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The INSANELY Smart Harmony of Earth Wind and Fire
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- Опубликовано: 19 авг 2024
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Hey Farva
shenanigans.
I'd love if you did a deep dive of the Over the Garden Wall soundtrack on nebula
I love all you guys for showing me the way music lives & breathes thank you Mr Cornell *tips hat*
Whiplash caravan
It's astounding that they've been able to sound so complete without water.
Now this what a comment should be
They even sound better without wind, trust me.
😏 Well played
Stealing this.
Or Heart (a perhaps obscure reference to Captain Planet and the Planeteers)
"E is a lot brighter than F"
F: 😟
F
F: F
F :(
E
🤣
One of the greatest bands of their time. Criminally underated.
..or are they?
Greatest bands of ALL times…4eva classic
@@1Ma9iN8tive Easily, I was lucky enough to see what's left of them at Glastonbury festival a few years ago only a handful of original members and of course no Maurice White, but they still blew my mind
I think they're amazing but I wouldn't say they're underrated, everyone I know rates them extremely highly
@@AnAdorableWombat compared to their contemporaries (Stevie Wonder, The Jacksons) I'd say they're less known by the general public. Most people know September and Boogie Wonderland, but they have a huge back catalogue of great songs that, despite being one of the best selling artists of all time, get missed by a lot of people under 30.
As soon as you hinted that we weren’t going to be dissecting “September” I just knew you were gonna pick this one. One of my all time favorite EWF songs precisely for the breakdown you discussed at 11:35
I agree ...next to Sept. this is the most amazingly beautiful one.
NOW have any if you guys watched/listened to LEONID and FRIENDS cover EWF? Just incredible ..they are a RUSSIAN BAND..their story is unbelievable!!
They also are the Best Cover Band ever for CHICAGO ...the founders of CHICAGO even say so !!
They also do a fantastic cover of Steely Dan ..MY OLD SCHOOL !!
Sorry to babble on & on but once you've put on those headphones/earbuds & heard them you will know what I mean.
PS.. Their version of '25 or 6 to 4' is FIRE !!
Omg September 😲. That sounds changes my mood no matter what.
OOOOOOOH Yes! That is a good one as well.
September us one of my most disliked EWF songs. It's played at corny celebrations wayyy too much
@@missvida6251 I think you might be an outlier here… while Sept. isn’t my favorite EWF song I still thoroughly enjoy it lol
Tried to play this in a band. They renamed it "After The Key Is Gone" because the key changes are insane.
LMAO...but it only modulates once. It bounces back and forth. But the way they got to it was brilliant!
It's SO not that complicated.
@@chrisgambaro-vega9504 Tell you what. Drink 3 beers and play it in the middle of a hot club with musicians who drank 4 beers. ;)
@@Qermaq well played, sir
@@Qermaq that's beautifully messed-up :p
"Fantasy" is also one hell of a harmonic jam
Honestly not all that complex, but I love it.
ya gotta be an early birdie if ya want that worm, gotta get your feathers dirty, can't wait your turn
@@vivianetirone762 ufff the Darwin derby so good
Yes! And the version 'Live in Velfarre' takes it from amazing to an even higher level
@@spencerfeathers1105 Oh my gosh! Philip Bailey absolutely kills it in that version!!! I was just listening to it today!
What a great tune. Important to mention David Foster and Jay Graydon who are the composers of this masterpiece. 2 of the greatest composers and producers of the 70s/80s LA session scene as well as fabulous players. There are also versions from their band Airplay.
And don't forget the incredible Bill Champlin.
Huge Bill C fan here but think he only contributed lyrically to this one. Probably worth crediting the fine words but this lesson is specifically about the composition/music.
I love "In the Stone", it's such a lift-me-up song and has amazing rhythmical stuff in it.
If so, I certainly hope you like my remix: ruclips.net/video/oaCnjA50W9E/видео.html
One of my top favorite songs from EW&F!!
eSPECially if u listen to it on the album, cuz it leads riiiiight into that brass blast of Can't Let Go!!! LOVE!!! ✌🧡
What else did Foster pen?
