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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Motion Picture Soundtrack” is an alternative rock song by Radiohead from their album “Kid A” released in 2000. The chord progression in the hook features a mixture of harmonic choices from both diatonic and non-diatonic sources, with borrowed chords and chromatic notes. The style displays a unique blend of rock, electronic, and experimental music elements, which is characteristic of the art/pop-rock genre of the time.

The given chord progression is in the key of C Major and follows a simple, yet effective structure. It features a blend of consonance and dissonance, which creates a sense of resolution and tension simultaneously. This progression is characteristic of Radiohead’s unique sound and their ability to create emotive landscapes through their music.

“Landslide” by The Smashing Pumpkins is a subtly complicated piece of music. At first glance, the chord progression may seem simple, but it actually incorporates a number of rich musical techniques that give the song its iconic depth and emotional resonance. The song follows a simple yet powerful chord progression and relies heavily on the interplay between the root C major chord, the G6, and the Am minor. There is a recurring theme of returning to the G6, which creates tension and suggests feelings of melancholy or introspection.

“Give Me The Night” by George Benson features a smooth jazz and funk-influenced style. The chord progression in Verse 3 demonstrates a strong use of extended and altered chords, which create a richer texture and interesting harmonic movement. This particular chord progression is reminiscent of other popular songs from the same period and genre, displaying the influence of jazz harmony on contemporary R&B and pop music.

“Wonderwall” by Oasis is in the key of G major and features an effective and memorable chord progression that repeats throughout the song. The progression falls into the indie rock and Britpop genres, highlighting simple, strong harmonies, and incorporates a repeated sequence of Em–G-D–A7sus4 throughout its composition with occasional deviations.

Radiohead – Motion Picture Soundtrack – Verse 3

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Chord Progression

G, Csus2, Bmadd9, Csus2, G, Csus2, Bmadd9, Csus2

Chord Progression Analysis

1. G major (I)
2. Csus2 (IVsus2 / borrowed from G Mixolydian)
3. Bmadd9 (iii(add9))
4. Csus2 (IVsus2 / borrowed from G Mixolydian)
5. G major (I)
6. Csus2 (IVsus2 / borrowed from G Mixolydian)
7. Bmadd9 (iii(add9))
8. Csus2 (IVsus2 / borrowed from G Mixolydian)

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Borrowed Chord: Csus2 (IVsus2 / borrowed from G Mixolydian)
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Similar Chord Progressions

1. Coldplay – “Clocks”
Chord Progression: [‘Dmaj9’, ‘Aadd9’, ‘Eadd9’]

2. U2 – “With or Without You”
Chord Progression: [‘D’, ‘Asus4’, ‘Bsus4’, ‘Gsus2’]

3. Oasis – “Wonderwall”
Chord Progression: [‘Em7’, ‘G’, ‘Dsus4’, ‘Asus4’, ‘Cadd9’]

These chord progressions feature similar use of suspended and extended chords, creating a distinctive sound that is found in many alternative rock songs. While not exactly the same as Radiohead’s Motion Picture Soundtrack, these chord progressions demonstrate similar non-functional and expressive harmonic techniques.

Musical Analysis

The G major (I) chords serve as a melodic anchor in this progression, giving a sense of resolution amidst the surrounding harmonic tension. The Csus2 is a borrowed chord from the G Mixolydian mode, and it adds some harmonic ambiguity to the progression, since it features the 2nd scale degree suspended above the major 3rd. The Bmadd9 chord accentuates the minor modality and adds tension, which resolves back to the Csus2 chord before returning to the G major (I) chord.

Overall Analysis

Verse 3 of Radiohead’s Motion Picture Soundtrack features a melancholic and non-functional chord progression that showcases the band’s use of interesting chord voicings as well as the mixture of major and minor modalities. The progression revolves around the G major, and shifts between borrowed chords and non-conventional chord extensions such as the sus2 chord. This approach is typical of alternative rock bands like Radiohead, which often stray away from traditional norms in favor of innovative and evocative harmonies.

Style Analysis

Motion Picture Soundtrack’s chord progression can be interpreted as a fusion of modal and alternative rock styles. Radiohead’s frequent use of unconventional chord voicings can be seen here, with the incorporation of sus2 and add9 chord extensions. The melancholic yet emotional progression is characteristic of alternative rock’s tendency to evoke introspection and strong emotional responses.

Chords in the Verse 3 section of Motion Picture Soundtrack by Radiohead are:

G, Csus2, Bmadd9, Csus2, G, Csus2, Bmadd9, Csus2