The Distinctive Key Changes That Made Queen’s ‘We Are the Champions’ Sound So Triumphant
Talented British pianist David Bennett analyzed the specific chords and keys that made Queens classic song We Are the Champions" sound so triumphant.
Queen had a real knack of writing songs that bottled feelings, and a perfect example is We Are The Champions. This song literally sounds like a victory!
Bennett notes that the song starts with darker minor chords, then shifts to major chords, and finally to a five-chord progression that builds confidence before a significant key change, up a whole step from E-flat to F, evoking a true sense of victory.
It's not just the lyrics that make us feel like champions when we listen to this piece of music, but it's the music as well. The music evokes those feelings, those emotions of going against hardship, of overcoming challenges, and ultimately emerging victorious.
David Bennett also points out that the studio version never resolves, ending on a mysterious C minor 11 chord like a cliffhanger, though the live version finally gives the story its ending.
Other Videos by David BennettHow Some Popular Songs Use Only a Single Chord
Musician Plays 80 of the Most Iconic Piano Intros
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