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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“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.

“The song When Doves Cry” by Prince features a very distinctive chord progression in its chorus section. Technically the song is written in a minor key, but the progression tends to flow in a way that feels almost like a major key at times. This is a common characteristic of many Prince songs, signifying the unique and innovative style of the artist.

“Lord Only Knows” by Beck is a blend of folk and country with a touch of alternative rock. The song features an interesting chord progression, especially in Verse 3, which includes a mixture of major and minor chords as well as a few borrowed chords.

The chord progression of the given segment from Muse’s “Apocalypse Please” reflects the band’s signature blend of rock, electronic, and classical music. The progression is in the key of F# minor and features some chromaticism and modal mixture, which is quite common in their style of music. The harmonic rhythm is mostly consistent, and the chords utilized provide a strong sense of direction and resolution throughout the verse.

“Sometimes It Snows In April” is a song by Prince in the pop style. It’s characterized by its use of extended and added note chords, as seen in the chord progression for Verse 3. This advanced harmonic content gives the song a distinct, rich, and complex musical texture, typical of Prince’s style.

Prince – Kiss – Verse 3

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Chord Progression

[‘A5’, ‘D5’, ‘A5’]

Chord Progression Analysis

• A5 (I)
• D5 (IV)
• A5 (I)

Note: There are no borrowed chords in this progression.

Similar Chord Progressions

1. “Rock You Like a Hurricane” by Scorpions: [‘E5’, ‘A5’, ‘E5’, ‘B5’]. Similar to “Kiss,” this song by Scorpions uses power chords and a similar I – IV – I progression, just in a different key.

2. “Highway to Hell” by AC/DC: [‘A5’, ‘D5’, ‘G5’, ‘D5’, ‘A5’]. While this song includes an additional chord (G5), its driving power chord riff and back-and-forth progression is reminiscent of the energy in Prince’s “Kiss.

Musical Analysis

In keys, A5 corresponds to a power chord built on the root note A, D5 corresponds to a power chord built on the root note D. This progression, I – IV – I, is a classic move in rock music, with the movement between the I and the IV chords providing a sense of tension and release. In this track, Prince uses very simplistic rhythm guitar strumming, which allows for the vocal melody to stand out. However, its driving rhythm and simplicity work amazingly well to support the flashy and vibrant components of the track such as Prince’s falsetto singing and the funky bassline.

Overall Analysis

“Kiss” by Prince is primarily a rock song that features pop elements. The song utilizes power chords which are common in rock music, having a stripped-down chord structure that highlights the root and the fifth notes of the chord. The defined chord progression listed for Verse 3 is: [‘A5’, ‘D5’, ‘A5’]. This progression lacks the richness of Major or Minor chords but provides a solid, driving rhythm backbone to the song, prioritizing rhythmic energy over harmonic complexity.

Style Analysis

With its stripped-down and bare power chords, the track clearly takes inspiration from rock while incorporating elements of funk and pop. Prince is known for his minimalist approach to songwriting and “Kiss” is no exception. The use of power chords is a technique borrowed from hard rock and punk genres, that Prince manages to incorporate into his unique funky/pop style, creating a memorable and catchy tune.

Chords in the Verse 3 section of Kiss by Prince are:

[‘A5’, ‘D5’, ‘A5’]