This Steven Universe Song's Harmony Is INCREDIBLY Beautiful

Get started on your piano journey here: www.betterpian...
Follow me!
Instagram: bit.ly/2WoR7W1
Twitter: bit.ly/2I02YAt
Facebook: bit.ly/2K4rHq8
TikTok: bit.ly/2X7pnlN

[@CharlesCornellStudios]

Black Friday sale is LIVE! cornellmusicacademy.com/blackfriday

[@eezypredator3585]

Hello Charles

[@gubbinsly]

Hey Charles! You should check out Sky: Children of the Light. Such a great soundtrack… Thanks for another great video!

[@Hydratz]

Please check out ZUN's music from his Touhou games. They are insane

[@elver2218]

Video 3 of plz react to On the coast from Hades and Hades music pkz

[@stanobeirne1483]

Love your videos especially when you analyse different songs. I was thinking it would be really cool if you analysed something like L’Isle Joyeuse by Debussy, which has some really interesting harmonies and i think would be really interesting for you as a jazz pianist to look at...

[@potatertot2179]

This song is the perfect example of how major keys don't always mean happy. The root chord is G major, and yet, especially in the context of the movie, this song sounds really sad. It just goes to show how much well written harmony does for a song.

[@absent-mindedchaos7636]

@Charles_Cornell2You are nothing, bot, nothing absolutely nothing, you know what i’ll contact the scammer behind you and troll him so bad he’ll never impersonate another great jazz musician again.

[@thierrytribelhorn7149]

exactly! jacob collier once said in a video (i sadly cant‘t remember how it’s called) that the saddest chord probably is some sort of a major chord…it‘s just a thing of how you approach it (as in context: chords before and after & melody)

[@dragongamer2317]

An augmented chord is basically a major chord with a sharp fifth, and it sounds very sad

[@SubtleHawk]

Part of what makes it sound sad are the chords that come from minor though (for example the Cm, Dm, F, and Eb chords are from G minor), but I agree that it's not that simple.

[@colindenny1236]

I like to think of major vs minor in the way 12 tone explains it in his video about welcome to the black parade. Major doesn't mean happy and minor doesn't mean sad. Major is bright and minor is dark.

[@Fanouriou]

The feelings of neglect, abandonment and selfblame in such complex and harmonies are staggering. You are right this is just horribly sad!

[@lesserevil8136]

Similar to the Broken Vessel in Hollow Knight

[@Fanouriou]

@@lesserevil8136 An interesting comparrison. I have not played hollow knight so I just vaguely know the lore throughout the memes and general knowledge, but i the comparison checks out. Thank you!

[@ismaelsoto9680]

Please keep doing SU analysis, they are just phenomenal

[@cooldebt]

Not surprised that SU music is good, I'm a huge fan of The Consouls and their keys guy (Julian Sanchez) worked on the SU movie soundtrack (the second track in this Consouls stream is also composed by him kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJnPfoVugLapptE)

[@lebanbennet6157]

YEAH, IT'S JUST LIKE I always knew that Steven Universe's score was phenomenal, but thanks to this videos i'm learning why and how it works

[@panpolypuff]

This song, and this performance, make me cry every. damn. time.

[@MrPsycho199]

I fucking sobbed when I first heard it

[@ConnorM0618]

The composers for Steven Universe, Aivi and Surasshu, are absolutely unreal. You should check out some of their other work that they do for the show, all of the music is layered with thematic motif and it ties the entire franchise together in ways you would never expect.

[@kaitlyn__L]

There were a few years where pretty much all I listened was their SoundCloud page. I got really sad when the actual soundtrack albums released, because all of their SoundCloud posts got took down, yet not all of them were actually on the soundtrack! So now there’s only bootlegs of cool tracks like “Drop the Cherry“, and other short ones, which people happened to record before the posts were taken down. Plus they never even released a raw version of the super catchy ringtone they made for Steven with the lovely counterpoint. People’s recreations never got all the same layers of harmony as the original in that case.

[@andrebenites9919]

Rebecca Sugar is a genious, both by Writing Steven Universe and creating the soundtrack! Recommend for everyone

[@cooldebt]

I also recommend The Consouls - their keys guy contributed to the SU movie soundtrack

[@iiraingirlii]

@@cooldebt wow I didn’t know

[@willowpets]

(And Aivi & Surhassu, who wrote most of the soundtrack and produced all of it)

[@Foeisudhxj]

Well steven universe as a show is written pretty terribly at least for the last like 2 seasons and steven universe future.

