Top 10 Piano Bar Requests - Most Epic Key Change Songs…or, Take That MTV!

Yesterday, the MTV site posted an article entitled - The 11 Most Epic Key Changes in Pop.

And while we applaud the effort, we thought we should enhance their list with the REAL top Key Change list. Because, nothing gives a singalong that extra PUSH like an arbitrary modulation (or key change) to make you feel like something really important is happening.

So, here's your Saturday required reading. Enjoy!

#10 - SURRENDER - Cheap Trick

Anyone can give you a key change at the end of the song, but these 70's rockers say screw that, and they give you one right at the top of the song...and ANOTHER one at the end. And they mention Kiss. Bonus.

#9 - HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH - Belinda Carlisle

This solo GoGo shows that key changes can be a great distraction from when the audience starts to realize that your song is exactly the same song as...

#8 - LIVIN ON A PRAYER - Bon Jovi

Think the spandex and high-hair crowd don't modulate? This Jersey anthem kicks it into high gear with a testicle crunching key change that makes every E.N.T. thank the heavens that they have piano players for clients.

#7 - MY HEART WILL GO ON - Celine Dion

The first diva on our list, but definitely not the last. After all, pop starlets eat key changes for breakfast. And lunch. And without this song, what would we use to torture those patrons who haven't made any requests all night?

#6 - MY GIRL - The Temptations

Showing that this technique is as traditional as Motown itself, we bring you the royalty of vocal singalong to kick it old school. The Temptations are snark proof, so we're just gonna keep it moving along.

#5 - SUMMER NIGHTS - Grease

Giving us not one, but TWO key changes - double your pleasure, double the sexual entendres in the song. And all done so you can be home by 10 o'clock.

#4 - MAN IN THE MIRROR - Michael Jackson

Because singing about serious things, even if we can't understand what they are, is always made even more serious with two things: an extraneous gospel choir, and a key change. Make that change.

#3 - I WANT IT THAT WAY - Backstreet Boys

The most obtuse lyric EVER released onto the public. That is all.

#2 - I WANNA BE SEDATED - The Ramones

Punk music is about rebellion. And disregard for authority. And key changes. Wait, what?

And #1 - like you didn't know...

I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU - Whitney Houston

If you look up the phrase KEY CHANGE in the dictionary (or on Google) this is the song you find. Deny your audience this modulation at your own peril. If we had a nickel for every couple that sings this song to each other (without realizing that the song is really about a horrible break up...), we would never have to write another blog ever again.

** Honorable Mention (Thanks to Eric Majeski) goes to Mack the Knife - for the MOST keychanges EVER in a piano bar tune.

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