1564 medley
Scroll down for the video!
For many years I've been intrigued by the 1564 progression (which, in the key of C, is C, G, Am, F). It has no perfect cadence: Only an imperfect cadence, an interrupted cadence, a minor to subdominant move and finally a plagal cadence... it's all questions and no sure answers. Perfect for heartfelt songs that delve into the human condition. Starting on another part of the progression (5641, 6415 or 4156) changes the vibe a little, but still begs to be taken seriously. Most songwriters use it at some point.
I've been doing a little medley of famous songs that use this progression since about 2005 and I was somewhat crushed when, in 2006, I was shown Rob Paravonian's brilliant Pachebel's canon routine, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdxkVQy7QLM ... damn funny! Pachabel's Canon is 15634145, by the way, but Rob drifts to 1564s as he gets into the routine. Then a few years later Axis of Awesome's four chord song turned up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMshvUReunc . Unperturbed by their growing fame, I kept collecting 1564 songs and jigsawing the critical parts of each together, going roughly chronologically, yet keeping each fragment on the correct part of the progression and also trying to keep any cute links of melody, themes and artist... tricky! But I'm a fairly persistent chap. I should note that I'm rather pedantic about it being 1564 (and not 1524, 1345, etc. which SOME people include in such a "four chord" medley... pah!)
When people talk about a "Four Chord" song, they are usually referring to 1564, as this is the one that Axis of Awesome's routine is about. But these four chords have other sequences and in fact, the 1645 sequence was used in many a song from the 50s and 60s: Check out my vertical medley of all the songs from Grease over a 1625 progression (similar vibe to 1645): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OOJ4l9j0Hg . The 1564 sequence only really began to grow in popularity in the 70s. Another sequence of these four chords that gets used occasionally is 1465 (More Than a Feeling (Boston), Holy Grail (Hunters and Collectors) and What Makes You Beautiful (One Direction)).
Below is my latest 1564 medley (123 songs) which, at a push, I can still do in about 2 minutes. If you're puzzled by what's included and what isn't. Remember, I'm from Australia and I've tried to stick to what I consider famous enough.
Here're the titles and artists:
