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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Kiss” by Prince is a classic example showcasing Prince’s unique and complex songwriting abilities. The song is written in the key of A major. The distinctive funk rock style is primarily expressed via dominant and suspended chords. This combined with Prince’s rhythmically tight and syncopated guitar playing gives the song its infectious groove.

“When Doves Cry” by Prince features an unorthodox chord progression compared to many pop or rock songs from the era. The chord progression in the Outro as well as throughout the song remains constant, which underscores the plaintive mood of the song and lyrics. The progression: Em – F – G in the Outro contains borrowed chords from the parallel minor. This introduces a sense of ambiguity to the overall tonality.

“Across The Universe” by The Beatles, written mostly by John Lennon, is known for its rich and complex harmonic structures that added new dimensions to pop music. The song is predominately in the key of D major, with occasional borrowings from the parallel minor (D minor) and the closely-related key of B minor. The verse 1 progression – D, Bm, F#m, Em7, A, A7, D, Bm, F#m, Em7, Gm – creates an affectingly melancholic mood through its mix of major, minor and borrowed chords, producing a unique ambience that evokes a sense of cosmic contemplation, matching with the philosophical lyrics of the song.

“Comfortably Numb” by Pink Floyd is a classic progressive rock song from their 1979 concept album “The Wall”. It features unique chord progressions, ambient guitar tones, and an atmospheric vocal performance. This particular verse progression is inspired by the Dorian mode, contributing to its melancholic and introspective atmosphere.

“Fake Plastic Trees” by Radiohead is a melancholic song with an emotional chord progression. The song is in the key of A Major and features a mixture of diatonic chords, suspended chords, and extended chords that create a sense of yearning and tension. The verse is characterized by a cyclical progression that begins and ends on the tonic (A), providing a sense of unresolved tension. This helps to support the song’s themes of artificiality and dissatisfaction.

Prince – Kiss – Verse 1

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Chord Progression

[‘A5’, ‘D5’, ‘A5’]

Chord Progression Analysis

Particularly in verse 1, the chord progression is as follows:
A5 (‘I’ or tonic), D5 (‘IV’ or subdominant), A5 (‘I’ or tonic)

For easier processing, here is the requested code block:

“`
A5 (‘I’), D5 (‘IV’), A5 (‘I’)
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Similar Chord Progressions

There are plenty of songs that use a very simple I-IV or I-IV-I progression in various keys such as:

– “Should I Stay or Should I Go” by The Clash utilizes the chords D5 (‘I’) – G5 (‘IV’) – D5 (‘I’)
– “Blitzkrieg Bop” by The Ramones also uses a similar power chord pattern: A5 (‘I’) – D5 (‘IV’) – E5 (‘V’)
– “You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC also has the simple power chord progression of G5 (‘I’) – C5 (‘IV’) – D5 (‘V’)

Please note that while these songs share a similar chord pattern with “Kiss” by Prince, they each have their unique arrangements and genre-defining attributes, thereby generating different musical effects and emotional responses.

Musical Analysis

The use of these chords adds a sense of stability to the song. The simplicity of power chords allows Prince’s vocals to stand at the forefront. The occasional use of ‘E5’ and ‘E9sus4’ gives the song a touch of suspension between the tonic and dominant, creating a slight tension that keeps the listener engaged.

Overall Analysis

“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.

Style Analysis

Prince’s “Kiss” is characteristic of his synth-pop and rock infused style. Power chords are a common feature in rock music where the music aims for a more powerful, raw sound rather than complex harmony. The use of the ‘E9sus4’ in other parts of the song adds a flavor of jazz and funk, genres that Prince often leans into.

Chords in the Verse 1 section of Kiss by Prince are:

[‘A5’, ‘D5’, ‘A5’]