'50s progression


The 50s progression is a chord progression and turnaround used in Western popular music. The progression, represented in Roman numeral analysis, is I–vi–IV–V. For example, in C major: C–Am–F–G. As the name implies, it was common in the 1950s and early 1960s and is particularly associated with doo-wop.

Theory

In Western classical music during the common practice period, chord progressions are used to structure a musical composition. The destination of a chord progression is known as a cadence, or two chords that signify the end or prolongation of a musical phrase. The most conclusive and resolving cadences return to the tonic or I chord; following the circle of fifths, the most suitable chord to precede the I chord is a V chord. This particular cadence, V–I, is known as an authentic cadence. However, since a I–V–I progression is repetitive and skips most of the circle of fifths, it is common practice to precede the dominant chord with a suitable predominant chord, such as a IV chord or a ii chord, in order to maintain interest. In this case, the '50s progression uses a IV chord, resulting in the ubiquitous I–IV–V–I progression. The vi chord before the IV chord in this progression is used as a means to prolong the tonic chord, as the vi or submediant chord is commonly used as a substitute for the tonic chord, and to ease the voice leading of the bass line: in a I–vi–IV–V–I progression the bass voice descends in major or minor thirds from the I chord to the vi chord to the IV chord.

Variations

As with any other chord progression, there are many possible variations, for example turning the dominant or V into a V7, or repeated I–vi progression followed by a single IV–V progression. A very common variation is having ii substitute for the subdominant, IV, creating the progression I–vi–ii–V and thus the ii–V–I turnaround.
Variations include switching the vi and the IV chord to create I–IV–vi–V, as is used in "More Than a Feeling" by Boston and "She Drives Me Crazy" by Fine Young Cannibals. This is also similar to the I–V–vi–IV progression.
The harmonic rhythm, or the pace at which the chords occur, may be varied including two beats per chord, four, eight, and eight beats per chord except for IV and V which get four each.
"Sleep Walk" by Santo & Johnny uses a similar progression, with the IV replaced by its parallel minor iv for an overall progression of I–vi–iv–V.

