Here Comes The Summer

Only one-and-three-quarter minutes long in total, this song has a guitar break between 40 and 50 seconds and then a remarkable key change between 50 and 60 seconds, only to revert to base from there on in.

A ten second key change orgy.

 

-Ian 

 

I Bombed Korea

My favorite part of this song is the lyrics.  Although the music is really awesome, the lyrics are what really does it for me.  The key changes once right after the intro and then again, climbing a whole step each time.  (PS: Vivas slept on this hardcore)

-Nick

Gift of Love

Is it wrong to post your own band's song?
Whatever, here's Gift of Love. Two key changes by Mike Vivas.
-Trov

Me and Bobby McGee

I've never been a big Janis fan but this song is pretty damn good. The key goes up a whole step from G to A at 1:20.  I can only hope that her sad story doesn't dissuade anyone from using psychedelic drugs.
-Nick Anastasi

Hold My Hand

Whole step change at 1:06
-Joanna

Rio

I don't usually post songs that have parallel minor key changes but this one is just so great.
Duran Duran rides E major and E Minor like the schooner in uhhh Rio.
-Trov

Chain Reaction

'Chain Reaction', performed by Diana Ross. If I'm being conservative, I can hear five changes. If I'm being liberal, I can hear eight changes. Haha. I reckon there are half-steps into each chorus, and then into each repeat. Two after the break, and two in the outro.
-James L Brown

One Heartbeat

Play that saxophone.
The hooks are key changes. 
-Frankie

Smiling Face

A has a couple of nice key changes.
A whole step jump between verses.
-Brad Town

Five Feet High and Rising

Key change every verse! Kind of a cool tune, regardless.

And a song that has the best take-away line: when you're at work, and the shit-storm reaches neck-high, you can look over to your cubicle colleague and ask, How high's the water, momma?

-Peter Crimmins

The Auctioneer Song

More Nashville Sound. This song is ridiculous. Key Change on every verse.
-Trov

Made In Japan

I heard this song while discovering the world of the Nashville Sound. I love the lead guitar lick playing Perfect 5ths to get the oriental sound. I also love the lead guitarist's red white and blue telecaster.
Actually, I love everything about this. Everyone watch!
-Tony

Meet Me at the Corner

Minor to Major key change.
-Rahzzah

Put a Little Love In Your Heart

This song has been a favorite of mine since I saw Scrooged for the first time. Also I can't believe this song isn't on here yet.
Also this is Jackie's second song on our blog.
-Trov

Take Good Care of My Baby

Triplets into a key change by Mr. Vee.

-Joanna

Dizzy

I never heard this song before WOGL's Labor Day weekend countdown.  It was all number one Billboard hits and this was apparently one of them.  Hear the key change in every chorus and love it. 
-Nick

Will You Be There

Two whole step key changes on the outro.
-Rahzzah  

Knock Three Times

In this classic song, we are bumped to new heights around 2:00 as Tony jumps up a half-step.  Dawn's back-up vocals on this are killer and the horns rock. 
-Nick

Girl

An attempt by Ben Folds to make a boy-band song. So, naturally, a key change. (At least I'm pretty sure it is - could be wrong). Alleged change at 2:59, after the spoken-word interlude.
-James L. Brown

Oliver's Army

Key change: third verse (1:48)
-Jim Reedy

Fire

This has been stuck in my head all week. Thanks to The Scott Corner for bringing it into my life.
 EPIC Key Change at 2:00.
 -Trov

Karma Police

I remember when everyone used to tell me they loved Radiohead and now everyone tells me they secretly never really did.
Either way, I always loved this song.



*editor's note, submitted by an anonymous Redditor

If I Can Turn Back Time

The key jumps up a step and a half in the outro.
Also. Cher's butt.

-Trov

Telstar

The record was named after the Telstar communications satellite, which was launched into orbit on July 10, 1962.
The key change is at 2:24

-Al Bruno

Love You Till Tuesday

Half step jump at a minute twenty six. 
Also...
Whoa. This video.
 -Trov

Back In The New York Groove

I keep hearing this song in a AT&T commercial. 
Key change int he second verse. 

