# '50s progression

The '50s progression (also known as the "Heart and Soul" chords, the "Stand by Me" changes, the doo-wop progression$^{:204}$ and the "ice cream changes") 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 major), 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 (creating I–vi–IV–V–I) 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 (without any chordal inversions) 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 V$^7$, 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 (a variant of the circle progression) and thus the ii–V–I turnaround.
50s progression in C – harmonic rhythm two beat four beat eight beat
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 (half-measure) per chord, four (full measure or bar), eight (two measures), and eight beats per chord except for IV and V$^{(7)}$ which get four each.$^{:206}$
"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 ("covers") by other artists; but mostly the songs are shown in their original versions.
| Title | Artist | Year | Progression |
| "A Hundred Pounds of Clay" | Gene McDaniels | 1960 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Ain't I Right" | Marty Robbins | 1966 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "A Teenager in Love" | Dion and the Belmonts; Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman (writers) | 1959 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Angel Baby" | Rosie and the Originals | 1960 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Aku Yang Tersakiti" | Judika | 2010 | I–vi–IV–V |
| Aku Cinta Padamu | Siti Nurhaliza | 1997 | ii–V–I–vi |
| "All I Have to Do Is Dream" | The Everly Brothers | 1958 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "All Right" | Christopher Cross | 1983 | I–vi–ii–V |
| "Baby" | Justin Bieber | 2010 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Baby Doll" | The Buttertones | 2016 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Bad Girl" | The Detroit Cobras | 1996 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Bau Bau Bau" | Project Pop | 2003 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Baby, I'm an Anarchist!" | Against Me! | 2002 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Beautiful Girls" | Sean Kingston | 2007 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Beyond the Sea" | Jack Lawrence and Charles Trenet | 1946 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Blank Space" | Taylor Swift | 2014 | I–vi–IV–V (verses) |
| "Bleeding Love" | Leona Lewis | 2007 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Blue Moon" | The Marcels | 1961 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Bobby Brown" | Frank Zappa | 1979 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Body Feels EXIT" | Namie Amuro | 1995 | vi–IV–V–I |
| "Body Say" | Demi Lovato | 2016 | IV–V–I–vi (chorus) |
| "Boom Clap" | Charli XCX | 2014 | IV–V–I–vi |
| "Boyband" | Tipe-X | 2012 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Boys (Summertime Love)" | Sabrina | 1987 | IV–V–I–vi (pre-chorus) |
| "Boyfriend" | Boyfriend | 2011 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Brave" | Sara Bareilles | 2013 | I–vi–IV–V (verse and chorus) |
| "Brave as a Noun" | Andrew Jackson Jihad | 2007 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Bristol Stomp" | The Dovells | 1961 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" | Neil Sedaka | 1962 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Brokenhearted" | Karmin | 2012 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Burberry Headband" | Lil Mosey | 2018 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "C.h.a.o.s.m.y.t.h." | One Ok Rock | 2011 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Capital Radio" | The Clash | 1977 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" | Darlene Love | 1963 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Chain Gang" | Sam Cooke | 1960 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Close Your Eyes" | Meghan Trainor | 2014 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Cobalah untuk Setia" | Krisdayanti | 2004 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Complicated" | Avril Lavigne | 2002 | I–vi–IV–V (verses) |
| "Coney Island Baby" | The Excellents | 1962 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Cradle Rock" | The Heartbreakers (Ray Collins/ Frank Zappa) | 1963 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Crocodile Rock" | Elton John | 1972 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Cupid" | Fifty Fifty | 2023 | ii–V–I–vi |
| "Can't Stop Lovin' You" | Van Halen | 1995 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Da Doo", "Dentist" | Little Shop of Horrors (musical) Original Broadway Cast | 1982 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Dance with Me Tonight" | Olly Murs | 2011 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Dear Future Husband" | Meghan Trainor | 2015 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Demi Waktu" | Ungu | 2005 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Di Dadaku Ada Kamu" | Vina Panduwinata | 1984 | ii–V–I–vi |
| "Diana" | Paul Anka | 1957 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Donna" | Ritchie Valens | 1958 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Don't Dream It's Over" | Crowded House | 1986 | IV–V–I–vi |
