The Most COMPLEX Pop Song of All Time

Is this the most complex song ever? In this video I answer that question.
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[@RickBeato]

For those non-musicians that have written to me you can donate to my channel through this link on my website rickbeato.com/pages/donate Or you can become a member of the Beato Club. My Beato Club is exactly like Patreon.

[@codymarkley8372]

Hey Rick, is the beato book good for learning this kind of stuff? I would like to learn this stuff, as a musician.

[@markmap4677]

I always thought that "Cherish" by The Association was pretty complex for it's era

[@mosessatyam]

Rick can you please make a video explaining all those weird chord shapes you had in this video.. or at least principles on how we can construct it

[@thomasjamison2050]

There is a story about Jerome Kern. The day after the play opened for which he wrote 'All The Things You Are' he had lunch with a theater critic for the New York Times. The critic asked him if he thought the song would ever really become popular. Jerome answered "No, the melody is just too complicated for that. People just won't remember it." They finished their lunch and as they walked out of the restaurant a stranger walked by whistling the melody.

[@webgpu]

Rick, for all of us non musicians, could you play what could be the vanilla version of this song, without over modulation, please? 🙂👍

[@puppetsnob]

"Never gonna pick a key...I'm gonna modulate the song forever"

[@laurabusse1832]

Underrated comment

[@orbiebibbee2998]

thats funny

[@evracer]

Nailed it! Lmao

[@federicozabatta1612]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[@snower13]

"Gonna try and make up for all the times they bored ya so. Gon-na hold your ear close to mine. From this day on we're confused together. Oh I swear this time I'm never gonna change the key."

[@bethrgrahamelizabethgraham2750]

Rick... I was the girl singer on that gig - Beth Russo (now Graham)! What a fun summer gig that was - and I never quite realized then how tricky that tune was for you guys. Terrance Bruce was a wonder. Great vid - I enjoyed listening and remembering all that! @Rick Beato

[@marcd2936]

Beth your vocals are great in this complex song

[@gustavobraga582]

Wow! So glad you two reunited on this AWESOME video! :-)

[@nettieharris]

How fun!!! You automatically awesome in my book!

[@pcrb141]

She was the female vocalist in the cover band with Rick. She wasn't the female singer of the recording.

[@Rossimac_]

Awesome!! I wish I could have been there to see the band crumbling and laughing. So cool that Beth found this! This song is like trying to solve a rubric’s cube on stage!

[@rtsantos]

Rick, I have been playing piano for 40 yrs. I put together a massive 80s playlist, found this song, downloaded the sheet music. I seriously had some wtf moments as I was sight reading. Took me 3 tries to get it down and after watching your video I was dying of laughter. I can’t imagine trying to memorize this song. Thx for the analysis!

[@DrMontague]

difficult to play and sing at the same time, if you are accompanying a singer then a competent guitarist should be able to handle it. Happy Talk also sounds a simple song but wait till you see the chord changes!

[@ChadMichaelSimon]

This video is so epic that it's mentioned in the Wikipedia entry for the song! In a June 2021 video posted on KZbin, record producer Rick Beato called "Never Gonna Let You Go" "the most complex pop song of all time", due to its use of frequent key changes, inverted chords and unusual chord progressions.[4] Beato's discussion includes a detailed harmonic analysis of the Sérgio Mendes arrangement.

[@MattsCrazyArt]

Love that!

[@lucasratti]

​@MattsCrazyArt niceee

[@Soniko77]

The music was done more than a year ago. Since it's complicated, people assume it's a Brazilian thing. Not really. As you can see it in that Wikipedia article.

[@AgustinGaudiano]

Goddamnit it’s pissing me off how peoples keep attributing this to Sergio Mendes. He obviously didn’t write this. It was written by married couple Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. None of his other works are remotely similar to this

[@DrFearCo]

“Ok let’s play this new song tonight” “What are the chords” “All of them”

[@1badsteed]

No lie there!!!

[@SpunktAlex]

"Just hit the fretboard, something will fit"

[@SC-gp7kt]

😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

[@zsujsk]

"how many chords?" "YES"

[@mansenmias]

This needs 'Guitar George' to play it! :D

[@KhalDrogo76]

The genius of this song isn’t even the chords, it’s that they wrote a singable, hummable, memorable vocal melody over that!!!

[@BellXllebMusic]

I bet they wrote the melody first and got as tricky as they could with the chords after

[@u1zha]

I think a simpler way to arrive at such a song is to start with humming a melody, pivoting it across keys whenever you feel like. Or, in other words, neglecting the key and just trying to make passages move somewhere - jumping to an off-key tone here and there, and seeing where it leads. I don't see the chord sequences having a structure of their own in this song, they're just short tension and release cycles made to fit the melody. Resolutions that occur every other measure lead to apparent "normalcy", no matter how harmonically distant the start of every following cadence is.

[@george474747]

Yeah, I wonder if it started as a regular pop song, then someone decided to entertain themself by making the chords as complex as possible while still going with the melody.

[@peachmelba1000]

@@BellXllebMusic My thoughts exactly.

[@eyvindjr]

@@george474747 Not really, the chords follow the modulations of the melody in this song. A "jazzified" chord scheme looks very different!

