There's a shortcut to getting a hit that i'm sick to death of...i'm not a musician, but this same bastid progression is used by anyone that wants a quick integrity free hit..it's based on "With or Without You" by U2, at least that's one of the earliest uses I can think of...

I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
Where is the Love - Black Eyed Peas
The Boy that Can't Be Moved - The Script
Torn - Natalie Imbruglia
Waterfalls - TLC (I like that one)
Run - Leona Lewis/Snow Patrol
No-one - Alicia Keys
Life - Desree

there's literally hundreds of other examples

Well apparently according to some kind internet guitar tabber the chords to "With Or Without You" are: D, A, Bm, G. That's just four basic chords resolving to the vary basic tonal components, so it's just what pop music is about. But you're right, playing those on the keys at least allows me to sing also "Waterfalls" and "No One" over them quite effortlessly. On the other hand, complaining about people using basic major and minor chords on a 4 / 8 -bar cycle is a bit like complaining about most pop songs having the snare hit on the 2nd and the 4th.

novabrkr said:

no its the ubiquity of play chord, down a few semitones, up about halfway, and down below the second. It's become as obvious as a 12-bar blues structure. Lazy shorthand for "gently poignant"
[Edited 4/4/09 5:02am]

Well, thanks anyway - now I'm stuck on playing that Alicia Keys song.

I think I will record a demo version of it for myself and sing reaaally badly on it.

fuck U2,

if you want to hear the best use of this type of chord progression,

just listen to this from 1987

http://www.youtube.com/wa...VXGC896Jdw


this music is the future!!

wipes the floor with U2.

Its a sort of superior version of U2's with or without you, except without the pompousnous of Bono and his gang.

I feel you. but lyrics get to me a bit more...

especially the "FEEL/ DEAL/ REAL" combo... I HATE with a passion.


Tell me how you feel
is our love really real?
tell me whats the deal?
GIRL YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL!!!

Other songs that are D-A-BM-G

The police - So lonely
Creed - 6 feet from the edge
Bob Marley - No woman no cry
Nick Kershaw-I won't let the sun go down on me

I don't know, but if it was as easy as just using those four chords to create a hit song, wouldn't everyone be doing it?. You've still gotta come up with melody over the chords, don't think its nearly as simple as what your making it out to be. Most of those songs you mentioned are classics, i think you selling them a bit short.

Toofunkyinhere said:

Exactly. So, "lazy chord progressions" is kinda a contradiction in terms don't ya think? It's not necessarily the chord progression but what the artist does with those notes in a chord progression. Lazy artist/songwriter, maybe. (IMHO)


[Edited 4/5/09 8:58am]

I can handle the U2-Bob Marley-Natalie Imbruglia versions of that progression, but that's it

someone was trying to tell me how great the Alicia Keys song was and I had to quickly dismantle them. Lazy as fuck.

Hon, what do you think the blues are based on, but the same 12-bar chords of I, IV, V, I over and over again?

eaglebear4839 said:

yeah i know, and how boring did that get?? God, i'll be happy never to hear a blues jam again in my life

Toofunkyinhere said:

many people are - on the whole its still a secret that this particular progression almost guarantees a hit (if some level of promotion is in place). Another one: "Do you know what it feels like (ping-pong song)" by Enrique double-glazias.

I think Black Eyed Peas and Alicia Keys were the ones that made me cringe the most. It seemed like everyone else who listened to pop music on a visceral level loved those songs, and I felt like they were being duped.