[@andrebenites9919]

@@Foeisudhxj I agree in the movie and future. But I liked the series as a whole

[@Soulful_Oatmilk]

Rebecca Sugar is a brilliant composer. So many memorable songs from Steven Universe and Adventure Time.

[@SoAdeborable]

Theory analysis of SU is so much more fun when you have the lore and storyline as well! Rebecca Sugar has particular motifs, pitches, keys, sound effects ect for even when particular characters are speaking, entering a room, making an impact. It’s incredibly genius aurally 😭

[@aledwalters44]

My top picks from Steven Universe would be Happily Ever After, Being Human, Escapism, and Change Your Mind. There's something about the first one that always makes me smile, with one of my favourite key changes in any song at the end. The others are more serene and solemn, but have something that I always just want to keep listening to. And Change Your Mind might be short, but there's a simplicity that is just beautiful.

[@saoirsecameron]

I would love for you to analyze That Distant Shore and Here Comes a Thought, both from Steven Universe.

[@neminemMaxime]

Steven Universe has plenty of songs to cut your heart out but "it's Over, isn't it?" is up there with the sharpest knives with which to do so.

[@jordanblanche9054]

I was so hoping you’d get to “Let Us Adore You” it’s my favorite from SU and so haunting

[@ianmaddox5121]

I remember coming across this show and while it really wasn't for me, the music rather blew me away. I couldn't believe some random little kid's show had something like that going on. Much respect to the show's creator.

[@cooldebt]

It's kind of like when I discovered The Consouls and they opened my ears to how brilliant a lot of VGM really is. (Their keys guy actually worked on the music for the SU movie!)

[@ashiboom]

I think this video explains why it's not always major=happy and minor=sad. There's a verity of emotions that can come out of those chords depending on their connection to the chords before them

[@iceman320109]

You could do every Steven universe song twice and I would still ask for more! Excellent work

[@lightningterry]

This is one of the MANY fantastic songs in this show along with an amazing soundtrack written by Rebecca Sugar and Aivi and Surrassu that are just absolutely amazing. I’m so glad to see you breaking down the show’s music again

[@gaminggeek3030]

That show helped me everyday when I was a little kid and now. When I’m stressed I can listen to it and be settled.

[@wizzletide9179]

Can you just make a video like this about every Steven Universe Song? :D I'd pay for that haha

[@basicskellie]

Rebecca Sugar’s also written another song in the same key - All Gummed Up Inside. It’s my favorite Adventure Time song

[@cocoabrowniebear]

another song in Steven Universe with some immaculate chromatic bass motion is Let Us Adore you, and to top it all off, the harmonies are heavenly

[@nicktomato7]

glad you covered this! the music from SU made a huge impact on me. 90% of everything i’ve learned about harmony, i learned from those songs

[@jagp135]

The song that comes right after this scene is even more complex and incredibly written, it's called "Found" and it uses a lot of diminished chords, I hope you check it out as well.

[@mayalee2072]

I really love the steven universe videos! your knowledge really shines through with the analysis of such complex harmony. Please keep making more!!

[@colonelbuffslam6399]

I just adore this song. and watching you experience it and break it down was really lovely.

[@rykopy]

would love to see your breakdown and analysis on Let Us Adore you. the harmonies and chords in that song give me literal goosebumps!

[@Reapous]

Honestly, at this point you should do a musical breakdown of all more complex Steven Universe songs. I’d pay for a series of thatZ

[@Jose-ic1xp]

I love SU and I love your dissections of its music SO SO SO SO MUCH, thank you :’) two of my favorite things in one video

[@theacousticdolphin4891]

omg guys, he said sus. :3 EDIT: Seriously though, Drift Away is my favorite SU song by far. The way it's written and composed really makes you feel the emotions we know Spinel had to have been feeling in those moments that she was singing it, the loss, the sadness... And yet for all those years, she kept hoping that one day Pink would come back. And then the feeling of anger when she sees that Pink no longer exists, and Steven replaced her... It's all so beautiful, yet so sad, and you can't help but to cry along with her.

[@defokochu]

Yeah ikr? I hate how they just ignored all of her backstory after the movie. They just made her exactly how she was before as if nothing happened which is sad

[@trentwheeler4759]

Bruh I love your analysis of these songs, it’s really well put together and helps me learn so much more! I’ve been watching you since I picked up the keyboard in September and it’s really helped my understanding grow so much in just a few months!

[@toyloliSpare]

Rebecca Sugar's big claim of fame is taking chord progressions from one genre and putting it in another. Drift Away is Jazz, only ballady. There's even intentional call and response put in despite this not being a duet. The music is playing Pink Diamond, with Spinel riffing off the tune, as though improvising off it.

