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'50s progression

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{ \relative c' { \clef treble \time 4/4 \key c \major <c e g>1_\markup { \concat { \translate #'(-3.5 . 0) { "C: I" \hspace #7 "vi" \hspace #6 "IV" \hspace #6 "V" \hspace #7 "I" } } } <a c e a> <f c' f a> <g b d g> <c e g> \bar "||" } }
A '50s progression in C

The '50s progression (also known as the "Heart and Soul" chords, the "Stand by Me" changes,[1][2] the doo-wop progression[3]: 204  and the "ice cream changes"[4]) is a chord progression and turnaround used in Western popular music. The progression, represented in Roman numeral analysis, is I–vi–IV–V. For example, in C major: C–Am–F–G. As the name implies, it was common in the 1950s and early 1960s and is particularly associated with doo-wop. The first popular song to use the progression was "Blue Moon", written in 1934. This inspired "Heart and Soul" in 1938.

Theory

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In Western classical music during the common practice period, chord progressions are used to structure a musical composition. The destination of a chord progression is known as a cadence, or two chords that signify the end or prolongation of a musical phrase. The most conclusive and resolving cadences return to the tonic or I chord; following the circle of fifths, the most suitable chord to precede the I chord is a V chord. This particular cadence, V–I, is known as an authentic cadence. However, since a I–V–I progression is repetitive and skips most of the circle of fifths, it is common practice to precede the dominant chord with a suitable predominant chord, such as a IV chord or a ii chord (in major), in order to maintain interest. In this case, the '50s progression uses a IV chord, resulting in the ubiquitous I–IV–V–I progression. The vi chord before the IV chord in this progression (creating I–vi–IV–V–I) is used as a means to prolong the tonic chord, as the vi or submediant chord is commonly used as a substitute for the tonic chord, and to ease the voice leading of the bass line: in a I–vi–IV–V–I progression (without any chordal inversions) the bass voice descends in major or minor thirds from the I chord to the vi chord to the IV chord.

Variations

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As with any other chord progression, there are many possible variations, for example turning the dominant or V into a V7, or repeated I–vi progression followed by a single IV–V progression. A very common variation is having ii substitute for the subdominant, IV, creating the progression I–vi–ii–V (a variant of the circle progression) and thus the ii–V–I turnaround.[citation needed]

50s progression in C – harmonic rhythm two beat four beat eight beat

variable

Variations include switching the vi and the IV chord to create I–IV–vi–V, as is used in "More Than a Feeling" by Boston[5] and "She Drives Me Crazy" by Fine Young Cannibals.[6][7] This is also similar to the I–V–vi–IV progression.[citation needed]

The harmonic rhythm, or the pace at which the chords occur, may be varied including two beats (half-measure) per chord, four (full measure or bar), eight (two measures), and eight beats per chord except for IV and V(7) which get four each.[3]: 206 

"Sleep Walk" by Santo & Johnny uses a similar progression, with the IV replaced by its parallel minor iv for an overall progression of I–vi–iv–V.[citation needed]

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This is a partial list of recorded songs containing the '50s progression. The list does not include songs containing the progression for very short, irrelevant sections of the songs. In some cases, such as "Blue Moon", it includes notable remade recordings of songs ("covers") by other artists; but mostly the songs are shown in their original versions.

