What pivot chords / transitioning chords are used on this Backstreet Boys piece?

[tomp86]

Hi everyone. Sorry I've not posted for so long. I am stil re-learning the piano. I have a question regarding the analysis of this Backstreet Boys piece (from Musescore). The composer has modulated from A major to B Major and they have used a chord A C# E F# and other chords during the transition. (I have marked in red) If anyone feels like helping, could you please let me know the meaning behind the chords marked in red and if there is any theory to back up why they were used to establish the new key. Thanks very much in advance!

[lelle]

I'm not sure I agree with the key change used based on what I can see. Can you show the next few lines as well (after bar 64)? It's possible they consider the g sharp minor chord the parallel to the tonic, which then would be B major, since they are doing E major -> F sharp major -> G sharp minor (subdominant -> dominant -> tonic parallel in B major). But I would like to see the next few bars to help me determine that.

If my hypothesis is correct the first marked chord in bar 60 (A major with an added 6) is the subdominant to E major, and I'd argue that the final two beats of the bar give you a feeling of B major 7, ie the dominant to E major, and then you have E major in bar 61 (I know an F sharp is included, but I'd view that just as the 9th added as a color), which is then the subdominant to a B major tonic, followed by F sharp - the dominant - and finally the tonic parallel (g sharp).

[tomp86]

Hi lelle. Long time no speak!  The piece is on this link if you just fast forward to 2:20 it will be at the exact spot!  https://musescore.com/user/28700996/scores/5535654

[lelle]

Howdy tomp86! It's time I start charging you money for all the theory lessons soon Just kidding. Looking at that score I agree with my own analysis. At the very end they reach the B major tonic - but that's a long-ass stretch of going to the parallel each time instead haha. Does my way of analysing it make sense to you?

[tomp86]

Yes absolutely. You should charge for your analysis. Yes it makes sense to me now but alot of new information so still processing it a bit.  So am I correct in that they actually modulate to the key of G# minor so G# is the tonic and then not until the very end the tonic becomes B?  And to get the B tonic at the very end they use F# Major (the dominant of B major) to get the feeling of resolve to B Major?

I also found another version on youtube and they resolve to B Major much sooner from what I see. Both versions sound good but subtle differences in color 

=156

[lelle]

So am I correct in that they actually modulate to the key of G# minor so G# is the tonic and then not until the very end the tonic becomes B?  And to get the B tonic at the very end they use F# Major (the dominant of B major) to get the feeling of resolve to B Major?

In my analysis the example does modulate to the key of B major. The G# minor chord is not the tonic, but the tonic parallel. Here's how I'm thinking:

The most basic cadence is the perfect cadence, which is subdominant -> dominant -> tonic. In B major that's E -> F# -> B.

A common variation of this cadence is a deceptive cadence, where you replace the tonic with the tonic parallel to create a feeling that there is a lack of resolution, ie subdominant -> dominant -> tonic parallel. In B major that's E -> F# -> G#m.

That's what I think is going on here from bar 61 and onwards, over and over again, until they finally turn the deceptive cadence into a perfect cadence, and you do end up on a B major chord in the end.

[tomp86]

Wow, very good anaysis. You're a genius lelle. I was not familiar with the term tonic parallel but I understand now. Very cool and completely agree with your analysis, makes sense

[lelle]

Not a genius, just a nerd who's been into music theory for a long time! You can familiarize yourself more with parallels here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_and_counter_parallel

I think my use of the word betrays my background in German style music theory

[tomp86]

You're also a very smart guy. Thanks. I'll keep the link saved so I remember in case I forget. I have another question but I'll post a new topic cause it's unrelated!

[keypeg]

Just a quick vocab thing about "parallel" (OT) .  The Wikki article says "in English, G major and E minor are called parallel keys. "
In American, or US English, that's what they call it.  In Canada, and I think also other Commonwealth countries, we call that the Tonic major and Tonic minor key.  E minor is the Tonic minor of G major, because they both share the same Tonic.