[@TheAwesomenessOfJay]

I rewatched the Steven Universe Movie last night for the first time since my last relationship ended, the relationship that actually introduced me to Steven Universe. In retrospect, I realize now how much I relate to Spinel, between her chronic people pleaser mentality and her codependency on Pink Diamond, both things I was guilty of doing. It's great to know that I love this song not just because I relate to it so much lyrically, but because its composition is so fervent and thoughtful. Great video as always!

[@TheDeadOfNight37]

I would love to see an analysis of the music of Omori!

[@defokochu]

OMORI OMOER I LOVE OMOEI

[@lexruptor]

Charlie, Steven Universe music, is this a dream?!

[@ayekp6700]

You're so valuable to music nowadays. With life as atomized and separate as it is, it's great to have someone appreciate music from all different kinds of media and backgrounds. Also ps this song smacks, as was your analysis......... might I suggest the music of The Legend of Spyro DotD?

[@ayekp6700]

@Tele-Gram @Charles_Cornell bro get a fucking job.

[@Rose-bi2rg]

I love your enthusiasm! You’re so talented

[@krisa3Jpcw]

i understand nothing you are saying, i'm just enjoying the piano sounds by enjoying i mean nearly crying, but in a strangely comforting way

[@theyeetus1428]

I recommend "Happily Ever After" and "Finale" from the movie. Finale is a reprise of Happily Ever After and you should definitely listen to both.

[@Wontoe]

An almost identical chord progression for the first four chords is used in Stevie Wonder's He's Misstra Know It All, just a half step down.

[@petfriendamy]

Coming back to this one and I think it's funny how this is like, one of his only videos where he breaks out of music nerd mode at 11:01 to be like "wait this song is actually like really sad, wait-"

[@LikeHell18]

Please do more Steven Universe songs! I love your analysis :)

[@heyitzhannah_]

gosh I love this show so much

[@karmathegolden]

poor spindel... also thank you Charles as always amyzing breakdown so much nostalgia

[@aloalix]

sad times for spindel

[@huangrenjunism]

some of my favorite music from tv

[@seraphkiel6456]

Hey! Great video! Have you ever heard of Nier Saga series? Specially Nier: Automata would be great to see your approach on pieces like " Voice of no Return" or "Possessed by desease".

[@cooldebt]

Can I recommend The Consouls version of Amusement Park kzbin.info/www/bejne/goPWZaSdgK6hhdU

[@TwilightWolfi]

I could watch Charles dissect every single song from this show forever

[@michellegeller813]

I’d love to see someone react to the soundtrack of Steven Universe, with no lyrics, because they are so phenomenal! Connie’s FULL theme for ex is incredible!! The theme for the fusions and the fusion dances are amazing too and SO much more!! Even if you don’t do this for a video, check it out, I think you’ll LOVE it!!

[@whatamidoing9700]

5:00 your face before you said that tho 😭

[@ChrisValencia]

The chord progressions reminded of "Falling Down" by Muse. Hope to see you break down some of their songs

[@MrJack-oq7dy]

I wish that he would listen to the lyrics every once in a while.

[@ZackBeca]

I think the functions of the first chords are pretty simple to understand, so the first chord is G major, we know that we are in the key of G (and that pedal tone G is also there to give us a clear tonal center) the next chord is definitely G dominant not Fsus4 because that G7 is the dominant of C so it's just a secondary dominant for C major which is the IV chord, after all of that we have a C minor which is the IV in the key of G, so that is basically an IV minor chord that is used in so many songs for its effect. I don't think it is an extremely complex but definitely nice harmony

[@RandomPhail]

Lorne Balfe is a composer who most recently created the music for the movie Black Adam, but I'm actually interested in a review of one of his earlier scores called "Jodie's Suite"-written by him, composed by Hans Zimmer-for a game called Beyond: Two Souls (from the same developers who made Detroit: Become Human [go figure :P the naming conventions are so similar]).

[@raffra6305]

Hey great vid! Some of those melodies reminded me of a Brazilian song called epitáfio by Titans, they have a ton on melodically interesting songs so maybe check them out !

[@joaopedrokurtzgritti2355]

Dude, I'd be so hyped to see a super Mario galaxy soundtrack analysis

[@yue7507]

100% agreed

[@briankeenan4901]

It's a reel to reel tape that's flipped before it goes into the head. It gives that almost backward sound.. If you ever owned a reel machine you see how easy it is to accidentally have the tape playing flipped or upside down.

