First Time Hearing Axis Of Awesome - 4 Chord Song (Reaction!) : Behind the Curve Reacts!

[@GrandiaKnight]

Seen them a bunch of times over the years. They were always great. They would do this song as a encore and used to update it with newer songs every year

[@danielbutler8103]

2:55 That's not Phil Collins, That Elton John with the song "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" From The Lion King.

[@MikeSakaru]

Yup :^) Probably thinking of "In the Air Tonight"

[@bofhzip]

A fun fact in this video which I didn't learn after watching many re-actions that Tim Minchin sang before them and sung his song Canvas Bags and as Aussie comedians do took the piss out of Tim by incorporating his song into their set. Other songs by AoA are how to write a love song, Rage of thrones, In The Club Tonight, and Benny and Tim Minchin Piano Duel *not technically a raging hit but epic piano playing bit)

[@jemxs]

They do many versions of this depending on the continent they are performing. This is the Aussie version I believe.

[@Geographus666]

I think the complete set consists of way over 100 songs

[@MikeSakaru]

@@Geographus666 Yeah, I know they used to have a list of 200 songs that could fit into this xD Good stuff.

[@danielbutler8103]

another Axis Of Awesome song you should do is "The Elephant in the Room"

[@notconsiderablecolors2account]

OMG i haven't listen to this medley in FOREVER! one of my favorites, a friend and i actually did this song for a talent show in middle school lol- i always think of don't stop believin' as soon as i hear the opening chords lol

[@notconsiderablecolors2account]

another fun thing about this medley is it actually has some slight variations in what songs are featured depending on what performance/recording you listen to- proves there's even MORE 4 chords songs that all these 💀

[@gryfon_gamez8184]

My music teacher made the class listen to this and for a while I'd have "take your canvas bags take your canvas bags take your canvas bags to the supermarket" stuck in my head so i decided to look up the song and see that it's by a guy called Tim Minchin. I like the song and look at his other stuff and 6 years later I am a ride or die for this genius!

[@danielbutler8103]

5:49 "Bird Plane" Is another song from Axis Of Awesome , So they're making fun of themselves.

[@ariaflame-au]

But based on another song.

[@bareakon]

The theory I've heard about catchy earworms is they repeat in your head because they never truly resolve. These four chords are probably the most consonant way to repeat endlessly with a rising and returning action every time. Because the chord progression repeats endlessly and satisfyingly, it's possible to get a single bar going round and round in your head without any resolution. That's why my trick to getting rid of an earworm is to put the song on and listen right to the end. If you want the nuts and bolts music theory I recommend Patricia Taxxon's video about 4 chord loops.

[@danielbutler8103]

5:24 "Canvas Bags" is Tim Minchin

[@NephriteQueen]

Apparently the first time he sang it was earlier that night.

[@MaikKellerhals]

Just to clarify: It's not the same four chords in these songs. It's just tha same intervals, same harmonies. The chords might be different (transposed). And to be honest, a song is not just about the chord progression. All these songs are quite different. I still like this piece though!! Also: "Why these 4 chords?" - because they sound very nice together ;)

[@chrisf2636]

It’s kinda like asking why we build houses with a foundation walls and 8ft ceilings.

[@myphone4590]

A dozen years earlier the "pachabel rant" covered the same ground. The four chords are pachelbel's Canon in D: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJXbnImHrpyEgq8si=xqS4TRNNbS3jwgSH

[@ediblemongoose]

YES! I love Rob Paravonian, he’s absolutely hilarious.

[@heavycritic9554]

Actually about 3 years (they debuted the song in 2009), but still.

[@roma540]

4:15 "Why *Those* Four Chords Are Everywhere" by 12tone covers it wonderfully. You should check them out.

[@devinup3981]

How to Write a Love Song is another thing by Axis of Awesome worth checking out

[@TerGar1000]

I think it is more because of the major labels only wanting these types of songs.

[@hypnotherapy69]

the irony is that not only is this a 4 cord song BUT Birdplane a song by them is in this song meaning they acctually HAVE written one before this🤣.

[@GageTheCannon]

I think it's more of a psychological thing for humans. These songs don't use the EXACT same chords but they use the same intervalic progression with different keys and tempos. The real mindblowing part is how well they were able to create this performance, by overlaying many different 4 chord songs into the same key and tempos. It just sounds nice to the human ear, similar how most popular songs use the 4/4 tempo. It just sounds good, however it doesn't take away from these songs they played. Starting with the chords is more of a foundation, writing the melody and lyrics with proper timing and what not still makes each song unique. The idea that a 4 chord song is just a simple formula doesn't do the artists justice. Like I said, the chord intervals just sound pleasing to the human ear and then the artists write their own unique melodies and lyrics around this foundation. Don't let it destroy your love of hit songs, it's just how it is. Are there songs that don't follow this chord progression and 4/4 tempo? Yes, but again a 4 chord song with a 4/4 tempo just sounds great. A true artist uses this as a canvas to put their own art out. It's not a music industry thing, it's just how humans tend to perceive music. Intervals, melody, and lyrics really set a song apart even if they use a similar chord progression. Good reaction btw. Definitely talk to your music theory friends, I only know the bare bone basics of music theory. But yeah, these guys are incredibly talented.

[@williamalexander7481]

I really love this bit. I also wonder why it is just four chords. I do think there is some reason why people like them so much.

[@Tommysimonsen]

It`s not just pop, in Punk there is some thing know as the T grip, T = 4 points you places your hand, aka 4 chords.

