Bohemian Rhapsody

[henrikhank]

I'm just learning Bohemian Rhapsody and I've read this:

"Even though B flat is very dominant, the first chord could be said to be Gm7 which would give rise
to the sequence Gm7–C7–F7–B flat, where C7 is an altered version of ii7 acting as V7 of F
(secondary dominant). The progression adds strength to the opening and increases the sense of
drama and tension."
What does "ii7 acting as V7 of F" mean?


https://www.ppmta.ie/Resources/All_Set_Works/Bohemian_Rhaps.pdf

[zezhyrule]

V⁷ of F Major is C⁷, so it's saying that the II⁷ chord is leading to the dominant 7th, which then resolves to the tonic? I think? 

[nystul]

V⁷ of F Major is C⁷, so it's saying that the II⁷ chord is leading to the dominant 7th, which then resolves to the tonic? I think? 

Yeah, that's pretty much it.

We are in Bb major, which has this scale: Bb C D Eb F G A Bb.
So based on diatonic harmony, the ii chord should have C Eb G (maybe Bb)... C minor.  It would be perfectly fine and very common to have Cm going to F7 going to Bb, ii - V - I.  All over classical music.  All over pop music.

But instead of Cm we have C7, that is C E G Bb.  So where is this E natural coming from?  Well it is borrowed from the key of F major.  F major has F G A Bb C D E F.  Based on diatonic harmony, the V7 of F is C E G Bb, which is our chord.

So what does F have to do with anything?  Well F is the V of Bb.  So we have C7, which is the V7 of F, leading to F7, which is the V7 of Bb, leading to Bb, which is the actual tonic.  That makes C7 the "V of V", because it is the V of F which is the V of Bb.  Or at least that is the classical way of explaining that chord.

[spb_jcb]

You might goole Vkgoeswild on YouTube and listen to her version. She will send you the music (her version) as well.

Stephen