Examples in popular music

This is a partial list of recorded songs containing the '50s progression. The list does not include songs containing the progression for very short, irrelevant sections of the songs. In some cases, such as "Blue Moon", it includes notable remade recordings of songs by other artists; but mostly the songs are shown in their original versions.
TitleArtistYearProgression
"A Hundred Pounds of Clay"Gene McDaniels1960 I–vi–IV–V
"A Teenager in Love"Dion and the Belmonts; Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman 1959I–vi–IV–V
"Angel Baby"Rosie and the Originals1960I–vi–IV–V
"Ano Ko ni Touch"The Blue Hearts1991 I–vi–IV–V
"Aku Yang Tersakiti"Judika2010I–vi–IV–V
Aku Cinta PadamuSiti Nurhaliza1997ii–V–I–vi
"All I Have to Do Is Dream"The Everly Brothers1958I–vi–IV–V
"All Right"Christopher Cross1983I–vi–ii–V
"Baby"Justin Bieber2010I–vi–IV–V
"Baby Doll"The Buttertones2016I–vi–IV–V
"Bad Girl"The Detroit Cobras1996I–vi–IV–V
"Bau Bau Bau"Project Pop2003I–vi–IV–V
"Baby, I'm an Anarchist!"Against Me!2002I–vi–IV–V
"Beautiful Girls"Sean Kingston2007I–vi–IV–V
"Beyond the Sea"Jack Lawrence and Charles Trenet1946I–vi–IV–V
"Blank Space"Taylor Swift2014I–vi–IV–V
"Bleeding Love"Leona Lewis2007I–vi–IV–V
"Blue Moon"The Marcels1961I–vi–IV–V
"Bobby Brown"Frank Zappa1979I–vi–IV–V
"Body Feels EXIT"Namie Amuro1995vi–IV–V–I
"Body Say"Demi Lovato2016IV–V–I–vi
"Bola Mata Sayu"DNANDA2025I–vi–IV–V
"Boom Clap"Charli XCX2014IV–V–I–vi
"Boyband"Tipe-X2012I–vi–IV–V
"Boys (Summertime Love)"Sabrina1987IV–V–I–vi
"Boyfriend"Boyfriend2011I–vi–IV–V
"Brave"Sara Bareilles2013I–vi–IV–V
"Brave as a Noun"Andrew Jackson Jihad2007I–vi–IV–V
"Bristol Stomp"The Dovells1961I–vi–IV–V
"Breaking Up Is Hard To Do"Neil Sedaka1962I–vi–IV–V
"Brokenhearted"Karmin2012I–vi–IV–V
"Burberry Headband"Lil Mosey2018I–vi–IV–V
"C.h.a.o.s.m.y.t.h."One Ok Rock2011I–vi–IV–V
"Capital Radio"The Clash1977I–vi–IV–V
"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"Darlene Love1963I–vi–IV–V
"Chain Gang"Sam Cooke1960I–vi–IV–V
"Close Your Eyes"Meghan Trainor2014I–vi–IV–V
"Cobalah untuk Setia"Krisdayanti2004I–vi–IV–V
"Complicated"Avril Lavigne2002I–vi–IV–V
"Coney Island Baby"The Excellents1962I–vi–IV–V
"Cradle Rock"The Heartbreakers 1963I–vi–IV–V
"Crocodile Rock"Elton John1972I–vi–IV–V
"Cupid"Fifty Fifty2023ii–V–I–vi
"Can't Stop Lovin' You"Van Halen1995I–vi–IV–V
"Da Doo", "Dentist"Little Shop of Horrors (musical) Original Broadway Cast1982I–vi–IV–V
"Dance with Me Tonight"Olly Murs2011I–vi–IV–V
"Dear Future Husband"Meghan Trainor2015I–vi–IV–V
"Demi Waktu"Ungu2005I–vi–IV–V
"Di Dadaku Ada Kamu"Vina Panduwinata1984ii–V–I–vi
"Diana"Paul Anka1957I–vi–IV–V
"Donna"Ritchie Valens1958I–vi–IV–V
"Don't Dream It's Over"Crowded House1986IV–V–I–vi
"Don't Dream It, Be It"The Rocky Horror Picture Show1975I–vi–IV–V
"Don't Say Your Love Is Killing Me"Erasure1997I–vi–IV–V
"Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)"The Swingin' Medallions1966I–vi–IV–V
"Duke of Earl"Gene Chandler1962I–vi–IV–V
"Dura"Daddy Yankee2018I–vi–IV–V
"D'yer Mak'er"Led Zeppelin1973I–vi–IV–V
"Earth Angel"The Penguins1954I–vi–IV–V
"Endless Mine"Sega1994I−vi−IV−V
"Enola Gay (song)"Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark1980I–vi–IV–V
