How Many Key Changes In Love On Top

The 15 greatest key changes in pop history

13 October 2020, 16:24 | Updated: thirteen October 2020, 16:42

Key changes are given a hard time past music purists over the years, mainly thanks to X Factor winner's singles and the like.

Just we reckon they are an underrated and powerful tool for any archetype pop (or even rock) tune, and some of the finest songs ever accept contained a cheeky key modify or 2.

Here are the absolute greatest key changes e'er made, and the exact timings in all their glory:

Pretty much every Westlife vocal

Primal alter at: 3.15

We could have gone for any Westlife banger ('You Heighten Me Up' and 'What Makes a Man' are also great examples), simply we've gone for this underrated number i from 2001.

10 of Westlife'southward greatest songs ever

It'south a paint-by-numbers Westlife power ballad, simply that's what makes it so skilful. The song slows down a bit, bells start chiming, and and then the boys get off their stools and get hell for leather.
Bros - 'When Will I Exist Famous?'

Key modify at: 3:34

This one comes out of nowhere.

After a breakdown in the dance-pop track, Matt Goss totally slows down the vocals, it goes all over the place, so into a quite inspired key change.
Cliff Richard - 'Saviour's Twenty-four hour period'

Key change at: 2:34 / 2:53

Christmas AND primal changes. It doesn't become more festive than that.

And Ii primal changes at that. Bravo, Cliff.
Mr Big - 'To Exist With Yous'

Central change at: ii:31

Information technology'southward a vocal that doesn't necessarily demand a key change, but we're so glad it's at that place.
The Beatles - 'Penny Lane'

Fundamental change at: 2:36

Even the Fab Iv couldn't aid just try out a cheeky key change. And it's so subtle and curt-lived that yous might have missed information technology.

But it totally completes the song and gives information technology a perfect ending.

See too: 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds'
Genesis - 'Invisible Touch'

Key change at: iii:07

Genesis and Phil Collins knew had to turn a corking track into a worldwide hitting that could make full stadiums.

The 10 greatest Phil Collins-era Genesis songs ever

The simple cardinal change towards the song'due south conclusion perfectly brings it all habitation and sticks in our heads all mean solar day long after.
Backstreet Boys - 'I Desire Information technology That Manner'

Fundamental change at: 2:32

Essentially, you lot weren't a proper boyband if yous didn't dabble in fundamental changes in the 1990s.

The Backstreet Boys used it perfectly, coupling it with a powerhouse of a vocal on "I want to hear you saaaaaaayyyyyyyy!".
Michael Bolton - 'How Tin We Be Lovers?'

Key modify at: 2:39

Michael Bolton is the rex when it comes to OTT power ballads, and he really went for it on this i.

Not only does he become for a killer key change in this excellent tune, simply he does it a couple of beats before than you'd expect, after exclaiming 'WE Tin can WORK IT OUT!'.

The master.
Michael Jackson - 'Earth Vocal'

Fundamental change at: iii:45

'Earth Vocal' is equally epic equally songs tin exist while still sounding like they fit on the radio.

Yet, halfway through the ability carol, Michael decided that it needed to exist Even BIGGER GOSHDARNIT.

And so, he turned information technology upward a notch but throwing in a key change that totally completes the song.
Whitney Houston - 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody'

Key change at: 3:37

Whitney is another legend when it comes to a skillful key change. See also: 'I Take Nothing'.

Simply for sheer joy and hymeneals party fun, information technology has to go to this '80s favourite.
Diana Ross - 'Chain Reaction'

Cardinal changes at: ii:30 / 2:59 / iii:thirteen / 3:28

This pop archetype is already so catchy, but it builds and builds before co-writers the Bee Gees join in the chorus.

Songs y'all didn't know were written by the Bee Gees

So not only tin can you hear Barry Gibb go full pelt on the falsetto vocals, simply and then at that place's the gorgeous key change. And then another one!

Barry then throws a curveball with the concluding key changes, equally he does it halfway through the sentence. It's hard to explain, simply information technology's ace.
Beyoncé - 'Love on Top'

Key changes at: ane:44 / ii:04 / ii:25 / 2:45

This might well win the prize for the most key changes in one song without information technology existence as well silly (somehow).

Beyoncé must accept leant on the cardinal-modify punch, as one kicks in after some other equally the song reaches its climax.

Just when you lot think she can't possibly get whatsoever higher, she does.
Michael Jackson - 'Human being in the Mirror'

Primal change at: 2:53

"Make that change", as Michael in one case said.

Read more: The Story of... 'Man in the Mirror'

And alter it, he did. He stops everything, literally shouts "CHANGE!", and the song becomes a legend.
Celine Dion - 'My Eye Will Proceed'

Key change at: 3:25

A key change then expert, a whole meme has been built around it.

Read more: Celine Dion'due south 10 greatest songs

This power ballad made for Titanic needed an extra gut dial to make it even more emotional. How do you lot do that? Key Alter.
Bon Jovi - 'Livin' on a Prayer'

Key change at: iii:24

This rock archetype already has 1 of the greatest choruses ever, and the only style to make information technology even more epic was to chuck in a cardinal change.

A key alter that has fabricated us lose our voices at endless karaoke and '80s cheese nights e'er since.