Do you ever notice how almost all pop hits sound the same? If so, you’re not alone, nor are you crazy. Pop has found an unlimited goldmine in using the same structural formula for decades: in the key of C major, the most common key, the chords C, G, Am, and F comprise the vast majority of songs you’e spent most of your life trying to get out of your head. .
Australian musical comedy act The Axis Of Awesome did a great job of calling attention to the Golden Formula: the same four chords in the same progression have been used for just about every pop song ever, and have branched deep into country and rock. The formula (I V VI IV) has been used in songs ranging from The Beatles “Let it Be” to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing”, James Blunt’s “You’re Beautiful” to U2’s “With or Without You,” Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi” to John Denver’s “Take Me Home Country Roads” – and so many more.
Still doubting the formulaic structure? Just watch the Axis of Awesome as they play about 50 songs in rapid transition, including everything above, as well as Aha’s “Take on Me,” Toto’s “Africa,” “You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid” by the Offspring and so very many more using only their voices and these chords on a keyboard and guitar.
The progression extends much farther back in time than pop music, as it was first recognized in Pachelbel’s Canon, which was written centuries ago and rediscovered in 1919. To each artist’s credit, they’re not actually rewriting the same song so much as using a technique of emotive structure, with customized tempo, beat, melody and lyrics to fit each composition.
So yeah, all that pop music you’re always griping about sounding the same? You’re not crazy – it is.
