All Posts Tagged Chord Progression/Structure

Sam Smith’s I’m Not the Only One (released August 31, 2014) is reminiscent of several songs including Roy Orbison’s You Got It (released 1989, written by Orbison, Jeff Lynne, and Tom Petty), Ray LaMontagne’s You Are the Best Thing (released August 26, 2008), Ray Charles’ Georgia on My Mind (released September 1960, written by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell), Bob Marley’s No Woman No Cry (released in 1974), Aimee Mann’s Save Me (an Oscar-nominee released in 1999), and the jazz standard All of Me (written by Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons in 1931). The chord progression/piano part to I’m Not the Only One (F, A7, D minor, Bb major 7 or I, V/vi, vi, IVM7) features a “secondary dominant” or “V of vi” for it’s second chord. The same progression/device (relative to key) is shared by all of the aforementioned songs, with the exception of Marley’s tune. In addition, the vocal melody to the last line in INtOO's chorus: "I know I'm not the only one," is similar to the vocal melody in Santana's Smooth (released June 29, 1999): "You got the kind of loving' that can be so smooth."


I’m Not the Only One (:41) VS You Got It (:43)


I’m Not the Only One
Key: F major
Chord Progression: F, A7, D minor, BbM7 (or I, V/vi, vi, IV | I, V, I, I)


You Got It
Key: A major
Chord Progression: A, C#7, F# minor, D (or I, V/vi, vi, IV)


You Are the Best Thing
Key: Bb major
Chord Progression: Bb, D7, G minor, G minor (or I, V/vi, vi, vi)


Georgia on My Mind (:15)
Key: G major
Chord Progression: G, B7, E minor, G7/D, C (or I, V/vi, vi, I7, IV)


No Woman No Cry (2:44)
Key: C major
Chord Progression: C, G/B, A minor, F, C, G, C (or I, V, vi, IV | I, V, I, V)


Save Me (2:57)
Key: Bb major
Chord Progression: Bb, D7, G minor, C7 (or I, V/vi, vi, V/V)


All of Me (:18)
Key: F major
Chord Progression: F, A7, D7, G minor (or I, V/vi, V/ii, ii)


I'm Not the Only One (2:10) VS
Smooth (1:27)
Key: A minor
Chord Progression: A minor, E7, D minor 7, E7 (or i, V7, iv7, V7)