Listen to the Song
Song DNA
Genre
Rock
Era
70s
Mood
Uplifting
Tempo
Mid-tempo
Key
Major
Texture
Full Band
Sound
Piano-led
Feel
Syncopated
David Bowie
Hunky Dory (1971)
David Bowie
Originally written as a nightclub parody, this track evolved into a cornerstone of 1970s art-pop and a symbolic anthem for Bowie's chameleonic career. Featuring sophisticated piano work and bold string arrangements, it serves as a rallying cry for a generation defying the status quo.
The harmony of 'Changes' is highly sophisticated, blending Tin Pan Alley songwriting traditions with early 70s glam-rock ambition. It avoids standard pop tropes by using a descending chromatic bassline in the verse and a sequence of parallel major/minor 7th ch…
The song originally started as a parody of a nightclub or cabaret-style song. Bowie considered it a 'throwaway' track and did not expect it to be a hit, but he changed his mind after seeing the enthusiastic reaction from audiences who began chanting for it dur…
“Rick Wakeman, later of the band Yes, played the distinctive piano parts on the track.”
The harmony of 'Changes' is highly sophisticated, blending Tin Pan Alley songwriting traditions with early 70s glam-rock ambition. It avoids standard pop tropes by using a descending chromatic bassline in the verse and a sequence of parallel major/minor 7th chords in the intro. The use of the bVII (Bb) and bIII (Eb) chords provides a sense of constant movement and 'shifting' tonal centers, which directly reinforces the lyrical theme of personal evolution and the fluidity of identity.
The song originally started as a parody of a nightclub or cabaret-style song. Bowie considered it a 'throwaway' track and did not expect it to be a hit, but he changed his mind after seeing the enthusiastic reaction from audiences who began chanting for it during his live performances.
Originally written as a nightclub parody, this track evolved into a cornerstone of 1970s art-pop and a symbolic anthem for Bowie's chameleonic career. Featuring sophisticated piano work and bold string arrangements, it serves as a rallying cry for a generation defying the status quo.
Detailed analysis of this section is not yet available for this song.
Genre
Rock
Era
70s
Mood
Uplifting
Tempo
Mid-tempo
Key
Major
Texture
Full Band
Sound
Piano-led
Feel
Syncopated
4.7M
Plays
767K
Listeners
601K
Genius Views
10
Annotations
100%
Popularity
3:52
Duration
4/4
Time
From the album Hunky Dory
Harmony The harmony of 'Changes' is highly sophisticated, blending Tin Pan Alley songwriting traditions with early 70s glam-rock ambition. It avoids standard pop tropes by using a descending chromatic bassline in the verse and a sequence of parallel major/minor 7th chords in the intro. The use of the bVII (Bb) and bIII (Eb) chords provides a sense of constant movement and 'shifting' tonal centers, which directly reinforces the lyrical theme of personal evolution and the fluidity of identity. Deep Analysis Available Detailed analysis of this section is not yet available for this song. Request Full Analysis
No musician information available for this song yet.
Composition The song originally started as a parody of a nightclub or cabaret-style song. Bowie considered it a 'throwaway' track and did not expect it to be a hit, but he changed his mind after seeing the enthusiastic reaction from audiences who began chanting for it during his live performances. Inspiration: The lyrics reflect Bowie's obsession with the nature of reinvention and the generation gap, serving as a manifesto for his chameleonic career and the 'strange' changes he would undergo. Recording Studio: Trident Studios Producer: David Bowie, Ken Scott Rick Wakeman, later of the band Yes, played the distinctive piano parts on the track. David Bowie performed the saxophone solo heard at the end of the song. The string arrangements were composed by Mick Ronson. The stuttering 'Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes' hook was inspired by the rock and roll style of the 1950s.
Chord Sheet Chords Used Hide functions C I T Cmaj7/B Imaj7/VII Bb6 bVII6 D A7 VI7 T Dm7 ii7 P F IV P G V D C I T F IV P D7 II7 P G V D Progression by Section Intro Cmaj7 Imaj7 T Dbmaj7 bIImaj7 Dm7 iim7 P Eb7 bIII7 Bridge F IV P Eb bIII Bb bVII C I T Chorus C I T F IV P C I T F IV P D7 V/V D G7 V7 D C I T Verse C I T Cmaj7/B Imaj7/VII T Bb6 bVII6 A7 VI7 D Dm7 ii7 P F IV P G V D Chord Fingerings C Standard Cmaj7/B Standard Bb6 Standard A7 Standard Dm7 Standard F Standard G Standard C Standard F Standard D7 Standard G Standard Harmony Analysis The harmony of 'Changes' is highly sophisticated, blending Tin Pan Alley songwriting traditions with early 70s glam-rock ambition. It avoids standard pop tropes by using a descending chromatic bassline in the verse and a sequence of parallel major/minor 7th chords in the intro. The use of the bVII (Bb) and bIII (Eb) chords provides a sense of constant movement and 'shifting' tonal centers, which directly reinforces the lyrical theme of personal evolution and the fluidity of identity. Find Tabs & Chords Songsterr Interactive tabs Ultimate Guitar Chords & tabs Cifra Club Chords
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