[@EmmUwU0426]

Just today I was feeling a lot like Spinel in this song. And remebering it by wathching your video made me cry a lot :') 💕

[@vanessapaviag]

"this is horribly horribly sad" caught me off guard lmaooooo yep it is very sad XD the whole plot of SU is very sad lmao

[@venomousbook]

when he talks about the Dmin and FMaj i'm reminded of Praise you by Fatboy Slim

[@vnllawytchkltblndie]

I don’t know if anyone else has requested this already but I’d love an analysis of the siren song from Black Panther 2

[@Faithheartglr]

At 5:59 it reminds me of "Just Give Me A Reason" By pink 😊

[@katelynreluya3369]

Please review the whole soundtrack from the movie! It's a journey full of emotions 💖

[@Del-Lebo]

I remember noticing this! I am 56 years old, and would "watch" this with my nephew and would look over because my earbrain heard neat stuff! Cool!

[@RuiCarmo]

You need to do this for the Arcane soundtrack.

[@ninjapig6249]

Should totally make a video covering the new God of War Ragnarok soundtrack, I think i'd be pretty cool to hear your perspective!

[@Gurkeee]

I have no clue about music at all but the way u show and explain all of it makes me really investigated in it! :)

[@IL_801]

Say what you want about the character and plot writing, but the music is great.

[@nyoclos_mom]

aivi & surasshu are such geniuses

[@aidenpowell8124]

"This is also horribly sad" yes, that is steven universe. sad

[@Aname550]

3:20 feeling like we're moving down, almost like we're... drifting away?

[@mrburger]

"What the actual function." -- Charles Cornell (2022)

[@jacobhumphries1416]

Don’t mind me, gonna go watch the movie before I watch this

[@milkstew0288]

Charles’s video got me to listen to Love Like You like everyday lol

[@gameandbros5462]

I would like for him to breakdown "it's over isn't it"

[@SeanGonzalezMDHEXT]

please listen to Super Mario Galaxy 2's World 3 Map theme. I think this one is right up your alley, I just learnt it for a performance in my piano class.

[@fyqko]

ori and the blind forest, Dark souls and arrival(2016)

[@comedienne_historian]

yaaass Momma Sugar doin it up

[@neranera]

They dont miss with the production too😊

[@blujay_1743]

Have you ever considered doing a video on Halo? Tons of good stuff there. The main theme is immaculate.

[@matthewjensen8681]

Fuckin stoked for a part two let’s goooo

[@clwd]

You should check out the music from Celeste next, cool indie game that released in 2018, really good music by Lena Raine

[@TylerOath]

These chords remind me of “runnin” by Relient k. I know it’s a long shot… but that song and it’s counterpart “deathbed” are songs you should at least checkout sometime!

[@aierie-dragonslayer]

You spent all this time talking about how cool the chords in the bridge were and it made me want to scream because the bridge makes so much more sense if you analyze it as being in C major instead

[@jackmichaelpeter]

OVER THE GARDEN WALL

[@maurodarken]

That G - G7 - C/G - Cm/G sounds like some Spongebob theme

[@zelirious4504]

Rememver a pedal tone is Any note youre holding in the backround as the harmony goes by. Oh so uh spinel

[@killerdragon3679]

me: crying over spinel being an abused puppy charles: see this is actually really interesting, if you listen to this chord...

[@shreakinghawk]

SPACE DANDY

[@alonelyshrub]

13:09 Suddenly "Sail Away" by Enya If you know, then you know

[@wit_ef8853]

True kinda love is jazzy 😄

[@Riddled_With_Melancholia]

Oh man, would love to see you geek out about Let Us Adore You. It’s so beautiful!

[@20000dino]

Not a fan of Steven Universe as a whole, but the songs are undoubtedly really good (at least the ones until Season 3, from Season 4 onwards it’s hit or miss - accompanying the show’s drastic decline in quality). I’m glad you made this analysis.

[@MichaelaBelle]

This song makes me fuckin sob

[@luci_-ub9xx]

Amazing video of a great music here

[@_LordLux_]

YESSSS

[@scarcat2469]

You should definitely cover the Chainsaw man OP. That thing modulates keys so fast

[@garfieldismylove]

ditto! with how in depth he gets with these songs im sure he would take 30 minutes with just that song

[@janus9148]

Drift Away is top tier fr

[@crazygamecrafter8830]

11:40 bro so caught up in the existential crisis he cant do his job T_T

[@Goku17yen]

Love Steven universe

[@nebilusman9679]

hello sir first of all I really like your breakdown videos and please make more videos 😊 and can we say this song is in mixolydian mode

[@devonwilliams9576]

You should please look at the OSTs for Outer Wilds and Halo ODST