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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Kiss” is a funk, synthpop song written, produced and performed by Prince. The song’s structure runs around a simple, repeated two-bar eight-note pattern, but what’s odd is the song’s key. Dotting between E and D, it’s hard to pin down definitively, but the song seems to be written in the ambiguous key of E Mixolydian/D major.

“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.

“The Long and Winding Road” by The Beatles is an iconic pop ballad renowned for its rich harmonic content. It employs both modal interchange and secondary dominants, thus securing its place as an exemplary piece in pop music harmony. Its dominant tonality is D Major, however, it makes use of many borrowed chords.

“Tonight, Tonight” by The Smashing Pumpkins is a rock song happy to embrace classical music tropes. An orchestral, string-heavy arrangement propels the song, surrounding the listener with a rich tapestry of sound. The grandiose sound of the full orchestra is bolstered by the band’s dual guitars and Billy Corgan’s characteristic singing.

The chord progression in Muse’s “Feeling Good” is in the key of G minor and showcases an interesting and creative use of borrowed chords and inversions. The progression follows a cyclical pattern that creates tension and release throughout the verse. The style is reminiscent of soul and jazz influences with a hint of rock elements, which is a common characteristic in Muse’s music.

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:

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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’]