“Til It Happens To You,” written and performed by Corinne Bailey Rae
Popular tune of the week - okay, maybe of the month or two. I may need to break down and buy the songbook and hope that the chords are right in there - or get my audiation in better shape. :P
Anyway, the chord on “heavenly” is…just that!
ABOVE: Godzilla, helping to get the bass notes just right.
Popular tunes on my piano this week:
“Like a Star” - Performed and written by Corinne Bailey Rae. Minor seventh goodness.
“Second Chance” - Performed and written by Shinedown. I’m a sucker for power ballads.
“Billie Jean” - Performed and written by Michael Jackson. Billboard #2 song the year I was born and my favorite MJ song since.
Lately, Tim and I have been collecting “popular tunes.” We download the chords or play by ear songs that are stuck in our heads, usually with a descending bass line or special chord. Here are my top picks for this week:
“Hallelujah” - Performed by Jeff Buckley; written by Leonard Cohen. Simple chord progression & folk-like, beautiful melody.
“Hello” - Performed and written by Lionel Richie. A fun one to dress up with crunchy chord tones. Also a useful song if your daily life is an opera.
“Put Your Records On” - Performed & co-written by Corinne Bailey Rae, John Beck, & Steve Chrisanthou. The only one of Rae’s songs that I’ve figured out how to play yet, hopefully more to come.
“Space Oddity” - Performed and written by David Bowie. Floating above the world with seventh chords, what could be better?
“Spell” - Performed and written by Marie Digby. My diva song, transposed up a major 3rd so I can really belt it out. I love the minor/minor chord on the word “spell.”