Title Artist Year Progression
"Hero" Enrique Iglesias 2001 I–vi–IV–V
"A Hundred Pounds of Clay" Gene McDaniels 1960 I-vi-IV-V
"The KKK Took My Baby Away" Ramones 1981 I–vi–IV–V
"Oh, Pretty Woman" Roy Orbison; Roy Orbison, Bill Dees (writers) 1964 I–vi–IV–V
"Ain't I Right" Marty Robbins 1966 I–vi–IV–V
"A Teenager in Love" Dion and the Belmonts; Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman (writers) 1959 I–vi–IV–V
"Angel Baby" Rosie and the Originals 1960 I–vi–IV–V
"Aku Yang Tersakiti" Judika 2010 I–vi–IV–V
"All I Have to Do Is Dream" The Everly Brothers 1958 I–vi–IV–V
"All Right" Christopher Cross 1983 I–vi–ii–V
"Baby" Justin Bieber 2010 I–vi–IV–V
"Baby Doll" The Buttertones 2016 I–vi–IV–V
"Bad Girl" The Detroit Cobras 1996 I–vi–IV–V
"Bau Bau Bau" Project Pop 2003 I–vi–IV–V
"Baby, I'm an Anarchist!" Against Me! 2002 I–vi–IV–V
"Beautiful Girls" Sean Kingston 2007 I–vi–IV–V
"Beyond the Sea"[8] Jack Lawrence and Charles Trenet 1946 I–vi–IV–V
"Blank Space" Taylor Swift 2014 I–vi–IV–V (verses)
"Bleeding Love" Leona Lewis 2007 I–vi–IV–V
"Blue Moon" The Marcels 1961 I–vi–IV–V
"Body Feels EXIT" Namie Amuro 1995 vi–IV–V–I
"Body Say"[9] Demi Lovato 2016 IV–V–I–vi (chorus)
"Boom Clap"[10] Charli XCX 2014 IV–V–I–vi
"Boyband" Tipe-X 2012 I–vi–IV–V
"Boys (Summertime Love) Sabrina 1987 IV–V–I–vi (pre-chorus)
"Boyfriend" Boyfriend 2011 I–vi–IV–V
"Brave" Sara Bareilles 2013 I–vi–IV–V (verse and chorus)
"Brave as a Noun" Andrew Jackson Jihad 2007 I–vi–IV–V
"Bristol Stomp" The Dovells 1961 I–vi–IV–V
"Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" Neil Sedaka 1962 I–vi–IV–V
"Brokenhearted" Karmin 2012 I–vi–IV–V
"Burberry Headband" Lil Mosey 2018 I–vi–IV–V
"C.h.a.o.s.m.y.t.h." One Ok Rock 2011 I–vi–IV–V
"Capital Radio" The Clash 1977 I–vi–IV–V
"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" Darlene Love 1963 I–vi–IV–V
"Chain Gang"[11] Sam Cooke 1960 I–vi–IV–V
"Close Your Eyes" Meghan Trainor 2014 I–vi–IV–V
"Cobalah untuk Setia"[citation needed] Krisdayanti 2004 I–vi–IV–V
"Complicated" Avril Lavigne 2002 I–vi–IV–V (verses)
"Coney Island Baby" The Excellents 1962 I–vi–IV–V
"Cradle Rock" The Heartbreakers (Ray Collins/ Frank Zappa) 1963 I–vi–IV–V
"Crocodile Rock"[12] Elton John 1972 I–vi–IV–V
"Cupid" Fifty Fifty 2023 ii–V–I–vi
"Can't Stop Lovin' You" Van Halen 1995 I–vi–IV–V
"Da Doo", "Dentist" Little Shop of Horrors (musical) Original Broadway Cast 1982 I–vi–IV–V
"Dance with Me Tonight" Olly Murs 2011 I–vi–IV–V
"Dear Future Husband" Meghan Trainor 2015 I–vi–IV–V
"Di Dadaku Ada Kamu"[citation needed] Vina Panduwinata 1984 ii–V–I–vi
"Diana" Paul Anka 1957 I–vi–IV–V
"Donna"[13] Ritchie Valens 1958 I–vi–IV–V
"Don't Dream It's Over"[14] Crowded House 1986 IV–V–I–vi
"Don't Say Your Love Is Killing Me" Erasure 1997 I–vi–IV–V
"Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)" The Swingin' Medallions 1966 I–vi–IV–V
"Duke of Earl"[15] Gene Chandler 1962 I–vi–IV–V
"Dura" Daddy Yankee 2018 I–vi–IV–V
"D'yer Mak'er" Led Zeppelin 1973 I–vi–IV–V
"Earth Angel"[13][16] The Penguins 1954 I–vi–IV–V
"Endless Mine" Sega 1994 I−vi−IV−V
"Enola Gay (song)" Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark 1980 I–vi–IV–V
"Epiphany" BTS 2018 I–vi–IV–V
"Escape From The City" Ted Poley 2001 I–vi–IV–V
"Eternal Flame"[17] The Bangles/Atomic Kitten 1989/2001 I–vi–IV–V
"Every Breath You Take" The Police 1983 I–vi–IV–V
"Eyes of Blue"[18] Paul Carrack 1995 I–vi–IV–V
"Eyes on Me" Faye Wong 1999 I–vi–IV–V
"Flightless Bird, American Mouth" Iron & Wine 2007 I–vi–IV–V
"Flying Without Wings Westlife 1999 I–vi–IV–V
"For Your Precious Love"[19] Jerry Butler 1958 I–vi–IV–V
"Friday"[20] Rebecca Black 2011 I–vi–IV–V
"Give a Little Love"[21] Bay City Rollers 1975 I–vi–IV–V
"Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder" The Mothers of Invention 1966 I–vi–IV–V
"Girl on Fire" Alicia Keys 2011 I–vi–IV–V
"God Is in the Rhythm" King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard 2015 I–vi–IV–V
"Happiness Is a Warm Gun"[15][22] The Beatles 1968 I–vi–IV–V
"Have It All" Jason Mraz 2018 I–vi–IV–V
"Hazure03" Kazumi Totaka[23] (Animal Crossing: New Horizons) 2020 I–vi–ii–V
"Heart and Soul"[24] Larry Clinton feat. Bea Wain 1938 I–vi–IV–V
"I'll Be Missing You" Puff Daddy feat. Faith Evans & 112 1997 I–vi–IV–V
"I'll Make Love to You" Boyz II Men 1994 I–vi–IV–V
"I'm the One" DJ Khaled 2017 I–vi–IV–V
"I'm Waiting for the Day" The Beach Boys 1966 I–vi–IV–V
