Queen – Love Of My Life – Verse 4
Love Of My Life < All Analyses
Chord Progression
[‘Bm’, ‘F#m’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘Bm’, ‘Em’, ‘A’, ‘D’]
Chord Progression Analysis
– B minor (i)
– F# minor (v)
– G Major (VI)
– D Major (III)
– G Major (VI)
– D Major (III)
– B minor (i)
– E minor (iv)
– A Major (VII)
– D Major (III)
The chord progression `G` to `D Major` can be seen as a borrowed chord from the parallel Major key of `B Minor`.
Here is the progression with borrowed chords indicated in code block:
“`B minor – F# minor – G Major (bVI) – D Major (bIII) – G Major (bVI) – D Major (bIII) – B minor – E minor – A Major (VII) – D Major (bIII)“`
Similar Chord Progressions
The Beatles’ song “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” has a similar progression in its verses B minor – A Major – G Major – D Major – G Major – D Major – E Minor (i – VII – VI – III – VI – III – iv). The progression from Bm to Am (i – VII) isn’t present in “Love of My Life”, but the following progression of G Major to D Major and back, resolving to a minor chord is a common thread between both pieces.
Musical Analysis
This song demonstrates Queen’s extensive harmonic and melodic usage, with its chord progression influencing a feeling of romanticism and sophistication. Freddie Mercury (the songwriter) delights in key changes and the use of secondary dominants and borrowed chords, which adds depth and complexity to the music. The usage of the VI – III progression can be seen as a deceptive cadence, where G Major (VI) resolves unexpectedly to D Major (III) rather than the expected minor tonic (i).
Overall Analysis
“Love of My Life” by Queen exhibits a very romantic and classical style, resonant of popular ballads primarily from the classical and romantic periods. The song beautifully plays with complex harmonies, frequent key changes and borrowings from parallel keys (modal mixture), which together yield a dramatic and emotional expression. Many of the chords used, including diminished chords, fully diminished seventh, major-minor seventh chords, and usage of secondary dominants are reminiscent of 19th-century Romantic music.
Style Analysis
The style exhibited in this song is a fusion of 19th-century romantic music and popular music, particularly ballad style. This can be seen with the incorporation of chromatic harmonies, complex chord progressions, and key changes which exude romantic compositional techniques.
What are the chords in: Queen – Love Of My Life – Verse 4?
[‘Bm’, ‘F#m’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘Bm’, ‘Em’, ‘A’, ‘D’]
