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…
Tag: pop music analysis
The Birth of the Unjazz
Modern songwriters, producers and artists are reinventing the way jazz idioms and foundations are applied in modern pop. Let’s break it down!
Did Lorde Rip Off George Michael?
Thoughts on Lorde’s new single, a familiar ’50s rock groove, and the hyper-litigious state of the music industry’s copyright law.
“Drivers License:” How Olivia Rodrigo Uses Much More Than Lyrics to Tell Her Story
Today we break down Olivia Rodrigo’s smash hit “Drivers License” to show how she uses much more than lyrics to tell her heartbreak story.
Where Did All the Chords Go?
A sampling of single- and multi-chord progression songs between the 1980s and 2010s reveals a disheartening trend. How to fix it?
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.
The Most Evocative Lyrics We Heard in 2020
We take a look back at some of the most powerful and poetic lyrics we heard in pop and hip-hop music in 2020.
A Lyrical Exploration of Fiona Apple’s Groundbreaking “Fetch the Bolt Cutters”
One of the most widely-acclaimed albums of 2020, Fiona Apple’s shimmering return to the limelight is filled with lyrical gemstones.
Which Songs Changed Pop Music Forever?
That’s the question we’re asking, answering, and passing along with podcast host/historian Charlie Harding in Ep 8 of “Themes and Variation.”
How D’Angelo Uses Funky Dominant Sevenths in “Sugah Daddy”
In this short analysis, we break down the source of D’Angelo’s funky sound, his impeccable use of dominant sevenths in spread voicings.