Queen – Somebody To Love – Verse 2
Somebody To Love < All Analyses
Chord Progression
[‘G’, ‘D/F#’, ‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘A7’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘D/F#’, ‘Em’, ‘A7’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘A7’, ‘D’, ‘A7’, ‘D’, ‘C’]
Chord Progression Analysis
G (I), D/F# (V/V), Em (vi), G (I), A7 (V/V/V), D (V), G (I), D/F# (V/V), Em (vi), A7 (V/V/V), D (V), G (I), A7 (V/V/V), D (V), A7 (V/V/V), D (V), C (IV)
Similar Chord Progressions
1. “Imagine” by John Lennon – C (I), CMaj7 (I), F (IV), C (I), E7 (III7), F (IV)
2. “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles – G (I), D/F# (V6), Em (vi)
3. “Let It Be” by The Beatles – C (I), G (V), Am (vi), F (IV), C (I), G (V), F (IV)
These songs don’t have the exact same chord progression but the presence of secondary dominant chords and vi chords in major keys makes them similar in style to Somebody to Love by Queen.
Musical Analysis
The chord progression for “Somebody To Love” is relatively simple, but effective. Freddie Mercury uses both diatonic and secondary dominant chords throughout the verse, adding variation and sparking interest while providing a strong, recognizable harmonic structure. The D/F# is a first inversion of a D chord, showing further sophistication in Mercury’s composition abilities.
Overall Analysis
“Someone to Love” by Queen is a rock song infused with gospel and blues influences. It’s written in the key of Ab major but the second verse you have provided seems to be in G major.
Style Analysis
Freddie Mercury often drew from his classical piano training to create complex harmonies and chord progressions, and “Somebody to Love” is no exception. With its use of secondary dominants, the piece particularly shares a similarity with much of classical and jazz music. The piece also rides a line between tension and release, setting up expectations with its diatonic chords and then subverting them using non-diatonic chords, reminiscent of the blues.
What are the chords in: Queen – Somebody To Love – Verse 2?
[‘G’, ‘D/F#’, ‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘A7’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘D/F#’, ‘Em’, ‘A7’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘A7’, ‘D’, ‘A7’, ‘D’, ‘C’]