@@carmanthomas8144 Give it a Goog! It's quite impressive!! Some SHOCKing, I think... (The Tubes?! Really?!?!)
I read “insanely smart harmony” and immediately knew that it would be After the Love is Gone. Such an incredible song
My favorite 😌🙌❤️
I would have guessed "Imagination" from the "Spirit" album.
Same - This is like THEE EWF song for this
@@mcclendonreport what music taste you have!
@@redlightspellsdanger7177 I listen deeply to every album, and find the hidden gems that the record company execs were clueless about.
Fun fact about those key changes:
When the writers of "After the Love" came to Earth Wind and Fire with the song, the band liked the key of the chorus but wanted to transpose the verse down, which is why they had to implement the extra fifth chords, to kind of "glue" the parts together.
The verses were originally in A major, and just transposed one whole step up in the middle of the bridge. The songwriters recorded a version of the song later with their band Airplay as it was originally written. Well worth a listen.
ruclips.net/video/xEeGYpXYi14/видео.html
Airplay's album is super underrated, its an AWESOME album.
@@NicklasNylander87 “Bix“ - one my all-time faves … likes breaking all the rules 😆
David can do whatever he wants with harmonies
Correct. Foster/Graydon are monsters!! However I think Airplay’s version was recorded first and an agreement was made to release it after E.W.& F.’s version came out! I saw an interview with Jay Graydon where he mentioned the “melodic vocal leaps” that were done in Earth, Wind & Fire’s version were so wide, it would be nearly impossible for one person to sing them! But, then again… Phillip Bailey isn’t human.. he’s an alien!! 🔥🔥🔥
Foster and Graydon didn’t write this song. Foster, Graydon, and Bill Champlin wrote this song. Give Champlin his due. He also co-wrote and won a Grammy for Turn Your Love Around, which was written for and recorded by George Benson. All before being asked to join Chicago, for whom he wrote more songs.
EWF is my absolute favorite group of all time. I grew listening to them. That whole album is a masterpiece. The horn arrangements and orchestration are insane. David foster is an incredible writer, but that song would not be what it is if it were not for the genius of Maurice White's production skills.
The bones of it were there with “Airplay’s version!!
CAN’T HIDE LOVE! My absolute favorite. The beginning horns, the syncopation, the angelic celestial ending.
Yeah, my favourite too!! Especially how Maurice is doing the vocals. Really special
It's the bass and the horns right in the beginning that set everything up, then the humming to draw you in
Any song they made turns to gold
What a legendary group. And because of them we all remember the 21st night of September
Do you though?
@@shadebug I don’t think he does
🎶🎵 💃🏿🕺
September is for newbies. You must dig into the repertoire to really know these cats.
I remember the 21st night of September cause that was when I had my surgery last year.
Yes, that joke helped me cope.
All better now, huzzah.
FINALLY SOMEBODY RECOGNIZED THE BEAUTY OF THE TECHNICALITIES OF THIS MASTERPIECE
They have so many wonderful compositions. "Fantasy" is truly epic too.
yesssssssss
Pure David Foster style, this song is a killer. This album is perfect, their best to me. The intro for In the stone is a masterpiece.
I can see why you say that from a Pop point of view. But you should listen to All ‘n All in the context of ‘76-‘77 R & B and Pop. It is simply groundbreaking. Pure inspiration from gospel, jazz, rock and Afro-Cuban intersecting with songwriting and masterfully sonic production … it’s White at the peak before ARC as a business blunted his attention to the music. Much that followed was still great but it was their peak.
Good point, not truly EWF.
The song was written by Foster, Jay Graydon, and Bill Champlin, but produce Maurice White. Credit where it's due.
@@commodoor6549 but arranged by David Foster, a major producer himself. Look up his production credits and string of hits for too many top artists, Whitney Houston, Chicago.