| "Don't Dream It, Be It" | The Rocky Horror Picture Show | 1975 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Don't Say Your Love Is Killing Me" | Erasure | 1997 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)" | The Swingin' Medallions | 1966 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Duke of Earl" | Gene Chandler | 1962 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Dura" | Daddy Yankee | 2018 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "D'yer Mak'er" | Led Zeppelin | 1973 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Earth Angel" | The Penguins | 1954 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Endless Mine" | Sega | 1994 | I−vi−IV−V |
| "Enola Gay (song)" | Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark | 1980 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Epiphany" | BTS | 2018 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Escape From The City" | Ted Poley | 2001 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Eternal Flame" | The Bangles/Atomic Kitten | 1989/2001 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Every Breath You Take" | The Police | 1983 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Eyes of Blue" | Paul Carrack | 1995 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Eyes on Me" | Faye Wong | 1999 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Flightless Bird, American Mouth" | Iron & Wine | 2007 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Flying Without Wings" | Westlife | 1999 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "For Your Precious Love" | Jerry Butler | 1958 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Friday" | Rebecca Black | 2011 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Give a Little Love" | Bay City Rollers | 1975 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder" | The Mothers of Invention | 1966 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Girl on Fire" | Alicia Keys | 2011 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "God Is in the Rhythm" | King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard | 2015 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Hang Fire" | The Rolling Stones | 1981 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Hangin' Out with Jim" | GG Allin | 1988 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" | The Beatles | 1968 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Have It All" | Jason Mraz | 2018 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Hazure03" | Kazumi Totaka (Animal Crossing: New Horizons) | 2020 | I–vi–ii–V |
| "Heart and Soul" | Larry Clinton feat. Bea Wain | 1938 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Hero" | Enrique Iglesias | 2001 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "I'll Be Missing You" | Puff Daddy feat. Faith Evans & 112 | 1997 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "I'll Make Love to You" | Boyz II Men | 1994 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "I'm the One" | DJ Khaled | 2017 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "I'm Waiting for the Day" | The Beach Boys | 1966 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "I Always Knew" | The Vaccines | 2012 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "I Love You Too Much" | The Book of Life (soundtrack) | 2014 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "I Think They Call This Love" | Elliot James Reay | 2024 | I–vi–ii–V |
| "Ima, Kimi wo Omou" | HKT48 | 2014 | vi–IV–V–I |
| "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea" | Neutral Milk Hotel | 1998 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "In the Shape of a Heart" | Jackson Browne | 1986 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "In the Still Of the Night" | The Five Satins | 1956 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "I Wanna Be With You" | The Raspberries | 1974 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "I Will Always Love You" | Dolly Parton / Whitney Houston | 1974/1992 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Jesus of Suburbia" | Green Day | 2004 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Joey" | Concrete Blonde | 1990 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Just One Look" | Doris Troy " | 1963 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Judas" | Lady Gaga | 2011 | IV–V–I–vi |
| "Just the Way You Are" | Bruno Mars | 2010 | I–vi–IV–I |
| "Kimberly" | Patti Smith | 1975 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Last Kiss" | Wayne Cochran | 1961 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Looking for an Echo" | Kenny Vance / Ol' 55 | 1975/1976 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Lollipop" | Ronald & Ruby | 1958 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Lonely This Christmas" | Mud | 1974 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Lovable" | Sam Cooke | 1956 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Love Hurts" | The Everly Brothers / Nazareth | 1960/1974 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Lupa Lupa Ingat" | Kuburan | 2009 | I–vi–ii–V |
