New Monday #11
Happy Monday - got your coffee? Evidently I've had too much of mine because this week's New Monday is manic and all over the place.
Sick of I vi IV V or John Barry’s Secret Chord Progression
There is entirely too much I-vi-IV-V happening in pop music today, in pop music in general.
Yes, it is the chord progression of hits like this, and this, but it and its variations are overused. Here’s an article on how often Taylor Swift has used it. And here’s a video on how often she uses a slight variation on it (I V ii IV).
If you’re looking for a different progression to base your stuff on, try this: IV - V. You can also call it V - IV or I - bVII or bVII - I.
Call it what you want, the idea is moving between two major chords a whole step apart. It’s easy, very handy (especially if you’re a guitarist), and has a TON of great songs written using it.
On Broadway - original Drifters version sort of hides it a bit, but the George Benson version makes it more obvious.
My Generation - V - IV with a bass solo.
LA Woman - this song is almost one chord, the IV - V only happens on the chorus.
And there’s still more... Reelin’ in the Years.
IV - V or V - IV has a modal quality to it —Mixolydian to be exact. It also doesn’t have a strong sense of resolve. Songs written with it can seem like they’ll go on forever.
More Allman Brothers???
I promise I’ll stop with the Brothers next week, but for now:...
The song "Dreams", on their first album, is a IV - V for almost the entire song, including a fabulous extended solo by Duane Allman. Very modal and vibey recording. Great vox by Gregg.
I couldn’t resist running "Dreams" through my instant-this-sounds-better workflow of the Puff Puff mixPass into the El Juan Limiter. And I made a short video of that too.
John Barry, the God of V - IV
Film composer John Barry was a top film composer. He won a bunch of Academy awards, scored the James Bond films, etc., etc. Huge name and a great musician.
He deployed IV - V often. It’s the cornerstone of the soundtrack to the James Bond film “You Only Live Twice.”
Nancy Sinatra sang the original version for the film. The distinctive opening riff is V - IV.
Bjork did a breathy, moody remake.
John Barry, though, outdid himself, on the soundtrack for "The Midnight Cowboy". His "Theme from the Midnight Cowboy" is one of the most gorgeous things ever written. It features the most lonely sad harmonica on the planet. If there’s only one thing you listen to today, it’s this.
John Barry plays Theme from Midnight Cowboy.
That song makes me cry. And here’s something else you can cry over!
Music has a tremendous effect or Fun with the BBC
Several months ago I wrote an article on the Johnny Nash hit “I Can See Clearly Now.” A producer from the BBC, Mair Bosworth, read it, contacted me, and I was honored to play a small part in a podcast about the song. The podcast is less about the music or recording and more about the almost supernatural effect the song has on people’s lives. The podcast is incredibly moving and worth a listen.
The podcast, on BBC’s Soul Music, is here.
Shout out to Mair Bosworth at the BBC. Soul Music rules!
And... I couldn’t resist running I Can See Clearly through the Puff Puff. That plug-in is amazing.
Probably too many links and ideas this week, but I got excited. There’s so much to listen to and to learn.
Have a great week.
Warm regards,
The guys at Korneff
We love to hear from you all. Send us your V - IV progression songs. Write some!