-Trov

Spoonful

The key changes at 1:45 in this Etta James classic featuring Harvey Fuqua (who sounds like Ray Charles) on this awesome song by Willie Dixon.  The growls Etta hits after the key change and right before it are brilliant.
-Nick

Witch Doctor

I'm so glad XPN plays Kid's Corner still plays this.
Seville forever.
-Trov

Young Girl

For some reason Gary Pucket and the Union Gap made the Civil War be their look and image.
Despite this, I love this song and this key change.
-Trov

Cracklin' Rosie

Key changes a plenty.
Play it now.
-Vivas

Fantasy

Funky key change at 2:47.
-Tyler 

Dirt Dirt Dirt

I was watching videos with my son and saw this one.
-Perazza 

Bang Bang

There is a nasty set of key changes at 1:35 and 2:12 in this rare version of Raquel Welch whaling on Bang Bang.
-Nick

Spam/Stand

Yeah the original is by REM but I like Weird Al better.
The outro keeps changing to a higher and higher key.
-Trov

My Boyfriend

A big key change at the big commotion in the middle of the song and then two more changes in the outro.
 -Joanna

Leader of the Pack

A Phil Spector classic, the Leader of the Pack moves a half step up after the spoken word/motorcycle-sound-reel bridge.
-Nick

Crazy

Half step key change at 1:43.
-Vivas

Why Do You Let Me Stay Here

 Zooey has the cutest key changes.
-Trov

Baby I Love Your Way

I was sitting on this one for a while but Nick tried to submit so I've got to post it.
From the Reality Bites soundtrack (which also brought Lisa Lobe into our lives), this is a cover of a Peter Frampton classic.
Trying not to show my age but I recall there is a Spanish version available on the B-Side of the cassette single.
-Trov

The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme)

John Williams could seriously not have done a better job when it comes to his work on the original Star Wars Trilogy.  Best score of all time, super appropriate at every moment.  Listen here to one of his greatest and most well-known works as he takes us up to a new key of evil at 1:42. Best. Key. Change. Ever.
-Nick

The Sun and the Rain

Something about Spring time and Ska music...
I love everything about this song and it's one of my all time favorite Madness ditties.

Yes I used the word ditty.  
 -Trov

Footsteps of a Fool

Key change at 1:51.
-Joanna

Where Do Broken Hearts Go

This is the kind of song i would listen to on repeat in 8th grade! and i think there's a key change at 3:05.
-Nicole

Mr Dieingly Sad

Key change in the coda.
-James Trov

Fire

Double guitar neck key change.
-Nick 

Welcome Home

Welcome home to your new key.
-Joanna 

King of the Road

Destination: A  half step up.
-Harrison

Back At One

Brian McKnight did it first. Tennessee Winston Luke did it best.
-Dave Kiss  

Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me

One of my all time favorite songs. Made popular by Mel Carter, I'm slightly ashamed I just realized it ended with a key change.
Perfectly executed and maybe the most romantic song ever made.
-trov

I'm Every Woman

A  Chaka Khan cover, the proof is in the pudding.
-Nicole 

One Moment In Time

Right after 3:22...booo-yah!!
-Kristine

Gonna Have A Funky Good Time

Heard this at work on  the soul Sirius station.  There are many versions of this song on YouTube but it took me a while to find the full version.  Most versions fade out at 3:30 for radio or Soul Train standard format but in the original the key change comes at 3:47 when James asks the band to bring it down so he can get funky deep.
"We gotta get down and in order for me to get down we have to get in deep." - Sir James Brown
-Nick

Con Te Partiro

Made famous by Andrea Bocelli during PBS's 1997 holiday membership drive, "Con Te Partiro" features a key change just after the midpoint. Here is a wonderful Spanish-translated rendition of the song, "Por Ti Volare."
-Al Bruno

The Youth

Fantastic key change in this song at 2:36.
-Owen 

Always Be My Baby

I heard this at karaoke.
-Alan Smith

Got To Be Real

This funky disco classic with a key change at 1:40 after the break
that kicks the intensity up a notch.  The bass line on this is funky
ass Mrs. Wilkes collard greens.
-Nick 

Yerbatero

"Yerbatero" by the popular Colombian singer Juanes. The song's in A minor all the way through the second chorus, after which he cranks it up to B minor.
- Mark

Nothing's Going To Stop Us Now

Every once and a while a person secretly loves a song and ends up featuring it on a music theory blog. Sometimes today is that day.
Half step up on the guitar solo from the Mannequin soundtrack.
-trov

If You Leave

I think there are 7 key changes in this one. 
 -trov

What The World Needs Now

I'm happy this is the first key change of the year.
-tony trov