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Saturday Night Classics — Never Gonna Let You Go
I wouldn’t have expected to choose this song for Saturday Night Classics, but what the heck. I actually stumbled on it at Rick Beato’s YouTube channel. He calls it “the most complex pop song of all time,” and his video analyzing it (see link below) is probably as good as or better than the song itself.
It was originally recorded by Dionne Warwick, but the Sergio Mendes-produced version became a bigger hit. It was written by the incredible songwriting team of Cynthia Weil (RIP) and Barry Mann. Warning: Don’t listen to it more than once or you may get an unending earworm.
The Most COMPLEX Pop Song of All Time (youtube.com)
Published in Entertainment
I watched this video a few weeks ago, and really enjoyed it.
“What chords are in this song?”
“All of them!”
Don’t have time to listen to this now, but I will later.
Love Rick Beato’s channels. His analysis of songs is great and I understand each song much better. I can use in analysis listening to other songs as well. If you have a chance, check out his breakdown of Jim Croce’s “Operator” with Mary Spender.
I also liked the one where he talked about Seal’s “Kiss from a Rose.”
And he was wondering about something in the song, so he just . . . called up Seal.
It’s good because he relates it to having to play it at a gig in 1983.
First time I watched a Beato video after seeing His name pop up around Here ever so often.
I interesting.
I love Beato.
This song is remarkably coherent for all the modulations. It changes keys on almost every phrase. On paper it had to look like a disaster for a pop song but it holds together. The Beato video is one of his best.
I didn’t know who did this. Not a song I would have ever listened to on purpose. Melodically interesting.
I really dislike those electric pianos, all over 80s love songs. I said “ugh” when they started this song.
That was my initial reaction, too. But Rick’s video got me thinking about using it, so I did.
Also kinda neat is the second comment on Rick’s video is from the girl who sang on the gig way back then (at least she said she was).
I love this song. All the changes are so engaging!
Technically, by the 1980s, they were using FM synthesizers to ape the “electric piano” sound (often the Yamaha DX7). You are correct that this sound was ubiquitous in ballads of that era.