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The pre-chorus of Weezer’s “If You’re Wondering If I Want You To (I Want You To)” features a simple yet effective chord progression primarily centered around the D major chord. The piece overall follows a pop-rock, alternative musical style consistent with the typical sound of Weezer.

“Buddy Holly” by Weezer is a power-pop/alternative rock song from their debut studio album “Weezer” (also known as the Blue Album) released in 1994. The verse chord progression features diatonic chords from the A major key, along with some inversions and techniques borrowed from other musical styles such as blues and rock.

“Goodbye Blue Sky” is a song by Pink Floyd from their 1979 album, “The Wall.” It is known for its haunting, ethereal quality, achieved through the use of predominantly minor chords, lush harmonies, and a slow, atmospheric tempo. The song’s lyrics and melancholic mood reflect feelings of loss and desolation.

“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.

“Penny Lane,” written by the Beatles, utilizes key changes and borrowed chords to create an interesting and complex tonal palette. The song is best understood to primarily be in the key of A Major; however, it frequently borrows chords from the parallel minor key, uses unexpected dominant chords, and briefly modulates to other key areas for color and variety. This is characteristic of several Beatles songs, and it’s one of the ways they added complexity to their music while still remaining accessible.

Weezer – If Youre Wondering If I Want You To I Want You To – Chorus

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Chord Progression

D, Bm, Bm, G, A, Bm, D, Bm, Bm, G, A, D

Chord Progression Analysis

D (I) – Bm (vi) – Bm (vi) – G (IV) – A (V) – Bm (vi) – D (I) – Bm (vi) – Bm (vi) – G (IV) – A (V) – D (I)

Similar Chord Progressions

1. “Wonderwall” by Oasis:
D (I) – Dsus4 (Isus4) – Asus4 (IVsus4) – G (IV) – Bm (vi) – A (V) – D (I)

2. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana (in F minor):
Fm (i) – Bb (IV) – Ab (III) – Db (VI)

These songs, like Weezer’s “If You’re Wondering If I Want You To (I Want You To),” make use of diatonic chords in their progressions while also including variations, such as sus chords in “Wonderwall” or chords borrowed from the parallel major scale in “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” This gives the progressions an additional layer of interest and emotion comparable to Weezer’s piece.

Musical Analysis

The chorus begins with the tonic chord, D, establishing the key of the piece. It then moves to the relative minor chord, Bm, which serves to add depth and contrast to the harmony. The repetition of the Bm chord emphasizes its importance in the progression. Following the Bm, we move to G and A, the IV and V chords, respectively. These chords are used to create a sense of forward momentum and ultimately lead back to the tonic.

The second half of the progression mirrors the first half, but with one key difference: rather than returning to Bm for another round of vi-IV-V, the progression resolves directly back to the tonic, D, creating a strong sense of resolution and conclusion.

Overall Analysis

“If You’re Wondering If I Want You To (I Want You To)” by Weezer has a chorus featuring a chord progression in the key of D major. The progression includes chords from both the major and minor scales while still primarily using diatonic chords from D major. The style of the progression is reminiscent of 90s alternative rock, and it finds similarity with other iconic chord progressions in rock music.

Style Analysis

The chord progression used in this Weezer piece is characteristic of the alternative rock style of the 1990s. The use of diatonic chords, simple harmonic structures, and a strong bass line provide a solid foundation for the melody and lyrics. The progression’s mix of major and minor chords gives the chorus an emotional complexity common in alternative rock, conveying a wide range of feelings such as nostalgia, hope, and longing.

Chords in the Chorus section of If Youre Wondering If I Want You To I Want You To by Weezer are:

D, Bm, Bm, G, A, Bm, D, Bm, Bm, G, A, D