"Epiphany"BTS2018I–vi–IV–V
"Escape From The City"Ted Poley2001I–vi–IV–V
"Eternal Flame"The Bangles/Atomic Kitten1989/2001I–vi–IV–V
"Every Breath You Take"The Police1983I–vi–IV–V
"Eyes of Blue"Paul Carrack1995I–vi–IV–V
"Eyes on Me"Faye Wong1999I–vi–IV–V
"Flightless Bird, American Mouth"Iron & Wine2007I–vi–IV–V
"Flying Without Wings"Westlife1999I–vi–IV–V
"For Your Precious Love"Jerry Butler1958I–vi–IV–V
"Friday"Rebecca Black2011I–vi–IV–V
"Give a Little Love"Bay City Rollers1975I–vi–IV–V
"Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder"The Mothers of Invention1966I–vi–IV–V
"Girl on Fire"Alicia Keys2011I–vi–IV–V
"God Is in the Rhythm"King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard2015I–vi–IV–V
"Hang Fire"The Rolling Stones1981I–vi–IV–V
"Hangin' Out with Jim"GG Allin1988I–vi–IV–V
"Happiness Is a Warm Gun"The Beatles1968I–vi–IV–V
"Have It All"Jason Mraz2018I–vi–IV–V
"Hazure03"Kazumi Totaka 2020I–vi–ii–V
"Heart and Soul"Larry Clinton feat. Bea Wain1938I–vi–IV–V
"Hero"Enrique Iglesias2001I–vi–IV–V
"I'll Be Missing You"Puff Daddy feat. Faith Evans & 1121997I–vi–IV–V
"I'll Make Love to You"Boyz II Men1994I–vi–IV–V
"I'm the One"DJ Khaled2017I–vi–IV–V
"I'm Waiting for the Day"The Beach Boys1966I–vi–IV–V
"I Always Knew"The Vaccines2012I–vi–IV–V
"I Love You Too Much"The Book of Life 2014I–vi–IV–V
"I Think They Call This Love"Elliot James Reay2024I–vi–ii–V
"Ima, Kimi wo Omou"HKT482014vi–IV–V–I
"In the Aeroplane Over the Sea"Neutral Milk Hotel1998I–vi–IV–V
"In the Shape of a Heart"Jackson Browne1986I–vi–IV–V
"In the Still Of the Night"The Five Satins1956I–vi–IV–V
"I Wanna Be With You"The Raspberries1974I–vi–IV–V
"I Will Always Love You"Dolly Parton / Whitney Houston1974/1992I–vi–IV–V
"J'en ai marre!"Alizée2003IV–V-I–vi
"Jesus of Suburbia"Green Day2004I–vi–IV–V
"Joey"Concrete Blonde1990I–vi–IV–V
"Just One Look"Doris Troy "1963I–vi–IV–V
"Judas"Lady Gaga2011IV–V–I–vi
"Just the Way You Are"Bruno Mars2010I–vi–IV–I
"Kimberly"Patti Smith1975I–vi–IV–V
"Last Kiss"Wayne Cochran1961I–vi–IV–V
"Looking for an Echo"Kenny Vance / Ol' 551975/1976I–vi–IV–V
"Lollipop"Ronald & Ruby1958I–vi–IV–V
"Lonely This Christmas"Mud1974I–vi–IV–V
"Lovable"Sam Cooke1956I–vi–IV–V
"Love Hurts"The Everly Brothers / Nazareth1960/1974I–vi–IV–V
"Lucky"Britney Spears2000I–vi–IV–V
"Lupa Lupa Ingat"Kuburan2009I–vi–ii–V
"Making Love Out Of Nothing At All"Air Supply1982I–vi–IV–V
"Mama I'm A Big Girl Now"Hairspray Original Broadway Cast2002I–vi–IV–V
"Mandy"Barry Manilow1974I–vi–IV–V
"Marathon"Tennis2011I–vi–IV–V
"Marvin Gaye"Charlie Puth and Meghan Trainor2015I–vi–IV–V
"Me!"Taylor Swift ft. Brendon Urie2019I–vi–IV–V
"Messin' Around"Pitbull2016I–vi–IV–V
"Million Reasons"Lady Gaga2016I–vi–IV–V
"Modern Girl"Sleater Kinney2005I–vi–IV–V
"Monster Mash"Bobby Pickett1962I–vi–IV–V
"Mr. Bass Man"Johnny Cymbal1961I–vi–IV–V
"My Broken Friend"John DiMaggio featuring Beck2001I–vi–IV–V
"Never Be the Same"Christopher Cross1980I–vi–ii–V
"No Hay Pedo"Banda Los Recoditos2014I–vi–IV–V
"Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now"Starship1987I–vi–IV–V
"Number One For Me"Maher Zain2012I–vi–IV–V
"Octopus's Garden"The Beatles1969I–vi–IV–V