[@DilerNassif]

You may know Sergio Mendes is brazilian and his major influence is "Bossa Nova" that has a lot of chords like those in its composition; even Mendes has done the arrangement, only. Names like Antonio Carlos Jobim, Carlos Lyra, João Gilberto, among other have been used these kind of sequence since the 60s and 70s. I'm Dilermando Nassif, from Belo Horizonte, MG. Brazil. I like your videos. You are a great musician. Congratulations.

[@petedavis7970]

But it wasn't written by Mendes. It was written by Barry Mann and his wife Cynthia Weil. Both born and raised in New York City.

[@f.i.l.d.e.p.s]

listen in at 8:35. although i get your point

[@artvandalay13]

Did you know Sergio Mendes also has a cult following? Can't even walk down the street in South America.

[@matcap2010]

@@petedavis7970 I'm going to explain something you might not know about music production: music is divided into 2 distinct parts, lyrics and harmony. The objective of this video is not to analyze the lyrics of the song but rather the harmony, especially the chosen chords.

[@diogofarias1822]

@@petedavis7970 You're talking about the lyrics, not the song itself.

[@jwilliam2255]

Absolutely god-level jazz composition. So complex yet sounds so natural and so beautiful, especially with the male / female duet.

[@thespadestable]

Quincy Jones can do that when he has access to many gifted musicians and arrangers all over the world.

[@voornaam3191]

Are you sure? Natural? Beautiful? What is that bar, then?

[@jamesnewton485]

The craziest part of the story isn't them butchering the song. Its doing an emotional love song for kids ages 8-10.

[@SC-gp7kt]

😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

[@reginomusicHD]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Dude!!!!!!!

[@tonybates7870]

If it was no. 1 the kids wouldn't have batted an eyelid. People accept what they're exposed to. You hear something enough at that age, it'll probably grow on you. Edit: Bohemian Rhapsody is the ultimate example. I was 12 when that came out and at first it sounded like a mess. Two weeks later I was buying it. And of course I'm now sick and tired of it 😉

[@mvunit3]

Hahaha! :D I was like; "Wait . . . What? 8-10-12 year olds"? :P

[@marfaxa]

@@mvunit3 I was four or five when this song came out and 100% remember hearing it on the radio.

[@HarrisCaron]

Am I the only non-musician here understanding like 10% of the technobabble but still enjoying this guy's enthusiasm tremendously?

[@jasonosmondfernandes8525]

I tried self-learning guitar in the late 80s and early 90s. I didn't even understand 1% of what Rick was talking about.

[@pneumatic00]

The thing you can surely understand about it is that as one of the musicians, there is a certain divine comfort in knowing that no matter how badly you completely obliterate a tune, even in front of people, in 3 minutes it will be over and nobody is gonna have any broken bones or even flesh wounds. Yes, extremely awkward at the time. But it's like...you know *in advance* that you are automatically guaranteed forgiven for any sort of mistake you can make. All you have to do is to go on to the next tune which you know you are gonna do anyway. Which is why between Rick & the bass player it is/was so double-over hilarious.

[@asianguy6174]

No I love this and I’m not a musician. I am a regular.

[@Hal_T]

Count me in. I love this channel even though I understand almost none of the technical aspects of music.

[@shawnbruce6934]

Sign Up for His Courses. Learn How to Play.

[@mapleext]

I’ve watched this video several times since it came out. Each time I think, “How come I loved that song and never noticed all those chord changes?” I still don’t quite get how hard it is musically and yet how natural it feels - it just keeps opening up. Amazing song.

[@fredfontanares9763]

That's why Sergio Mendes is still making music. Great music.

[@AgustinGaudiano]

He didn’t write this song- not the chords, the melody, the lyrics- nothing. Nor does he sing it. What a weasel.

[@xaviconde]

This song can only be played by Guitar George, cause he knows all the chords.

[@maxg.-musician02]

He's strictly rhythm he doesn't want to make it cry or sing!

[@josuejarquin1322]

They said an old guitar is all, he can afford

[@skumflum3768]

When he gets up under the lights to play his thing

[@essoteric]

And Harry doesn't mind if he doesn't make the scene.

[@damonmicciulli4396]

He’s got a daytime job, he’s doing alright

[@Raerae5929]

As complicated as these progressions are, it never SOUNDS crazy. Just flows. Weird!

[@dimitriid]

Yep. Honestly if I wasn't told this is the original I would assume this is like a modern day Jazz band doing a reharmonization but then on those the singers themselves never modulate this much. It's like a Giant Steps lost track that was retrofitted with a nice, romantic melody and lyrics yet it still works as both.

[@farrex0]

@@IncredibleGoliath It feels like standard pop, because it is written as standard pop. Despite the modulations the song is written pretty generically and that is why it is not remembered, not because of the modulations. Modulations can actually help a song make it more memorable, you have Bohemian Rhapsody, one of the most memorable and recognizable songs ever and it has several modulations. So you can attribute that to the writing and not the modulations themselves.

[@rmcunningham3874]

Genius level melody writing.

[@farrex0]

@@IncredibleGoliath Oh ok, I thought you were making a point as to how the modulations in itself were a detriment to the composition, my bad.

[@aryehlion4748]

The vocals by Joe Pizzulo and Leeza Miller are STUNNING! Don’t hear too many pop singers like those anymore in today’s music. Another great song sung by Pizzulo is Alibis from the Sérgio Mendes album Confetti - there’s a great live video of it here on KZbin

[@dowunda]

I love it with Rick playing the chords over it. It simplifies the complexity somewhat and hear it as a set of chards rather than listening to all the instruments intertwining. It let's me appreciate its fantastic nature.

