Radiohead – Idioteque – Chorus
Idioteque < All Analyses
Chord Progression
Cadd2/B, Em, Gm/Eb, C, Cadd2/B, Em, Gm/Eb, C
Chord Progression Analysis
Cadd2/B (IV’), Em (v), Gm/Eb (bIII), C (I),
Cadd2/B (IV’), Em (v), Gm/Eb (bIII), C (I)
“` Borrowed Chord: Gm/Eb (bIII)“`
Similar Chord Progressions
One artist with a similar style to Radiohead is Bjork, who also incorporates unconventional progressions and unique harmonic devices in her music. A similar progression can be found in her song “Joga”:
Fmaj7 (I), Em (v), A/E (bIII), F (I)
Additionally, another song that employs a similar sense of tension and release through chord progression is “Find My Way” by Nine Inch Nails:
F (I), A (V), Abmaj7 (bII), F (I)
While not direct copies of the “Idioteque” chord progression, these examples showcase the use of modal mixture, chromatic mediants, and predominant chords followed by dominant chords, creating tension and release in a similar manner.
Musical Analysis
The chorus chord progression starts with a Cadd2/B which is a C major chord with an added 2nd (D) and the bass note on B. This acts as a predominant chord, resolving to Em (v-chord). It creates an interesting sonority and adds tension to the progression. Following that, a borrowed chord from the parallel minor, Gm/Eb, which is the bIII chord, acts as a chromatic mediant to the initial C major. This chord has strong voice leading qualities and darkens the overall sound. Finally, the progression resolves to C (I-chord), which provides a sense of closure and harmonic resolution.
Overall Analysis
“Idioteque” by Radiohead is an experimental and atmospheric electronic song, released on the album “Kid A” in 2000. The chord progression of the chorus is fairly simple, yet features some distinctive chords which create a sense of tension and release. It incorporates modal mixture and chromatic mediants, which are typical elements found in Radiohead’s music.
Style Analysis
Radiohead is known for their innovative and unconventional approach to songwriting, often experimenting with unconventional time signatures, chord progressions, and instrumentation. The chord progression in the chorus of “Idioteque” showcases Radiohead’s ability to create tension and release using modal mixture, chromatic mediants, and inversions. The progression also reflects their tendency to incorporate electronic elements and atmospheric textures, which further adds to the distinctive and haunting quality of their music.
What are the chords in: Radiohead – Idioteque – Chorus?
Cadd2/B, Em, Gm/Eb, C, Cadd2/B, Em, Gm/Eb, C
