Many Brazilian song writers can make complex chord progressions flow together. Sergio Mendes grew up right in the heart of the Bossa Nova era which is heard a lot in this style.
@@gemaelvarra8914 Exactly. Ivan is absolutely one the best writers when it comes to complex progressions that just fit together with so much fluidity. I listen to him and just shake my head with amazement.
@@bennyramos1885 oh yes, Ivan is amazing. I had the privilege of seeing him perform at a Brazilian music camp in California/US many years ago and it was magical.
@@Jasper_the_Cat I have not yet had this honor as you have. I first heard him with the GRP All Stars Live DVD but it wasn't until I went to Brazil that I was introduces to his music in a much deeper way. He is a ntional treasure there.
Jay Graydon produced the first version of this song for Dionne Warwick. Written by Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann. Robbie Buchanan played keys on both versions.
I never thought about what this song does until Rick pointed it out. I heard it all the time growing up in Philadelphia, and it was so much a flavor of the time it all seemed natural & easy. They called this ‘easy listeng’ and that’s the irony. The song is as complex as any great symphony number.
In 1983 ‘soft rock’ or ‘yacht rock’ was the bomb among the highclass. Infact ‘yacht rock’ took its name from expensive yachts on which this music could often be heard. Lot of jazz influences. Listen to Toto, Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers, Bozz Scaggs, Airplay, Robby Dupree, James Taylor, etc. Great stuff.
When I'm playing my 70's and 80's "easy listening" or "yacht rock" playlists for friends, I'm constantly going on about how amazing the musicianship and songwriting was in that era, but they never seem to appreciate it like I do.
Yeah! Seamless modulations that don’t necessarily register in your psyche. I split the 60s and 70s growing up. I will always be thankful for the music in those decades.
The lead sheet doesn't look that bad at first glance, but when you start playing it, you really feel like you're falling through every key bar after bar and it doesn't stop lol
I learned it by ear back when it came out, and I still remember how even by ear you noticed how that song had so many different tones following one after another. You are right on how truly complex the tone changes are in it.
@@jamirimaj6880it’s the exact same arrangement as Dionne Warwick’s recording with perhaps very slight chord voicing variations. But I agree, Sergio’s production is much better.
Rick, watching you write out all the changes on a freakin' white board as new chords keep coming had me LMAO! For a 1983 AC Pop song! (RIP Cynthia Weil. You and Barry Mann wrote so many memorable songs of my lifetime.)
Amazing! I’m sure hearing that song when I was a kid, I probably thought it was just an annoying pop ballad, but you just reminded me of it and gave me a new appreciation for the somewhat veiled complexity.
Where were you fifty years ago when I was just starting out with the bass? You could've been the mentor I never knew I needed. Let's get real, having a teacher like you would've steered my musical journey in a completely different direction. Although, that would also mean you'd be pushing almost 120 years old by now. I wouldn't wish that on anyone!. Keep breaking down those hits with your knowledge, experience, and iconic humor (that's the Aussie way to spell it). Love your work.
Sergio Mendez was great. My favorite album of his was Brazil 66. I think he had a few hits from that album. All the songs were great. This was actually the first album in my life that I would play the whole album at one sitting. I was 10 when it came out.
I saw your full video about this song. Fantastic! In an earlier video you asked us to give you our suggestions for other songs we’d like you to analyze. “Never gonna let you go” by Sergio M was what I requested. Nice to think I influenced you to do it, but I’ll bet a few thousand other viewers requested it also.
Honestly its not that were missing that, nothing wrong with simplicity when its done well. Shits just lazy now tho just same chord progressions every hit song
Agree, this is masterfully cut together. There’s a 450k sub channel whose shorts consist of zero cuts and when the time limit for the video is reached the dude just gets cut off mid-sentence. I pray he at least does these himself lol
Saw this the day it came out - watching Rick grinning and flipping out about this tune while correctly diagramming all the chords was a real treat. 🤘😎👍(Watch the long vid)
Brazil's pop was once bossa nova, would run Tin Pan Alley for their money, not dissing old school American Pop, just saying those chord progressions are something special
As a teenager it sounded super catchy but as a adult I revisited those songs and was shocked at how harmonically complex it was. And Kershaw was definitely a good guitar player as well.
I'm a music analyst, and I had to analyze some Chicago tunes, which are waaaaaaay more harmonically complex than I gave them credit for! pop music was built different back in the day lol
Sergio Méndez is a Brasilian musician, this song reminds me Christopher Cross music. Regards from Buenos Aires. I hope someday You hear something from here.
Met Sergio six summers ago when I was 21 and he was such a humble gentleman. His music got me through many hard times; I’m not surprised at the talent of him and Brazilian artists