[@rabit818]

Brasil 66 era was sophisticated jazz/pop/bossa nova that charted all over the planet. His version of The Beatles’ Fool on a Hill is outstanding.

[@georgew2014]

Paul McCartney agrees. He said he prefers the Brasil 66 version to his own.

[@brianoconnor7796]

@@georgew2014 that's really cool! wow

[@brianoconnor7796]

agreed

[@t.sewell1513]

This is how you write a song without getting sued for plagiarism lol.

[@Sally-uu3yt]

Good one

[@t.sewell1513]

@ape kaspank lol

[@kathleenarapoglou7724]

Best comment of the night

[@mrtyreus0]

Can't copyright chord changes anyway. Although melodies on the other hand... Sounds not unlike The Greatest Love of All..

[@Simon-jj2pu]

Actually bits of it remind me of Could it be Magic which in turn rips off Chopin

[@ozoshah]

This Song has more chords than the entire AC/DC catalogue

[@pja36]

I know to which one I’d rather listen, tho.

[@dennisrafinha]

not too hard tbh

[@donalmaguire6099]

I was hoping it had the two chords A/C and D/C but unfortunately the closest is Ab/c and D/C

[@FlowtnWitWalden]

@@donalmaguire6099 LOL. We used to joke that AC/DC named their band after the only chords they knew. Just joking of course - we loved their hard hitting, down-to-earth sound. I'm a firm believer that complicated harmony doesn't always equate to likeable, memorable, soul-stirring music.

[@jasonharris2291]

The intro itself does.

[@chrishyde1216]

Just loving Rick's reaction to the chord changes.

[@eileencullen8682]

Wonderful experience watching you play all those chords and having them there to read. Your comments and pleasant pure enjoyment of the complexity is delightful. Thank you Rick Beato. Just heard you for the first time about a week ago. 😊

[@Tenkanmusic]

There're more chords in this song than in the whole Billboard hot 100.

[@nehuencastillo2781]

hahahhahah

[@tonytraguardo4408]

Niiiice, LOL!

[@michaeldolch9126]

key Metallica clip: "Sad but true!!!!"

[@oswaldoramriv3184]

Sadly, YES

[@roaly2698]

trueeeeeeeee

[@manlioyllades]

Brazilian harmony is otherworldly. Once I asked a Brazilian guitarist where he had learned all those cool chords and progressions. His response: "In the streets"

[@peteyhop7589]

I had a Brazilian keyboardist play an amazing passage once. When I asked him what it was, he said, "I don't know" He was serious

[@dennisrafinha]

most musicians here in brazil actually did learn most things from the streets because it was where samba and pagode were presented, i think after the 90's that culture kinda ended tho

[@GBsdclf01]

That's so badass

[@bobrezendeassis]

Try a song called ""Corsario" from the singer "João Bosco".

[@ricardoreis7298]

Funny thing is: A lot of Brazilian youngsters don't even know who Sérgio Mendes is, and half of those who kno, know him only as they guy that had his studio built by Harrison Ford (before he was famous).

[@1980sTimeWarp]

This is spectacularly fantastic this video. I come from a Jazz family and have always loved this song. But your reactions and pure joy about those crazy and numerous key changes, it’s soo refreshing. Thank you for sharing 🍻🍾!

[@jc4428]

I agree completely. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him so delighted!

[@9sunskungfu]

I had no idea it was so complex, just sounded like a normal pop song of the day to me. I was 8 years old when that song came out, a great song, always loved it.

[@jeromecha1]

I don’t understand 95% of what you’re talking about but I find these videos so interesting, intriguing, even often humorous! Thank you for your hard work on these.

[@sherifkadir]

96% for me lol

[@Delectatio]

The case when it's no matter if you speak English or Russian - you still don't understand 95% of what is said 😃

[@irajserpent8453]

Same lmao

[@Slightedge101]

I know nothing except you are great

[@AdelsonSmania]

And I thought I was the only "non initiated" having fun with those videos. They are awesome!

[@RJRonquillo]

I feel like many artists/bands in 82/83 were trying to out-modulate each other 😂

[@firstnamelastname061]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@crigonalgaming1258]

Aside from that, vocalists in that era were pushing for vocals that require godly levels of vocal range. Some songs are literally unsingable unless you can sing beyond a normal person's range.

[@ChrisCollinsGuitar]

80s. Bigger, more, larger......

[@423gtrman]

Well said

[@alexbougiemusic]

I remember figuring out Eternal Flame for a wedding and being pretty blown away by the chord changes!

[@alexgrover7693]

I love how the chord notations keep getting longer and more insane.

[@andrewmole745]

This is one of your best videos - I love the fun you are having with it and the way you show us the chords.

[@deusexaethera]

So what you're telling me is, Sergio Mendes enforced copy protection on this song by encrypting the chord progression.

[@ShaozenSC]

and Rick hacked it... sort of 😅

[@sablatnic8030]

Just about sums it up! ^_^

[@redrick8900]

Actually people used to do stunts like that all the time.

[@deusexaethera]

@@redrick8900: Actually it's funnier if you don't explain it.