"Oh, Pretty Woman"Roy Orbison; Roy Orbison, Bill Dees 1964I–vi–IV–V
"Oh True Love"Everly Brothers1960I–vi–IV–V
"Oliver's Army"Elvis Costello1979I–vi–IV–V
"Perfect"Ed Sheeran2017I–vi–IV–V
"Perfidia"Alberto Domínguez, Glenn Miller1939I–vi–ii–V
"Please Mr. Postman"The Marvelettes1961I–vi–IV–V
"Pretty Little Angel Eyes"Curtis Lee1961I–vi–IV–V
"Prove It"Television1977I–vi–IV–V
"Rainbow"Kesha2017I–vi–IV–V
"Red Cadillac and a Black Moustache"Warren Smith1957I–vi–IV–V
"Rinky Dink"Dave "Baby" Cortez/ Booker T & the MGs1962I–vi–IV–V
Ripped PantsSpongeBob SquarePants1999I–vi–IV–V
"Rude"Magic!2013IV–V–I–vi
"Runaround Sue"Dion1961I–vi–IV–V
"Saat Saat Indah"Nani Sugianto1987I–vi–IV–V
"Saturday Night"The Misfits1999I–vi–IV–V
"Sejauh Mungkin"Ungu2005I–vi–IV–V
"Senin Wage"Nyonya Ayu2020I–vi–IV–V
"Seperti Yang Dulu"Ungu2005IV–vi–IV–V
"Som Sarn"Loso1998I–vi–IV–V
"Stand by Me"Ben E. King1961I–vi–IV–V
"Suara "Hijau Daun2008I–vi–IV–V
"Surti Tejo"Jamrud2000I–vi–IV–V
"Sweat (A La La La La Long)"Inner Circle1992I–vi–ii–V
"Sympathique"Pink Martini1997I–vi–ii–V
"Schifoan"Wolfgang Ambros1976I-vi-IV-V
"Takaramono"The Blue Hearts1993 I–vi–IV–V
"Telephone Line"Electric Light Orchestra1976I–vi–IV–V
"Tell Me Why"The Beatles1964I–vi–IV–V
"The KKK Took My Baby Away"Ramones1981I–vi–IV–V
"The Man Comes Around"Johnny Cash2002I–vi–IV–V
"The Thin Ice"Pink Floyd1979I–vi–IV–V
"This Boy"The Beatles1963I–vi–ii–V
"This is Me"Keala Settle2018I–vi–IV–V
"This Magic Moment"The Drifters1960I–vi–IV–V
"Those Magic Changes"Sha Na Na1978I–vi–IV–V
" Toein' The Line"Rocky Burnette1980I–vi–IV–V
"Title Theme"Hirokazu Tanaka 1990I–vi–IV–V
"Total Eclipse of the Heart"Bonnie Tyler1983I–vi–IV–V
"Tous les garçons et les filles"Françoise Hardy1962I–vi–IV–V
"Twistin' the Night Away"Sam Cooke1962I–vi–IV–V
"True Blue"Madonna1986I–vi–IV–V
"Unchained Melody"The Righteous Brothers1955I–vi–IV–V
"Victoria's Secret"Jax2022I–vi–IV–V
"Walking in Memphis"Marc Cohn1991IV–V-I–vi
"We Almost Had A Baby"Emmy the Great2009I–vi–IV–V
"We Are Young"Fun ft. Janelle Monáe2011I–vi–IV–V
"We Go Together"John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John1972I–vi–IV–V
"Where Have All the Flowers Gone?"Pete Seeger1955I–vi–IV–V
"Who Put the Bomp (in the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp)"Barry Mann1961I–vi–IV–V
"Why Do Fools Fall in Love"Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers1956I–vi–IV–V
"You Don't Own Me"Lesley Gore1963I–vi–IV–V
"Your Reality"Dan Salvato2017I–vi–IV–V

Examples in classical music

Instances of the I–vi–IV–V progression date back to the 17th century, for example, the ostinato bass line of Dieterich Buxtehude's setting of Psalm 42, Quem admodum desiderat cervus, BuxWV 92:
The opening of J. S. Bach's Cantata "Wachet Auf":
The progression is found frequently in works by Mozart. At the end of the slow movement of his Piano Concerto No. 24, K. 491, the progression is spelled out in arpeggios played by the bassoon:
The opening of his Piano Concerto No. 22, K. 482 extends the progression in a particularly subtle way, making use of suspensions:
Eric Blom hears this passage as "the height of cunning contrivance resulting in what is apparently quite simple and obvious, but what could have occurred to nobody else."