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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.

The chord progression in question is from the verse 2 of Weezer’s “The Good Life.” It is a pop-rock song in the key of G major, and the progression features common chords found in the key, with one borrowed chord – B7 – to add a touch of tension and harmonic interest.

Chord Progression Analysis (with Roman Numerals):
G Major (I) – D Major (V) – A minor (ii) – E Major (VI) – G Major (I) – D Major (V) – A minor (ii) – E Major (VI) – G Major (I) – D Major (V) – A minor (ii) – E Major (VI) – G Major (I) – D Major (V) – A minor (ii) – E Major (VI) – G Major (I) – D Major (V) – A minor (ii) – B7 (`V7/iii`)

The borrowed chord in question is the B7, which is borrowed from the relative minor key (E minor) and functions as a secondary dominant to the iii chord (B minor).

This chord progression from the verse of Tame Impala’s “Alter Ego” suggests a key of C major due to the recurring instances of Cmaj7. However, the presence of certain chords like Bm7 and Dm suggests that Kevin Parker is creatively “borrowing” chords from the parallel and associated keys (C minor, D minor) to create colorful departures from the primary tonality. The use of extended chords (7ths) and suspended chords (Bsus4) adds a sense of complexity and sophistication to the harmony. As can be seen, the chord progression mostly oscillates between Cmaj7, Bsus4, Bm7 before moving to Dm and Gm towards the end of the verse.

“I Sat By The Ocean” by Queens of the Stone Age employs multiple chords which creates a complex and engaging harmony in the verse. The song is in the key G# major and it uses multiple borrowed chords from other keys. It’s worth noting that Queens of the Stone Age has a distinct sound that incorporates elements of stoner rock, heavy metal, and alternative rock into their material. Sizeable use of power chords that gives the song its heavy rock feel.

The song, “As Tears Go By” by The Rolling Stones, is primarily in the key of G major. Its chord progression contains elements of classic pop songwriting, particularly from the 1960s, featuring major and minor chords, functional harmony, and a few borrowed chords. The verse has a repeating chord sequence that eventually concludes with a resolution to the tonic chord.

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

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Chord Progression

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

Chord Progression Analysis

D (I) – Bm (vi) – G (IV) – Bb (`bVI`) – A (V) – D (I)

Similar Chord Progressions

1. Radiohead – “Creep” [‘G’, ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘`Cm`’, ‘G’, ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘`Cm`’]
G (I) – B (III) – C (IV) – `Cm (iv)`

2. The Beatles – “Something” [‘C’, ‘Cmaj7’, ‘C7’, ‘F’, ‘`Fm`’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘C’]
C (I) – Cmaj7 (Imaj7) – C7 (V7/IV) – F (IV) – `Fm (iv)` – C (I) – G (V) – C (I)

The chord progressions in these songs also feature borrowed chords from their respective parallel minor keys, adding interesting harmonic twists to otherwise simple chord progressions.

Musical Analysis

The verse features a six-chord progression that starts with the tonic chord D major (I). It then moves to B minor (vi), acting as a predominant, followed by G major (IV), a subdominant that strengthens the predominant function. The fourth chord in the progression, Bb major (`bVI`), is a borrowed chord from the parallel minor key (D minor), introducing a chromatic element that adds some tension and interest. Following the borrowed chord, the progression goes to A major (V), which is the dominant to resolve back to the tonic D major (I).

Overall Analysis

The chord progression of the verse in Weezer’s “If You’re Wondering If I Want You To I Want You To” uses a combination of diatonic and borrowed chords in the key of D Major. The use of the borrowed chord from the parallel minor key contributes to the unique sound of the progression.

Style Analysis

Weezer’s music is known for its catchy melodies and clever lyrics, often drawing from rock, punk, and power-pop influences. The use of borrowed chords in this progression, such as the `bVI` chord, adds color, and creates a mix of familiarity and novelty that keeps the listener engaged. This is a common technique in rock and pop music to make the harmony more interesting.

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

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