[@redrick8900]

@@deusexaethera It wasn't funny to begin with.

[@KundoKun]

"I guess you guys aren't ready for that yet. But your kids are gonna love it."

[@JonatanCuevasSena]

Jajaj

[@adelpbrown]

Frank zappa did this hhh

[@josie1776]

In this specific case, that will not come true. As generations pass, the kids get even more focused in crap music.

[@danphillips3580]

Ok Marty

[@Tht1Gy]

@@josie1776 It's a joke/movie reference. :-)

[@NazaruGameplays]

Sergio Mendes is one of our treasures from Brazil, representing the MPB and bossa nova at it's finest.

[@fbarok5]

Based on how the name was pronounced I assumed he was from Argentina or Mexico

[@alan2a1l]

I heard his group live, as Brasil '99. "Mas que nada" is probably the most exciting song live that I've ever heard. They start it at zero and build like waves crashing. And the girl singers were phenomenal (Kevyn Lettau, a brilliant jazz singer herself, was one of them for that concert, at the Hollywood Bowl, in L.A. Says a lot for Mendes that amazing singers were ready to sign up for ensemble work with his band)

[@crweber3408]

Brasil '66, '77, I assume he had '88 too? He was always great.

[@rickrose5377]

But this is neither of those. This is needlessly complicated, disposable pop. There's nothing compelling about it.

[@MajWinters100]

@@fbarok5 That's because of the common root of portuguese and spanish. Mendez (SPA) and Mendes (Port) share the same origin, even though the two languages evolved differently. The same happens with English and German (both are germanic languages)

[@swingbass05]

I adore this so much. Thank you for the breakdown, I was smiling from ear to ear. The changes were soooo good to see. Absolutely amazing.

[@TheRacePig]

Pulling out a song with an impossible to memorise chord progression is such a singer move.

[@RebeccaLynnMusic]

😂

[@jaxvon]

"Should we write a chart for this?" "Naw, we can figure this out." Backfires EVERY time.

[@Engineeredengineer]

"... no need for chart.." Then comes first line "I was as wrong as i could be..."

[@atereolusola2497]

No truer word ever said! Lol

[@MaximumSpank]

Im not a musician and basically know nothing about music production, but oh boy can i relate to that mentality backfiring. Im in movie production, and holy, backfires EVERY time indeed!

[@dwdyer]

"Now we're in uncharted territory." Literally.

[@doughaluza8246]

This is my favorite video from you. I only vaguely understand the musicology you describe, based on rudimentary music training in my youth. But your enthusiasm is contagious. Please keep doing what you are doing!

[@johnmcaleese8459]

Figuring this out is just beyond me but turning your guitar away from the bassist who helped you out the day before is hilarious !! What a great story inside your memory and musicianship unsurpassed. Rick, you are just a brilliant, funny man. Thank you for sharing.

[@nexarath]

This song is legit genius. Coming up with all of those progressions is one thing, but making it into a coherent song with nice singing parts, that's skill, man.

[@jimgardner5129]

A friend of mine once said a winning pop song is the most difficult to write.

[@nexarath]

@@neilslade Bro, it's a targeted pop song, what are you expecting? The cool thing about this channel is that Rick never turns down any genre of music merely based on the lyrics, vocals, or whatever.. I'd imagine very few of us here would actually listen to this song or album in our spare time.. doesn't stop us from analyzing it from a musical perspective, though. It's not a song I'd rock out to, but props where they are due: within the genre, for what it wants to do, it's masterfully crafted, and far more ambitious than just about anything else you could hear in the genre. That to me is what makes it worth the praise, not necessarily meaning that I'm in love with it :D

[@WorldWarThree]

I am pretty sure the melody was not made to match those chords. It was the other way around. About all successful songwriters start with the melody. After that, there are a million ways to do the chords. It's called chord substitution. Guitarist Joe Pass did it with standards.

[@jamesparker1063]

@@WorldWarThree I remember, "back in the day", reading "Guitar Player" mag, and almost every interviewee indicated this, "melody first/chords after" approach to songwriting....I was composing music, but always chord progs alone, I thought, "I will never be able to write songs!", or maybe just instrumental music; but, about a decade ago, I consciously decided to see if I could just compose a melody "cold turkey" and chord it, after, and I (thankfully!) found out that I can!

[@dubchile]

Hmmm, (deep sigh) not convinced. Even if our 'Guru on high' vouches for it! 😫

[@johnhughes3214]

Rick: The Wikipedia page for this song already mentions that you analyzed the song and called it the most complex pop song ever, just 4 hours after you posted this video. You've become a cultural icon!

[@notpub]

Deservedly so. Kudos, Rick!!!

[@2gobeond]

Rick has become a “star music teacher” and rightly so.

[@joshnic6639]

Lol that’s awesome!

[@akeel_1701]

I subscribed to this channel after seeing this video!

[@Samantha-vlly]

Wow

[@jackprick9797]

I am not a musician but love the breakdown Rick does for this song, then you had me laughing too. Great video!

[@jefferyseay5846]

Hey, I’m not a musician, so I really appreciate your expertise in unpacking this song. You’re a pleasure to watch… Thank you for describing and explaining the complexities of the song. Fascinating!

[@michaelmiller7160]

The song is complex but not a great song; just a good romantic smooth jazz-pop song that is a bit too slick and dreary. Excruciating detail for a song that doesn't seem very good though it made no 1.