1. No Woman No Cry (Bob Marley)
2. Let It Be (Beatles)
3. With or Without You (U2)
4. So Lonely (Police)
5. Africa (Toto)
6. We didn't Start the Fire (Billy Joel)
7. Beast of Burden (Bette Midler)
8. Reckless (Reyne)
9. Sexual Healing# (Marvin Gaye)
10. Down Under (Men at Work)
11. Barbie Girl* (Aqua)
12. Tomorrow Wendy (Andy Prieboy/Concrete Blonde)
13. One Way Road (John Butler Trio)
14. Country Roads (John Denver)
15. Save Tonight* (Eagle Eye Cherry)
16. Fall at Your Feet (Crowded House)
17. Take On Me (Aha)
18. Horses (Ricki Lee Jones)
19. Right Here Waiting (Richard Marx)
20. Waltzing Matilda (Banjo Patterson)
21. Forever Young (Alphaville/Youth Group)
22. Captain (Kasey Chambers)
23. Pretty Enough (Kasey Chambers)
24. Complicated* (Avril Lavigne)
25. Jack Sparrow (Lonely Island)
26. Girlfriend (Avril Lavigne)
27. You and Your Hand* (Pink)
28. Superman (Five for Fighting)
29. Under The Bridge (Red Hot Chilli Peppers)
30. Too Late To Apologise* (One Republic)
31. Happy Ending (Mika)
32. Stop and Stare (One Republic)
33. Push (Match Box 20)
34. How Far We've Come (Match Box 20)
35. Sun Will Set (Linkin Park)
36. She Will Be Loved (Maroon 5)
37. Can you Feel the Love Tonight? (Elton John)
38. Stacey's Mom^ (Fountains of Wayne)
39. Umbrella^ (Rihanna)
40. I Just Had Sex* (Lonely Island/Akon)
41. Live Your Life^ (Rihanna feat. T.I.)
42. Where is the Love (Black Eyed Peas)
43. You're Beautiful (James Blunt)
44. If I were a Boy* (Beyonce)
45. Dammit (Blink 182)
46. 21 Guns* (Green Day)
47. Lovesong (Amiel)
48. Feeling This (Blink 182)
49. When I Come Around (Green Day)
50. Torn (Natalie Imbruglia)
51. Gotta Be Somebody (Nickelback)
52. Far Away (Nickelback)
53. Don't Stop Believing (Journey)
54. The Show (Lenka)
55. Wherever You Will Go (The Calling)
56. Here Without You (3 Doors Down)
57. Love Story (Taylor Swift)
58. Break Even^ (The Script)
59. Pure Shores# (All Saints)
60. Scar (Missy Higgins)
61. You were Amazing (Alex Lloyd)
62. Everything* (The Veronicas)
63. Glycerine (Bush)
64. No One (Alicia Keyes)
65. I'm Yours (Jason Mraz)
66. Pictures of You (The Last Goodnight)
67. High/Forever You and Me (Lighthouse Family)
68. Paparazzi (Lady Gaga)
69. Poker Face* (Lady Gaga)
70. Alejandro^ (Lady Gaga)
71. On The Radio (Regina Spektor)
72. 20 Good Reasons (Thirsty Merc)
73. Hey, Soul Sister (Train)
74. Dream Catch Me (Newton Faulkner)
75. On a Mission* (Gabriella Cilmi)
76. According to You (Orianthi)
77. No Surprise (Daughtry)
78. Thought I'd Died And Gone To Heaven (Bryan Adams)
79. Just a Dream* (Nelly)
80. Canvas Bags* (Tim Minchin)
81. I'm All Yours (Jay Sean/ Pitbull)
82. For A Short Time (Weddings Parties Anything)
83. Numb (Linkin Park)
84. Kissin' U (Miranda Cosgrove)
85. F..kin' Perfect (Pink)
86. Whistle (Flo Rida)
87. Already Gone (Kelly Clarkson)
88. Halfway Gone* (Lifehouse)
89. Written in the Stars* (Tinie Tempah)
90. Wannabe^ (Spice Girls)
91. Grenade* (Bruno Mars)
92. Edge of Glory (Lady Gaga)
93. If it's Love (Train)
94. Summer Paradise *^ (Simple Plan)
95. Forever* (The Veronicas)
96. Zombie (The Cranberries)
97. Love the Way You Lie (Rihanna/Eminem)
98. It Don't Matter (Akon)
99. Give Me Everything (Pitbull)
100. Not Afraid (Eminem)
101. International Love (Pitbull/Chris Brown)
102. Reply (Iyaz)
103. Waka Waka (Shakira)
104. Nobody's Perfect* (Jessie J),
105. We Are Never Ever Ever Getting Back Together^ (Taylor Swift)
106. Good Time^ (Owl City and Carly Rae Jepson)
107. Try*^ (Pink)
108. Stay the Night (James Blunt)
109. Drive By^ (Train)
110. Nothing (The Script)
111. Take a Bow(Rihanna)
112. California King Bed (Rihanna)
113. So Beautiful (Akon)
114. Danza Kuduro* (Don Omar)
115. Behind These Hazel Eyes (Kelly Clarkson)
116. In My Head (Jason Derulo)
117. Stereo Heart (Gym Class Heros)
118. Someone Like You (Adele)
119. Tattoo (Jordin Sparks)
120. Both of Us (BOB and Taylor Swift)
121. Battlescars* (Guy Sebastian/ Lupe Fiasco)
122. Let Her Go (Passenger)
123. Time to say Goodbye (Andrea Bocelli)
These are all 1564, except for *=6415, ^=4156 and #=5641 (thus same chord order, but starting from a part of the sequence).
