Here we go

Title of song: Unfaithful, sung by Rihanna

Form: The overall structure of the song is in a Rondo form, A B A C A

Section A - introduction and the verse

Section B, chorus,

Section A, 2nd verse,

Section C, Bridge,

Section A, same motif as in the introduction used for ending.


We shall look at section A in this first post :)

This four bars are the introduction.

key: c minor

chord progression: i - iv - VI - V (please refer to the score for more details)

Harmonic function:T - PD - PD - D

In the 2nd bar, first beat there is a use of a (9 - 8) suspension in the upper voice.

this song also makes use of pedal point. In the first 2 bars, the note C is the pedal point and in bars 3 and 4, the A flat, is also pedal point.

Verse:

Basically, the chord progression of the verse is the same progression as the introduction.

The progression of the first 2 bars: i (5,3 position) with the 5 moving up to a 6 and going back to a 5 with the 3 staying constant throughout. From the second bar 4th beat, it is a chord iv (4,2 position).

The progression of the last 2 bars: VI (5,3 position) with the 5 - 6 - 7 and the 3 remaining constant. In the fourth bar, fourth beat, it is a V (5,3 position) 5 - 4 - 3.

the voice leading mostly happens in the lower voice. The rhythmic pattern of this section is similar to the rhythmic pattern of the lower voice in the first 2 bars of the introduction. Except that for the verse, it is an octave lower than in the introduction.

the rhythmic phrase is also short.

that is all i have for now, if i have made any mistakes, please do not hesitate to correct me thank you. :) will post more over the next few days