Fred Leo

It also features the chord progression that won’t die starting around :55 or so.

The Son Unit went through his iTunes playlist the other day collecting songs featuring The Chord Progression that Won’t Die and pulled a swath of tunes that fit the bill. He was actually a little dispirited by commonality of songs he’d collected. Here’s a compilation of his latest examples of this relentless chord progression.

Now, normally I have no problem with the idea of sticking with what works. I still have and sometimes drive a 1991 Trooper thats rusting from the inside-out from the drool of a dog who was outlived by the truck. But there comes a point when a musical meme is so overused that it becomes useless, hackneyed or just plain irritating. If composing were writing text this progression would be the equivalent of “It was a dark and stormy night.”

There are levels, of course. It’s still feels okay as a pre-chorus (Petty) or intro or a smaller part of a composition, but when it’s the whole verse or chorus structure it’s like watching reruns.

How did I forget this one?

More here.

Added to the list is this one, “Kids” by MGMT, here played on igadgets. True the last note is a third of the last (alluded) chord in the progression, but still part of the triad as it’s a bassline variation only.

Maino takes the emin, C, G, D progression the distance in this one.

One the list it goes.

I think from now on I’ll just keep adding stright to the original list, and if you’re interested you can check the category for the link. There are just too many.

I’ve added her to the list.

It’s in the chorus.

I had this musical bit of library work at the old blog, but I’m just getting around to bringing it here.

The latest appearance I’ve noticed of an apparently unstoppable musical theme is another weird Celebrex commercial. Unfortanately I don’t have the link. But here is my collection of tunes featuring the progression emin, C, G, D or its relative equivalents. It’s impossible to have a complete list. Start listening for it and you might go insane. have fun! And send me some that should be on the list.

Beyonce.

Brooks and Dunn

Bruce Springsteen

Kelly Clarkson

Warren Zevon

Toto

Joan Osbourne

Sarah Mclachlan

Shania Twain

Lady Gaga (chorus)

Maino take it top to bottom.

“Kids” by MGMT, here performed on i gadgets. Note the the fourth note is the third, an F# if we were starting at e min, but, same progression.