[@scruffyyyjin]

I love that you write out the chord symbols by hand and then import them in

[@mr.anderson70]

Musicians that are getting married from now on will request this song just to witness the pain.

[@patrickleonardo9296]

Jazz often runs the circle of fifths descending and modulates to the minor of the tonic as the ii of the new tonic. Pop jazz more so. It seems pretty clear that the clever modulating was done in the Mendes song to accommodate the pitch positioning of the two vocal leads.

[@user-ou3ol4px1i]

Rick, that is just priceless, the way you talk your way through that song, and relate your story. .. It is wonderful to see how special music is to you. Your videos are special to everyone else, for whom music is special too.

[@minnesotajack1]

The easiest way to play this song is to pick a different one.

[@themeettrees]

I'm singing like.. "I'm never gonna learn the chords, I'm gonna struggle with these chords forever"

[@DennisKresin]

Haha, lol ^^

[@moeball740]

Just brilliant!

[@aaperry1]

LMAO 🤣

[@Varis78]

Now I want a Weird Al parody of this song with those lyrics, just talking about how complex this song is, lol.

[@gustavosaliola]

And the end frase on the chorus "I'm never gonna learn the choooooords"

[@AJTramberg]

I enjoy watching Rick love the music as much as I enjoy the music itself. Always full of pure joy. I wish I could spend most of my time doing something I truly loved like that.

[@avero578]

Great video Rick. I enjoyed this so much!! 🤩

[@fugithegreat]

"Which chords should we use for this song?" "All of them!"

[@normanwhite6677]

Remove a few notes, Mozart!

[@AmberAmber]

Thats my favourite kind of song!!!

[@susanmargaretwills6432]

Or none of them which would make 4 better listening

[@fromulus]

Producer: So which chords are you thinking for this song? Artist: All of them

[@DerikHendric]

Producer: How many chords are there in your song? Composer: Yes

[@dctbass]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@dctbass]

"We'll just tell you the chords that AREN'T in the song. It's easier that way."

[@Chris-vr8cd]

Artist: All of them Producer: Okay so we're going to add a few tritone substituations... Artist: ALL OF THEM!

[@casparuskruger4807]

Hardly

[@ChrisBrengel]

What a great video! I remember this song. I had no idea that it was a number one hit. Like he says, when you listen to it you've noticed there are some unusual chord changes but I had no idea how complex it was! I hope the songwriters see this video and so know that all these years later someone appreciates what a masterpiece this song is!

[@officialdanncardona]

Actually I knew I've heard this somewhere in Spanish, there is a Salsa version of this song and it's pure gold. It's called "Nunca te dejaré ir" by Gustavo Rodriguez. I somehow heard it when I was little and all the changes musically-wise blew my mind... Now I know why. What a masterpiece!

[@MorningThief_]

"Let's write a song!" "Cool, what chord we gonna use?" "Yes..."

[@michaelscott356]

I got these 100. Whaddaya think of THEM?

[@markpaul3898]

Literally laughed out loud at this 😂

[@JesseLBK]

I legit laughed out loud

[@BassandoForte]

How every Jazz tune was written... 😉

[@PeteOliva]

PALPATINE VOICE: All of them...

[@shouryasaraswat]

This song has more chords than my entire playing-vocabulary

[@johnf6288]

epic comment...I agree LOL

[@raisa_cherry33]

😂😂😂😂😅😅😅😅😅

[@kanvolu]

Same xD

[@IGarrettI]

I'd never remember the progression

[@tomvesely4008]

You could say that about even simpler songs than that!

[@CarolynMurie]

I love that you're grinning the whole time you're explaining this. Very entertaining!

[@christianzezza]

Leeza Miller recorded the female vocal part on "Never gonna let you go". She was also part of the band on a couple of world tours in the early '80.

[@ElCameronDormido]

"American musician and KZbin personality Rick Beato has analysed the chord structure of the song in a video titled "The Most COMPLEX Pop Song of All Time".'[4]" someone already edited the song's wiki page saying you've reviewed it

[@MIGBMWLOVER]

wow that was fast!

[@ole555]

Now try getting Wikipedia to admit that the Warren Commission report was pure BS. Lesson for today: Never even consider using Wikipedia for information on anything remotely debatable.

[@gramursowanfaborden5820]

@@ole555 unless you agree with them... ha

[@CurtHowland]

Well, at least the CIA let something on Wikipedia that matters.

[@kineahora8736]

That is Krazy! Now, just in... Trump *may have* lost the election🙄

[@DavidLeBlanc]

It's for songs like this that the drummer is happy he's the drummer.

[@tltinatl]

Right. Back there like "Good luck with that, y'all" 😂

[@WWNF911]

And the singer is like... what’s wrong with you guys 😂😂😂😂

[@davidboyer7706]

Until the singer wants to play a rush song…

[@sventacle]

Agrees in 4/4

[@dennisnickoloff1723]

@@davidboyer7706 that's when the drummer sez "yaaay" let's wake these people up!

[@andrelocateli3137]

Sérgio Mendes is a giant. One of the greatest Brazilian musicians of all time. I know because I'm Brazilian

[@tiagocasanova7065]

Not recognised in Brazil at all, because I am from there as well

[@stuartcorrell7717]

Cheers my man, Brasil '66 was a pretty big deal up here in the States as well.