@@synersonix I don't need to look up David Foster; I've worked for him.
Feels like Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak chose them as inspiration for their album and IM HERE FOR IT.
It feels like they’ve been closely analyzing some EWF and Stevie Wonder too. The way Silk Sonic have carefully chosen melodies that are still catchy but flow easily over jazzy progressions is an ode to the greats of the 70s.
I hear more philly soul in silk sonic, the o jays and the chi-lites.
The stylistics.
@@margicates553 they even said that they used that Philly sound as inspiration. Good ear
Silk Sonic has more of a Philly Soul and Delfonics inspiration
Leave the door open instantly reminded me of EWF
This is why 'After the love is gone' is my most favorite song since I was a kid. EWF is one of the best groups ever....
They are my favorite group!!
Having this song musically broken down is so cool, I’ve always thought the use of harmony was absolutely succulent
Excuse me what
@@jwaj it happens
The Elements are my all time favorite band!!! Maurice was a GENIUS!!! RIP, Sir. Your light is so missed. It’s kinda hard to say what is my favorite. “That’s The Way Of The World” and “Sun Goddess” are two of my favorites.
Ewf's cover of Gotta Get You into My Life is just *chef's kiss*
Absolutely!! I was completely blown away by that one! There's a Russian (!) Chicago cover band that covered this cover in a splendid way: ruclips.net/video/6aJR_RBF23E/видео.html
Chefs kiss you say
@@samw9796 I do say
@@donchorusmusic6275 yeah those guys have been around for a while, they do some good covers
Ewf lol
i think "In The Stone" has one of the best intro in history.
Agree very much
Followed by can't let go
And outros
In fact, it's so good that it was used for decades as an intro for an international music festival in Chile (Festival de Viña del Mar).
Agree 100%
EWF was sent to earth by GOD to BLESS us with harmonies like this......AWESOME
'After The Love Has Gone' is actually one of the few EWF songs not written by EWF - it's clearly carrying David Foster's signature, with a little help by Jay Graydon and Chicago's Bill Champlin. Great breakdown of the harmonies, THANKS!
It's time to admit that some of us didn't understand a word of all that music theory but even so we stayed til the end. Great job (pausing every minute to slowly process the information) to a human IQ level
I'm at that fun level of lifelong casual musicianship/theory literacy where I generally understand about 90% of things Charles and people like Adam Neely say, but then very little of it sticks in my brain with confident clarity and I definitely can't analyze like this, not at all by ear and I'd be way slower analyzing from transcription XD
The magic of David Foster.. Boy, that man knows how to write a song.. And when EWF make it their own .. BOOM
Are we ignoring Jay Gradon and Bill Champlin?
@@DaveMcleanJr Apparently, since Bill had it pegged for one of his solo albums and a potential single release, but David talked him into giving it to EWF, and we know the rest of *that* story! Everybody walked away happy, including Bill (eventually).
More useless trivia: When EWF did their monster tour with Chicago, they (EWF) initially didn't want Bill to sing the song. that. he. wrote. Cooler heads prevailed and the performance is something to see!
@@GarrettWorcester Bill's version is IDENTICAL to the EWF arrangement Foster did, but Bill's melody strays in a slightly different direction on the chorus... mess me think the writer knew better. ;-)
EWF added the emotion represented in the key changes. Maurice was masterfully trained but must have had a spirit that “felt” things that cannot be trained. It’s a signature thing they do. Listen to some of their older stuff, for example “see the light” contains tons of key changes. ‘Be ever wonderful’ is another masterpiece. All Blends gospel, jazz, Afro-Cuban all together.
@@DaveMcleanJr No, it's worse than that, he's ignoring Lennon-McCartney. ''Got To Get You Into My Life'' is the best EFW cover.
Those chords and key changes are instant chills
Man I love your ENTHUSIASM, being an EWF bigly fan myself. I appreciate your video and how you explain their music
"Mighty Mighty" and "Serpentine Fire". Those grooves and horn lines are so tight. Phenomenal.
