# Songs that change completely (and stay that way) somewhere in the song. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 22, 2014, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-change-completely-and-stay-that-way-somewhere-in-the-song/705310 "2014-11-22T02:34:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-change-completely-and-stay-that-way-somewhere-in-the-song/705310/41 "2014-11-22T16:08:20Z")
Of course [TV Tropes has a name for this](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SongStyleShift). Here’s some more that I don’t think have been mentioned there, or in this thread: [“Who’s To Blame”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uzu2pc8YBsM) by Sacred Reich [“Paranoid Android”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPLEbAVjiLA) by Radiohead (video NSFW, as well as incredibly strange) [“B.Y.O.B.”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUzd9KyIDrM) by System of a Down [“San Jacinto”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl4lLfC8ZlE) by Peter Gabriel (although not until 5:22) [“Little Black Submarines”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k8es2BNloE) by Black Keys ---
**Author:** ![CheshireKat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheshirekat/32/1207_2.png) [@CheshireKat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheshireKat)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-change-completely-and-stay-that-way-somewhere-in-the-song/705310/42 "2014-11-22T16:09:12Z")
Two that come to mind: Jethro Tull - _Locomotive Breath_ Moody Blues - _This Word is Om_ ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-change-completely-and-stay-that-way-somewhere-in-the-song/705310/43 "2014-11-22T16:31:53Z")
How about the Kinks’ “[Shangri-La](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08aNFX1Rx8I),” or their “[The First Time We Fall In Love](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWMRQUC1Crk).” > [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > “Bohemian Rhapsody” is arguably in true [rhapsodic form](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhapsody_(music)) I guess you could also look for songs that identify themselves as a suite (like Styx’s “[Suite Madame Blue](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGXYiIDTPDI),” Crosby Stills & Nash’s “[Suite: Judy Blue Eyes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDEiLImUUM8),” or the Swirling Eddies’ “[Ed Takes a Vacation (A Suite)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTvsGJmJdu8)”). ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-change-completely-and-stay-that-way-somewhere-in-the-song/705310/44 "2014-11-22T16:47:29Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Crosby Stills & Nash’s “[Suite: Judy Blue Eyes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDEiLImUUM8),” or the Swirling Eddies’ “[Ed Takes a Vacation (A Suite)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTvsGJmJdu8)”). Oh and also “Carry On” by CSNY as well. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-change-completely-and-stay-that-way-somewhere-in-the-song/705310/45 "2014-11-22T16:49:02Z")
“Fairytale of New York” by the Pogues. The opening melody, which is slower than the rest of the song, does return at the end, but in the same faster speed as the rest of the song. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-change-completely-and-stay-that-way-somewhere-in-the-song/705310/46 "2014-11-22T16:53:25Z")
Oh, CS&N’s “Daylight Again”. ---
**Author:** ![dada2fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ccd318/32.png) [@dada2fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dada2fish)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-change-completely-and-stay-that-way-somewhere-in-the-song/705310/47 "2014-11-22T18:49:52Z")
[http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cjR5QHFpEo](http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cjR5QHFpEo) Sorry, I’ve never been smart enough to figure out how to label links. But this one directs you to the first song I thought of with this format. Mother of Pearl Roxy Music. Starts off with a fast rocking’ beat and merges into a mellow ongoing groove. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-change-completely-and-stay-that-way-somewhere-in-the-song/705310/48 "2014-11-22T22:31:31Z")
“Birdman” and “Suite in C” by Mcdonald and Giles. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-change-completely-and-stay-that-way-somewhere-in-the-song/705310/49 "2014-11-22T22:45:42Z")
Hey Jude by the Beatles We Are the Champions by Queen Does Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band/ A Little Help from my Friends count as one song? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-change-completely-and-stay-that-way-somewhere-in-the-song/705310/50 "2014-11-22T23:46:52Z")