And here're the lyric fragments I sing:
No woman no cry / Mother Mary comes to me / With or without you / So lonely / I felt the rain down in / We didn't start the fire / Your beast of burden / Don't be so reckless / When I get that feeling, I want sexual healing / I come from a land down under // Come on barbie, let's go party / Tomorrow Wendy's / Wrong way going up a one way / Country roads take me home / Save tonight and we'll fight the break of dawn / Fall at your feet / Take on me / We'll be riding on the horses / I will be right here waiting for you / Once a jolly swagman // I wanna be forever young / You're the captain / Am I not pretty enough? / Why'd you have to go and make things so compli- / Captain Jack Sparrow / I don't like your girlfriend / Just you and your hand tonight / I'm more than a bird / Sometimes I feel like / It's too late to apologise // No happy ending / Stop and stare / To push you around / Let's see how far we've come / And the shadow of the day / And she will be loved / Can you feel the love tonight? / Stacey's mom has got it goin on / Umbrella ella ella eh eh / I just had sex // Live your life / Where is the love? / My life is brilliant / If I were a boy / I guess this is growing up / What's worth fighting for? / Another stupid lovesong / I'm feeling this / When I come around / I'm all out of faith, this is how I feel // Gotta be somebody / Far away for far too long / Don't stop believing / Just enjoy the show / I'll go wherever you will go / I'm here without you baby / It's a love story / When a heart breaks no it don't break even / I'm moving I'm coming, Can you hear, what I hear / Would you leave me with a scar // You were amazing / 'Cos she's everything everything / Glycerine / No one, no one / I'm yours / Pictures of you, pictures of me / Gonna be, forever you and me / Paparazzi / Poker face / Ally Alejandro // On the radio / Give me 20 Good Reasons / Hey, Soul Sister / Dream catch me / On a mission / According to you / It's no surprise / I thought I'd died and gone to heaven / It was only just a dream / Take your canvas bags // I'm All Yours / For a short time / I've become so numb / When I'm kissin' you / Pretty pretty please / Blow my whistle baby / I'm already gone / And I'm halfway gone / Written in the Stars / If you wanna be my lover // I'd catch a grenade for you / I'm on the edge / If it's love / Back to summer paradise / Baby, we ain't gunna live forever / Zombie / Love the way you lie / But it don't matter / Give me everything / I'm not afraid // International love / Like my iPod's stuck on replay / Waka waka eh eh / Nobody's perfect / We Are Never Ever Ever / It's always a Good Time / You gotta get up and Try / Stay the night / This is not a Drive By / Nothing // Go on and take a bow / California King Bed / You're so beautiful / Danza kuduro / Behind these hazel eyes / In my head / My heart's a stereo / Never mind, I'll find someone like you / Just like a tattoo / Both of Us // These Battlescars / Only know your lover when you let her go / Time to say goodbye
... sing along!
Here's the 123 song version!
Here's a live video of the 111 song 2 minute version:
Here's a video of the 68 song 2 minute version:
And here's a live gig video of an early version of it (only 38 songs):
Scroll down for the video!
For many years I've been intrigued by the 1564 progression (which, in the key of C, is C, G, Am, F). It has no perfect cadence: Only an imperfect cadence, an interrupted cadence, a minor to subdominant move and finally a plagal cadence... it's all questions and no sure answers. Perfect for heartfelt songs that delve into the human condition. Starting on another part of the progression (5641, 6415 or 4156) changes the vibe a little, but still begs to be taken seriously. Most songwriters use it at some point.
I've been doing a little medley of famous songs that use this progression since about 2005 and I was somewhat crushed when, in 2006, I was shown Rob Paravonian's brilliant Pachebel's canon routine, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdxkVQy7QLM ... damn funny! Pachabel's Canon is 15634145, by the way, but Rob drifts to 1564s as he gets into the routine. Then a few years later Axis of Awesome's four chord song turned up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMshvUReunc . Unperturbed by their growing fame, I kept collecting 1564 songs and jigsawing the critical parts of each together, going roughly chronologically, yet keeping each fragment on the correct part of the progression and also trying to keep any cute links of melody, themes and artist... tricky! But I'm a fairly persistent chap. I should note that I'm rather pedantic about it being 1564 (and not 1524, 1345, etc. which SOME people include in such a "four chord" medley... pah!)
When people talk about a "Four Chord" song, they are usually referring to 1564, as this is the one that Axis of Awesome's routine is about. But these four chords have other sequences and in fact, the 1645 sequence was used in many a song from the 50s and 60s: Check out my vertical medley of all the songs from Grease over a 1625 progression (similar vibe to 1645): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OOJ4l9j0Hg . The 1564 sequence only really began to grow in popularity in the 70s. Another sequence of these four chords that gets used occasionally is 1465 (More Than a Feeling (Boston), Holy Grail (Hunters and Collectors) and What Makes You Beautiful (One Direction)).
Below is my latest 1564 medley (123 songs) which, at a push, I can still do in about 2 minutes. If you're puzzled by what's included and what isn't. Remember, I'm from Australia and I've tried to stick to what I consider famous enough.