Quickly checked 'comments' before posting the same 2 songs! (And big up to Verdine White on the brilliant bass parts for these, and the whole catalog for the harmonic and rhythmic movement.)
tell tha story, morning gloryyy
Serpentine Fire has exactly 1 key 😁 but man what a funk power, awesome.
My wife and I were driving home from work when I first heard it. I was crying so hard because I was just overwhelmed with the beauty of it, and she was laughing at me. Just everything from the harmony, to the vocal articulation and dynamics. It paints such a beautiful image in my mind.
Nice
Whew! Those chords move my emotions. And to hear EWF perform it on the record is something I not only hear, but feel!
"Keep ur head to the sky" is a favorite of mine. Incredible vocals. & Devotion, which I personally can play
Can’t Hide Love: key changes at the end are magical
And that old school Fender Rhodes is killer!!
That’s my favorite song 😩
@@Yagirlnyesha I’m not a musician so I’m not sure if it’s a synthesizer, or what ever, but right at the one minute and 31 second mark, there’s a long drawn out note in the background that I just love listening to
That song was my ringtone during my years in the University.
Only real fans know "Can't Hide Love". It is a superior song.
David Foster + Jay Graydon (Airplay)
+ Bill Champlin (Chicago)+Earth Wind & Fire= Best harmony ever
So many mentions of Foster here, legit. BUT, you can't deny the prints of Champlin and Graydon. Check out Bill's "We Both Tried", also co-written with Foster.
My all time favorite EWF song. Excellent analysis. I did the same a month ago and is fascinated by how this song was composed and arranged. It should be in the repertoire of every serious musician.
"Thats the way of the world" is my fave but this one is just behind. Also love "Fantasy" and "Can't hide love". Thanks for your highly enjoyable dissection !
I think that the key change between F and E feels like an elevation because the voices are actually going up with the falsetto phrase
That’s because it really isn’t a modulation from F to E but rather a modulation from F - B. The Emaj7 clearly serves as the IV of the new key. It even repeats the same progression that it just did in the key of F but this time in the key of B.
That makes sense! While he was saying that I sang it in my head and it definitely didn’t seem like the voices were going up 11 steps. Thank you for the explanation
@@geoffstockton which makes is more interesting than going down a modulation, because now we are modulating a tri-tone! It’s both up AND down! lol
For me it's simply because keys with sharps, on the right side of the circle are a lot brighter than keys with flats (left side of the circle) in their key signatures! F has 1 flat in its key signature and it feels very warm but E has 4 sharps, it's a very bright key!
@@geoffstockton Yes, thank you! Was looking for someone to point this out
I love this so much. I feel there's a stigma around using the Circle of Fifths/Fourths among modern musicians and composers because a lot of them deem it as "simple" and "overused" and this just shows that although it is common to use, the way you use it is totally up to you and it is possible to make a song harmonically interesting without it being super complex.
After the Love Has Gone, September, Lets Groove, Sail Away, Boogie Wonderland, Keep Your Head to the Sky, SO MANY OTHERS...
Sail Away has this really, REALLY "tropical" sounding chord progression. It always reminds me of like somewhere along the coast of the Indian Ocean, like Mauritius, Madagascar, Zanzibar, etc., but it could also be other tropical areas like West Africa (Senegal, Ghana, etc.) perhaps... Some place with palm trees at least. The chord progression that reminds me of the tropics I believe is GMaj9 - GMaj7 - GMaj9 - GMaj7 - EMaj9 - EMaj7 - EMaj9 - EMaj7 - C/D - (repeat). The 3/4 time (maybe slow 6/8?) is nice and beachlike, etc. too. I think the key is the I - VI or tonic to major (chromatic) submediant chord progression (plus the 7ths and 9ths), plus the vocal thing and the relaxed, swaying 3/4 rhythm.