[@stefankaiser3354]

​@@tiagocasanova7065 Also not valued in Europe, Asia or anywhere else outside the USA. This is hard to believe but he invested so much work into one song and then it doesn't even make it into the 3 other major music markets besides the US. No chart entry in Japan, Germany and in the UK he only reached #45 😕

[@tiagocasanova7065]

​@stefankaiser3354 he became really famous with his jam with Black Eyed Peas these days, that was worldwide

[@stefankaiser3354]

@@tiagocasanova7065 Yes, the single with the Black Eyed Peas was at least a late appreciation of his artistic work, which certainly also had a financial impact on him ;) But even without the big commercial breakthrough, he shaped the music, because after all he is a trained classical pianist who is at home in Jazz and without him, Bossa Nova wouldn't be what it is today✨ 😎👍

[@naomin5284]

I used to wail this song. The complexity of the chords express the emotional investment of the singers. There’s real passion here- “some flicker of love that still shines through”….”let’s talk about second chances…”. The words are as invested as the music.

[@nsxdarin]

song's got more keys than a janitor

[@JesseWright68]

Funniest comment ever.

[@MatthewChristn]

Hahaha 😀

[@iamnotjared]

👏👏

[@davidfetter]

R.I.P. Big L

[@OldManEmo1]

HAHAHAA!!!! Stealing that one!

[@amckeown]

That's why there's no chords left in contemporary pop music. Sérgio stole them all

[@lilgreenmomo]

^ Underated comment right here! 😄😄😄

[@TheChrisheath7]

Yep. He just left 4.

[@janvanardoen9531]

To people with a musical ear it sounds perfectly natural. Even logical.

[@jessieball6195]

Sergio had nothing to do with the music of this song-nor the lyrics. He's barely playing the piano in the music video. He is strictly name only for this song.

[@AgustinGaudiano]

@@jessieball6195thank you for calling this out. Sergio didn’t write the chords, the melody, the lyrics, or even sing, yet pasts his name and face on the cover of the song. Seems a bit of a weasel imo

[@in_the_red6798]

I absolutely LOVED this deep dive Rick! Awesome breakdown. Had to get my theory notes out as I followed along. They certainly don't write 'em like that anymore. I need to watch this again.

[@Listener827]

Great channel and love your musical knowledge and taking it from your brain to hands & explaining it. Another song I enjoy, with 5 cords, is EWF's "September". Really like the A sus 13.

[@elnekroxxiga]

It's incredible how they managed to make a song so complex which probably appears quite normal to non-musicians ears.

[@docwill184]

It sounds completely logical until Rick dissects it...

[@kitrichardson2165]

that’s when you know they are doing it because it works and not because they are trying to show off their technical ability. I never would’ve suspected that song of even being complicated. Certainly not compared to something like Steely Dan -which almost always works- or the absurdities that you sometimes run into with other composers who pride themselves on inserting a measure of 15/18 timing rather randomly ina song.

[@harmonic3350]

Be careful, progressions like this can open up a portal.

[@FakingANerve]

Why do I feel like Kenny G would be on the other side smiling at me, creepily?

[@scorpion1674]

Mind blown. Although I have to disagree with one point. Even as a kid, I didn’t miss the chord changes. I was just too young to understand what was going on. The complex, nigh uncomfortable chord changes and progression create a lot of tension that emulates a feeling of passion. Even as a kid who didn’t know that kind of love yet, I felt it. Same feeling at 44, but now I know why. Absolutely brilliant.

[@jcmfwb]

Still one of my favs... the song, the musicianship, Sergio Mendez's production, and the mind-blowing analysis and humerous footnotes by Rick Beato. All excellent and entertaining stuff.👏😊

[@Oniguma]

I found this absolutely fascinating, even though I didn't understood a single thing

[@massey4business]

😂 😂 Ikr?

[@raelmozo6118]

That is so on the money - Rick is so watchable, so enthusiastic, he just carries you away on a tide of delightful ignorance

[@boldcautionproductions9203]

What Oniguma said.

[@DrDomich]

Same here, lol. I couldn't stop watching, and i used to play a guitar a bit, and i still didn't get almost any of it yet I'm absolutely fascinated. Don't know if it's more the fact he can figure out and play all of this chords and chord changes with such ease or his facial expression and absolute enthusiasm about it - after already knowing it for 40 fricking years. 🙂

[@baruq4786]

Exactly the same for me. I don't know why I look that video, I did not understand a single thing, but it has been a pleasant moment.

[@mwflanagan1]

Frustrated not to be able to press “thumbs up” more than once. Fascinating, as non-musicians don’t realize how much goes on in a song.

[@jimmymac601]

And even some so-called "musicians."

[@sailorickm]

You reminded me of a video I saw some time ago. At the end, the fellow said "if you like this video give it a thumbs-up." And with a straight face he added, "If you didn't like it, tap the thumbs down ... twice." I had to try it, and sure enough, hitting it the second time removes the thumbs-down. Brilliant!

[@mahogany174]

You’re right. I would never realise the complexity in this song. Ricks videos are brilliant as he shows the technical side of the songs. To me this sounded like many other songs, particularly Arthur’s Theme but clearly there is a lot more in it!