"I Always Knew" The Vaccines 2012 I–vi–IV–V
"I Love You Too Much" The Book of Life (soundtrack) 2014 I–vi–IV–V
"I Think They Call This Love" Elliot James Reay 2024 I–vi–ii–V
"Ima, Kimi wo Omou"[25] HKT48 2014 vi–IV–V–I
"In the Aeroplane Over the Sea"[26] Neutral Milk Hotel 1998 I–vi–IV–V
"In The Shape Of A Heart" Jackson Browne 1986 I–vi–IV–V
"In the Still Of the Night" The Five Satins 1956 I–vi–IV–V
"I Wanna Be With You" The Raspberries 1974 I–vi–IV–V
"I Will Always Love You" Dolly Parton / Whitney Houston 1974/1992 I–vi–IV–V
"Jesus of Suburbia"[27][28] Green Day 2004 I–vi–IV–V
"Joey" Concrete Blonde 1990 I–vi–IV–V
"Just One Look" Doris Troy "[29] 1963 I–vi–IV–V
"Judas" Lady Gaga 2011 IV–V–I–vi
"Just the Way You Are" Bruno Mars 2010 I–vi–IV–I
"Kimberly" Patti Smith 1975 I–vi–IV–V
"Last Kiss"[30] Wayne Cochran 1961 I–vi–IV–V
"Looking for an Echo" Kenny Vance / Ol' 55 1975/1976 I–vi–IV–V
"Lollipop"[31] Ronald & Ruby 1958 I–vi–IV–V
"Lonely This Christmas"[32] Mud 1974 I–vi–IV–V
"Lovable"[33][34] Sam Cooke 1956 I–vi–IV–V
"Love Hurts" The Everly Brothers / Nazareth 1960/1974 I–vi–IV–V
"Making Love Out Of Nothing At All" Air Supply 1982 I–vi–IV–V
"Lupa Lupa Ingat" Kuburan 2009 I–vi–ii–V
"Mama I'm A Big Girl Now" Hairspray Original Broadway Cast 2002 I–vi–IV–V
"Mandy" Barry Manilow 1974 I–vi–IV–V
"Marathon" Tennis 2011 I–vi–IV–V
"Marvin Gaye" Charlie Puth and Meghan Trainor 2015 I–vi–IV–V
"Me!" Taylor Swift ft. Brendon Urie 2019 I–vi–IV–V
"Messin' Around" Pitbull 2016 I–vi–IV–V
"Don't Dream It, Be It" The Rocky Horror Picture Show 1975 I–vi–IV–V
"Hangin' Out with Jim" GG Allin 1988 I–vi–IV–V
"Million Reasons" Lady Gaga 2016 I–vi–IV–V
"Modern Girl" Sleater Kinney 2005 I–vi–IV–V
"Monster Mash" Bobby Pickett 1962 I–vi–IV–V
"My Broken Friend" John DiMaggio featuring Beck 2001 I–vi–IV–V
"Never Be the Same" Christopher Cross 1980 I–vi–ii–V
"No Hay Pedo" Banda Los Recoditos 2014 I–vi–IV–V
"Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" Starship 1987 I–vi–IV–V
"Octopus's Garden" The Beatles 1969 I–vi–IV–V
"Oh True Love" Everly Brothers 1960 I–vi–IV–V
"Bobby Brown" Frank Zappa 1979 I–vi–IV–V
"Hang Fire" The Rolling Stones 1981 I–vi–IV–V
"Saturday Night" The Misfits 1999 I–vi–IV–V
"Oliver's Army"[35] Elvis Costello 1979 I–vi–IV–V
"Perfect"[36] Ed Sheeran 2017 I–vi–IV–V
"Please Mr. Postman" The Marvelettes 1961 I–vi–IV–V
"Pretty Little Angel Eyes" Curtis Lee 1961 I–vi–IV–V
"Prove It" Television 1977 I–vi–IV–V
"Red Cadillac and a Black Moustache" Warren Smith 1957 I–vi–IV–V
"Rinky Dink" Dave "Baby" Cortez/ Booker T & the MGs 1962 I–vi–IV–V
"Rude" Magic! 2013 IV–V–I–vi
"Runaround Sue" Dion 1961 I–vi–IV–V
"Seperti Yang Dulu" Ungu 2005 IV–vi–IV–V
"Som Sarn" Loso 1998 I–vi–IV–V
"Stand by Me"[37][38] Ben E. King 1961 I–vi–IV–V
"Suara (Ku Berharap)" Hijau Daun 2008 I–vi–IV–V (verse)
"Surti Tejo" Jamrud 2000 I–vi–IV–V
"Sweat (A La La La La Long)" Inner Circle 1992 I–vi–ii–V
"Sympathique" Pink Martini 1997 I–vi–ii–V
"Telephone Line" Electric Light Orchestra 1976 I–vi–IV–V
"Tell Me Why" The Beatles 1964 I–vi–IV–V
"The Man Comes Around" Johnny Cash 2002 I–vi–IV–V
"The Thin Ice" Pink Floyd 1979 I–vi–IV–V
"This Boy" The Beatles 1963 I–vi–ii–V
"This is Me" Keala Settle 2018 I–vi–IV–V
"This Magic Moment"[39] The Drifters 1960 I–vi–IV–V
"Those Magic Changes"[40] Sha Na Na 1978 I–vi–IV–V
"(Tired Of) Toein' The Line" Rocky Burnette 1980 I–vi–IV–V
"Title Theme" Hirokazu Tanaka (Dr. Mario) 1990 I–vi–IV–V
"Total Eclipse of the Heart" Bonnie Tyler 1983 I–vi–IV–V
"Twistin' the Night Away" Sam Cooke 1962 I–vi–IV–V
"Mr. Bass Man" Johnny Cymbal 1961 I–vi–IV–V
"True Blue"[41] Madonna 1986 I–vi–IV–V
"Unchained Melody" The Righteous Brothers 1955 I–vi–IV–V
"Victoria's Secret" Jax 2022 I–vi–IV–V
"We Almost Had A Baby" Emmy the Great 2009 I–vi–IV–V
"Walking In Memphis" Marc Cohn 1991 IV–V-I–vi
"We Are Young" Fun ft. Janelle Monáe 2011 I–vi–IV–V
"We Go Together"[42] John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John 1972 I–vi–IV–V
"Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" Pete Seeger 1955 I–vi–IV–V
"Who Put the Bomp (in the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp)" Barry Mann 1961 I–vi–IV–V
"Perfidia" Alberto Domínguez, Glenn Miller 1939 I–vi–ii–V
"Why Do Fools Fall in Love" Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers 1956 I–vi–IV–V
"You Don't Own Me"[43] Lesley Gore 1963 I–vi–IV–V (chorus)
"Your Reality"[44] Dan Salvato 2017 I–vi–IV–V