> [@Eddie\_F](#): > > So, let me see if I get this straight: Stop listening as soon as the song gets really **good**? “You keep using this word. I don’t think it means what you think it means.” ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2014, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-change-completely-and-stay-that-way-somewhere-in-the-song/705310/51 "2014-11-23T00:14:10Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > We Are the Champions by Queen > Does Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band/ A Little Help from my Friends count as one song? I’d say no, and neither do “We Will Rock You”/“We Are the Champions.” What they are is songs that are almost always played together, which is the subject of other threads: [Songs commonly played together](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=604592); [We Will Rock You / We Are the Champions - same song?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=266098); [Songs Commonly Played back-to-back](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=689096); [Songs by one artist that are always played together, rock and otherwise](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=341426) ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2014, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-change-completely-and-stay-that-way-somewhere-in-the-song/705310/52 "2014-11-23T00:35:50Z")
Unfortunately I can’t link to it from this device, but “Reynard the Fox” by Julian Cope fits the bill nicely (it’s on YouTube). ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2014, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-change-completely-and-stay-that-way-somewhere-in-the-song/705310/53 "2014-11-23T01:26:18Z")
On a phone so I can’t link, but Foo Fighters have one on their new album called"Something from Nothing." It’s a bit unusual for them but I like it. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2014, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-change-completely-and-stay-that-way-somewhere-in-the-song/705310/54 "2014-11-23T02:33:04Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > Some quick ones my wife and I came up with over dinner: > > Welcome To The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance > Bitchin’ Camaro by the Dead Milkmen > Last Dance by Donna Summer > Supper’s Ready by Genesis > A Quick One by The Who I thought of “Supper’s Ready,” which definitely goes through several different subsongs in different meters and leaves most of them behind, but I’m not sure it counts, because it kind of comes back to the original tune at the end. It’s sort of a concept album in one roughly continuous track. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2014, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-change-completely-and-stay-that-way-somewhere-in-the-song/705310/55 "2014-11-23T03:53:45Z")
Just heard one that possibly qualifies. It starts as a standard soul song of the '70s, then breaks into one of the best funk grooves of that decade, Diana Ross’s [Love Hangover](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy185xXA93E), with the break occurring @ 1:10 into the song. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2014, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-change-completely-and-stay-that-way-somewhere-in-the-song/705310/56 "2014-11-23T22:36:04Z")
Cashman and West’s [American City Suite](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq0Cbtj_utY) has three parts so completely different that the end piece, _A Friend Is Dying_, was even played seperately as a [stand-alone](http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2009/03/american-city-suite.html). ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2014, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-change-completely-and-stay-that-way-somewhere-in-the-song/705310/57 "2014-11-23T23:26:31Z")
> [@GESancMan](#): > > Genesis - “The Cinema Show” > Yes - “I’ve Seen All Good People” I have “The Yes Album” in my car’s CD player right now! Don’t forget “I’ve Seen All Good People/Your Move” and “Perpetual Change.” My favorite “switch” is the one in “Perpetual Change” at 7:22. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2014, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-change-completely-and-stay-that-way-somewhere-in-the-song/705310/58 "2014-11-23T23:28:43Z")
Roy Clark’s Thank God and Greyhound You’re Gone ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2014, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-change-completely-and-stay-that-way-somewhere-in-the-song/705310/59 "2014-11-23T23:48:03Z")
There’s also the Guess Who’s “No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature”. The story behind that is that they had two songs they really liked, and neither was quite long enough to release as a single, even in that era, and since they were in the same key signature, they decided to fuse them. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-change-completely-and-stay-that-way-somewhere-in-the-song/705310/60 "2014-11-24T00:31:19Z")
American City Suite by Cashman and West, maybe? Although anything called a “suite” probably is expected to do this kind of thing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-change-completely-and-stay-that-way-somewhere-in-the-song/705310.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-change-completely-and-stay-that-way-somewhere-in-the-song/705310.md?page=4)