Prince – When Doves Cry – Outro
When Doves Cry < All Analyses
Chord Progression
[‘Em’, ‘F’, ‘G’]
Chord Progression Analysis
The chords used in the Outro progression are as follows:
E minor (‘vi’); F Major (‘bVII’); G Major (‘I’)
As you can see, the F Major being a ‘bVII’ clearly indicates that it is a borrowed chord derived from the parallel minor scale.
“`borowed chords
F Major (‘bVII’)
“`
Similar Chord Progressions
1. Radiohead’s “Creep” also uses a similar progression, but in a different key — C (‘I’), E (‘III’), F (‘IV’), Fm (‘iv’).
2. U2’s song “With Or Without You” utilizes a similar progression, although it is more simplified. The progression in the key of D is as follows — D (‘I’), A (‘V’), Bm (‘vi’), G (‘IV’).
Please note that it is quite uncommon to find a song with the same exact chord progression as Prince’s “When Doves Cry”. However, both “Creep” and “With Or Without You” share the concept of repeating the same set of chords throughout the song, much like “When Doves Cry”.
Musical Analysis
The chord progression of ‘When Doves Cry’ helps in creating a unique melancholic atmosphere. The use of borrowed chords keeps the song emotionally charged and the constant repetition of the same chord sequence allows Prince to experiment with other elements of the music such as the melody and the rhythm.
Overall Analysis
“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.
Style Analysis
Prince is known for his fusion of various musical styles including funk, pop, and rock which is clearly reflected in ‘When Doves Cry’. The use of borrowed chords reflects a ‘mixture’ concept (taking chords from parallel scales), which is common in jazz and blues, but in this case used in a pop/rock context. Moreover, the use of synthesizers and drum machines is indicative of the electronic music style of the mid-1980s.
What are the chords in: Prince – When Doves Cry – Outro?
[‘Em’, ‘F’, ‘G’]