Here're the titles and artists:
1. No Woman No Cry (Bob Marley)
2. Let It Be (Beatles)
3. With or Without You (U2)
4. So Lonely (Police)
5. Africa (Toto)
6. We didn't Start the Fire (Billy Joel)
7. Beast of Burden (Bette Midler)
8. Reckless (Reyne)
9. Sexual Healing# (Marvin Gaye)
10. Down Under (Men at Work)
11. Barbie Girl* (Aqua)
12. Tomorrow Wendy (Andy Prieboy/Concrete Blonde)
13. One Way Road (John Butler Trio)
14. Country Roads (John Denver)
15. Save Tonight* (Eagle Eye Cherry)
16. Fall at Your Feet (Crowded House)
17. Take On Me (Aha)
18. Horses (Ricki Lee Jones)
19. Right Here Waiting (Richard Marx)
20. Waltzing Matilda (Banjo Patterson)
21. Forever Young (Alphaville/Youth Group)
22. Captain (Kasey Chambers)
23. Pretty Enough (Kasey Chambers)
24. Complicated* (Avril Lavigne)
25. Jack Sparrow (Lonely Island)
26. Girlfriend (Avril Lavigne)
27. You and Your Hand* (Pink)
28. Superman (Five for Fighting)
29. Under The Bridge (Red Hot Chilli Peppers)
30. Too Late To Apologise* (One Republic)
31. Happy Ending (Mika)
32. Stop and Stare (One Republic)
33. Push (Match Box 20)
34. How Far We've Come (Match Box 20)
35. Sun Will Set (Linkin Park)
36. She Will Be Loved (Maroon 5)
37. Can you Feel the Love Tonight? (Elton John)
38. Stacey's Mom^ (Fountains of Wayne)
39. Umbrella^ (Rihanna)
40. I Just Had Sex* (Lonely Island/Akon)
41. Live Your Life^ (Rihanna feat. T.I.)
42. Where is the Love (Black Eyed Peas)
43. You're Beautiful (James Blunt)
44. If I were a Boy* (Beyonce)
45. Dammit (Blink 182)
46. 21 Guns* (Green Day)
47. Lovesong (Amiel)
48. Feeling This (Blink 182)
49. When I Come Around (Green Day)
50. Torn (Natalie Imbruglia)
51. Gotta Be Somebody (Nickelback)
52. Far Away (Nickelback)
53. Don't Stop Believing (Journey)
54. The Show (Lenka)
55. Wherever You Will Go (The Calling)
56. Here Without You (3 Doors Down)
57. Love Story (Taylor Swift)
58. Break Even^ (The Script)
59. Pure Shores# (All Saints)
60. Scar (Missy Higgins)
61. You were Amazing (Alex Lloyd)
62. Everything* (The Veronicas)
63. Glycerine (Bush)
64. No One (Alicia Keyes)
65. I'm Yours (Jason Mraz)
66. Pictures of You (The Last Goodnight)
67. High/Forever You and Me (Lighthouse Family)
68. Paparazzi (Lady Gaga)
69. Poker Face* (Lady Gaga)
70. Alejandro^ (Lady Gaga)
71. On The Radio (Regina Spektor)
72. 20 Good Reasons (Thirsty Merc)
73. Hey, Soul Sister (Train)
74. Dream Catch Me (Newton Faulkner)
75. On a Mission* (Gabriella Cilmi)
76. According to You (Orianthi)
77. No Surprise (Daughtry)
78. Thought I'd Died And Gone To Heaven (Bryan Adams)
79. Just a Dream* (Nelly)
80. Canvas Bags* (Tim Minchin)
81. I'm All Yours (Jay Sean/ Pitbull)
82. For A Short Time (Weddings Parties Anything)
83. Numb (Linkin Park)
84. Kissin' U (Miranda Cosgrove)
85. F..kin' Perfect (Pink)
86. Whistle (Flo Rida)
87. Already Gone (Kelly Clarkson)
88. Halfway Gone* (Lifehouse)
89. Written in the Stars* (Tinie Tempah)
90. Wannabe^ (Spice Girls)
91. Grenade* (Bruno Mars)
92. Edge of Glory (Lady Gaga)
93. If it's Love (Train)
94. Summer Paradise *^ (Simple Plan)
95. Forever* (The Veronicas)
96. Zombie (The Cranberries)
97. Love the Way You Lie (Rihanna/Eminem)
98. It Don't Matter (Akon)
99. Give Me Everything (Pitbull)
100. Not Afraid (Eminem)
101. International Love (Pitbull/Chris Brown)
102. Reply (Iyaz)
103. Waka Waka (Shakira)
104. Nobody's Perfect* (Jessie J),
105. We Are Never Ever Ever Getting Back Together^ (Taylor Swift)
106. Good Time^ (Owl City and Carly Rae Jepson)
107. Try*^ (Pink)
108. Stay the Night (James Blunt)
109. Drive By^ (Train)
110. Nothing (The Script)
111. Take a Bow(Rihanna)
112. California King Bed (Rihanna)
113. So Beautiful (Akon)
114. Danza Kuduro* (Don Omar)
115. Behind These Hazel Eyes (Kelly Clarkson)
116. In My Head (Jason Derulo)
117. Stereo Heart (Gym Class Heros)
118. Someone Like You (Adele)
119. Tattoo (Jordin Sparks)
120. Both of Us (BOB and Taylor Swift)
121. Battlescars* (Guy Sebastian/ Lupe Fiasco)
122. Let Her Go (Passenger)
123. Time to say Goodbye (Andrea Bocelli)
These are all 1564, except for *=6415, ^=4156 and #=5641 (thus same chord order, but starting from a part of the sequence).
