All Posts Tagged Chorus Vocal Hook

The chorus vocal hook to David Guetta's Hey Mama featuring Nicki Minaj (released March 16, 2015) is melodically similar to the chorus vocal hook to Rihanna's debut single Pon de Replay (released May 24, 2005). The songs are only a half-step apart (Hey Mama: E minor, Pon de Replay: F# minor) and both feature an Afro-Caribbean style hook that emphasizes the 5th and 6th degrees of the minor scale. Compare the lines from Hey Mama: "Beating my drum like dum di-di-day", and Pon de Replay: "Come Mr. DJ song pon de replay."

Hey Mama (:36) VS Pon de Replay (:59)

Hey Mama
Key: E minor
Hook Melody (relative to minor root):
1-5-5-5-5
4-4-6-5


Pon de Replay
Key: F# minor
Hook Melody (relative to minor root):
1-5-5-5-5
6-6-7-6-5