Who popularised the 1980s ballad upward key change?
Modulation / key changes have been used in music for ages but the style I'm talking about is the distinctive last verse (or chorus) sudden key change up to power through to the end. Seems to have come about sometime in the 60s/70s and was everywhere in the 80s onwards.
Examples:
Heaven is a place on earth - Belinda Carlisle
I will always love you - Whitney Houston
But who popularised it? What was the first big song to do it and set the style for the genre?
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I don’t know but key changes should be illegal imo. Pick a key and stick to it.
Ah come on, everyone loves to belt out that last verse!
👮♂️ 🚨 👮 uhh I’m gonna need to see some identification and your license sir
Lol
suspect driving a ‘99 dodge cherokee with 400lb of peanuts on the back seat, suspected of changing key without a license
Fine.
One key.
(Changes mode every half bar)
Jazz moment
🎷
You know what, I'll play contrarian with you and go one further. Music is bad and should be outlawed.
(Music is my primary passion, shut up, it's sarcasm)
Stephen Sondheim in shambles.