Queen – Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy – Bridge 1
Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy < All Analyses
Chord Progression
[‘Fm’, ‘C/E’, ‘Edim’, ‘C/E’, ‘Edim’, ‘C/E’, ‘Fm’, ‘Eb7’, ‘Ab’, ‘Eb7’, ‘Ab’, ‘Eb7’, ‘Ab’, ‘G7’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘Em’, ‘Am’, ‘Dm7’, ‘Fm’, ‘G7’, ‘C’, ‘G7’]
Chord Progression Analysis
1. Fm (iv)
2. C/E (I)
3. Edim (ii°)
4. C/E (I)
5. Edim (ii°)
6. C/E (I)
7. Fm (iv)
8. Eb7 (V/iv in Ab)
9. Ab (♭VI)
10. Eb7 (V/iv in Ab)
11. Ab (♭VI)
12. Eb7 (V/iv in Ab)
13. Ab (♭VI)
14. G7 (V)
15. C (I)
16. F (IV)
17. Em (iii)
18. Am (vi)
19. Dm7 (ii7)
20. Fm (iv)
21. G7 (V)
22. C (I)
23. G7 (V)
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“Borrowed chords”: [“Fm”, “Eb7”, “Ab”]
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Similar Chord Progressions
“Across The Universe” by The Beatles utilizes a similar concept:
1. F#m (ii)
2. A (IV)
3. E (I)
4. A (IV)
5. E (I)
6. E7 (V)
7. A (IV)
8. E (I)
9. E7 (V)
Another example is “Daughter” by Pearl Jam:
1. G (I)
2. D/F# (V)
3. Em7 (ii)
4. G (I)
5. D/F# (V)
6. Em7 (ii)
7. G (I)
8. D/F# (V)
9. Cadd9 (IV)
As with Queen, both these examples also make use of mixing major and minor chords in their progression, adding color and tension through this technique.
Musical Analysis
The beginning of this progression starts with the iv (Fm), which creates tension and a moody tonality. The next chord is the I (C/E), which restores some harmony temporarily, but then goes to the ii° (Edim), a diminished chord that creates a strong sense of tension or despair, but then resolves back to I (C/E). The progression repeats this pattern. This creates a unique moody tone throughout these sequences. The modulation into Ab (borrowed chord) through Eb7, secondary dominants, introduces a richer sound and heightens expectation for resolution. The series of dominant-tonic relationships (G7-C) brings drive and momentum in the progression.
Overall Analysis
The key of the song “Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy” by Queen is primarily in C Major. The song employs both diatonic chords (chords that naturally occur within the major scale key) and borrowed chords (chords from a parallel mode). There is a bit of modal mixture where the song borrows from an outside key, specifically the minor key, which is often used in pop music to add color and tension. You can see this in the use of some of the chords here like Fm and Eb7. The piece also utilizes secondary dominant chords and diminished chords. In the bridge, there is modulation to different keys, namely to Fm, which is a parallel minor of F, includes Eb7 (secondary dominant) and Ab (borrowed chord), and goes through sequence of V-I pattern (G7-C).
Style Analysis
A common trait in Queen’s music is the tactic of bouncing between harmonic tension and resolution. This is seen strongly in this sequence with the movement between diminished chords and the resolve to the tonic chord. There is also an ambiguous feel by bouncing between minor and major chords. Queen often uses borrowed chords to create a distinctive, almost theatrical sound.
What are the chords in: Queen – Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy – Bridge 1?
[‘Fm’, ‘C/E’, ‘Edim’, ‘C/E’, ‘Edim’, ‘C/E’, ‘Fm’, ‘Eb7’, ‘Ab’, ‘Eb7’, ‘Ab’, ‘Eb7’, ‘Ab’, ‘G7’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘Em’, ‘Am’, ‘Dm7’, ‘Fm’, ‘G7’, ‘C’, ‘G7’]