September is in A Mixolydian, which is kinda interesting... Before the first verse, you've got this DMaj7 - C#Min7 - BMin7 - C#Min7 - F#Min riff going on which repeats a few times until it gets to the Emin9/A section (leading into the verse). Which starts on DMaj7. Actually, that same chord progression just keeps repeating, more or less. Thing is, it sounds like its in D Major, but yeah, its A Mixolydian, because when you hear the root chord, its always the Emin9/A kind of sound, with the G being natural of course. It just toys with your sense of tonality a bit, because D or A Mix? kind of deal. And its dancy of course. And some believe that September is in D major. I dunno. 🤷♂️🤷♂️
I grew up with EWF just as they were going through their own genesis to stardom and because I was so young and clueless, I never once considered the musical language and building blocks behind the music. For me it was and always will be just sheer musical bliss! thanks for the forensics
Ole Davey Foster and Jay Graydon pushing it to the absolute limits on this track.
Keep the fire.
so... smooth!
David Foster and Jay Graydon formed Air Play
@@nickdon yes they did! I highly recommend anyone reading this to check out the song "Nothing You Can Do About It". Just stupid good
Edit: sick live version on RUclips with Lee Sklar DESTROYING on bass
Hard to believe this gem was never measured on the yachtski scale, but year 1979; personnel Foster, Graydon, Champlin; unexpected chord changes; smoothe groove; I’m thinking this is definitely On the Boat, possibly even bonanza.
10:46 His smile perfectly summarizes the feeling I get when listening to Earth, Wind & Fire.
A song written by David Foster, Jay Graydon and Bill Champlain- this genius doesn’t surprise me - these guys are insanely talented. A lot of this credit should go to these guys too.
@Lee Davinci That would be the one. The one with thousands of Grammy Awards on his bookshelves.
Yes, glad you brought up the fact that this song was written by David Foster, Jay Graydon and Bill Champlain. EWF did the song great justice, but the song is the essence of great songwriting, and really put David Foster in the limelight. All three of those writers went on to have multiple hit songs, and subsequent Grammys.
@@KellyBrown-lv8ep Foster wrote the chorus. Graydon wrote the verses and they both wrote the pre-chorus. The chord changes that's theirs. However, the new melody to "How could you lead me on" is Maurice White and use of the Circle of 5ths.
Jay Graydon also played the famous solo on Steely Dan's Peg.
Amazing tune! Also have a listen to the original version (if there is such a thing) on the album “Airplay” (David Foster and Jay Graydons album)
I always loved this song and knew that this is a complex composition but never figured out how complex. All the shifts are so seamlessly done and fits so perfectly together
My 6th grade social studies teacher, Mr. Stebbins, would play Earth Wind and Fire to us every day as we entered and left the class. He was a pro football player and an Olympic gold medal winner before becoming a teacher. Such an incredible man. I’m almost 28 and I still think of him every time I hear Earth Wind and Fire. RIP Mr. Stebbins
6th grade is such a influential age / grade for young people and music glad you have had a good teacher that rounded your musical educational journey playing EWF and implanting such powerful memories .. not all are fortunate.
@@cxbackghost I am fully aware. Thats why I treasure my memories from that time. He also put Pinky and the Brain on the TV for the last 20 minutes of class every Friday. Extraordinary man, wonderful teacher and exceptional human being. I’ll never forget Mr. Stebbins
Also I think “Wait” is the most underrated Earth Wind & Fire song from that album!! Very interesting harmonically, would worth an analysis!
Totally agreed, awesome covers bytheway 🔥
“Faces” is the most underrated track from the album with the same title
Omg yes, was thinking of that song aswell. Really nice song just to chill to
Yes, you're SOOO right!
David Foster co-wrote this one too. A master keyboardist and writer behind so many great songs.
Great video!! "After The Love Has Gone", one of the greatest pop songs ever!!! Love the chord changes!! Pure genius!!!
