The trick of The Power of Love - Frankie Goes to Hollywood

This masterpiece of songwritting, arrangement and record production has just 4 chords.


In fact these four chords are derived from just 2.


How?


Let's first assume it was written in the key of A minor which has all keys white so that we can better visualize on the piano keyboard.


The chords are A and F7
G and E7
ie:
A bass and A C E on the right hand
F bass and A C E on the right hand
G bass and G B E on the right hand
E bass and G B D on the right hand


At various order these are the chords used thought.


But it sounds lesser as this is not the correct key or scale. The key creates, the color, the ambience, the atmosphere.


The key is F minor.


ie: F G Ab Bb C Db Eb F


The code is the same, ie:


F
D7
(These are the mostly used chords on this song)
E
C or C7


Since all A, B, D, E on the F minor scale or key are flat the chords become.


F bass F Ab C harmony
Db bass F Ab C harmony

Eb bass Eb G Bb harmony
C bass Eb G Bb harmony


The power of love.


See also:


Bach Bass Rules:


https://normanschmidt.net/scores/bachjs-general_bass_rules.pdf


PS


If it s just 4 chords why does it sound so elaborate and refined?


It uses pedal bass, ie some times bass stays the same and the right hand only changes. Anne Dudley also added 9ths 4ths and other intervals to the violin parts with respect to bass further enchancing the mysterious magical atmosphere.



Or when for example singer sings "love is like an energyyy..." yyy is sung Eb, bass code is Db7 so it is a ninth since the distance from D to E is 9 white or natural notes or keys. The code is effectively D79.