[@Furiora]

and not only is it just 4 chords, it's the exact same progression as used here XD

[@saintledger84]

"When I find myself in times of trouble mother Mary comes to me.." in answer to your question :)

[@plasticcy1354]

fun fact my music teacher explained the this progression by showing me this song

[@gabsrants]

I think it's about the layout of the keyboard - the range of the piano just sounds really satisfying if you keep your bass line in that range. The rest is just the keys being easier to push in this key than if they were transposed a couple of notes up or down. They did transpose some of those songs into the same key, if I am correct, so technically, it's just the chord progression that is the same between all these songs, they weren't all written in the same key (althogh most of them probably were). So it's the popularity of the piano as an instrument for hundreds of years that has probably led to the abundance of songs with this same chord progression. But that's just, like, my opinion, man.

[@musicman2494]

As a former Music Major. The chords of I, IV, and V are the major chords used in a major key, and the other chord they use is the, vi chord. Which helps many songs. These 4 chrods can be translated in many different Key Changes very easily as shown here. As well as how Ed Sheeran won his own defense in court (which is also hilarious)

[@andersweinstein]

The first song that came to his mind, Closing Time, is I - V - ii - IV. That's close -- 3 chords in common -- but that ii minor makes it different, and less common.

[@paulcox6566]

Music theory for lay men is that these chords just sound good together. There are 7 notes in any major key before they are repeated ie the D Major key is D E F# G A B C# D. A chord is when 3 or more notes from the key are played together. The 1st 4th and 5th notes are played as major chords and 2nd 3rd and 6th are minor chords, the 7th note is unusual and not normally played. Playing any of those chords in any order will sound ok, but playing them in the order of the 1st, 5th, 6th and 4th sound good together, hence the reason why so many (but not all) songs use that formula.

[@brettbridger362]

The melody will be different, the timing as well. The key will change things, but there are certain chord progressions that feel 'right' to the ear. So long as you're in a major key, somewhere in a song you'll probably find this progression.

[@brettbridger362]

Also, remember that you can sing a song to a set of chords other than the original, and it will still 'fit'.

[@MagnusWissler]

Check out the circle of fifths for a start, it explains a lot of the relations between chords and cadences.

[@brianstewart3897]

Let it go, let it go, can't hold it back anymore...

[@JeffreyBCampbell]

It’s because we as audiences enjoy familiarity with novelty. It’s why the most popular novels and movies and TV shows have the same story structure across genres. As for being sad about it - why? As a musician, it’s impressive to how many songs have been made from the same basic chord structure. After all, in western music, there are only twelve notes within an octave and all western music is made up of these twelve notes. The entire English language is made up of only 26 characters and that’s not sad or lazy.

[@julianstephens5361]

My first thought was let it be.

[@philipkudrna5643]

For theoretical background and the 1-5-6-4 Chord progression (in recent Music-Theorie even called the „axis chord progression“), watch this video by David Bennet: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2msnp58bKuAhtksi=WhedNoJHvO1xCegs

[@lk-music]

Others will explain it more technically, but basically, there are only 6 simple chords that 'belong' to the simple 8-note doh-ray-mi scale (there's a 7th, but I'm not calling the 7th simple, it's unpopular and unloved 😆). And the most 'popular' of the progressions will use the same 4 of those 6. Yes they rattle off a whole bunch of songs that have the same progression at some point in the song, not all these songs use the same progression throughout (I think most of these examples are the choruses, interestingly), and there are many hit songs that don't use these four chords. I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor) uses all 7, for example, many only use 3, and it's also popular to have an 'AB' or 'Call-Response' pattern which alternates between two progressions.

[@JonathanLawson]

Since multiple of those songs were from The Offspring and they have a lead singer with a PhD, I bet some research could be published....

[@jduncanandroid]

It all goes back to Pachelbel's Canon...

[@boblethbridge6292]

Check out prog metal if you want to hear unlazy chord choice :) - Ghost Love Score, The Day The World Ended...

[@huskerchuck9212]

Check out "How To Write A Love Song". Hilarious!

[@Tommysimonsen]

This means when people complain about AI music, they just fear they have to put in some real work one day.

[@tamaraandersson2532]

It's not these specifical chords, it's all about chord progression. The songs are originally in different keys but use the same chord progression, which means that they use the same pattern. Why this pattern? It's a cultural thing. In the West, we've come to recognize and feel at home with it. If you listen to music from other parts of the world, you'll discover other common patterns.

[@MaikKellerhals]

Phil Collins?

[@DQLouise]

I'm not sure if you have done any research on the band themselves but Jordan is a trans woman :)

[@NephriteQueen]

By the way, Jordan (in the middle) came out as a transgender woman in the mid 2010s.

[@ariaflame-au]

See ‘The Elephant in the Room’

[@sWejk]

typical corporate thinking. Several songs with these 4 chords have been very successful and so they want a piece of it too. At the same time, they're afraid to invest in anything innovative. It's a fact that those 4 chords are a long proven recipe for success. I guess we just like them. If you want something original, try indie.

[@LuciusFrederica]

Robinson Amy Williams Karen Miller Carol

[@FlowWolf7]

The Holy Trinity is another funny song of their's if you are ok with jabbing Christian faith a little

[@rockubtzer]

It is biblical, These are God's favorite chords. It is why it is easy to sing along to the church hymns. Humans like familiarity, It is easy to like a song if you already know the tune. It is the same with dance... Take a scene of people dancing, Mute the music. Then using a device and ear buds scroll through a favorite play list and magically they will sync-up and dance to any tune that you play... Never throw out old clothing because It will eventually become the new fad over and over again. We find it uncomfortable to radically change these patterns, so we don't.