I just wanted to let you know this video made me re-dive back into Earth, Wind & Fires catalogue in a way where I understood them in a more complex manor which overall made them more special to me than they initially were…thank you! ✨👌💜
My favorite EW&F song is Reasons. First time I heard that song, I was 11 and on a sunny day flight with a window seat so I could see the clouds in all their glory. It was just So powerful. The ending of that song while literally flying towards the sun!
“Shining Star” is an absolute BANGER. EWF are so so so underrated
did you just say Earth Wind and Fire are underrated?
Are you familiar with any of their top charts tracks????
Are you familiar with the entire success of tracks like "September", "Boogie Wonderland" and more??
@@flohjo9015 I think the point Luigi was trying to make was that most people are only aware of their top 3
It's hard to underrate EWF when they have a lot of hits...
@@isaiahhiggins yeah I agree. They're not underrated in the fact that they have a handful of massive hits, but in the way that they have unimaginable depth that a lot of people do not realize
@@dominickdeflippo9760 exactly
One of my all time favorite songs, I was always fascinated by its harmony but never analyzed it. Thanks for doing that so brilliantly!
This is my favorite band. Maurice White wrote most of their music, with his brother, bassist, Verdine White, co-writing as well. It’s amazing how Larry Dunn, the keyboardist, plays the -ish out of the piano and keyboards. Thank you for this!
I frickin love the concept of fourths and fifths being reflections of each other. It kinda makes music seem like this wise being with majors and minors residing on both side of the coin and opposite ends of the string yet still finding their ways into each other. Thats sum deep stuff
Love's Holiday is one of my favorite song from EWF. It has also complex harmony.
Exactly. :)
and the vibe does go up... it's the excitement of the change and the tone
I've always said that if I could only listen to the work of one band for the rest of my life, it would be EWF! I'm glad to see this post appreciating their music! David Foster is a BEAST also!
Technically, that first modulation is to B. The “E” is a fake destination...but for your purposes in explaining the use of a 5 to set up a sudden modulation, I gotchu!👍🏾
Thought the same! The melody and chord movement fits the B better than E, isn't it? Though the dominant V chord might be justified as a passing to the I chord, somehow it sounds different.
Glad someone called that out. E is the 4
Your right, it modulates to B. It actually the same progression as the previous 4 bars, just up an augmented 4th.
Written by David Foster, Jay Graydon, and Bill Champlin.
What so special about EWF is the combination of great compositions, great arrangements, and incredible performance. This was a team effort. Incomparable. Nothing like it before or since.
Thank you! Can't believe Charles missed this one. Oh well, it happens.
David Foster won his first of 16 Grammys for this song😀
Yes!!! Full credits ought to be given where credit is due, kudos to Mr David Foster 🏆
He deserved, for sure!
Also Bill Champlin (ex-Chicago) co-wrote the song.
Wasn't Jay Graydon involved as well.
At any rate phenomenal song.
@@insidechocolatewithjimothy5313 Yes Don’t forget Jay! EWF is one of my favorite bands of all time but had little to do with everything great about this composition. Brilliant performance though.
You are so right. The shift from F to E actually builds tension and anticipation. One of the most exciting pieces of music. EWF's music is a perfect marriage of jazz theory with soul and R & B. Yes you taught me a lot in this short video. Wish I could actually study music with you.
Got to get you into my life is my favorite.....that brass was unbelievable
😁😁😁😁😁👍👍👍
Every song they ever made is just simply incredible. Astounding, actually.
I love their song "Let's groove". I myself play the saxophone and there is something about that wind section that always makes me crack a smile.
I still can't get enough of their music today. I'm so blessed to have heard their original music growing up, watching their songs rise up in the charts in the back of Jet magazine. They were always in rotation on the turntable and I'm so happy to keep them when I moved out. Their music is sure genius and unlike no other.
Wow, just discovered Charles for the first time tonight, saw one vid before this. Coming back again, I have to let you all know how good he is! Let's forget for a moment his topic at hand. Yeah, I saw EW&F about 10 years or so ago, spectacular!
