Daily Non-K-Pop Spotlight: “Citrus Tea” by Broccoli, you too?

You may have seen the post a few years ago that lamented about the lack of key changes in pop hits over the past few years. The conclusion of the post was that key changes just aren’t as popular as they used to be, and commenters responded with a mix of lamentation of the loss of the cultural appreciation for the musical motif and sadistic glee at the death of a cheesy and overused trope within pop music. Ultimately, the discourse went basically nowhere (as is usually the case for internet groupthink), but it did leave me thinking about all the great songs that use key changes in non-traditional ways.

 

Enter “Citrus Tea.” The track is a cute little ditty that feels sometimes wonderfully happy and other times incredibly sad; the interpretation (lyrical or musical) really comes down to your mood when you’re listening. The reason I start with the preamble about key changes is because Broccoli, you too? manage to work in one of the most unexpected and unusual key changes I’ve ever heard in indie music. The change happens after the first verse when the vocalists switch out, and you might not even catch it the first time you listen; I certainly didn’t. The key change isn’t the only special part though, as a melodica-like solo really helps nail those wistfully hopeful vibes and does a great job of cutting through the solo guitar.

 

If you like what you hear, be sure to follow Broccoli, you too? on Instagram!