And here're the lyric fragments I sing:
No woman no cry / Mother Mary comes to me / With or without you / So lonely / I felt the rain down in / We didn't start the fire / Your beast of burden / Don't be so reckless / When I get that feeling, I want sexual healing / I come from a land down under // Come on barbie, let's go party / Tomorrow Wendy's / Wrong way going up a one way / Country roads take me home / Save tonight and we'll fight the break of dawn / Fall at your feet / Take on me / We'll be riding on the horses / I will be right here waiting for you / Once a jolly swagman // I wanna be forever young / You're the captain / Am I not pretty enough? / Why'd you have to go and make things so compli- / Captain Jack Sparrow / I don't like your girlfriend / Just you and your hand tonight / I'm more than a bird / Sometimes I feel like / It's too late to apologise // No happy ending / Stop and stare / To push you around / Let's see how far we've come / And the shadow of the day / And she will be loved / Can you feel the love tonight? / Stacey's mom has got it goin on / Umbrella ella ella eh eh / I just had sex // Live your life / Where is the love? / My life is brilliant / If I were a boy / I guess this is growing up / What's worth fighting for? / Another stupid lovesong / I'm feeling this / When I come around / I'm all out of faith, this is how I feel // Gotta be somebody / Far away for far too long / Don't stop believing / Just enjoy the show / I'll go wherever you will go / I'm here without you baby / It's a love story / When a heart breaks no it don't break even / I'm moving I'm coming, Can you hear, what I hear / Would you leave me with a scar // You were amazing / 'Cos she's everything everything / Glycerine / No one, no one / I'm yours / Pictures of you, pictures of me / Gonna be, forever you and me / Paparazzi / Poker face / Ally Alejandro // On the radio / Give me 20 Good Reasons / Hey, Soul Sister / Dream catch me / On a mission / According to you / It's no surprise / I thought I'd died and gone to heaven / It was only just a dream / Take your canvas bags // I'm All Yours / For a short time / I've become so numb / When I'm kissin' you / Pretty pretty please / Blow my whistle baby / I'm already gone / And I'm halfway gone / Written in the Stars / If you wanna be my lover // I'd catch a grenade for you / I'm on the edge / If it's love / Back to summer paradise / Baby, we ain't gunna live forever / Zombie / Love the way you lie / But it don't matter / Give me everything / I'm not afraid // International love / Like my iPod's stuck on replay / Waka waka eh eh / Nobody's perfect / We Are Never Ever Ever / It's always a Good Time / You gotta get up and Try / Stay the night / This is not a Drive By / Nothing // Go on and take a bow / California King Bed / You're so beautiful / Danza kuduro / Behind these hazel eyes / In my head / My heart's a stereo / Never mind, I'll find someone like you / Just like a tattoo / Both of Us // These Battlescars / Only know your lover when you let her go / Time to say goodbye
... sing along!
Here's the 123 song version!
Here's a live video of the 111 song 2 minute version:
Here's a video of the 68 song 2 minute version:
And here's a live gig video of an early version of it (only 38 songs):