You'll see my name here again, no ego trip, just tribute to my respect for Charles' skills.
Standard qualifier for me to let you know where I'm coming from, please respect my opinion of Charles:
for me-
Classical piano 1957-1966, went to rock, prog rock, pop, country, blues, light jazz, bass, synth, organ 1966-1975 semi pro. Fully pro bass and synth bass 1975-2001. Built studio as owner engineer producer 1993-2001. Had a band on the air for two of their albums. Finally getting back into the game, but just for myself, no clients. Nearly done rebuilding my home studio.
I like Charles so much I'm thinking of paying him to help me brush up on keys by Skype or whatever, though I won't waste his time until I'm back to where I was at 14 just starting Rhapsody in Blue, which scared the fuck out of me for the first time in my life. After not being scared by Bach and Beethoven.
Charles, I have high respect for you, keep at it! Obvious you have something valuable to say. Your Jeff Goldblum rap was right on.
There is a reason the like to dislike ratio is so clean for you man. A legend in our time reviewing music from past legends.
"In the Stone" and "That's the Way of the World" oh and "Sun Goddess"(Ramsey Lewis with Maurice White so it counts) oh and.... all of 'em!!!!
Co-writer Graydon commented about the song's background:
David and I also recorded the song for the Airplay album, but that was not a problem since the EWF version was released before the Airplay album. By the way, the Airplay version is the original version of the song with the verses in the key of A. The EWF version verses are in the key of F, using a 'shotgun pivot chord' halfway through the B section as to get in the proper key for the choruses. Note that the EWF version features the high harmony part in the choruses, which makes the listener think that is the melody! That always bothered me since it is very difficult for one singer to sing the song as the vocal range is much too wide.
Lyrics by Bill Champlin
RIGHT!!
Always loved EWF, and this song is their pinnacle. The tension and release is endless in it. Pure exhilaration.
That's the way of the world is such an unbelievable groove
“ Way of the world “ YES SIR !
"Getaway" is a 3 minute climax. Just love it.
The (never-mentioned) original version with the strange, alternative intro is incredible too.
Yep, it used to be my closer at Karaoke. Sang all the parts. Pyrotechnics in a bottle. Helped me win several contest nights.
I think it's my favorite EWF. I'm 59... Still gives me the chills❤️💚🎵🌎🌀🔥
And their layer of harmony of bass, tenor, falsetto and baritone on the song is also commendable. Thats why EWF and this song is one of my favorite
This is, in fact, my favorite Earth, Wind & Fire song. David Foster's fingerprints are alllll over the chord progression.
That's because he wrote it! (Maybe that was your point.)
Hear his version on his "Airplay" album. Then you'll know why EWF's version is the one everybody knows.
Also Bill Champlin (ex-Chicago) co-wrote the song.
I thought Jay Graydon was evident as well. His Early Al jarreau stuff has some insane chord changes that remained palatable like this.
Great song.
@@insidechocolatewithjimothy5313 Those were great records.
@@ejb7969 definitely what I was getting at, I knew he wrote it and it certainly shows!
I never took any high level music theory classes and struggled with understanding the circle of 5ths until I started playing the steel pan, the notes in the high tenor drum are arranged in the circle of 5ths and it made everything make so much more sense
The tune Imagination off of the Spirit album is just sublime .. all I can say is that the vocal range of Philip Bailey and the vocal harmonies on that track is just unreal.
So so true
My Favorite song from my favorite Group of all time ✨✨✨✨
Love your enthusiasm for harmony.The underused element in most pop music.
E,W&F are a rare exception.Of course there are others .Please do more.
“Be ever wonderful” is my personal fav
The intro to "In The Stone" is my favourite, I have it as my ringtone on my phone.
This songs been in my daily rotation for a few months now and the harmonies of it make it so easy to listen to. So stoked to see you made a vid on it!