| "Making Love Out Of Nothing At All" | Air Supply | 1982 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Mama I'm A Big Girl Now" | Hairspray Original Broadway Cast | 2002 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Mandy" | Barry Manilow | 1974 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Marathon" | Tennis | 2011 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Marvin Gaye" | Charlie Puth and Meghan Trainor | 2015 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Me!" | Taylor Swift ft. Brendon Urie | 2019 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Messin' Around" | Pitbull | 2016 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Million Reasons" | Lady Gaga | 2016 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Modern Girl" | Sleater Kinney | 2005 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Monster Mash" | Bobby Pickett | 1962 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Mr. Bass Man" | Johnny Cymbal | 1961 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "My Broken Friend" | John DiMaggio featuring Beck | 2001 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Never Be the Same" | Christopher Cross | 1980 | I–vi–ii–V |
| "No Hay Pedo" | Banda Los Recoditos | 2014 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" | Starship | 1987 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Octopus's Garden" | The Beatles | 1969 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Oh, Pretty Woman" | Roy Orbison; Roy Orbison, Bill Dees (writers) | 1964 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Oh True Love" | Everly Brothers | 1960 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Oliver's Army" | Elvis Costello | 1979 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Perfect" | Ed Sheeran | 2017 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Perfidia" | Alberto Domínguez, Glenn Miller | 1939 | I–vi–ii–V |
| "Please Mr. Postman" | The Marvelettes | 1961 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Pretty Little Angel Eyes" | Curtis Lee | 1961 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Prove It" | Television | 1977 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Red Cadillac and a Black Moustache" | Warren Smith | 1957 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Rinky Dink" | Dave "Baby" Cortez/ Booker T & the MGs | 1962 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Rude" | Magic! | 2013 | IV–V–I–vi |
| "Runaround Sue" | Dion | 1961 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Saat Saat Indah" | Nani Sugianto | 1987 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Saturday Night" | The Misfits | 1999 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Sejauh Mungkin" | Ungu | 2005 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Seperti Yang Dulu" | Ungu | 2005 | IV–vi–IV–V |
| "Som Sarn" | Loso | 1998 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Stand by Me" | Ben E. King | 1961 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Suara (Ku Berharap)" | Hijau Daun | 2008 | I–vi–IV–V (verse) |
| "Surti Tejo" | Jamrud | 2000 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Sweat (A La La La La Long)" | Inner Circle | 1992 | I–vi–ii–V |
| "Sympathique" | Pink Martini | 1997 | I–vi–ii–V |
| "Telephone Line" | Electric Light Orchestra | 1976 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Tell Me Why" | The Beatles | 1964 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "The KKK Took My Baby Away" | Ramones | 1981 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "The Man Comes Around" | Johnny Cash | 2002 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "The Thin Ice" | Pink Floyd | 1979 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "This Boy" | The Beatles | 1963 | I–vi–ii–V |
| "This is Me" | Keala Settle | 2018 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "This Magic Moment" | The Drifters | 1960 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Those Magic Changes" | Sha Na Na | 1978 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "(Tired Of) Toein' The Line" | Rocky Burnette | 1980 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Title Theme" | Hirokazu Tanaka (Dr. Mario) | 1990 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Total Eclipse of the Heart" | Bonnie Tyler | 1983 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Tous les garçons et les filles" | Françoise Hardy | 1962 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Twistin' the Night Away" | Sam Cooke | 1962 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "True Blue" | Madonna | 1986 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Unchained Melody" | The Righteous Brothers | 1955 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Victoria's Secret" | Jax | 2022 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Walking in Memphis" | Marc Cohn | 1991 | IV–V-I–vi |
| "We Almost Had A Baby" | Emmy the Great | 2009 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "We Are Young" | Fun ft. Janelle Monáe | 2011 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "We Go Together" | John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John | 1972 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" | Pete Seeger | 1955 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Who Put the Bomp (in the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp)" | Barry Mann | 1961 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" | Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers | 1956 | I–vi–IV–V |
| "You Don't Own Me" | Lesley Gore | 1963 | I–vi–IV–V (chorus) |
| "Your Reality" | Dan Salvato | 2017 | I–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 (1935, p. 227) 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."