[@isohumulone]

Pop is not always simple. This song is uninteresting, because it just sounds bad. The changes and melody don't produce a very pleasing response. The song may have been #1, but primarily for its sickening sweet lyrical content that resonated with sixteen-year-old girls. Compare with a pop song like Henry Mancini's theme from Pink panther. Its complexity comes not from chord changes and modulation per se but from orchestration and use of chromaticisn. No lyrics.

[@NoName-to5xl]

@@isohumulone pink panther is pop???? How do we define "pop"

[@paulwasilewski4526]

Great segment as always

[@hfortenberry]

OMG, this was one of my favorite songs as a kid! I forgot about it. Thank you for the nostalgia!

[@rvellekoop]

"We're jazz guys, we can figure this out." This had me dying!

[@franklewis6943]

@Bobb Grimley If you're referring to Miles Davis, he dropped out after spending three semesters at Julliard, and later in his life frequently criticized the school for its focus on classical European (i.e. "white") repertoire. Your claim that he "was trained in classical at Julliard" is dubious at best.

[@dfwherbie8814]

Been to a jazz show?

[@PhilAndersonOutside]

@@franklewis6943 Miles was mostly right though. During his time there was a heavy, heavy influence on teaching 20th century classical music as the primary, or ONLY form of music valued for education. Heavy courses in counterpoint, 12-tone, deep orchestration. Analyzing composers like Stravinski, Schoenberg, Penderecki, to the nth degree. This did somewhat abate, and some jazz, bits of blues, and fusion was taught at some schools. Even into recent years, the primary alternative to getting a music degree learning classical music, is some form of jazz guitar or jazz piano (not including courses like music engineering). That was about it. I'm not sure how things are in the 2010's to present. Hopefully more dynamic. Would be wonderful to see classes teaching songwriting by people like Weill & Mann, Joni Mitchell, etc. My fear is the music education establishment is too entrenched, too coveting what they have. The "I did it, so you have to do it" mentality, leaving few students with much of any hope for a career, other than attaining the same PhD they did, and a career teaching as they have. Food for a very, very long conversation.

[@ChrisPetersGuitar]

When the Sultans of Swing were asked to play this song, Guitar George quit the band.

[@NE0MAS]

But he knows all the chords! Shouldn’t be a problem for him

[@vitoralexandre4052]

But Harry doesn't mind, if he doesn't, make the scene.

[@sharonraizor2839]

@@NE0MAS I know, he's strictly rhythm

[@FlyingBalcony]

why did I laugh so hard at this joke

[@randomexcuse]

This song made him cry and sing

[@mariojosepr]

Loved the video! 🙏

[@jayess2119]

nice, Mr Beato not frazzled or frustrated, rather has a good time with this and enjoys explaining the intricacies of this song, bravo.

[@leokimvideo]

Definitely a song the Ramones would never cover.

[@Cosmotype]

Not now anyway.

[@streetdenizen]

Nor U2 😂

[@onepoundofcheese8356]

Ramones wrote it

[@toquita3d]

LMFAO

[@Cheshireagusta]

Yeah wonder why Marky was originally a prog rock drummer since the Ramones songs are so easy to play. hm....

[@dav1dandrew]

I feel like I should get college credits for watching this video.

[@billhampton6605]

I got blistas on me fingas!!!! Those are Steely Dan mods all day!! Love it Rick!!! Ala " When Josie Comes Home"

[@jouleskelvin]

I was a drummer at the beginning of the video... I finished a rythm guitarist. 😎

[@dav1dandrew]

@@jouleskelvin 😅😅😅

[@MrKillerno1]

Rick, you are never too old to learn, and am so happy there are still good music writers out there who make beautiful songs.

[@EnricoGaletta]

Great video Rick, so fun to watch 😉😜

[@markwagner1997]

Once again Rick takes a song that I've heard a few thousand times over the years without really listening to to it, and made me hear what I've been totally missing. Rick, you're amazing! Thank you!

[@ChurchofPirateology]

100% I've always loved the vocal melody but never really noticed how complex the chords were.

[@trainliker100]

That's sort of the goal of "music appreciation" classes. You don't necessarily break down every song you hear mathematically as you listen, but you get more out of it.

[@MikeOxlong-]

No doubt. Never did I look at it like this, like at all whatsoever... Cool beans!

[@Thomas..Anderson]

A bit of trivia: The (first) studio for Sergio Mendes was built by a then young carpenter that would later become known as Han Solo and Indiana Jones.

[@GiacomodellaSvezia]

10:46

[@altosnad]

@@GiacomodellaSvezia lol

[@loubakalouba]

@@GiacomodellaSvezia This is the best comment in a comment of the year.

[@joansola02]

@@GiacomodellaSvezia youre genius man LOL

[@JayMatharu]

Jesus?

[@smallmeadow1]

I love that song. It pulls at both the heart and the mind. I am not a musician, but I appreciate your pointing out the complexity. As a funny side, one of the commercials stuck into your video seemed to pushing some fret cover to a guitar that would allow you to play the right note without thinking. Myself, I don't have tattoos but I was wondering if you might like to tattoo the inside of your arm with the chord changes but I am not sure there'd be enough room.

[@LillianGreenHiLilly]

Great to listen to all those chord changes, weired, bizzare, unusual different, unexpected. All contained therein.I was gripping my seat. Love hearing about the fits of laughter when performing to the children. Thank you.