What a wonderful analysis of such a wonderful song. Bravo Charles!
It’s because Philip Bailey begins to sing in a significantly higher register, which makes F-to-E feel like an elevation.
Yep ! Correct.
When you arrive at the Emaj7, it’s the IV of B major.
Improvising over the progression makes it really clear to my ear that it’s a a tritone modulation.
The melody also serves as a dead giveaway of the tritone modulation
I have been fascinated with the harmonic sequence of that song for decades. Thanks for breaking it down! Wish you could have spent more time on the final sequence that continues up, but I understand your time limitations.
This was the best song to pick for this video and it truly is so beautiful, but as for your question I have to say that September genuinely is my favourite. That may seem cliché, but I used to play in a covers band that included September where I played keys and sang BVs and it was truly so wonderful, I have so many good memories from that time 💖
"Fantasy" is by far my favorite song of theirs.
It is light years beyond September.
Mine too
same here. the entire all n all album is amazing.
“Side by Side” is another Diamond
They have a few! LOL
I think the key change is actually from F to B - the pre-hook melody is played a tritone higher the second time around. That would be why it sounds like a massive elevation!
That tritone leap really grabs your ear & gives it that feeling of going up - even before I knew anything about music.
I should have read the comments... I just posted about his lol.
Nailed it.
Ding, ding ding! 🛎
You are correct sir.
Or madam
I love Earth Wind and Fire! 😍
I’d say my favorite song from them is “Let’s Groove Tonight”!
It’s one of those songs that fills my heart with joy and makes me want to dance.
Never fails to perk me up if I’m feeling down. 💗
I absolutely LOVE “September”, “Serpentine Fire”, “Boogie Wonderland”, and “After the Love is Gone”.
Honestly, you can’t go wrong with Earth Wind and Fire!
💗🌍🌬🔥💗
Great song, another to try is "Serpentine Fire". The intro seems to go thru some
changes.
"Imagination" is the one I keep coming back to, but everything from '73 to '83 is basically flawless
‘Imagination’ is god tier music
Imagination is my absolute Favorite song, from EWF and just overall, Period🥰✨🥰✨
Saturday nite..... Sing a song...
Imagination is a transcendent love song. It is a masterpiece of epic proportions. The song displays the handiwork of Maurice White and Charles Stepney.
Please do a video on Stevie Wonder, the harmony in his music is equally insane!!
They only pay attention to the songs when white people write them. Stevie Wonder will never get his due simply because he's black. No matter that he's a musical genius in every way.
I second this. Stevie Wonder is something else man!!
Amazing breakdown! I've been digging "Can't Let Go" lately!! And yes, when they shift to E on the pre, it def feels brighter
I'm so glad to hear someone talk about this song! My parents had a compilation album we'd listen to on road trips in the nineties, and little 6 year old me would GEEK OUT when this song came on. I don't think there is language to describe how it made me feel.
makes me so happy that one of my favorite music youtuber is talking about my favorite music group of all time
That's The Way of The World is another masterpiece of theirs. It sounds like Verdine White is channeling James Jamerson. So much talent in EWF.
Yes indeed David Foster chord progression....he is a genius!!!!
What I like about this particular song is that the complex motions of harmony they used just translates well with the timeless feel the lyrics have, the universal and timeless message. It immediately feels like something that trenscends the ages... and it did. And it will...
I’ve been listening to Earth, Wind, & Fire a lot, but their stuff NEVER gets old.
They were on the radio constantly and considered mainstream but I never tired of the music and it wasn't just throwaway pop music, it was some of the finest r&b and soul music ever and even though this was a ballad it is so upflifting spiritually.
@@maccagrabme I like the way you put that; I agree!
Loved this “lesson”!!! One of my all time favorite EW&F tunes is ‘In The Stone’ with that nice, long intro that bursts into an infectious dance rhythm!
I've been following them without and followed them. Thanks for letting me know what I was doing. Thank God for ears. At 63 it now makes sense.