Those Magic Changes
Encyclopedia
"Those Magic Changes" is a pop song
from the musical Grease
which was performed by Sha Na Na
in the film version
.
In the movie version of Grease, "Those Magic Changes" is played at the high school dance scene, preceded by "Rock n' Roll Is Here to Stay", and succeeded by "Hound Dog
". However, in the musical, it is set in Rydell High, and comes between "Summer Nights" and "Freddy, My Love". Also, Doody and the Burger Palace Boys sing "Those Magic Changes" in the musical, as opposed to Sha Na Na in the movie version. In the broadway musical the song basically goes away from Rydell High to a dream Doody's dream of being in a rock concert with the Pink Ladies, and Burger Palace Boys (the men's gang in the stage version) as his harmony singers. Furthermore, the song is placed in the forefront of the show, while it is background music for the movie.
To this day, Sha Na Na remain well known for their performances as Johnny Casino and the Gamblers in the film version of "Grease". "Those Magic Changes" was performed with important dialog over it, illustrating some subplots in the movie, such as building up the rivalry between The T-Birds and The Scorpions, as well as Sandy realizing that Cha Cha was one of Danny's past girlfriends, and leaves the dance upset. Later, she calls makes it up to him by getting a complete makeover, as demonstrated in "You're The One That I Want
".
This song is built upon a simple, repeated, chord progression
of C to A Minor to F to G7, which was the basis for most Doo Wop songs in the 50's ("This Magic Moment
", etc.). In the play, the other characters sing each of these letters in background accompaniment, and this progression becomes the basis for the bridge with the letters being spoken as the words "see," "a" and "gee," and the first syllable of the word "effortlessly":
"C - C - C how much I want you;
A - A - A - A million ways!
F - F - F - ortlessly loving you;
G - G - G I'm in a hurry!"
Pop Song
Pop Song is the first single by the Drugs. It was released in 2000 and earned the Drugs some positive press. It has been described as "addictive". A live version was released on The Only Way Is Up...
from the musical Grease
Grease (musical)
Grease is a 1971 musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The musical is named for the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as the greasers. The musical, set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High School , follows ten working-class teenagers as they navigate the complexities of love,...
which was performed by Sha Na Na
Sha Na Na
Sha Na Na is an American rock and roll group. The name is taken from a part of the long series of nonsense syllables in the doo-wop hit song "Get a Job", originally recorded in 1957 by the Silhouettes....
in the film version
Grease (film)
Grease is a 1978 American musical film directed by Randal Kleiser and based on Warren Casey's and Jim Jacobs's 1971 musical of the same name about two lovers in a 1950s high school. The film stars John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing, and Jeff Conaway...
.
In the movie version of Grease, "Those Magic Changes" is played at the high school dance scene, preceded by "Rock n' Roll Is Here to Stay", and succeeded by "Hound Dog
Hound Dog (song)
"Hound Dog" is a twelve-bar blues written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and originally recorded by Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton in 1952. Other early versions illustrate the differences among blues, country, and rock and roll in the mid-1950s. The 1956 remake by Elvis Presley is the best-known...
". However, in the musical, it is set in Rydell High, and comes between "Summer Nights" and "Freddy, My Love". Also, Doody and the Burger Palace Boys sing "Those Magic Changes" in the musical, as opposed to Sha Na Na in the movie version. In the broadway musical the song basically goes away from Rydell High to a dream Doody's dream of being in a rock concert with the Pink Ladies, and Burger Palace Boys (the men's gang in the stage version) as his harmony singers. Furthermore, the song is placed in the forefront of the show, while it is background music for the movie.
To this day, Sha Na Na remain well known for their performances as Johnny Casino and the Gamblers in the film version of "Grease". "Those Magic Changes" was performed with important dialog over it, illustrating some subplots in the movie, such as building up the rivalry between The T-Birds and The Scorpions, as well as Sandy realizing that Cha Cha was one of Danny's past girlfriends, and leaves the dance upset. Later, she calls makes it up to him by getting a complete makeover, as demonstrated in "You're The One That I Want
You're the One That I Want
"You're the One That I Want" is a song written by John Farrar for the 1978 film version of the musical Grease. It was performed by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John....
".
This song is built upon a simple, repeated, chord progression
Chord progression
A chord progression is a series of musical chords, or chord changes that "aims for a definite goal" of establishing a tonality founded on a key, root or tonic chord. In other words, the succession of root relationships...
of C to A Minor to F to G7, which was the basis for most Doo Wop songs in the 50's ("This Magic Moment
This Magic Moment
"This Magic Moment" is the title of a song composed by lyricist Doc Pomus and pianist Mort Shuman. It is one of their best known successes. It was recorded first by Ben E. King with The Drifters and scored #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 during 1960...
", etc.). In the play, the other characters sing each of these letters in background accompaniment, and this progression becomes the basis for the bridge with the letters being spoken as the words "see," "a" and "gee," and the first syllable of the word "effortlessly":
"C - C - C how much I want you;
A - A - A - A million ways!
F - F - F - ortlessly loving you;
G - G - G I'm in a hurry!"