[@tomscott4644]

Singer: and this is where I sing Never Gonna Let You Go Band: this is where you sing Mustang Sally

[@richellmcknight446]

🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😛🤩

[@lotuslandmusic7770]

I laughed way too hard at this. Best comment of the day!

[@c.j.rogers2422]

Despite its simplicity, Mustang Sally is a much better, more memorable song, that holds up indefinitely, as opposed to this dated, saccharine (though impressively composed) schmaltz. That electric keyboard is awful.

[@notpub]

@@c.j.rogers2422 Schmaltz. Yes, exactly!!!

[@NewFalconerRecords]

@@c.j.rogers2422 Couldn't agree with you more. Just because this song has lots of complicated chords in it, it doesn't make it memorable. It's a complete yawn-fest of a song if you ask me.

[@BillMcClintockMashups]

Rick, thank you for bringing this song to all of our attention. I can remember listening to it as a little kid but had no appreciation for how harmonically complex it is. Good stuff!

[@saulgoodman1390]

Mash up incoming?

[@Krullmatic]

Ahhh! The Master of Mashups is in the house!

[@jacksonfl]

Very interesting. Not a musician, but really enjoyed this.

[@svincentr]

Theory🤯

[@thomsevilla4956]

me too... tnx to Sir Rick didn't know this song was this complex omg

[@henriquetamashiro2762]

I really enjoyed! nice video!

[@petergentile4473]

Loved the great instruction on this song, yes very funny story and incredible chord and key changes, really enjoyed your playing. Never realized this was such a complicated song, thank you for the enlightenment. NIce black SG I have a similar one.

[@jamescassidy3995]

I’m not the only one who has no freaking clue what Rick’s talking about but thoroughly enjoys watching his videos, right? 🎸✌️

[@sarac.3259]

Yes indeed. I play the piano and I can hear it all but don't know my way round a guitar. Love these videos. You hear the songs with new ears.

[@ronjaspappa]

Right there with you 😁

[@drummersarus]

I’m a drummer so I just smile and bop along 😆.

[@esl4058]

Haha i understand all the terms cuz I’ve study music for years but the speed at which he understands is insane. Like I need to pause and work it through but he just does it lol.

[@timchalmers1700]

Like that.

[@katyatx]

I’m cool with the new series…What makes the song weird.

[@lieslyvette27]

yes yes yes!!!

[@DibIrken]

😂

[@immateriumepicmetal4544]

Yesss

[@tommi-pro]

Great idea 😂

[@tonycardinal413]

excellent ! and eye-opening. Thank you a million times

[@copasetic87]

I've watched this video a dozen times. It never gets old. I've had a couple of my students analyzed the chord progressions in this thing without watching your video and they all gave up😅

[@BenEller]

What the heck?!?! I remember hearing this song in the back seat of my mom’s Ford Escort when I was a kid…. I never even noticed how bizarre these changes are!

[@lenagust]

Obviously you didn't, because they sound good

[@johnmcmahonBXLA]

Uncle Ben, sweeping arpeggios over these changes ala JB would be a great video.

[@drewgunner14]

Uncle ben!

[@timg2727]

Same. I heard it a million times as a kid and it never occurred to me that any complexity was going on.

[@stanphillips7277]

Sup Uncle Ben, more pickin' , less clickin' 😂🎸🎶🎵

[@benwittman3431]

I had a huge grin on my face this entire video. Totally remember playing this tune with a couple wedding bands around the same time in Boston. Very deceptive. The melodic hooks and strait ahead pop-ballad drum approach make this song sound fairly strait forward. As the drummer, I always wondered why the keys, guitar and bass had their heads buried in the chart, brows furrowed. Now I understand. Brilliant writing.

[@PNW_Sportbike_Life]

Not too tough for us drummers!

[@jeredalmeida1880]

I grew up in The Bean. They LOOOVED this song back in the day!

[@barbsoet]

Absolutely love your expert analysis- a song I’ve always enjoyed but will appreciate so much more.

[@SmokyMountainStarlight]

Absolutely LOVE IT! 🥰fascinating. i will never hear this song the same again.

[@billmedic1995]

As a child/teen of the 80s I’ve heard this song a thousand times....I never realized how intricate it was!

[@johnchristopher3032]

Me neither, cause I always changed the station immediately.

[@michaelfulgenzi7445]

Laughing throughout this . . . Must have played this song a hundred times with varying success in different wedding bands in the 80s . . .

[@point-bl4nk]

wait. "varying" success?

[@shanewoolsey940]

The only good part of wedding gigs is drunken brides maids. LOL

[@DaveRucci]

A F*** it lets just do it in C major guys…

[@erich8955]

@@shanewoolsey940 the best part of going to or being in a wedding is drunken brides maids. Me and my buddies in college used to suit up and go down to the local Holiday Inn complex and wedding crash throughout the spring and summer months. Oh glorious times.

[@stuartmunro6027]

Simple bloody chords... D# E7b5 F E 2-6 aFb#6 C.... That's it... Not so complicated

[@debrapeterson3981]

This is one of the best videos. It made me smile every time you said, "What?" You're so incredibly talented! WOW. I love, love, love your videos. All of them. But this is probably my favorite. Thank you for sharing your incredible talent and brilliant explanation of EVERYTHING!

[@heysolley]

Rick is literally truly a genius.