Examples of great bridges in songs

[Casey H]

What are some of your favorite examples of bridges in songs that have verse/chorus format? I'm not talking about many songs like the Beatles did with V/B/V/B format, I'm think of ones that have V/C/V/C/B/C or similar format.

In particular I'm looking for examples where the lyrics did an excellent job of introducing a new dimension to the storyline, not found in the V's and C's.

Casey

[michael11]

This doesn't strictly follow the guidelines you suggest but it certainly has a bitter twist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24IfD-0VUu4



Michael

[remoteoutofcontrol]

Man, that song was great. Talk about twist, I don't think it can get anymore twisted than that! Nice example of what a good bridge should be like, Michael.

Ken.

[cardell]

I love the bridge section in "Suspicious Minds" by Elvis Presley:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBmAPYkPeYU

Stuart

[michael11]

Man, that song was great. Talk about twist, I don't think it can get anymore twisted than that! Nice example of what a good bridge should be like, Michael.

Ken.

Thanks Ken!



Michael.


(wish I,d written it)

[Casey H]

I love the bridge section in "Suspicious Minds" by Elvis Presley:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBmAPYkPeYU

Stuart

Interestingly, the song never returns to the chorus after the bridge. It keeps repeating the first line of the first verse, which is at least as much a hook as the chorus, probably more...

Casey

[simonparker]

Actually, my favorite is from "We Are the World". Not sure if it qualifies as a bridge due to the multiple verses in the song, but I like the lift on it:

When you're down and out
There seems no hope at all
But if you just believe
There's no way we can fall
Well, well, well, well, let us realize
That a change will only come
When we stand together as one

[ernstinen]

Good thread, Casey! I'll be thinking about this all day.

The first song that popped into my head with one of the best bridges ever written is "Wouldn't It Be Nice."

The structure is a little different, though. I'd call it A/B/A/B/Bridge/B/out. Section A is a verse/chorus, Section B is kind of a lift. But the bridge just makes me listen in wonder how Brian Wilson got in and out of that so seamlessly! Just amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALaajR2Wcjk

Best Regards,

Ern

[Casey H]

One of the things that got me started on this was a discussion with my brother where I was explaining how a bridge can add another dimension to a story, not found in the V's and C's. For example, Manic Monday by The Bangles:

(verse)
Six o'clock already
I was just in the middle of a dream
I was kissin' Valentino
By a crystal blue Italian stream
But I can't be late
'Cause then I guess I just won't get paid
These are the days
When you wish your bed was already made

(chorus)
It's just another manic Monday
I wish it was Sunday
'Cause that's my funday
My I don't have to runday
It's just another manic Monday

(verse)
Have to catch an early train
Got to be to work by nine
And if I had an air-o-plane
I still couldn't make it on time
'Cause it takes me so long
Just to figure out what I'm gonna wear
Blame it on the train
But the boss is already there

[chorus]

(bridge)
All of the nights
Why did my lover have to pick last night
To get down
Doesn't it matter
That I have to feed the both of us
Employment's down
He tells me in his bedroom voice
C'mon honey, let's go make some noise
Time it goes so fast
When you're having fun

[chorus]

Casey

[grandsoul]

What are some of your favorite examples of bridges in songs that have verse/chorus format? I'm not talking about many songs like the Beatles did with V/B/V/B format, I'm think of ones that have V/C/V/C/B/C or similar format.

In particular I'm looking for examples where the lyrics did an excellent job of introducing a new dimension to the storyline, not found in the V's and C's.

Casey

"I Don't Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing (Open Up The Door, I'll Get It Myself)"
James Brown

{and on a lot of songs, he really took the band to the bridge}

Grandsoul

www/reverbnation.com/luciusaustin
www.soundclick.com/luciusaustin