Examples in classical music

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Instances of the I–vi–IV–V progression date back to the 17th century, for example, the ostinato bass line of Dieterich Buxtehude's setting of Psalm 42, Quem admodum desiderat cervus, BuxWV 92:

Buxtehude, Psalm 42 "Quem ad modum desiderat cervis"
Buxtehude, Psalm 42 "Quem ad modum desiderat cervis"

The opening of J. S. Bach's Cantata "Wachet Auf":

J. S. Bach Cantata BWV140, orchestral introduction to the opening chorus
J. S. Bach Cantata BWV140, orchestral introduction to the opening chorus

The progression is found frequently in works by Mozart. At the end of the slow movement of his Piano Concerto No. 24, K. 491, the progression is spelled out in arpeggios played by the bassoon:

Mozart, Piano Concerto K. 491, closing bars of the slow movement
Mozart, Piano Concerto K. 491, closing bars of the slow movement

The opening of his Piano Concerto No. 22, K. 482 extends the progression in a particularly subtle way, making use of suspensions:

Mozart Piano Concerto K. 482, opening bars
Mozart Piano Concerto K. 482, opening bars

Eric Blom (1935, p. 227) hears this passage as "the height of cunning contrivance resulting in what is apparently quite simple and obvious, but what could have occurred to nobody else."[45]

