A Harmonic Analysis of Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way”
One of the biggest pop songs of all time, and the most “boy bandiest” of boy band hits, “I Want It That Way” features some savy theory…
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What Are Your Favorite Ever Boy Band Hits?
For Episode 21 of “Themes and Variation,” we’re chatting about the era of boy band music, our favorite hit songs, and our brand new course!
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How The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” Takes Beethoven’s Ideas to #1
In this analysis, pop music theorist Ben Morss shows how The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” is built from four-note scale segments.
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A Brief History of Songwriting Stars You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
We profile the great songwriting minds behind some of the greatest pop hits of the modern era. You might not know their names, but you know their work!
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Pop Music Theory Analysis: Katy Perry’s Olympic Theme “Rise” Falls Just Short of Gold
On Friday, Katy Perry and NBC launched an anthem you’ll likely be hearing throughout the rest of the summer. Her new tune, “Rise,” is designed to accompany NBC’s coverage of the Rio Olympics, but is apparently a project the pop singer has been working on for some time. In her own words, “Rise” is “a…
