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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Someone to Love” by Queen exhibits a blend of rock and gospel music, showcasing their musical brilliance and theatrical elements. The chord progression forms a classic example of a departure from the typical I-IV-V root progression seen in much of popular western music, demonstrating Queen’s ingenious writing style.

The chord progression in the famous outro of Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ illustrates the eccentricity Queen was known for throughout their discography. This section consists of bold modulations, chromatic chord progressions, and borrowed chords, showing off Freddie Mercury’s compositional sophistication and creativity. It’s evident that Mercury’s influence for this song came from various musical genres, including progressive rock, classical, and operatic music.

The chord progression in the chorus of “Exit Music (For A Film)” by Radiohead is rather unconventional and features several borrowed chords from different modes. It showcases the band’s affinity for using non-diatonic chords and contributes to the song’s somber and haunting atmosphere.

The “Glory Box” by Portishead chorus progression is based in D minor and moves between this primary D minor chord and three other chords: Dm/C, Bm7b5, and Bbmaj7. The Dm/C chord is the same as the D minor, but with a different note in the bass (C). The Bm7b5 is a half-diminished chord. The Bbmaj7 is major seventh chord.

“Boulevard of Broken Dreams” by Green Day, released in 2004, is an alt-rock anthem that largely follows a 4-chord progression throughout the song. The key signature of the song is E minor (derived from the root chord), and essentially all chords used in the song are diatonic, meaning they are derived from the scales of the key. The chorus shifts to a progression in C Major. However, it returns to E minor at the end.

Queen – Somebody To Love – Chorus

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Chord Progression

[‘G’, ‘G’, ‘D/F#’, ‘Em’, ‘C’, ‘D7’, ‘G’, ‘D/F#’, ‘Em’, ‘C’, ‘D’]

Chord Progression Analysis

Here is the chord progression of the Chorus with the full chord names and their corresponding Roman Numerals:
“`
G (I),
G (I),
D/F# (V6),
Em (vi),
C (IV),
D7 (V7),
G (I),
D/F# (V6),
Em (vi),
C (IV),
D (V)
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

1. “Let It Be” by The Beatles also uses an I-V-vi-IV progression in the key of C major:
“`
C (I), G (V), Am (vi), F (IV)
“`
2. “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz maintains the I-V-vi-IV progression in the key of B major:
“`
B (I), F# (V), G#m (vi), E (IV)
“`
3. “No Woman No Cry” by Bob Marley adheres strictly to the I-V-vi-IV progression in its verses and employs it in the key of C major:
“`
C (I), G (V), Am (vi), F (IV)
“`
4. “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey: This song also includes the transition from I to a V with an inverted bass note creating a descending line, much like Queen’s “Somebody to Love.”

It’s important to note that while these songs share a similar progression, the feeling they elicit can be different due to variations in melody, rhythm, instrumentation, and lyrical content.

Musical Analysis

In the chord progression of “Somebody to Love,” the recurring I-V-vi-IV progression is clear. This progression is one of the most popular in pop music. The D/F# (V6) is an inversion that gives a smooth bass line descending from the G (I). The D7 (V7) acts as a dominant seventh chord and creates a strong pull back to the return to G (I). Many transitions between chords also involve common tones, allowing for smoother transitions and voice leading.

Overall Analysis

The song, “Somebody to Love” by Queen, utilizes the classic pop/rock harmonic structure while incorporating aspects of blues and gospel music. The harmonic progression is structured around common chords found in the key of G major. However, the way these chords are ordered and arranged is unconventional and adds depth to the song. It reflects the band’s interest in pushing the boundaries of the traditional harmonic structure common in pop music of that time. Queen is known for their innovative use of harmony, which they certainly showcase in this song.

Style Analysis

“Somebody to Love” is a derivative of the blues and gospel styles, with its poignant melodic twists, repeated use of the dominant seventh chord, and progression to the IV chord, which is reminiscent of the move to the IV chord in a standard 12-bar blues progression. The inclusion of the sixth (vi) chord could be seen as an infusion of the relative minor, which adds depth and melancholy to the sound.

Chords in the Chorus section of Somebody To Love by Queen are:

[‘G’, ‘G’, ‘D/F#’, ‘Em’, ‘C’, ‘D7’, ‘G’, ‘D/F#’, ‘Em’, ‘C’, ‘D’]