See also

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Sources

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  1. ^ Moore, Allan (May 1995). "The So-Called 'Flattened Seventh' in Rock". Popular Music. 14 (2). Cambridge University Press: 185–201. doi:10.1017/s0261143000007431. ISSN 0261-1430. S2CID 162661553.
  2. ^ Cole, Clay (2009). Sh-Boom!: The Explosion of Rock 'n' Roll (1953–1968). Garden City, New York: Morgan James. p. 56. ISBN 978-1-60037-638-2.
  3. ^ a b Scott, Richard (2003). Chord Progressions for Songwriters. New York: Writers Club Press. ISBN 0-595-26384-4.
  4. ^ Austin, D.; Peterik, J.; Lynn, C. (2010). Songwriting For Dummies. Wiley. p. 189. ISBN 978-0-470-89041-7. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  5. ^ Bennett, Dan (2008). The Total Rock Bassist. Van Nuys, California: Alfred Publishing. p. 62. ISBN 978-0-7390-5269-3.
  6. ^ "She Drives Me Crazy Chords by Fine Young Cannibals". Tabs.Ultimate-Guitar.com. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  7. ^ "She Drives Me Crazy by Fine Young Cannibals Chords and Melody". HookTheory.com. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  8. ^ "Beyond the Sea", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
  9. ^ "Body Say by Demi Lovato Chords and Melody", HookTheory.com.
  10. ^ "Boom Clap by Charli XCX Chords and Melody". HookTheory.com.
  11. ^ "Chain Gang", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
  12. ^ "Crocodile Rock", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
  13. ^ a b Hirsh, Marc. "Striking a Chord", The Boston Globe, December 31, 2008.
  14. ^ "Don't Dream It's Over", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
  15. ^ a b Scott (2003), p. 206
  16. ^ Harwood, Dane (September 1982). "Review: [untitled]". Ethnomusicology. 26 (3). University of Illinois Press on behalf of Society for Ethnomusicology: 491–493. doi:10.2307/850712. ISSN 0014-1836. JSTOR 850712.
  17. ^ "Eternal Flame", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
  18. ^ "Eyes Of Blue chords & lyrics – Paul Carrack". Jellynote. Archived from the original on 9 April 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  19. ^ "For Your Precious Love", MusicNotes.com.
  20. ^ Lewis, Randy (March 31, 2011). "Rebecca Black's 'Friday': There are a million good reasons you can't get it out of your head". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  21. ^ "Give a Little Love", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
  22. ^ Riley, Tim (2002). Tell Me Why: The Beatles: Album by Album, Song by Song, the Sixties and After. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Da Capo Press. p. 269. ISBN 0-306-81120-0.
  23. ^ Nintendo (2022-06-22). Atsumare Dōbutsu no Mori Original Soundtrack 2 あつまれ どうぶつの森 オリジナルサウンドトラック 2 (booklet). Nippon Columbia. COZX-1898-903. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
  24. ^ "Heart and Soul", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
  25. ^ "Ima, Kimi wo Omou". YouTube. 25 October 2021.
  26. ^ "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea Rebuttal". University of California. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  27. ^ "Acoustic Lesson 11B: Basic Chord Progressions". GuitarLessonInsider.com. Archived from the original on November 30, 2012. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  28. ^ "Jesus of Suburbia", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
  29. ^ "Last Kiss", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
  30. ^ "Just Like a Pill", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
  31. ^ "Lollipop", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
  32. ^ Lonely "This Christmas Chords", E-Chords.com
  33. ^ Guralnick, Peter (2005). Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke. New York: Little, Brown. p. 157. ISBN 0-316-37794-5.
  34. ^ "Lovable", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
  35. ^ "Oliver's Army", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
  36. ^ Robert Joffred (24 November 2017). "Weekly Billboard Theory — Perfect". Medium. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  37. ^ Moore, Allan (May 1995). "The So-Called 'Flattened Seventh' in Rock". Popular Music. 14 (2). Cambridge University Press: 185–201. doi:10.1017/s0261143000007431. ISSN 0261-1430. S2CID 162661553.
  38. ^ "Stand by Me", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
  39. ^ "This Magic Moment", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
  40. ^ "Those Magic Changes", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
  41. ^ "True Blue", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
  42. ^ "We Go Together", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
  43. ^ "You Don't Own Me Chords – Lesley Gore". E-Chords.
  44. ^ "Misc Computer Games – Doki Doki Literature Club – Your Reality (Chords)". Ultimate Guitar.
  45. ^ Blom, E. (1935, p. 227) Mozart. London, Dent.
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