uses a borrowed minor iv chord from the parallel minor scale, similar to how “The Rip” borrows chords from parallel modes.

2. Nirvana – “Smells Like Teen Spirit”:
“`
F (‘I’), Bb (‘IV’), Ab (‘bIII’), Db (‘bVI’)
“`
This progression uses the borrowed bIII chord, similar to the use of the bIII in “The Rip.”

3. The Beatles – “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”:
“`
Am (‘i’), Am/G (‘i’), Am/F# (‘i’), Am/F (‘i’), Am/G (‘i’), D (‘IV’), E (‘V’), C#m (‘ii’), C (‘bII’), Bm (‘i’), E (‘V’)
“`
While more complex, this progression utilizes borrowed chords, tonal shifts and secondary dominants, similar to the harmonic diversity in “The Rip.”

Musical Analysis

The song, by construction, is predominantly in E minor, though it explores tonal centers around various modes, such as E Aeolian and E Dorian. The verse moves from ‘Em’ (the 2nd degree), to ‘F’ (a chord borrowed from the parallel major or the E Phrygian mode, considered the flat 3rd degree), back again to ‘Em’.

The progression then drops to ‘C’ (7th degree in E minor), to ‘Am’ (4th degree), then uses another borrowed chord ‘Bb’ (borrowed from the E Locrian mode acting as flat 5th degree), and back to ‘Am’. The verse closes with a ‘G’ (3rd degree in E minor), adding a dimension of resolution.

Overall Analysis

“The Rip” by Portishead is a classic example of the Trip-hop genre. It features simple, yet effective harmonic progressions that offer a melancholic tone which is widely utilized in this genre. The distinctiveness of this particular chord progression lies on its subtle shifting between minor and major tonalities, as well as its use of borrowed chords.

Verse 1

Style Analysis

Portishead, being key contributors to the development of the Trip-hop genre, use this progression to encapsulate the melancholic, downtempo mood. The progression isn’t complex but its mix of diatonic and borrowed chords, plus the minor to major tonality create a distinctive, haunting sound, fitting the vocal melodies and lyrics. The borrowing of chords from different modes aids to a layered soundscape, a common trait in Trip-hop.

Chords in the Verse 1 section of The Rip by Portishead are:

[‘Em’, ‘F’, ‘Em’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘Bb’, ‘Am’, ‘G’]