Lady Madonna

"Lady Madonna" is a song by the rock band the Beatles. It was a number one single.

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The piano styling was intended as a tribute to Fats Domino. The saxophone solo was played by British jazz musician and club owner Ronnie Scott.

Related Topics:
Fats Domino - Saxophone - Ronnie Scott

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The harmonic structure alternates between a I-IV repetitive pattern wrapped up by a bVI-bVII-I (see also Queen, Crazy Little Thing Called Love), and a bridge that consists of a cycle of fifths - it begins on the subdominant minor (Dm), and follows a standard II-V-I progression the relative major of C, before dropping back to Am. The second time through (on the "see how they run" line) it follows a II-V-I back to the chorus section in A major.

Related Topics:
Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Cycle of fifths

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As such, it mixes blues-based harmony (based on subdominant progressions), and more importantly, a blues-based feel, with the cycle-of-fifths progressions which were basic to many contemporary standards.

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